If the winds are thermal then I can see why a 15m but it frontla then a 15m is a big kite for your weight? Also if you get a combination of thermal and frontal winds then a bigger gap might work as the two kites are essentially for different situations?

I'm 80kg and witht a 135 twin I have an 11m Airush Razor as my bigest kite and this works from about 12 knots where I can just about keep ground while doing some unhooked stuff - I do know how to fly a kite and not be pulled by it though.

I'm also assuming your tiny 666 is an old board and a more modern board might be a better investment as you can get a bigger size that will hold the same power with more comfort but also let you get on a plane a little earlier - look at the Shinn boards.

So that said I'd be tempted to go 12/8m kites that are fast and efficient and get a board about 132x40 in size.

It's not a big overlap for sure but you could probably ride comfortably on the 17 up to around 15 with a normal board, once you start getting over 15m I think you start getting into an area of diminishing returns at our weight. In under 10 or 11 knots I could always work my 12 to have as much power as those big kites because they're so slow, but you would certainly be able to go upwind powered a little sooner. A 15/10 should give you better range I think if it gets up to 30, 15/11/8 would be better for sure since you'll have a little more overlap and a little more range. I can't do anything but go downwind on a 12m in over 22 knots and can't hold onto it in 25 knots. So add a few knots to either end and you'll get the 11m wind range for our weight. 30 knots on a 10m would be pushing it for me as well but you might be able to make it work

tractionmanuk, your story is SO familiar to me! I, too, got married and have been sort of "absent" for the last 5 years. I've been out on occasion, but not much. You were on Ravens, I still HAVE my X4's. I'm in the same boat and have been thinking about a Slingshot Turbine (17) and a Cabrinha Crossbow 13. I'm 240 (108kg) and ridea Underground Magic Carpet 158. I'll be watching to see what gets recommended for you as it might work for me as well!

A gap of 7 meters is OK between your LW kite and your next kite size you use the most often

I do 19/12....my wife do 17/10....we do not change board size (Whip) with those 2 kite sizes

If i go on the 10 and she goes on the 8 then our strapped surfboards are narrower gun design
Same narrow board will be used if i am on 8 and she is on a 6

Last year (when i had a SP3 21) i had gap of 9 meters and had no issues dropping to my 12 in size

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It sounds like a big gap, but the latest generation of Ozones have excellent depower range, so the combination is very usable. I have used 17m up to 9 m/s and if felt safe. And from around 8 m/s the 10m kite rides well. I am using both regular twintips and a raceboard; if I use raceboard the threshold just goes lower (e.g. I can use 10m kite in 6-7 m/s already).

I hope i have answered everyone here but if not sorry. Thanks again for all the comments.

I have another question regarding line lengths. Am i right in thinking the 25m lines are the way to go with this setup? As the NKB bar has different length options.

s29feb - thats a good point about board size, maybe i have to re think my board in the long run. My previous board was 119cm Slingshot misfit and i loved that, i have always ridden small boards without problems. When i bought my 126 Mr Shinn himself told me its too small for me but having tested the whole range it was the one i liked best although i also liked bigger boards.

dyyylan - I think 30kn on a 10 will be pushing it for me also

SENDIT! - Good luck to you it is not easy making the decision. Or should i say the right decision. I really wish i was in a position to try out some gear before buying it if you are then definatly demo some kites.

RalfsB - I have ridden an ozone in 2006 and really liked it i imagine they also have a good range now but unfortunately unless you know someone who will supply me at trade then i am not looking at them currently. I have never tried a race board (yet) but struggled with the mutant not being able to switch around on the board, i guess i never really tried that hard to be honest and only rode one once or trice.

Mark

Line length from 22-25 meters is about average, "long" lines are around 27 and short lines 17-20m

A common thing companies are starting to do is having shorter lines with extensions on them that you can remove, for example my current kites have 17,5m lines with 5m extensions, so I can go to 22,5m easily for normal riding or take them off for super looping

The longer the lines are the bigger the wind window is so you can get a longer power stroke, but the longer the lines the less responsive and direct feeling the kite is.

dyyylan - Well at least something has not changed then.

Thanks

Mark

OK so i have bitten the bullet and my new kites will arrive tomorrow. I chose the 11m to go with the 15m and will push for a smaller kite at the end of the summer (7 or 8m)

The bar will be 25m lines and now i am really looking forward to getting them up in the air for the first time and out onto the water.

Thanks everyone for the advice during this decision making as it has been very helpful. I just hope now that i like them

Tight lines to you all

Mark

Do you often have extremely low winds at your location ?

Since you are talking about these extreme kitesizes for 67kg

Most around here with "all winds" typicallly dont have bigger than max 10 or 11m2 when 67kg, and of course smaller sizes.

Sorry if you have written that earlier - I just missed it then...

67kg and a 15m2 ? Sounds extreme

But the 11 and an 8 to come (dont go 7, way too big a gap), sounds good if you have normal "changing" winds

Peter