Need advice on buying a new kite. I'm riding a Slingshot Fuel 12.0 (8,82 projected) and now want to get another bigger kite (Takoon Skoop) for the real light wind days. I weigh 80kg and dont want the Skoop to overlap too much with my Fuel. So I think the 12.5 Skoop would be the size to go for.

I've senn a few discussions about Takoon's bar sizes. Can anyone comment on what would be the best bar sizes for the Skoop 12.5 and the 10.5?? Thanks a lot in advance.

Get the 12.5, and use a 65 cm bar. It works great. I am 90-95 kg, and was going great this weekend on a Olry 175 with onshore wind and big shore-break. The wind was 4 Bft, so you'll be easily going in 3 Bft.

I saw someone else with my kite this weekend, and it was very impressive to see such a large kite turn so fast.

grtz,
Dènis

Alf, I heard that the backward relaunch bridling was slowing the kite down. Can you comment on that for this 12.5 (>17m2 flat surface !!) ? Do you use the backward relaunch bridle with a 65 cm bar or is this bar too short ? Does the backward relaunch work below 10 knots with this 12.5 ?
I am a 72kg . What is my inferior wind limit for cruising according to you with a 175TT, with a 6.6"=1.95m directional ? /Mike

I don't use the relaunch bridle. Last year I used it with my 11.8 till it broke. Fact is that the kite is perfectly relaunchable without.

I use my 12.5 with 65 cm bar, it's plenty fast.

Last year the backwards relaunch worked in very light winds on my 11.8 (unsurfable winds) In higher winds you cannot use reverse launch unless you have mega power, and ground under your feet.

I am 90-95 kg, last weekend I was riding my Olry 175 in dead-onshore winds with high shore-break in 4 Bft. So in flat water my guess is that you will be going upwind in a low 3 Bft.

The kite likes fast boards btw.

grtz,
Dènis