3 kites starter pack

[seanocaster]

Hi.

I am 90kg and i live in Dubai. I learnt to kite at the end of 2018 and when i finished my course i bought a 17m Naish fly and it works well in light wind. Like 9-14 knots.

Over the last few months it has been the windy season and i have not been able to use it much as the wind has mostly been 15-23 knots. For this reason i would like to purchase a 2nd kite and i am looking for some guidance on the size. I would like to stick with Naish so that the bars are compatible etc. I was thinking of the 12m Naish Pivot. Any suggestions?

On top of that, i am hoping to get to Oman in May/June where the wind will be in the 25-35 knot range so i was thinking of getting a 3rd kite, an 8m Naish Pivot. Then i will have 17m, 12m and 8m which should give me a fairly diverse range.

To summarise:

1. Summer in Dubai when wind is 9-14 knots <— this kite I already have Naish ‘Fly’ 17m

2. Winter in Dubai when wind is 15-25 knots <— My suggestions for this is a Naish ‘Pivot’ 11m

3. Summer in Oman when wind is 25-35 knots <— My suggestion for this is Naish ‘Pivot’ 8m

Important to note that i am currently riding a twin tip but in the near future i want to drop it and switch to a directional as i would ultimately like to ride waves (i am a surfer) so i'm quite confused whether the suggested kites would be suitable if i am riding a directional board.

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Would appreciate any advice as to which kite sizes i should invest in given the above 3 wind scenarios that i am aiming to ride in.

Thanks,
Sean.

[Slappysan]

You are a fair bit heavier than I so that spread might work but I think 17-11-8 is too big a gap.

I'm 72 kg and I ride:
7-14 knots: 17m
12-25 knots: 12m
16-30 knots: 9m
20-35 knots: 6.5m
25-45 kntos: 4.5m

So I'd say get a 12m and a 7m then add a 9m to finish off the quiver later. I think Pivots are the right call.

If you went with higher aspect kite like the Flysurfer Soul you could probably get away with an 8/12 quiver.

[dylan*]

You are a fair bit heavier than I so that spread might work but I think 17-11-8 is too big a gap.

I'm 72 kg and I ride:
7-14 knots: 17m
12-25 knots: 12m
16-30 knots: 9m
20-35 knots: 6.5m
25-45 kntos: 4.5m

So I'd say get a 12m and a 7m then add a 9m to finish off the quiver later. I think Pivots are the right call.

If you went with higher aspect kite like the Flysurfer Soul you could probably get away with an 8/12 quiver.

i agree with this, although i think an 11m might be ok if that's what you want, since you have a 17m. A 17 and 12 overlaps quite a bit, and with your weight you can probably hold down that 17 for quite a while.

also agree that 11/8 is a big stretch, but you could make it work. i've been riding 10/7 for 2 seasons and it's been ok, though 10/8 or 9/7 would be better.

[tautologies]

Lots of good advice here.

The gap from 17 to 11 will work especially if have two boards, but 12 is ideal. Obviously it does depend on the wind patters..if 15 is comon..go 12. If its 25 go 9.

Think about the ideal for the wind and a bit less on what you have now....that said I've held the fly in over 20 haha

In 35 the 9 pivot will be lit...but how often is it 35 vs...say 27?

The ranges are a bit misleading because many ti.es a range of 15 to 25 really means 17 and the occational day where max is 25...

[seanocaster]

You are a fair bit heavier than I so that spread might work but I think 17-11-8 is too big a gap.

I'm 72 kg and I ride:
7-14 knots: 17m
12-25 knots: 12m
16-30 knots: 9m
20-35 knots: 6.5m
25-45 kntos: 4.5m

So I'd say get a 12m and a 7m then add a 9m to finish off the quiver later. I think Pivots are the right call.

If you went with higher aspect kite like the Flysurfer Soul you could probably get away with an 8/12 quiver.

Thanks for the replies guys, much appreciated.

It looks like 17, 12 and 9 are key sizes so that sounds like my starting point and i will take it from there. The reason why i was suggesting 8m and 11m instead is because i had seen 2nd hand options that were more affordable.

If i'm on a surfboard, would these wind ranges still be relevant for the size of kite i would need?

7-14 knots: 17m
12-25 knots: 12m
16-30 knots: 9m

[Havre]

Went through the same process myself. 17-12-9 works really well. I'm sure there might be some small differences between brands and types of kites, but for me they overlap each other almost perfectly. When I get overpowered on the 12 my 9 feels fine (slightly boring). Same between 17 and 12.

17 and 11 probably works as well, but you are risking a bit of a hole between them which could becoming quite annoying. Especially if you only got 1 board (which I do - as travelling with 2 is not really an option).

I'm about 10kg heavier than you, but I have never experienced wind that is too powerful for me on a 9. There are of course areas where that would happen, but it certainly isn't common at most spots around the world*.

* going to Brazil in Sep-Oct so might "eat my words" later....

[seanocaster]

Went through the same process myself. 17-12-9 works really well. I'm sure there might be some small differences between brands and types of kites, but for me they overlap each other almost perfectly. When I get overpowered on the 12 my 9 feels fine (slightly boring). Same between 17 and 12.

17 and 11 probably works as well, but you are risking a bit of a hole between them which could becoming quite annoying. Especially if you only got 1 board (which I do - as travelling with 2 is not really an option).

I'm about 10kg heavier than you, but I have never experienced wind that is too powerful for me on a 9. There are of course areas where that would happen, but it certainly isn't common at most spots around the world*.

* going to Brazil in Sep-Oct so might "eat my words" later....

Thanks for the info. I'm feeling confident that i'm on the right track with this as a starting point. Good luck in Brazil!

[iriejohn]

It looks like 17, 12 and 9 are key sizes so that sounds like my starting point and i will take it from there.

Agree.

[Flyboy]

Hi.

I am 90kg and i live in Dubai. I learnt to kite at the end of 2018 and when i finished my course i bought a 17m Naish fly and it works well in light wind. Like 9-14 knots.

Over the last few months it has been the windy season and i have not been able to use it much as the wind has mostly been 15-23 knots. For this reason i would like to purchase a 2nd kite and i am looking for some guidance on the size. I would like to stick with Naish so that the bars are compatible etc. I was thinking of the 12m Naish Pivot. Any suggestions?

On top of that, i am hoping to get to Oman in May/June where the wind will be in the 25-35 knot range so i was thinking of getting a 3rd kite, an 8m Naish Pivot. Then i will have 17m, 12m and 8m which should give me a fairly diverse range.

To summarise:

1. Summer in Dubai when wind is 9-14 knots <— this kite I already have Naish ‘Fly’ 17m

2. Winter in Dubai when wind is 15-25 knots <— My suggestions for this is a Naish ‘Pivot’ 11m

3. Summer in Oman when wind is 25-35 knots <— My suggestion for this is Naish ‘Pivot’ 8m

Important to note that i am currently riding a twin tip but in the near future i want to drop it and switch to a directional as i would ultimately like to ride waves (i am a surfer) so i'm quite confused whether the suggested kites would be suitable if i am riding a directional board.

-

Would appreciate any advice as to which kite sizes i should invest in given the above 3 wind scenarios that i am aiming to ride in.

Thanks,
Sean.

Your suggestions sound about right for a TT at your weight 17m, 12m, 9. However, typically people use a kite size about 2 m smaller for riding a directional. This still means a 11m & 8m would make sense, but you'd be switching to the smaller kite sooner & you might end up needing a smaller kite if it is regularly over 30 knots.

Pivots are good all around kites - very good for TT riding, jumping & general free ride. Not the best wave kite for pure wave riding, but good enough until you figure out exactly where your preferences lie & what the conditions are where you're riding.

[Havre]

Should probably point out my experience is from TT. Others would know better than me, but directional with a 17m? With the kind of “torque” you are getting with those that sounds difficult to me. And maybe a bit boring?

12 and 9 should still overlap just as good. But you might want to plan a bit smaller overall if directional is the long term goal.

Could sell the 17 and replace it with a 7 of course.