kites for big dudes

$ociopath · Since 28 Nov 2007 523 Posts Twilight Zone Addicted

My 2 cents. I am soo glad I picked up my 07 17 fuel cant wait to try it. I am 220 pounds and have been way over powered on a 7 mtr fuel broke my wrist on a 5 love my 15, but I wont lie I am a beginner intermediate and have been skunked on my 15 at SI and broke out the liquid force 20 mtr kites and had a great time on them. Sure they steer slow but they pull like a truck. And they are 4 sale 85$ each Razz

1-05,1-06 20 mtr each no lie.

JMatic · Since 12 Aug 2008 252 Posts Boise, In Dat Ho Obsessed

By no means a Chewbacca myself at 6'3" 230 but I have big guy style so I ride 16.5M Flexifoil ION3 which is by far the fastest turning and floatiest kite I've ever flown. In winter I'm on ski's so unless it's blowing 20 this is my kite of choice, riding upwind in as low as 8mph when no one is even thinking of rigging up.

In summer, I ride a 144x44cm Flexifoil Alpha that is a machine in the water, super planing and forgiving on big airs and big impacts that Chewbacca types know well.

This combo gets the job done, tried 15m kites multiple models; Fuels, Boxer's, Contra's....nothing came even close to the Ion3 for speed and loft.

Kyle · Since 28 Jun 2007 54 Posts Squamish, Canada

I'm 6'5" 235-240lbs.

I'd say don't go super big. Focus a lot on learning proper technique and you should be on close to the same size as everyone else. Don't skip steps! learn to ride well first, then work on tricks.

Change your riding style to ride faster, and you'll find a LOT more range out of 'smaller' kites. Plus you'll get better pop. It matters SOOOO much more for a big guy.
Big boards are awesome too. You'll get so much more power out of it. But make sure you get a good one... not just a beginner-type big board.

And don't over-edge!!! Spend some time on a surfboard to get the feel of being light on your feet.

Don't worry about the specifics, when when you're riding keep "light on your feet" and "fast" in mind.

As for kites, in waves a 10.5 Helix is as big as I'll ever use.
Freestyle I like more grunt power so I have a 12 Torch as my biggest. I'd have a 14 Torch if I rode freestyle in a lightwind area, but I wouldn't ever want bigger than that.

I think Nick is right about using C's for big sizes. you can generate so much more with them, and depower isn't as important. You can also get a lot of good from longer lines on a bigger C.

Kyle

Moto · Since 03 Sep 2006 2698 Posts Still a gojo pimp! Moto Mouth

alleycat · Since 29 Jun 2006 176 Posts Portland Stoked

I agree moto, 10.5 as the smallest kite in the quiver would be a dream. I would love to fly this miracle kite on a light wind day. The only answer, for the big guys on a lighter wind day, is to fly a big ass kite with a 148 SS Misfit or a 152 SS Fuse.

Cabarete DR on February 28 to April 1, anyone from the NW grew going to be there?

Kyle · Since 28 Jun 2007 54 Posts Squamish, Canada

I guess it depends on your goals.
I guess if you want to just jump huge and you're huge then you need huge kite, but I was talking waves.

10.5 in the waves... that's quite large. A lot of normal size people won't go bigger than 9m. some even 7 max.
Get the right board - that's so much more important for big dudes.

For freestyle, yup I go bigger. Torches.

Either way - yeah, C's for big kites.

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1691 Posts I give out bad advice.

and growing! I'm on a diet.

I'm bigger than average guy and I like to be powered up. I find the my kite of choice as far as size is an 11meter bow kite. I like my kite to be fast and relaunch with ease. I like my kites to be tough, well built and with a good warranty support. I fly 7, 9, 11 and 14. I love the 7meter size and the power of the wind. This kite size, when I'm powered up, is the scariest most exhilarating of them all. I feel like I could get worked at any minute, but at the same time I can jump with just a turn of the bar, and if I send it hard big air! Some 7 meter kites are more predictable than others. You need to demo as much as you can. Go to new wind and they will let you demo the best. Go to stevenson and ask Shy to fly SS.

Bar pressure is an issue with some of the SLE's, but only if you are ready for a faster kite. If a big guys is learning to kite high bar pressure is a good thing especially if he/she windsurfed and wants pull a bit, SS TDIII. If you are transitioning from beg to intermediate skill level the SS Rev is a great kite as are many of the SLE's. It's a predictable fast flying kite with lot's of grunt(2008). I have not flown the 09, but I will. I'm not saying that one brand is better than the other..

My experience is with SS kites; Rev, TDIII, Best HP Nim, Waroo, Caution Mayhem, and Ozone Instinct. They all have something to offer in how they fly, but some are better than others. I had the chance to fly them all last summer. I rode the best kites a ton, ozone's a bit, and caution mayhem a little more than ozones, and SS more than all of them.

Please be advised that in no way does my opinion constitute the opinion of this website, or for that matter 99% of registered members on this website, not excluding monkeyboy, and various other blowhards, such as myself.
Ron Very Happy

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward