SB2: Which Size ?

[ruffen]

Hi

I'm getting Cabrinha Switchblade 2's this year but I'm wondering what sizes to get.

I'm 68-70kgs and do most of my kiting in 15-30 knots, my board is 128x38. The last years I've been on Fuel 7,9,11,13.

Should I go for 6&10 or 8&12 ? Or do I need a 3 kite quiver ? Where does the 10 start compared to the 12 ?


Thanks for any input !

[blacktip]

Hi

Im 82 kg, for me my SB 12 windrange is starting from 13/14 knots on a twintip 128.
Have flown the 10 a few times. That kite is really something. For me it works from 15/16 knots.

So defenitily for your weight and your given windranges, I recommend you to go for 10 as your biggest kite.

[kerambeach]

Hi

I weight 75 kilo and the switchblade 10 and 6 make an ideal quiver for me....

[ruffen]

Excellent - thanks guys

[experienced1]

ruffen:
I'm 71 kg nd use the XB2s and use the 9 and 12 in 14-30mph avg..use the 133 x39 custom. think you might want to consider the 8/10, 8/12, 10/12 combination. I prefer to overlap in my quiver rather than a gap
steve

[ScottM]

Hey experience 1

I've got a plan which would see me on a 7m XB, 10SB and 12 SB with a possible thought to have a 9m XB as well. The idea would be to no longer have the 14 contra and 12 xb. If I can sell some of my kites, that would be the way I'd go I think?

[IWB2]

Hi Ruffen,

I really think the sizes of your SB2 will come down to your board (ie size and efficiency). I am a tad lighter than you ie 65kg and i ride the 10m SB2 from 13knots to about 25knots (or a fraction higher). I have used the 12m and it does give u a bit more power (as expected) at the low end but you might get a couple knots more at the most. The 12m is nice and this or the 10m would be your low wind kite. I just had a chance to use the 8m this week in about 20 to 25 knots and was totally blown away!! This size for me rocks!! I was jumping just as high or even higher than on my 10m on the same day.. unhooked riding was very smooth. I found that the 10m has a slight delay when pulling the bar ie in downloops but the 8m feels instant. Also the 8 kite too me still felt of a substancial size and did not have to sign it constantly. Unfortuantely the 8m and 10m are very close in size with lots of overlap.. I was told by a 75kg advanced rider that the 8m is a handful around 30knots. No one in our weight range has really given a detailed review on the 6m SB2 which is ashame so can't help you there.
My thought would be a 12 and 8, or 10 and 8 (right now) This might change once i get a go on the 6m. Hopefully someone in our weight range can speak on the 6m.

cool!

[MyNameIsMatt]

Hi - if you're only going out in up to 30kts, I reckon you might just get away with a one kite quiver.

I have a 10 & 12 SB2 and have ridden them both at the top & bottom of their ranges - I weigh 85kg / 190lbs.

As has been said - the 10 will be a good size for you at 15kts, no problem at all. But the thing I have found with both kites is how much wind they take! When really powered up, you can step on the back foot and the kite comes forward really nicely in the window and kills a lot of the pull in the kite... until you send it up and get the floatiest air!

You may just get away with a 10 only for now unless a) you spend a lot of time in 30kts or b) you unhook alot in which case a smaller kite will definitely be more comfortable to go with the 10. But as IWB2 said, may be look at an 8 instead of a 6.

[kiteboard9097]

the 10 is PERFECT

[ScottM]

Yeah everyone says the 10m SB2 is the sweet size! When I used the 10m and 12m back to back when also using the 12m Xbow, I found the 12m SB2 to feel super powerful and much bigger in feel than the 12m xbow. Basically with the SB2's you kinda run a size down from the Xbows I'd think. Xbows love to be used close to their upper limits, so you can rely on their extreme gust handling and instant depower to flick it where you want, when you want. Underpowered although they have plenty lowend to get going, I find it easier to oversheet and stall somewhat.

When I got onto the 10m SB2 I was really at home as the turning radius and reactions were quite similar to the Xbow 12 I thought. The SB felt floatier, though for all out height the Xbow reigns supreme. Where I've never felt comfortable with the xbow is unhooked, it's not as natural as the SB2 in this area.

So what I envision is for me at least I've realised that the xbow is amazing for gusty hooked in kiting and to not have them would be a bit of a loss. So having a 12m, 9m and I'm thinking on going with a 7m for the nuking days is the way to go. However having used the SB2 range I'm very tempted to have one or two kites in this model as well for totally different riding requirements!