Kite size question

[Jeff77]

My wife and I are both beginner kiters. She's about to work on her waterstart and I can ride about 50 to a 100 meters before crashing. We currently own a 2010 Ocean Rodeo Rise 11m kite.

We're looking to buy a second kite and next year probably a third. I weigh 195 lbs and her weight is 160 lbs.

Would a 9m kite be right for us now and later a 7 meter? Or should we get an 8m kite and later a 6m? We're looking to kite around Vancouver and for vacations in Maui, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Your comments are greatly appreciated! Thanks.

[direnc]

Me and my wife kite are both kiters. I weigh 177 lbs, and she is 121lbs. We have 7.5, 10, 12 and 16m kites and three boards of different sizes. Since you both weigh more than us, it would probably be better if you bough a bigger kite, like a 14m for lighter winds. But if you plan to always kite in high winds I'd go for an 8m.

[boardriding maui]

Aloha Jeff,

Since you mention Maui, I'll give you my two cents.

My feeling is that kite size choice is specific to many variables, including, but not limited to: local riding conditions, rider experience, rider size, personal preference, and the list goes on.

My best guess from what you've written, but without knowing Vancouver (other than its a super rad city, and my first stop on the way to Whistler!!!) is that your thinking for a 7 and 9 to add at some point to your 11 sounds awesome. I think you'll want to take local advice specific to your riding areas (and not mine from Maui). Maybe look up Kyle Touhey on Facebook.

For Maui, I could do 95% of my riding on a 7m (assuming it is a kite with good range). My wife does most of her riding on a 6m, and there are plenty of days when she's too lit, so we just got a 5m. So, a 6, 8, 11 quiver may be more Maui-friendly for a 3 kite quiver. Or, up-ing it to a 4 kite quiver of 5, 7, 9, 11 may be even more Maui friendly. Still, in Vancouver, it may be you'll get way more sessions on a kite bigger than 11, instead of adding a 5m. So, it gets confusing, and leads me back to the importance of local advice (so ignore my comments outside of those for Maui).

If I may add to your post: I'm very interested to hear what everyone's dream quiver is for where they ride. Not brands/models, but just number of kites in the quiver, and what sizes, specifying the riding location(s). For example, mine is:
Maui1 kite quiver: 7m.
2 kite quiver: 6, 8.
3 kite quiver: 5, 7, 9.
If I'm going to travel, add a 13m.

Thank you.

[Laughingman]

Board riding Maui is on the money. Smaller kites need smaller increments, max 2m under a 9m kite, larger kites can span 3 to 4m. A light weight rider will benefit from small increments. The force of the wind increases exponentially as the velocity increases.
If you have an 11 now I would go with either a 6 8 11 or a 9 11 13-14 depending on the average wind speed in your area.

[boardriding maui]

...to elaborate further on my comments specific to riding on Maui: The sizes I indicated are only for my riding preference. I have friends here that rarely ride smaller than 8m. Their (Maui) quiver is 8, 10, 12.

Hoping to hear back from more of you regarding dream quiver sizing in your area. Or, I'll bet there's been a discussion on this previously. Anyone have a link?

[Jeff77]

Mahalo for you replies!

I'll ask around here and see what other kiters and shops suggest. It's just that we both want to kite and not have too many kites. Right now we don't know what kind of kiting we prefer because we're just beginning. And probably in the future we need another board. We have a 133 x 41 cm Ocean Rodeo Zen board now.

[knotwindy]

just my opinion but as beginners you "proper" kite size is going to change all over the place

at first you want smaller gaps between kites so you can usually be on the right size to be as comfortable and safe as possible
as you improve even slightly you will find a little bigger kite will work a little better because you are not that efficient yet
as you get more efficient you will find you want a slightly smaller board,
then maybe a slightly bigger kite then for light wind you will want a slightly bigger board specific for lightwind and as the board gets bigger you will be able to use a smaller kite again
then if you decide jumps are fun(as most of use did/do) you will want to be overpowered with a bigger kite and if you then think waves would be fun and get a directional you will want a smaller kite again nd racing is a whole other thing and then, well, you get the idea, it is never ending
and all that has nothing to do with wind strength changes! although as the wind strength does change the water shape changes so you will want to do different thongs which will require different tools

so whatever you get will work really well and then it won't
have fun and have money ready

[mariod2]

You could go with a 8-9m now as you do not wan to ride in powerful winds with a 7 as a beginer.

You could consider getting 2 boards, one all round and one for light wind, then you are well set off with than 11/8-9 kite quiver.

[Slappysan]

When you say kiting in Vancouver do you really mean Squamish? because you can't really kite in Vancouver aside from spring/fall and you'll get much more time on the water if you focus on going up to Squamish during the summer when you have a 99% chance of quality wind.

For Squamish you need a 8 or 9m for your wife.

If you do want to focus on kiting in Vancouver you'll need to get both a light wind board and not only a bigger kite but also a LW specific kite (otherwise it won't stay in the air during the lulls).

[jumarcil]

My wife and I are both beginner kiters. She's about to work on her waterstart and I can ride about 50 to a 100 meters before crashing. We currently own a 2010 Ocean Rodeo Rise 11m kite.

We're looking to buy a second kite and next year probably a third. I weigh 195 lbs and her weight is 160 lbs.

Would a 9m kite be right for us now and later a 7 meter? Or should we get an 8m kite and later a 6m? We're looking to kite around Vancouver and for vacations in Maui, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Your comments are greatly appreciated! Thanks.

Depends on the wind conditions but at 195 pounds an 11m wont get you far in the Caribbean and mexico when the wind isn't blowing.

at 170 pounds I use a 9m, 12m and 15 and I kite from 10 to 35+ knots

so at your weights (160 -195)

8m , 11m, + a 14m or 15m. (she use the 8 you use the 11, you use the 14 she use the 11 and so on. at 160 on an 8m she could ride up to 30 knots but since you guys are starting you wont kite in really strong 35+ conditions.