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North Kontact, what size ?

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romkite
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North Kontact, what size ?

Postby romkite » Wed Nov 21, 2012 11:50 am

Hi, I am looking at a 2011 6.2 but am worried it might be too long, I could also afford a 5.11 2012. I read a few things here and on the forums but I am still unsure, and it seems like I will not be able to try one.

I am 1m83, 78 kg, confirmed/advanced on a TT, intermediate/confirmed on surf. I am riding strapless on a 5.8 takoon burning 2008 which I like a lot. It is rock solid, quite comfy in chop and also very fast. But I am mostly riding small waves and I am sinking too much, cannot really surf without the kite pulling me. I tried the whip 5.8 and I feel like I want the opposite, it felt fat, slow and very uncormfortable in the chop. Tried f-one signature 5.10 and taht was quite ok, not so sure about the turns though, maybe because I am used to my quad. Tried f-one 2012 SL 6.2 and was a bit confused by the size to start with, ended up enjoying it so so, it feels too fragile. I am jumping higher every day. Also quickly tried a wam 5.8, felt ok but not very fast. Humm, that's not a lot of experience I reckon... I would be glad to hear from you ! cheers

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Re: North Kontact, what size ?

Postby SupaEZ » Wed Nov 21, 2012 2:00 pm

At your weight you cannot go wrong with 5'11" x 17 1/4" x 2"
It would work great with a 12M kite starting around 14 knots to have fun
You could use that board from 14 to 40 knots

I personally at 75kg start using my Kontact 5'9" x 17 x 1 3/4"....with a 10M (no bigger)
That small board does not work that well with a 12M for me
I like around 18 knots to start having fun.....all the way to 40 knots on a 5M

Nothing goes through chop and tracks like being on rails...like that board
A definite go to board.....for crazy waters and fast waves...and huge jumps..with perfect landings
Very strong construction....meant to be ridden hard

................... :surf: :sun: ..........................................................................................................................

romkite
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Re: North Kontact, what size ?

Postby romkite » Wed Nov 21, 2012 6:58 pm

thanks for the feedback SupaEZ ! I am about to sign for a used 2009 6.1, will use it mostly within 15 to 30 knots, sometimes more, small waves, chop, onshore wind. My kites are 6, 7, 8 & 9m. I will not fly anything bigger, but will probably buy a 5m soon :D
Do you think 6.1 is too big ?

piccio
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Re: North Kontact, what size ?

Postby piccio » Wed Nov 21, 2012 8:23 pm

I used 6.1 2009 ,it is not big but you cannot have tight turns in small waves like wam or kontact 5.11.
I am 1,76 77kg used all summer wam 5.8 ,very good inside the wave,super fast turning,hard on chop.
tried kontact 5.11 2012 and bought one,feel much better on chop ,keeps speed better than wam, some heavier on turns .I have both now ,wam and kontact (2012).think kontact is not faster than wam ,maybe slower,it seems faster because it keeps speed better while wam is some unconfortable going fast.
previous model are heavier(before 2012),around one kg,it seems a little but has lot of influence in all aspect.,floating, speed,turning
had wam 5.8 2011 ,was worth spending money on 2012 model in april
cannot say anything on 2013 model
hi

SupaEZ
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Re: North Kontact, what size ?

Postby SupaEZ » Wed Nov 21, 2012 9:58 pm

romkite wrote:thanks for the feedback SupaEZ ! I am about to sign for a used 2009 6.1, will use it mostly within 15 to 30 knots, sometimes more, small waves, chop, onshore wind. My kites are 6, 7, 8 & 9m. I will not fly anything bigger, but will probably buy a 5m soon :D
Do you think 6.1 is too big ?
6'1" 2009 is not too big...since 9M is your largest kite you will fly...and you want low end of 15kn

But...in 20..25..30 .. 35kn ++.....it is a bit long and wide...for 78kg

That is where the smallest Kontact is really better....because it is also narrower

In any case make sure you get a great deal on that board....it is a 4 year old board design :D

romkite
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Re: North Kontact, what size ?

Postby romkite » Thu Nov 22, 2012 12:29 am

thank you guys ofr sharing your thoughts ! piccio, you're talking about tight turns with the wam, are using it quad or tri fin ? Anyway I am going to buy this 6.1 and worst case if I don't like it I will be able to resale it about the same price.

piccio
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Re: North Kontact, what size ?

Postby piccio » Thu Nov 22, 2012 4:31 am

Both 2011 and this year used three fins

transcanadatom
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Re: North Kontact, what size ?

Postby transcanadatom » Thu Nov 22, 2012 6:07 am

I just bought the 5 11 Kontact in Maui and it was awesome. I had 10 days on it at Kitebeach last week. I am 90 g and 5 9. I loved this board, so much fun for powered riding. I ride mainly inland lakes and this is a chop eater and fun on waves and fast! Could not be any happier. I got the 2012 for 650.00 U.S. at Second Wind in Maui. A real strong board for any quiver.

romkite
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Re: North Kontact, what size ?

Postby romkite » Thu Nov 29, 2012 9:17 pm

Hi guys, thanks again for your answers. I had my first session today on my 6.1 "sky" Kontact (not sure this is 2008 or 2009). Well, wind was not so good so I definitly need to spend more time on it. However I felt a bit like on the f-one 6.2, size wise... was not so sure where to put my feet, the stance feels quite big. Do you guys really put your frotn & back feet to the end of the pads ?? Also, when tacking, where do you put your back foot ? I feel like puting it straight in the middle where there is no more pad ! Am I wrong or why is htere no pad there ??

Appart from that I can already tell there is some good potential for large & fast curves ! Closer to what I was looking for than with the other boards I tried. Also, skaty feeling on small waves is not so far away, much closer to my 5.8 burning quad than I was expecting. And that's fine ! cheers.

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Dan-at-Duotone
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Re: North Kontact, what size ?

Postby Dan-at-Duotone » Thu Nov 29, 2012 9:59 pm

Just to straighten you out, the Kontact you have is 2009... there was no Kontact in 2008. And though your board says "Sky" on it, it was actually shaped by Martin Littlewood. The Kontact got a big reworking in 2011, which I believe is when Sky started shaping them, so I'm not sure you can compare the newer Kontacts to the one you have. I know for sure that the construction, pads (probably pad placement too) and pretty much everything else was changed completely between 2009 and 2011.

-Dan


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