Best big kite size for East Bay for max water time?

[jaxonholer]

Earlier in the day is not the time to ride crissy. the wind is either 1)Off 2)Building and unreliable, or 3)ON. A 16 will very rarely be a usable kite at crissy, if it's blowing on the outside, it's 18-30. If it's dead on the inside, no kite will get you there. The problem of not being able to get to the wind is always less of a problem than not being able to get back to the beach.

When the wind dies, you'll be happy you have a big floaty board, either to kite or to help you swim in. If your board does not have a lot of float, you won't make it in with the constant heavy current.

[Aloha]

Agreed on Crissy comment - big kites are a no-no due to the nature of the flukey inside on a typical kite-able NW flow day (which is even harder to manage with a big kite). Exception might be winter north days when it's on-shore...

As for the east bay - if you are not doing exotically lightwind kiting in 5 - 10mph range (best left to large high aspect kites, foilboards and Alameda at HIGH tide ;]) the largest kite you need is a 14-16M, which with a big board serves people to have mellow sessions on those typical "teen-something" days. I've had a trusty high aspect 16M that doesn't begin to feel like it's topping out till about 20mph for a few seasons now (for those that have seen me over the years flying that orange and black RRD blimp at Alameda). I even have a contemporary high aspect 18M (the black and white RRD blimp) that will take me into high teens without things getting scary.

I think the compelling aspect of the BRM Cloud is their ease of down-window reverse launch due to weight which is the biggest pitfall situation to watch out for in extreme lightwind kiting. The other option is the high-aspect big kite which probably has more flight stability (lower minimum windspeed to stay flying) that you try not to drop.

Anyway to sum it up: 14-16M kite, 5-10M line extensions help (remember it may be 9mph at water surface but 12-13 mph at full kite altitude equipped w/ extensions due to wind shear), don't "work the kite" (you may be dropping the kite into flukier / lullier wind at water surface - again see wind shear comment) - just keep kite "high and away" and go slightly downwind a bit to gain speed again during lulls, use a big board, and learn to downloop your transitions for maximum kite stability during the session are my biggest pieces of advice. Enjoy!

[Rakky]

What are BAK members experiences on Kite Model, Size and the Wind Range it is functional.

[kitenaked]

Cabrinha 14m SB, 13/15 Contra, or 14m Velocity are ALL good options
steve

My 15m Contra is awesome when it holds air...

[reyrivera]

Hey Chris,

Not wanting to hijack this thread, just a side note, your Contra started leaking again? I thought we identified and fixed the factory issue that Cabrhina did not want to deal with?

Shoot me an email or pm, I want to make sure the work I did for you is covered properly.

Rey

Cabrinha 14m SB, 13/15 Contra, or 14m Velocity are ALL good options
steve

My 15m Contra is awesome when it holds air...

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Now back to big kite discussion,

I still have my 20 meter 5 line C kite and 9 foot surfboard combo that I use in Alameda for those consistent light wind days in the summer, when I'm jonesing for a session but don't want to drive for more than 20 minutes to a spot. Combo works really well for 10-15 mph winds, as long as I don't drop the kite in the water.

[sanjose_kiter]

My buddy just bought an 18 meter ozone chrono and I 've had a 15 meter for 2nd year.
We kite mainly at Alameda and we 're both 150 - 160 lbs. North-East bay, TP, Berkeley RT is too far - traffic wise - for us to go.

When I kited at 3rd ave, Sherman, Waddell, my biggest kite is a 12 meter. Slingshot turbine, blade fat lady, ozone zephyr - all 17 meters - are the most popular kites I 've seen at Alameda.

Good luck with your selection

[kitenaked]

Hey Chris,

Not wanting to hijack this thread, just a side note, your Contra started leaking again? I thought we identified and fixed the factory issue that Cabrhina did not want to deal with?

Shoot me an email or pm, I want to make sure the work I did for you is covered properly.

Rey

Cabrinha 14m SB, 13/15 Contra, or 14m Velocity are ALL good options
steve

My 15m Contra is awesome when it holds air...

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now back to big kite discussion,

I still have my 20 meter 5 line C kite and 9 foot surfboard combo that I use in Alameda for those consistent light wind days in the summer, when I'm jonesing for a session but don't want to drive for more than 20 minutes to a spot. Combo works really well for 10-15 mph winds, as long as I don't drop the kite in the water.

It is coming your way Rey...

My 17m Turbine just got it anyhow. Contra is going out to pasture soon.

[Loscocco]

get a foil...

Didn't see that comment coming, Erin! (grin)

and a foil kite too!
Bet you didn't see that one coming :)

[g00mbs]

I'm a fan of the BRM Clouds. I have a 17m and Paipo (low drag board) for light wind days. Works great. I'm also 220lbs to 230lbs (haven't jumped on a scale in some time).

Although, big floaty boards are great in light wind, they also have more drag. Just something to note when trying out equipment.

[Nxnwsurfer]

Second thumbs up on BRM Clouds. Best lightwind kite out there if your going bigger. Nice thing about them is you don't have to go that big to get more range (12 BRM = 14m, 13 BRM used = 15m). I'd get one of those. They do incredibly well and our session saver in my opinion at TP or Alameda.