What size kite for Alameda?

queezyA · Post by **queezyA** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 7:06 pm

Hi All-

I'm a lean 130 pounder, beginner/intermediate. I've got a 9M and am looking to pick up a size I can use more at Alameda. Would you say a 12M ought get me the most number of days?

Thanks for any tips or experiences.

Hana · Post by **Hana** » Thu Mar 24, 2005 8:13 pm

Hi queezyA,

I'm a less than 130 pounder, beginner/intermediate. Without telling any technical info., from my limited humble experiences, I used 12m the most at Alameda last year. Used 147cm board with it, but I felt bulky down there so used with 122cm board. It felt fine. I also used 16m a lot too. But now I can't wait to use my 6m!! :supz:

knyfe · Post by **knyfe** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 9:43 am

A 12 will be good as you gap in size (to your 9) will be right. For the summer I assume that a 14 will be better for you. If you would sort yourself more into intermediate than go for a 13-14. As a beginner go 12. May be a Windwing (14) with the increadible depower (SAFE SYSTEM) will interesting for you too. Ask Olli.

I (140pounds) have a 13 Yarga and a 9 RRD which is a good choice for me (intermediate). But still for the light wind Alameda family days I have a bigger one....

Hope that helps, K

elli · Post by **elli** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 12:27 am

I did some research and bought an Extacy 10. It covers a bigger wind range than an inflatable, so the added cost should balance in less kites. Supposedly top end of an 11M and bottom end of a 13M. I think it would be fine in Alameda for my weight (150#). Safety is of course is top notch, and super easy relaunch. Pretty important for a beginner because you will use both extensively. I used my smaller flysurfer on snow and the safety was unbelievable. I was overpowered more than once heading towards the trees. Fun to know that you can drop the kite and pick it up immediately. The safety is so good that you actually use it whenever you feel like, unlike my other #$%@# that took forever to relaunch every time it landed (that's a nice word, landed, was more like a free fall :( ). Whenever you are tired you drop the bar, and when you want to go on you pick it up and the kite takes off.

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 9:03 am

knyfe's observatiion on gapping is great.
But if Alameda will be your primary site a 12 will be the smallest you would want during the summer.

As you can tell by the posts it is always a balance of big kite/small board or big board/small kite. I always prefer to ride the smaller board with a bigger kite since I can be more playful with the smaller board.

Hana has even flown a 20m @ Alameda....

I would err on the side of Big if you plan to ride Alameda all the time.

knyfe · Post by **knyfe** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 10:48 am

elli,
another FS user in Alameda ? unbelieveable. I just bought myself a 17 Psycho 2 (as a replacement for my PS12) for the light wind days at Alameda. I would also really like to try your Extacy if you are there. I will be in Alameda with other buddies today. These new FS foils are so much more stable in the air than my tubes ... but I still like my tubes.

queezyA,
oh yes as Bob mentioned, I totally forgot about the big board thing. This is way more important than the big kite thing. I have my wifes 170 bastard for the light winds.

CU, K

elli · Post by **elli** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 4:02 pm

Hi,
I will not be in the water in the next week or so, but I will be mountain boarding with it in ocean beach. I need to get a wetsuit and all the shops here seem to be short on stock. If someone has a 4/3 MT that they want to get rid off let me know.
You are welcome to try the XTC any time. I also have a smaller Maniac with WAC, not as exciting.

E

Live2KITE · Post by **Live2KITE** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 10:39 am

Hi guys,
As you probably don't know Live2KITE is the Bay Area Flysurfer dealer offering incredible prices / service to foil riders!
Contact us for more details (415) 722-7884.

Regarding the size question I would suggest a 15m kite for Alameda.
There are just too many light days that you would want to ride and the 12m might be just not enough.
We recommend the Type 6 15m. Very fast kite with extreme depower. Ideal for the area.

For more details on the 2005 RRD Type 6 15m click here

Good winds and waves,
Evan - Live2KITE

knyfe · Post by **knyfe** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 12:56 pm

Live2Kite,

how should we know it? Found no Flysurfer kite in your web store. Not even a notice ...

queezyA:

Beside that, I think that the gap from 9 to 15 is to big for a beginner. Go 13 and later on for an 16-18 for the real light wind days.

With tubes you need the at least the 3 kite strategy to cover the windrange. Only with the Flysurfers you can cover most wind with 2 kites, but with the price of 6 tubes .... Yes they are good but ...ing expensive.

CU, K

Live2KITE · Post by **Live2KITE** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 4:48 pm

Hey Knyfe,

We had mixed experiences with them. If you start fresh and go straight to foils you will most probably stay there for good.
For riders who have switched from tubes to Flysurfers the transition has been slow and occasionally painful. It's a whole different game.

Indeed they are insane expensive, but they are very technical and I guess someone needs to pay for the R&D. I am amased though about the progress of the foils the past 6 yrs. When we learned with my wife 5-6 yrs back on F-One foils it was a suiside mission, no depower, no control, everything rigged based on the mood of the day of the person who sold them to you etc.
(I am still wondering how we survived it - with only minor broken body parts that is).
On the size question 13m Flysurfer is a must have size for 160-190pds riders. Then it depends on the experience of the rider and the local conditions. Let me know if anyone wants to order those.

Anyway, I just had a sick pre-storm session at Stinson beach playing with the RRD Type Wave which made it so much more fun in the waves than anything else I have ever tried. This kite is a wave machine!!!
Now adding a wave specific board like the Wave Off would complete the package. Hope to ride Stinson again tomorrow late afternoon.

I hope you all got some wind today!

Evan - Live2KITE
(415) 722-7884

BayAreaKiteboarding.com

What size kite for Alameda?

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