I watch a guy probably 190lb go out all the time on crossbow 16m LW
He rides this in almost any conditions with it

I also have a speed 3 15m deluxe. i can hold it to 23ish knots (82 pies). But in my opinion it ain't much fun over 20 knots. Too much entrained power that you can't instantly shed. flat water and over powered sweeet. just boost to the moon and glide for ages.

Choppy water it gets hard to hold an edge.
waves. you get a flogging because you cant switch the power off fast enough. powered speed 3 in the waves is next to useless apart form boosting off the wave lips on the way out.

In saying that the grin factor 13-18 knots is huge.

sub 18 i reach for the speed.
if its 15-25 i reach for the 13m edge. its faster and sheds power easier and also boosts to the moon. its better in waves than the speed three but is still shit compared to my smaller kites.

PS i'm in a wave spot riding primarily a wave TT.

Don't want to hijack the thread but I'm looking for a new kite below my 15m S3. I like my old 10m Vegas but it is just about finished so will sit semi retired as a 'reserve' kite. I could get a new Vegas but I'm thinking that a 11m Edge / 12m Screamer etc might be more versatile. I'm mostly free riding but I do go out in all conditions...and I do like to have positive bar feedback and nice lofty jumps. Any advice?

If you have a S315m I would go for a Screamer 10ltd, the power is similar to most 11m, boost well and float very well. I have a Screamer 12m because I have a Speed3 21 but if I had a S315 I would for sure pair it with the Screamer 10ltd. The Edge is a good kite for hangtime too but it is not as fast and fun to ride than a Screamer. Try them if you can, that is always the best to do.

Oh, good find JM..oh sorry i should say Mr. Delete but your style is too easy whatever the nickname you use! So what about this one...

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2371920&start=600

11 edge would sit nicely under the 15 speed. i wish i still had mine. pretty close in performance to the speed except faster. nop as much glide. but you do go higher than the speed 3.

in saying that as soon as it hits18-20 i jump on the 10m c4. doesn't have much glide but dang its a fun kite to fly.

So... lately i fly either 15m speed or 10m c4. haven't pulled the 13m edge out of the bag in a couple of months.