Wed Jan 29, 14 8:57 pmlight wind, or lighter wind kites
the post about the yucatan stuff got me thinking a lightwind kite post was due. I dont really kite the lighter winds around here, but have had to in places like yucatan. I do have a 13m best kahoona that needs about 13mph to get going and be fun. I've flown the best ts 15m, thought that was killer but didn't want to spend the money. Thought id throw this post up to see what other people like and can vouch for, maybe give some info/advice to the guys making the trip to some lighter wind spots on some worthy gear that will keep them on the water. What do you guys like to ride in the lighter wind stuff?
Blazeheliski
Since 30 Mar 2011
659 Posts
Mosier
Addicted
This kite is a great kite to bring to the Yucatan. If I can only bring one kite, this is the one I bring. Outstanding light wind kite, and surprisingly manageable when the wind picks up. Last May I went to Cancun; this was the only kite I brought. The wind forecast was showing 10 mph at the most for the whole week. Well, one day it was blowing a bit stronger than that. All the downwinders going by were on 9s and 10s. I rode my Turbine, 'cause it's all I had. Sure, I would have been happier on a 10, but the Turbine was not too bad. Every other day the wind was very light; I was the only rider I saw that could get out past the break and go upwind. The only other riders I saw could only slide downwind right on the shoreline.
I've used the Tubine here locally a lot more than I thought I would. Family days on the river means light wind. Nobody but me wants sand blowing in their face? Before, these days always meant just sitting around when the girls were doing there "tanning." Now, I can get a session in!
We're off to Oahu next month, you can bet that the Turbine will be in the bag! There's so many days in Kailua that I call teaser days; days with 7 - 8 knots and occasional gusts to 9. Before, I just sat on the beach and waited, hoping... Now, I get a full session in on days like that.
BTW, a light wind board is as least as important as the kite. My weapon of choice for light winds is the Glide. The SS Dialer is awesome as well, but harder to carry on trips.
The last guy on the water has been a guy flying a 13-15M kite and a hydrofoil board - I believe this is the way to go... A lightweight kite and a foil board.
Dwayne
Wind Slither
Since 04 Mar 2005
2619 Posts
The 503
METAL
Thu Jan 30, 14 12:02 pm
There's been light wind posts on this forum you can search on...but they always lead to "why would anyone want anything bigger than a 12M?" or "just get a surfboard" from the light weights and Gorge heads.
San Diego is the light wind capitol of kiting...find out what those guys are flying. Also check out the course races. Or come to Sauvie this summer and see who's riding when everyone else is whining.
OG
Since 07 Jun 2011
597 Posts
Addicted
Thu Jan 30, 14 2:33 pm
Wind Slither wrote:
There's been light wind posts on this forum you can search on...but they always lead to "why would anyone want anything bigger than a 12M?" or "just get a surfboard" from the light weights and Gorge heads.
San Diego is the light wind capitol of kiting...find out what those guys are flying. Also check out the course races. Or come to Sauvie this summer and see who's riding when everyone else is whining.
funny. i stopped kiting at sauvies because of the light wind and finding myself becoming one of the people that was pissed cuz i didn't get to ride. seemed like i waisted a lot of time standing on the beach instead of just driving to the good stuff.
DrewB
Since 16 Aug 2006
384 Posts
PDX
Obsessed
Thu Jan 30, 14 3:33 pm
The day I signed a lease to live on Sauvie Island last summer I bought a 15 meter Wainman Big Mama (used) for $600 complete.
That and a skim and I could be out on the fart of a virgin.
It is kinda heavy for a light wind kite, but it pulls like a dump truck.
stringy
Since 23 Jun 2006
1734 Posts
vancouver
XTreme Poster
Thu Jan 30, 14 4:03 pm
like nak said when considering a lighter wind kite, you'll want to couple it up with a good light wind board.
I used to have an ozone zephyr 17m kite. this kite was big but could fly in the lightest seattle winds. water relaunch on this kite was equally impressive in light winds.
anyhow one session I was riding with a friend and he was on a 14m and a glide. I was on the 17m and a smaller board. he could go upwind better so I decided to part with the 17 and get a more efficient board.
for lighter winds, I got a strutless 13m kite. I also like to use my big skate, which is basically a glide but with more rocker and is strapless. with this setup I can go out in some pretty light winds. some of you remember this past summer's KB4C when there were only two kites trying to stay upwind before the event started. one was me and the other was andy from bellingham on his blade fat lady 17m.
anyhow I like the strutless because it's small when packed and super lightweight so easy to travel with. the 13m isn't their biggest in the lineup they also have a 17m strutless.
I'm sure that kite would get you out in the lightest of winds, I even know a couple of riders in seattle that use the 17m strutless.
as for the range on that 17m turbine, I've seen reinstra on that beast in light winds and I'm pretty sure he held that down during the blowout. that is impressive range _________________ www.jimstringfellow.com
Sella
Since 21 Apr 2007
1794 Posts
Doin' The Dalles
FLY'IN HIGH PIE GUY
Thu Jan 30, 14 4:08 pm
Weight is everything. Personally, I lean towards a 14M being about as big as you need because kite weight and turning speed on anything larger, for me, seemed to cancel out any extra size benefit. However, I've not flown a Turbine yet. (I weigh 200)
Nak, I think you also have a 14M Rally so is there much of a difference in getting out on the water compared to your Turbine?
My 14 rpm (27m lines) if it stay in the air will get me out everytime. It's my second most ridden Gorge kite, behind my 10M, mainly because I ride early evening "shift". If the 17M benefit over the 14M is just the ability to get out in a little lighter wind to mow the lawn and not boost....that's not enough stoke for me. If a virgin farts (great term btw Drew) and that 17 will boost 20 feet.....then you're talking.
Nak
Since 19 May 2005
4297 Posts
Camas
Site Lackey
The Rally is a great kite too. But, I have to admit I don't ride it near as much as before I had the Turbine. The Turbine has almost the top end of the 14m Rally, and I'm boosting on it before I can even ride the 14m. Range wise, the Turbine comfortably stretches to the 12m rally. That said, if the wind is 12 - 16 I prefer the Rally 14m. The Turbine flys extremely well for a 17m, but the 14m Rally fly's extremely well for a 14m as well. With wind 12 -16 the 14m Rally is faster through the window and faster turning than the Turbine. Above 18 I can ride the Turbine, but it starts losing it's fun factor. I've comfortably ridden the Turbine at 22, but you really spend a lot of time wishing you had a smaller kite. The 12m Rally is fun for me starting at 16 or so. So, if I'm driving my car to iffy winds--space limited--I bring the Turbine, 12m Rally, and 10m RPM. If I'm driving the truck, the 14m gets tossed in as well. For travelling it's a no brainer. The Turbine and a 12m Rally. If it's a really windy spot, then the 12 Rally and the 10 and 8 RPM.
BTW, my Turbine weighs almost exactly what my 14m Rally weighs.
jerp
Since 22 Feb 2013
453 Posts
Obsessed
Thu Jan 30, 14 9:16 pm
stringy wrote:
like nak said when considering a lighter wind kite, you'll want to couple it up with a good light wind board.
I used to have an ozone zephyr 17m kite. this kite was big but could fly in the lightest seattle winds. water relaunch on this kite was equally impressive in light winds.
anyhow one session I was riding with a friend and he was on a 14m and a glide. I was on the 17m and a smaller board. he could go upwind better so I decided to part with the 17 and get a more efficient board.
for lighter winds, I got a strutless 13m kite. I also like to use my big skate, which is basically a glide but with more rocker and is strapless. with this setup I can go out in some pretty light winds. some of you remember this past summer's KB4C when there were only two kites trying to stay upwind before the event started. one was me and the other was andy from bellingham on his blade fat lady 17m.
anyhow I like the strutless because it's small when packed and super lightweight so easy to travel with. the 13m isn't their biggest in the lineup they also have a 17m strutless.
I'm sure that kite would get you out in the lightest of winds, I even know a couple of riders in seattle that use the 17m strutless.
as for the range on that 17m turbine, I've seen reinstra on that beast in light winds and I'm pretty sure he held that down during the blowout. that is impressive range
You like how the Cloud handles? how is it to relaunch? I have been really interest in this kite for a while now, mainly because its just so different to what you normally see and it ideal for traveling with
Sella
Since 21 Apr 2007
1794 Posts
Doin' The Dalles
FLY'IN HIGH PIE GUY
Thu Jan 30, 14 9:24 pm
Nak wrote:
The Turbine has almost the top end of the 14m Rally, and I'm boosting on it before I can even ride the 14m. BTW, my Turbine weighs almost exactly what my 14m Rally weighs.
That's pretty impressive Nak. Slingshot made adjustments to the wing tip, construction and bridle in the 2013 Turbine to make it faster but I was not expecting there to be such a gap with the Rally. I've got to try one out because that could open up some worthwhile water time. Thanks for the breakdown summary as always brother!
Windian
Since 28 Apr 2008
901 Posts
Newport, OR
NEWPORT OG
Thu Jan 30, 14 10:06 pm
I am with Stringy and have joined the strutless crew for pursuing the light wind realm. Just got a Cloud 17m delivered on Monday of this week, but have not gotten on the water because I work to much. Maybe this weekend I'll get a chance since the forecast is for 10 knots around here. Physics is the deciding factor as to what will be able to work best in the lightest wind and the strutless kites weigh significantly less than kites with struts. My 17m Cloud weighs almost 2 lbs less than my Rally 12m and I am sure that it is going to weigh 30 to 40% less than any kite with struts of comparable size. I like to ride waves with a kite in my hands and what has stopped me in the past from going really big on kite size is they don't drift downwind well. Apparently the strutless kites are breaking old boundaries as far as drifting downwind in light winds.
stringy
Since 23 Jun 2006
1734 Posts
vancouver
XTreme Poster
Thu Jan 30, 14 10:20 pm
jerp wrote:
You like how the Cloud handles? how is it to relaunch? I have been really interest in this kite for a while now, mainly because its just so different to what you normally see and it ideal for traveling with
Greg who is the guy behind the strutless design, has offered owners of the strutless cloud an alternative bridle configuration. I've recently tried the new bridle modification, however still need more time to determine if it's an improvement or not.
The new bridle is much more compact and less weight. I've flown it twice with this configuration, but need to fly it back to back with original bridle to really compare it.
so far so good though.
As for relaunch, I've had one situation where it was challenging to relaunch. in a scenario where water could get on the canopy, it can potentially weigh the canopy down and prevent relaunch. this was a extremely light wind condition when this happened and had I used a kite with struts, it would not hold the canopy down, however the weight of a strutted kite probably would not have relaunched due to the weight of the kite. Here's a video that demonstrates the strutless kite.
Good Stuff Guys....I just picked up a 14M Blade Trigger with the hope I can do more 'lawn mowing' out of the light Wind area of Woodland. I'm pretty green and have lots of questions regarding a lighter wind board for my 165lb frame. (Is it advisable to put straps on a Wakeboard?) Any feedback will be appreciated.
Sella
Since 21 Apr 2007
1794 Posts
Doin' The Dalles
FLY'IN HIGH PIE GUY
Fri Jan 31, 14 9:36 am
With the Cloud is bar pressure driving the bridle tweaking??? That 17 packed up small could be a great traveler and definitely nothing lighter on the market. Windian, congrats on the purchase and when you get a chance post up the range and your general feedback please if you don't mind. Thanks!
Sella
Since 21 Apr 2007
1794 Posts
Doin' The Dalles
FLY'IN HIGH PIE GUY
Fri Jan 31, 14 9:58 amRe: Lite Wind board
KCM wrote:
Good Stuff Guys....I just picked up a 14M Blade Trigger with the hope I can do more 'lawn mowing' out of the light Wind area of Woodland. I'm pretty green and have lots of questions regarding a lighter wind board for my 165lb frame. (Is it advisable to put straps on a Wakeboard?) Any feedback will be appreciated.
Riding in light wind is not easy as your timing has to be perfect to make it work. Look for a big kite specific strapped twin-tip so you get through your transitions etc...etc....smoothly and with speed. A wakeboard will have too much rocker and typically needs a ton of power to work. With your weight and that 14 Blade you'll be juiced. Have fun.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You can attach files in this forum You can download files in this forum
Before, these days always meant just sitting around when the girls were doing there "tanning." Now, I can get a session in!
Thanks for the breakdown summary as always brother!
