Nope, we dont have a lot of wind - we have ALL winds - it can be windy, but it can also be dead for long periods, so all kite sizes are needed here.

The issue is not whether you got low winds or not though - and it is not because the big kites fly bad I have never seen anybody using these in waves.

It is simply because, you can still not go DTL in winds where a 15-17-19m2 is needed (average weight 80kg that is).

12 knots is not really light (but light, agree) - and as Brent says, he can ride on a fish with a 10m2

So my point is, that I dont believe anyone can ride DTL in winds where those kitesizes up to 19m2 are needed

It is the lack of windspeed that makes it impossible or very very bad - as you have the wind straight from your back, so you need to turn your board extremely fast in the turns.
Doing this, a small kite will give the same or more power IMO, because it does not lose power when turned like the bigger ones always will.

Of course the big ones are sligthly better at going back upwind, that is true - but for riding the waves they are ALWAYS worse IMO, no matter how light the wind

Meaning - even in really light wind, around here at least - you mostly see 9m2 SLE kites as the max size even for the heavier riders too, when talking waveriding.
A few got a big 11m2 for extremely light conditions though

Bigger kites only used for TT's and Raceboards here, never for waveriding.

Peter

Good for your ego and undisciplined freedom for squandering health,
if that's what satisfies you which is already compulsive

DrLW

Dear "IMO".... i will respect your "O"......but it just can't be the absolute and only truth worldwide

for the nice exchange ...................... ..................................................................

Ezy and Peter. Show some cajonees and select a the optimal wind speed for you. Your most desired wind speed.

Yes you can have all sorts of fun in all sorts of wind. But what give syou the biggest grin.

30-34 knots on the 10m for biiiiggg air and for the 7m that would be 36+.

Ofc I can really enjoy 20-25kts sessions, layed back and a bit of freestyle.

But I enjoy kiting from 9-10 knots as my quiver is 17-10-7.

15-25 knots, warm wind, shorts...just like what Brazil offers...steady winds!!

I know what you mean. That Brent dude is a loser!

Wow!! Dude, I'm on A 6m in anything over a solid 20knots! Even in boots, 30 knots is small kite weather. Even for fucktards like Starsky!

15-25 knots

Peter / Supa, regarding the discussion about being able to ride Down-the-Line with large 15m+ kites - is it possible that you guys are thinking about different wind directions?

I, too, have never seen a normal-weight wavekiter ride down-the-line (with repeated, connected top and bottom turns) on a 15m kite or larger. However, I can imagine that it would be quite possible to do it with the right angle of side-offshore wind, such that you are basically on a close reach when speeding down the face of the wave after your top turn (i.e., heading slightly upwind), and on a broad reach after your bottom turn. That way, you should be able to keep the kite parked behind the waveline, and even if the kitelines momentarily go slack after your bottom turn, they should snap tight again after your next top turn.

But if we are talking light side-shore or, even worse, side-onshore or onshore wind... That would be tough to pull off using a really big kite for your average-weight rider.

Peter's point about the rider's weight is a good one. For a 120 kg rider, down-the-line riding with a 15m kite or bigger is not such a big deal, simply because he would be riding the 15m in much higher wind speeds (and given his weight and the higher wind speed, the 15m kite will be decently reactive). It's for the normal 75-80 kg rider that a 15m kite means really marginal wind - and in those conditions down-the-line riding becomes much more challenging.