Do I need a 5m kite- 70kg rider

[chalks]

Hi All,

Along the lines of a previous post, I have been offered a good deal on 5m kite but am hesitating- do I really need one? I can hold down my 7m until around 30kts, depending on conditions but am wondering whether a 5 would be worth having as I am starting to get into riding a strapless surfboard.

Any thoughts, especially from riders of a similar weight?

Thanks.

[Starsky]

I'm close to 80 kg and go down to a 6m for strapless riding in high winds.

At your weight, a 5m is definitely in the cards if you want to be comfortable strapless in winds up around 35 knots.

A couple things to help you decide.

Small kites last a long time because they just don't get used that often unless you live in a really windy place. They are the kite you turn over the least in your quiver.

Riding strapless in high winds is way more relaxed and fun and generally safer on a kite that is slightly too small than slightly too big.

Small kites are easier to find deals on than big kites.

Though they don't get used a whole lot, it can be torture to decide its too windy and miss out because you don't have a small enough kite.

[peppers]

depending where you live and what are the conditions. I am riding strapless and usually take 2-3 m2 smaller kite than others on TT. I weight 73 kg. I rig 5m2 when it is blowing 26+ kts.

[kooshball]

Point of reference: I weigh 65kg and get on my 6m at around 25-28 kts on a twin tip. Riding strapless as a light weight rider I would think you could be on a directional with that 5m in sub 30kts, so yes it would make a good addition to your quiver

[Laughingman]

Hi All,

Along the lines of a previous post, I have been offered a good deal on 5m kite but am hesitating- do I really need one? I can hold down my 7m until around 30kts, depending on conditions but am wondering whether a 5 would be worth having as I am starting to get into riding a strapless surfboard.

Any thoughts, especially from riders of a similar weight?

Thanks.

I think the question here is do you want to "hold down" your 7 or have fun on a 5? And how often do you find yourself asking that question?

[Lanc]

I'm 70kG, ride strapless and have had the same 5m for the past 5 years but only use it a handful of times per year. I don't really enjoy riding strapless when the wind is over 25kn and would rather just switch to my twintip and go jump big on the 8m. 90% of my sessions are on my 8m and 11m and 50% of my session are strapless. The 5m is worth having around if the wind blows 25kn+ for many days in a row and the waves are looking sweet.

[Frank82]

You don't need a 5m at 70kg if you only ride a twintip, you should be able to hold down the 7m till gusts of 45kn. If you are into riding strapless then a 5m is a good buy for strong winds.

[Slappysan]

More of what others have said already. I'm 72 kg and my quiver is 5-7-10. I barely use my 5m but I have it because on those rare 5m days the waves are what I'm after.

If you are happy just switching to a TT and boosting with the 7m then you wont need a 5m but for me it would kill me to be out in those waves and not surfing them.

[Peter_Frank]

Hi All,

Along the lines of a previous post, I have been offered a good deal on 5m kite but am hesitating- do I really need one? I can hold down my 7m until around 30kts, depending on conditions but am wondering whether a 5 would be worth having as I am starting to get into riding a strapless surfboard.

Any thoughts, especially from riders of a similar weight?

Thanks.

YES, it will be your best purchase for sure, when you are getting into riding surfboards

I agree fully with what Starsky writes, except that with 70kg if you got typical low pressure wind systems, you WILL use the 5m2 quite a lot IMO.

It will start working around 23-25 knots for your 70 kg.

I am 77kg and use 5m2 quite often, although the 7m2 is the most "worn" for waves.
The 5m2 I use from around 24-25 knots on a waveboard

It is easy to go upwind with a slightly underpowered small kite on a waveboard, and waveriding down the line is top, feels free and unstrained - but it is HORRIBLE to ride waves if slightly too much kite, when we are talking 5-6-7m2 kites, as simple as that.

Almost the opposite goes with a TT, here you rather be on the powered side, than slightly low.

So because you are heading for the real deal (riding waveboards), it will be your best purchase ever IMO

Peter

[chalks]

Thanks all, really appreciate the responses.

As I aspire to ride surfboards, I think that a 5m will have to be added to the quiver!