Forum for kitesurfers
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chemosavi
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Postby chemosavi » Wed Jun 07, 2006 11:28 pm
Been out several times now with the contra-14 and the general rule I've found is I have to see at least a few whitecaps to go upwind. 93kg., Door 64 (164 cm x 46cm almost flat bottom) Same goes for the Speed-17.
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Phillipp
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Postby Phillipp » Wed Jun 07, 2006 11:34 pm
If I hadn't been there and flown the kite myself I would have said: "the miracles of photoshop!!!"
Chemo, so far I tend to agree with you. With all my kites so far I would only really start to have fun when there were some small whitecaps.
Today maybe the day where I'll revise this statement. I will see if a friend of mine can bring a video camera and a wind meter so we can document properly and come to a more accurate assessement.
To be honest, I don't really care if the kite flies in under 4 knots. What matters is how soon I can have fun with it.
But the indications are there that I'll have fun a bit sooner
P
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bigwave
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Postby bigwave » Thu Jun 08, 2006 1:19 am
Phillipp,What are the design features that you see that enable this kite to fly in that low wind?Maybe I've missed a post covering it,but why is this Contra model the light wind choice compared say, to the Xbow
Thanks
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HelldogBE
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Postby HelldogBE » Thu Jun 08, 2006 6:35 am
can get pretty hairy though, i've had my waroo up in such conditions.
Suddenly the wind drops a few knots more and down it goes, right ontop of u (I swear u won't have the time to get the lines tight again if its dropping from zenith
)
also no relaunch in those winds so I wouldn't go too far on it, but its nice for mountainboarding!!
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ZenWind
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Postby ZenWind » Thu Jun 08, 2006 10:02 am
It must be a magic kite.
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jrobson
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Postby jrobson » Thu Jun 08, 2006 10:51 am
bigwave wrote:Phillipp,What are the design features that you see that enable this kite to fly in that low wind?Maybe I've missed a post covering it,but why is this Contra model the light wind choice compared say, to the Xbow
Thanks
Inside info says it has a smaller cabrinha sticker that contributed about 80% to the improvement in lightwind performance...
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OzBungy
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Postby OzBungy » Thu Jun 08, 2006 1:12 pm
Nice pictures. Now f*** off and don't come back until you've been riding with it. (groan. I am a wind addict and my last kite was 18th of April 2006)
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tukyank
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Postby tukyank » Thu Jun 08, 2006 8:05 pm
chemosavi wrote:Been out several times now with the contra-14 and the general rule I've found is I have to see at least a few whitecaps to go upwind. 93kg., Door 64 (164 cm x 46cm almost flat bottom) Same goes for the Speed-17.
Ah yes - I've been waiting for a Contra vs Speed 17 comparison.
Are you saying the Contra 14 is comparable to the Speed 17????
I've done many head to heads with my X-bow 16 and Speed 17. Speed 17 has a lower range of 2-4 mph. (90kg on SS Glide) - I can fly it on the beack in 5mph - but need atleast 8 to ride on the water. For the X-bow 16, I need atleast 10mph to get going.
X-bow kicks Speed ass on the upper end though...
So, what I really want to know is - Does the Contra 17 have a better (wind speed at which you hold your ground on the water) low end than the Speed 17?
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chemosavi
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Postby chemosavi » Thu Jun 08, 2006 8:44 pm
It's my "shit for brains" notion without flying the contra 17 that it will be as good as if not better than the Speed-17 at getting you going in minimal wind. That's based on the C-14 which I have and have flown back to back with the Speed-17(same wind). The c-17'll sure turn a lot faster than the speed so if-you-good-at-fly-kite-kinda-guy you-a gonnna love it.
about same size cadaver and board as yourself.
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mykrowyre
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Postby mykrowyre » Thu Jun 08, 2006 9:34 pm
It's called wind up top.
Have you ever had to run in dead air to get a kite into the air, only to get lofted once it hit 12:00? I have...
Happens all the time down here.
Lofted in 4 knots? No way, it's more up top.
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