kite quiver for a couple

[northandcold]

we (110 and 170 pounds) have been kiting for a few years. We have been sharing a kite quiver for kitesurfing with twintip and surfboard. Usually with a size difference of 2 square meters. Our kites are: 5,7,9,11 Naish Boxer. We've been foiling for a year now and the Kite difference of 2 m doesn't work anymore. We both want to ride the same size now.
Is there any advice? We don't want to buy all kite sizes twice. That would also be very bad for traveling.
We both are on 1200 qcm wings.

[junebug]

Tell her she needs to start using smaller kites. Unless you have nothing but really light wind, you probably also need a 4m for her. I’m 195 lbs and I switch from 5m to 4m at 18kn.

[jakemoore]

Tell her

LOL if my wife would kite I’d let her ride any kite she wants and pick something else.

I would beef up the quiver in a size close to the size she uses most. Would a strut less kite, wave kite or big air kite extend the riding to your goals? For travel nothing beats the single skin kites.

[Flyboy]

we (110 and 170 pounds) have been kiting for a few years. We have been sharing a kite quiver for kitesurfing with twintip and surfboard. Usually with a size difference of 2 square meters. Our kites are: 5,7,9,11 Naish Boxer. We've been foiling for a year now and the Kite difference of 2 m doesn't work anymore. We both want to ride the same size now.
Is there any advice? We don't want to buy all kite sizes twice. That would also be very bad for traveling.
We both are on 1200 qcm wings.

Yeah, I don't really get that. If she's 60 lbs lighter than you, a 2m gap sounds about right, just as much for foiling as for TT or SB. Also a 1200 cm2 wing seems like a huge wing for a 110 lb foiler. Maybe you should focus on improving your technique rather than buying additional kites ... and like Junebug says, she probably could use a smaller kite, like a 4m Boxer.

[Peter_Frank]

Tell her she needs to start using smaller kites. Unless you have nothing but really light wind, you probably also need a 4m for her. I’m 195 lbs and I switch from 5m to 4m at 18kn.

Absolutely correct.

If you are both beginners (you ARE after only one year of foiling) or one more than the other, you will ride with the wrong, too big sizes.

As soon as you get the hang of it, you should never ride the same kitesize, not even if different wings.

The issue will solve itself

Peter

[1234567Simon]

2m differernce should be perfect.....

But hey.... Most Important: Happy wife, Happy Life!!!!

If she feels Happy with the 7m.... Well Bad luck for you: Just take the Foil and the 5m, or take the 9 with the Twin Tip....

Or buy a second 7m.
Trust me: after another 29 foiling days, you WILL NEED a 4m for her. And with 110 pounds you will need the 2,5m for her.


I am heavy 75kg right now... At 15 knots on my Foil I can use my 4,6 and 8.... With the 4 it will be a balance thing with no power, with the 8m it will be powered Speed runs with large sweeping carves.

Both of you will advance, and depending on Situation you have to adapt your Style to the Kite available..... Starting tacking you will prefere larger....

Go have fun!!!! Ride hard! And bei Happy that your wife is kiting!!!!

[leeuwen]

Foiling and kite size is a bit of a weird thing.
With experience you can make a huge range of kites and sizes work and personal preference and riding style is a big deal of choosing the kite.
So you should be able to make it work theoretically but I can certainly see a situation that someone prefers a bit more power (eg if you are not comfortable to loop the kite to get on the board or want to have power for jumps) and another wants a bit less power.
If that’s the case you need to either smash the piggy bank for duplicate kites or be ok to not be on your preferred kite and try to make it work.

From my personal experience my kite foil size preferences certainly have changed over time and with experience so that is something to consider.
For some things it is easier to have lift from a kite (eg tacking) and I prefer a bit more power now then I used to when I only did jibes…
I also skip quite a few sizes usually going down from my 11m/10m straight to my 6m at about 18 knots. (75kg, 1000cm2)

Do note that when kite sizes go down the 2m spacing might make less sense. eg 10 to 8 (2m change) and 5 to 4 (1m change) are both a 20% size reduction…

[grigorib]

Get a 4m and I’d recommend smaller foil wings. There’s no way either of you need anything bigger than 1000 cm² for kitefoiling.
At 210 lbs I ride 5m for 15-30 knots, 7m for 10-15 knots, 9m for <10 knots. My 4m comes handy when it blows 30+ knots and I would prefer not to ride the 9m unless I’m really hungry for riding. I switch between 730 cm² wing for regular riding, 1200 cm² for lightwind and 600 cm² race “need for speed” wings.

[Peter_Frank]

A comment here, based on the many couples I know, kiting.

Yes, I am prejudiced writing so, I know, but it seems most couples/wife-husbands often ride somewhat in the same niche?

Meaning you rarely see a girl on race gear and the guy on supersmall kite big wing surfgear, or the opposite.

Yes yes I know we are all individuals, but that is simply my observations I have seen
It can just be a practical thing though, and not what they want

Having said that, I still think in this thread it is too early in their learning period, so it is most likely simply lack of experience which can lead to wanting the same size, with such a huge weight difference.
Unless they want to go in opposite directions "style"wise, it will sort itself out, and 2 m2 difference is perfect

Peter

[junebug]

It can be difficult mentally to start sizing down. I remember when I started getting the hang of foiling I couldn’t believe I could ride a 7m in 14kn and I kept using the 9m in those conditions, which was too much. Now I can ride my 7m down to 11kn without fuss. I like riding small kites because they are so fast. I wish I was 110lbs. I wouldn’t own anything bigger than a 5m.

If it is 7m conditions for you, it should be 5m conditions for her. If she is skeptical, tell her junebug from the internet said so. She just needs to get used to flying actively to generate power instead of park and ride.