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Bigger board or bigger kite?

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Raynski
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Bigger board or bigger kite?

Postby Raynski » Tue May 04, 2021 5:57 pm

I am doubting between a soul 12 or 15m, I want to use it this summer on the days with windranges between 14-18knots, I weigh around 200lbs/90kg.

I have read that a bigger board will allow you to size down a bit, and that the in between size kites in stronger winds give the best jump performance, but what about jumps in in low/moderate wind from 14-18kts? All things being equal (technique/conditions etcetera) will a 12m jump just as high in 15knots of wind? And how does riding a bigger board factor in? I ride a 140x42 but if a 144x48 board allows me same performance/planing speed to build up for jumping as a 15m, then that would be awesome.

Would love to hear some input as I am not really well versed in bigger kites/aerodynamics. Apologies in advance if this is a dumb question with a straightforward answer

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Re: Bigger board or bigger kite?

Postby Slappysan » Tue May 04, 2021 7:18 pm

Go the 15m at your weight for those winds.

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Re: Bigger board or bigger kite?

Postby Kristan » Tue May 04, 2021 9:41 pm

Maybe I live on the other planet with denser atmosphere, but 14-18 knots were enough for me to go on 12m Soul with 140x42 board, all of that while I weight 100kg. Doesn't mean that you do live on the same planet.

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Re: Bigger board or bigger kite?

Postby Raynski » Tue May 04, 2021 10:12 pm

Kristan wrote:
Tue May 04, 2021 9:41 pm
Maybe I live on the other planet with denser atmosphere, but 14-18 knots were enough for me to go on 12m Soul with 140x42 board, all of that while I weight 100kg. Doesn't mean that you do live on the same planet.
You didn’t read it thoroughly. I weigh 90kg, and my plan is to use a 144x48 board...how can that not be enough?
A friend of mine who weighs the exact same went out with his 13m LEI kite in 15-16knots was able to jump 5-6 meters :?:

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Re: Bigger board or bigger kite?

Postby Slappysan » Tue May 04, 2021 11:04 pm

Raynski wrote:
Tue May 04, 2021 10:12 pm
Kristan wrote:
Tue May 04, 2021 9:41 pm
14-18 knots were enough for me to go on 12m Soul with 140x42 board, all of that while I weight 100kg.
You didn’t read it thoroughly. I weigh 90kg, and my plan is to use a 144x48 board...how can that not be enough?
A friend of mine who weighs the exact same went out with his 13m LEI kite in 15-16knots was able to jump 5-6 meters :?:
It's not really a question of "enough" though, it's a question of what's going to be the most fun in that 14-18 knot wind range.
I can keep upwind on my 9m in 14 knots, but is it fun? nope.

I'm only 75 kg and I would choose the 15m over the 12m for those winds, at 100 kg the 15m seems like a no brainer.

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Re: Bigger board or bigger kite?

Postby GetHighOrDieTrying » Tue May 04, 2021 11:52 pm

really depends on what you like to do with the kite. what's your prefered riding style? are you or do you want to get into foiling? what are the other kites in your quiver?

i have 8 and 11m LEIs and a 15m foil kite which gets me going on a twintip in about 10 knots (85kg) on a 136cm board. but fun starts at +15knots with the 15m. your 140 TT is already a larger board. in my opinion large boards are not ideal for jumping so i personally would prefer 15m kite with smaller board over 12m kite with a door. if you get into low wind kiting there is no way around foil boards. keep in mind a 15m foil kite is large and slow and you will need some time to extract the performance from it. so in the beginning plan couple of sessions to get used to it.

enjoy the ride!

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Re: Bigger board or bigger kite?

Postby Raynski » Wed May 05, 2021 12:46 am

GetHighOrDieTrying wrote:
Tue May 04, 2021 11:52 pm
really depends on what you like to do with the kite. what's your prefered riding style? are you or do you want to get into foiling? what are the other kites in your quiver?

i have 8 and 11m LEIs and a 15m foil kite which gets me going on a twintip in about 10 knots (85kg) on a 136cm board. but fun starts at +15knots with the 15m. your 140 TT is already a larger board. in my opinion large boards are not ideal for jumping so i personally would prefer 15m kite with smaller board over 12m kite with a door. if you get into low wind kiting there is no way around foil boards. keep in mind a 15m foil kite is large and slow and you will need some time to extract the performance from it. so in the beginning plan couple of sessions to get used to it.

enjoy the ride!
Thanks so much for responding!
I have only been kiting for 1-1.5 year and doing small jump 3-4m now on LEI. I really like the jumping aspect, and trying things like dark slides and board of. But to be honest, seeing as how I’ve just started out, I just want to get out on the water as much as I can this summer without it becoming boring haha. I’ve figured that would mean kiting for my size in atleast 15 knots, which we get plenty in the summer, but usually not very much more unfortunately. At the moment I have a 12m and a 9m.


ps: what do you consider a large board? I have been looking at this one, it’s a larger sized but still supposed to ride like a twintip and good for jumps in lower wind?

https://www.fluidkiteboarding.com/store ... duct_id=81

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Re: Bigger board or bigger kite?

Postby jakemoore » Wed May 05, 2021 2:45 am

I would get a bigger board first then consider kite.

For the board you really have to consider the water. Spleene Session 141 is the perfect light wind board for me but we have nice flats. If there is a chop or wave the shape would differ.

The ideal is to ride a few boards if you can and see what you like.

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Re: Bigger board or bigger kite?

Postby Adventure Logs » Wed May 05, 2021 7:58 am

Having a bigger board will open up the range on all your kites and a normal size with a 12m should get you going at those speeds. On the other hand, a 15m will get you jumping at even lower wind speeds and have close to the same top end, so there’s that. Your 11m LEI and 12m foil will have more overlap.

Since this is going to be your first Foil, it’s going to feel much slower than you are used to and the 15m is going to be even slower. Lastly, a larger board just isn’t going to be as much fun and if you are looking to jump, not as well suited.

If I was you, since I’m going to be buying a new kite either way and already have a 11m LEI, I would buy the 15m foil kite. The 11/12 quiver is too tight and too much overlap for me. I’ll have a bigger range, close to 10kts bottom end with the 15, and I know from experience that at least the Soul 15m is a great jumper and is great even over powered.

You’ll have to decide what’s most important.

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Re: Bigger board or bigger kite?

Postby Kristan » Wed May 05, 2021 8:21 am

Yea, if you already have 12m and 9m LEIs there's no point in 12m Soul. I thought you were planning to get, what I call, a Main Battle Kite. Since that's not the case, you'd be better with 15m. Bigger board is not necessary, unless you wanna go at winds around 10 knots.


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