Why do you need especially fast turning kite

[Jukka]

It's like difference between driving a bus and a sports car...
...Flying my 4m in 45knots in 5m swell is like taming an angry wasp while being chased by buffalo. It's fanfu kibngtastic.

I don't think taming an angry wasp is how any sports car handling should be described. That would be more like a go-kart analogy.

[PullStrings]

Even in the wave when it’s critical a slower turning kite can be looped in a fraction of a sec & put where it needs to be...
Only drawback is: a much longer learning curve

I have to agree here
I went to a demo and took out a XR5 17 with a quad fins Nugget TT surfboard....wind side side-on 10-12kn....waves clean 3-4ft
Killed it in the turns whipping that kite around like it was a much smaller size
When i got back in to return the kite an experienced rider came to me and asked...were you pulling on the back lines to make the kite turn like that ??
My answer was no i did not...he went wow !
The kite had Sensor bar 52 cm wide

[Toby]

And don't forget the classic trick everyone wants to do: a Backroll.

Do It with a 17 in 15 knots and with a 5 in 45 knots.

Only with that you will know how good a slow kite is for progression...

[JustAGirl]

You are right , let him & his minions bark ... just don’t reward him with a response anymore... that’s painful to watch/read; they have no clue & whoever follows them, well, free world free choice, I’m not standing between anyone & the cliff

[Eduardo]

There seems to be plenty comments about bigger and slower kites being very boring. Like the one quoted below:

I have flown most of the big light wind kites on the market...…..they all suck, big , slow, and boring. Sorry but there is no magic kite IMO. A few years ago they got me excited, now I would rather wait for the wind to hit 13/14 mph and I can start having fun on my 12m flite.

It's obvious you want a fast kite on waves, loops during jumps and surely other specific situations.

But for regular riding and jumping and basic tricks I don't get the hype.

To me, my 17 m LW high AR kite is just as fun as my snappy 9 m freestyle / freeride kite.
The 17 rides fast enough, pulls jumps up like a smooth elevator and then does downloop carving turns with zero problems.
With my intermediate skills I can basically do all the same things on 9 or 17.

Am I missing a point here what makes super-fast kites the thing?

so many variables here. fast turning kites can be designed with or without a power surge. without, you have a classic pivot kite, which is great for situations that you want to redirect the kite but not get a yank such as side-on waves riding strapless. fast turning kites with a power surge can be a massive jumper/looper, as the redirection (up or loop) can feel like an immense turbo boost. but a slow kite also makes different styled jumpers happy to float and do rotations and tricks. it's all about your personal style and goals.

[knotwindy]

Some people prefer the feel of a truck and what it does
Some people prefer the feel of a motorcycle and what it does

Stable or flexible, pick what works for you

[jonysan]

And the Oscar for the best, fastest, most appropriate kite for your style and purpose goes to.

Drum roll, Ta Da.


The one you just bought !!!! everything else is crap, and your choice was inspired.

[plummet]

And don't forget the classic trick everyone wants to do: a Backroll.

Do It with a 17 in 15 knots and with a 5 in 45 knots.

Only with that you will know how good a slow kite is for progression...

Depends what your progression is. If its to waddle around in 15 knots then yes!. If its to haul arse in interesting conditions then no, a big slow kite is as useless as tits on a bull.


But hey, thats why there are different sized kites to pander to the different needs.


Float around Toby and enjoy your 2489th trick. I'll chase the stupid conditions that make me feel alive with my silly assed small kites.

[JustAGirl]

And don't forget the classic trick everyone wants to do: a Backroll.

Do It with a 17 in 15 knots and with a 5 in 45 knots.

Only with that you will know how good a slow kite is for progression...

Depends what your progression is. If its to waddle around in 15 knots then yes!. If its to haul arse in interesting conditions then no, a big slow kite is as useless as tits on a bull.


But hey, thats why there are different sized kites to pander to the different needs.


Float around Toby and enjoy your 2489th trick. I'll chase the stupid conditions that make me feel alive with my silly assed small kites.

Well the question wasn’t about size. I find “interesting conditions” require a stable kite rather than a fast turning one. The wakestylers I see on Airrush prefer to ride in less wind, keeps them stable. If it’s really gusty you are better off w a slower kite. That’s my sense. Size is a whole different issue.

[jumptheshark]

I have to agree here
I went to a demo and took out a XR5 17 with a quad fins Nugget TT surfboard....wind side side-on 10-12kn....waves clean 3-4ft
Killed it in the turns whipping that kite around like it was a much smaller size
When i got back in to return the kite an experienced rider came to me and asked...were you pulling on the back lines to make the kite turn like that ??
My answer was no i did not...he went wow !
The kite had Sensor bar 52 cm wide

?? You basically just said that you could make the kite turn faster, which in turn got better performance out of it. If they make the same kite turn faster next year without sacrificing other factors you don’t think it would be improved?

To the OP, I suggest it’s a matter of perspective. If a 9m is your small kite, it’s likely you spend a decent percentage of your kiting on big kites. Spend more time on smaller stuff and your opinion might change.