What size kite for wind speed.

[jchooper12]

Hello all, I am new to kiteboarding and am taking lessons, but I still have a question that nobody seems to be able to answer for me. It seems like an easy question to answer also so here goes. I am 275 pounds, I have a 179 Litewave 04' board, an 2002 Aero 16M and a 2002 Rhino 12M. Question
1. What wind range can I fly my 16M as a beginner?
2. What wind range can I fly my 12M as a beginner?

I have been told that with my weight if I see kiters using there 9M I should use my 12M, problem is I live in an area where there are only like 3 kiteboarders and I cannot rely on anybody being there when I go out so I need to knoe for sure what kind of conditions I can fly those kites in so I do not kill myself.

[oceanplay]

I am 275 pounds, I have a 179 Litewave 04' board, an 2002 Aero 16M and a 2002 Rhino 12M. Question
1. What wind range can I fly my 16M as a beginner?
2. What wind range can I fly my 12M as a beginner?

Hate to be the bad boy but you need allot of wind. I’m 200 and for you the 16 it would be a guess, I would say you could ride 18 to 30 with some skill the 12 I would hate to guess. you need a 20 or bigger for sure
I ride my 16 from 14 to 21 and 12 from 17 to 30. Take out the 16 and see what it will do (in lighter wind) and we could make a better judgment from that. don't go in high wind untill you know what it will do.

[jchooper12]

Just so you know, I did go out with my instructor and we launched a 12M 2 line in maybe 15mph winds and the kite had me streched out completly. It even lofted me about 2 feet when I accedently got it is the power zone. I dont know it that tells you anything. I have spoken with a kite shop owner in Corpus and he said that the 16M would be what I used moslty in the DFW area and he said when I get down to the 250 range in weight my 12M will be good in higher winds. Anyone else have this problem?

[jchooper12]

Does anyone else have the weight issue? What kites do you use?

[doofus]

I'm about 270 as well

I'm on a 138x40 underground fridgedoor which is smallish for me and much much smaller than a 179, but then i have been doing this for three seasons

i'm using a 18m guerilla arc which is in the same region as a 16m aero

15 knots should be enough but as you get better you will be able to get going in less and stay in control in more

10 knots would be way too light and 20 would be too much at least while learning

but yeah a 15 knot breeze should be fine for you on your 16

the 12 should be ok from say 20 knots throught to 26 comfortably

doof

[jchooper12]

That is what I needed to hear.

[jchooper12]

to doofus,

seeing you are a bigger guy like myself did you have trouble finding harness to fit you. I had to have Dakine special make me one and right now with a 12" spreader bar it fits but still could lose some weight to make it better.

[doofus]

nah the biggest dakine fusion fits me really well with room to spare
i wear 107cm trousers (42 inches)
the biggest naish harness was ok but a bit of a squeeze however


doof