Kite quiver sizes for lightweights

Dern · Since 11 Jul 2010 545 Posts Vancouver, WA Addicted

Hey all. A buddy of mine is interested in picking up the sport - but he's only like 150lb and I'm a lot more familiar with kite sizes in the context of 200 lb people. I was thinking a good first kite size would be 9m for his midrange kite? I started on an 11m, so I wasn't sure if that would be too low and he should go for a 10m (so he can do lighter winds).

Thanks.

retz · Since 06 Aug 2007 132 Posts west linn Stoked

I'm 150 and ride a 6m and a 10m.
Surfboard, Skimboard and twintip allow me to ride virtually any wind from 12-50.

hoodkiter · Since 10 Jul 2010 95 Posts Hood River, OR

retz has it down. a quiver of boards is what you really need. I have 3 boards and only 2 kites also. 6m and 9m. I weigh 140lbs

Ryan · Since 14 Jul 2005 537 Posts Oregon Addicted

yup, at 145lbs I ride a 7 and 11 with two surfboards and a skim in the quiver. Like the other guys said, it works in wind from 12 to 40. If I had a 3rd kite it would be a 5m for the big days out east and big days on the S Coast.

BS · Since 23 Apr 2011 21 Posts Portland

Exactly. 150 lbs, 6/8/10 kites with wakeboard/TT/surfboard. Not only is 12-50 knots covered, I always have a kite in its sweet spot.

Inept_Fun · Since 14 Apr 2005 1417 Posts Hood River XTreme Poster

Learning your not going to be really wanting to switch your board size around much though. Im 140, ride my 8M RPM most of the summer. If I had to buy kites, I would buy 3 kites for the Gorge and Coast the few times I do make it out there in the summer. 7,9 and 12 would be a perfect quiver for the gorge.

Personally with the board thing I only like riding my wakeboard, so If its not windy enough for me to make that work with my 12 I would rather be doing other stuff. With just a 9 I would say as long as its not an ultra nuking summer, your friend will be able to ride on most days.

carlitos · Since 02 Feb 2006 81 Posts NE pdx

150 pounder here-

im all set with 6,8 & 10 for pretty much anything around here. a twin tip and a couple of surfboards makes it even more versatile.

as a newb, you can probably skip the 8 for now and just go with a 6 & 10

dancingwind · Since 18 Jul 2007 321 Posts Obsessed

145lb here. 6 & 9m RPM. TwinTip and Surfboard. Works every time.

Justsmile · Since 20 Jul 2009 1530 Posts Not Portland XTreme Poster

220 here:-). Never realized I was kiting with so many lightweisghts. 6,9,12 and the most needed 14!!!