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Re: What size 15 or 17M.....tough decision

Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 10:27 pm
by juandesooka
Tough question, one I am struggling with too. I want a big kite as anti-skunk device, when my day at the beach arrives and the wind is less than forecasted. Problem is, seems we don't really have "light wind days" around here, where it is 8-10kts steady....we have highly variable 8-10 that will regularly gust to 15 or may suddenly drop to 0. So, it seems like if you get a big kite, it is either not steady enough to launch or you are often overpowered.

Life being about tradeoffs, seems to me you either chase that bottom end with a kite that can fly in next to nothing ... or you give up this 1 or 2 kts for a kite that can still be fun if the wind increases.

Right now, my project is a BRM Cloud 17m. I am learning about its potential ... and so far it is the former, takes very little to get in the air, but uncomfortably juiced at higher winds. I thought this kite would replace my 14m, with a perfect transition between the 17m and my 12m....but now think there actually is a gap there. I guess I may be keeping my 14m after all. :wink:

My prior project was an Ozone Edge 17m that I had briefly. It was no problem if it got a little windier, but I don't think had quite as good potential when it was really really light.

So....I guess the answer I am suggesting is to just get both. :cheers:

Re: What size 15 or 17M.....tough decision

Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 10:39 pm
by fogmeister
haha my local store might elevate my status to partner from gold member if I get the 17m to.....and think I am crazy :lol: but yeah seems like a simple solution

Re: What size 15 or 17M.....tough decision

Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 10:43 pm
by fogmeister
welli don't know but the contra seems to fly in nothing......when my friends older flysurfer falls out of the sky so does the contra I cant really tell much difference there...........??? so I guess I am not to concerned there .....

Re: What size 15 or 17M.....tough decision

Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 10:57 pm
by SupaEZ
fogmeister wrote:Me 72 kg....great lakes riding
So I would like to add a lite wind kite and by light wind I mean 6 to 12 knots often sub 10knots
Since you are set on Cabrinha...it's EZ...17...since it is Contra's largest size
Your boards are not that wide
You have fresh water
You want to have fun and be powered up
Every low end knot counts when it comes to LW
15 gives you @ 9 kn low
17 gives you @ 8 kn low but when the wind hits @9 kn you will blow by those guys on 15's

To me and i am about your weight i don't even mess around in LW..i go for the 19 XR3 Riot Core
Stays up flying in lulls of 5-6kn...blows EZ by everybody on 15's & 17's in 7-8-9 kn

Re: What size 15 or 17M.....tough decision

Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 11:05 pm
by fogmeister
alright firm advice supa I guess there is always the velocity 18.......I did have a crossbow 13m before and enjoyed it......but then there is relaunch??? but guess if I drop in 7kts deep water no one is getting up except flysurfer (I seen it)

Re: What size 15 or 17M.....tough decision

Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 11:37 pm
by GregWoj
Find a 17m with a good depower range. I am a Cabrinha homer (I have a 8 &11 SB and 14 vector). Contra is nice, but I found its hard, for my weight, to settle the 17m Contra down at 15+ when the gusts hit. Im 175 lbs geared up. Sooo... I ended up going with a Core XR3 17m because the range was pretty good to handle very light winds and tame the gusts up to 20. The bar has a nice 3 foot depower rope and cleat. I wouldn't recommend taking it out in steady 18-20 (obviously) but its good to know you can reel it back in when those inland gusts hit (I do most of my kiting in desert thermal/gusty conditions).

I can ride in as low as 8 (steady) with it and a big(er) board. Sweet spot, for me, is 10-12 on it. Handles 15-17 just fine by a quick pull on the rope.

Core XR3 17m isn't the only LW kite with good depower range... Zephyr 17, Best TS 17, and im sure others. Im a fan of high aspect LW kites so that's why mentioned those others in additional to Core 17m.

So... go with a 17 that has good depower range. The Core also has a ton of trim options. I don't mess around with that crap too much. I did move the rear lines to the "Wave - Very Fast" setting and noticed I lost a knot on the bottom end. Moved it back to middle... The Core 17 really comes to life at 10-12 knots. I tried the 19... The only thing I noticed was slower/sloppy turning.


Good luck and honestly, at the end of the day, you will still be stoked and having fun. Amazing how decisions like this are most stressful decisions addicts like us have to make. :lol:

Re: What size 15 or 17M.....tough decision

Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 11:52 pm
by FredBGG
juandesooka wrote: I want a big kite as anti-skunk device
Flysurfer is the ultimate anti-skunk device.

Re: What size 15 or 17M.....tough decision

Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2014 12:13 am
by fogmeister
ya greg that's what worries me about the 17m contra too the unforeseen gust which I have already experience with the 15m when I didn't have it depowered.......guess u didn't try the cab velocity 18m with the big depower that would def make it safer than contra 17m if its steady over 10kts I am gonna be on my 12m anyways but it does sometimes kick up fast.......just don't want to get caught in an over powered situation

Re: What size 15 or 17M.....tough decision

Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2014 12:41 am
by GregWoj
fogmeister wrote:guess u didn't try the cab velocity 18m with the big depower
Good point about right here. I actually have tried the Velocity and the Velocity Race Bar and its awesome for depower. Huge range. I forgot to mention that I did actually try the 15m Contra with the Velocity Race bar, with the long depower rope and this was a pretty money set up. Now that I think of it, behaves similar to the Core's depower rope and range.

so... if you are dead set on a Contra 17m, why not get it with the 65cm Velocity Race bar? Any shop can easily order that set up for you. That would be a pretty sweet set up IMO! I didn't do that because I got a good deal on the Core and am pretty happy with it. I do wish the bar was 5 cm wider though. My only pet pieve.

Re: What size 15 or 17M.....tough decision

Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2014 1:10 am
by fogmeister
anythoughts on the velocity greg other than slower turning
....interesting idea with bar.....or cut some of the spring so bar can depower higher and stay if my arms are long enough...haha