wind_starved wrote:Hi, I am around 140lbs (67 kg), and at the intermediate level of kiting I would presume, and ride a 138x41cm board. I live in an area where light winds are usually the case, and when it is stronger, I am invariably working! I currently have a 12m One kite, but am contemplating getting something bigger.
With this in mind, I figure there comes a point when a kite's size is almost counter productive? What I mean by this, is that there must be a point when the physical weight of the kite itself affects or determines the amount of wind required to actually keep it in the air? If I were to buy a 20m kite for instance, APPROXIMATELY what would the lightest wind I could hope to get on the water in?
I hope this makes sense!
Thanks for your advice!
It makes perfect sense !
In fact it is a thing that most new kiters dont learn before years later.
I dont think you can get going in any lighter wind at all, if you have a kite bigger than 14 or 15m2.
It will not be very efficient - turn bad and not produce power when turned, and weigh more, and have a lot more drag and only a fraction more lift.
And with your light weight you can not go any earlier at all, if you go above approx. 15m2
You are also right - that big kites can not be used in as light wind as smaller ones - because they tend to "drop" if wind lulls, where a smaller kite stays in the air, and is much faster and easier to turn and keep up in the air no matter what.
So with a bigger board, you dont need any bigger kite than your 12m2 IMO.
And you can have more fun this way - much faster and not as expensive to change a board when the wind goes up or down
And regarding your question ?
Hmmm, I would say the difference in how light wind you can go out in, is almost not present, if you are 67kg and go from a 12 to a 20m2
But the "fun" factor is not present with a 20m2 !
Go for a 14-15-16m2 instead, and you have your perfect light wind weapon
Kindly, Peter Frank