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Today I launched my 19.5 Contra looking to nab a little 10mph wind at alameda... and was suprised by how inefficient and doggy the kite was.... I have been out in less winds with my 12m bow kite and been ripping.... (which I sold in anticipation of receiveing my 14m bow.... I am pretty excited... should be in tomorrow..)

The bottom line is that a big kite can not generate much power compared to a 12m bow kite..... Just doesn't steer fast enough... I tried my hardest to whip that 19.5m beast to generate power, but it can not dive and rise like a bow kite... I looked upwind and saw Yuri going at it with his 12m bow kite.... definately having more fun than I was....

I even hooked up my Turbo Diesel Bar to the 19.5m C kite to see if I could speed up the turning and response.... when I did, the kite did turn a little faster, but required Poypye arms to steer the kite........

Moral of the story is..... big C-kites are dead.... there is no need for a huge kite anymore... Small kite are fun... and with a bow, you can get the low end that you need while still having a kite fast enough to generate power...

C-kites are dead, long live the Bow...

Giant kites are slow to turn weather they are "C" or bow.
Bow kites have a long way to go before they can possibly
make well designed "C" kites obsolete.
I think right now their main advantage is allowing a rider
to reduce his quiver size on the high end, which is NOT to
say one would not be sacrficeing the performance from a
much more expensive-larger quiver.
Having a high performance kite(s) with less canopy area in
strong winds is always an advantage!,(and safer).
100% depower does not make a safer kiter.Expierence,
and choice does. :)

I am not saying that C-kites are dead... just that the super large ones turn too slow to generate power like a faster smaller flat kite can...

haha leo, you cant expect not to get hassled from us for that statement.

Anyone know where my girl can get one of those 100 meter kites? She needs it as a trainer.

And the last time I kited at Alameda, it was a little light for a 14M but me and D were upwind of a pack of 12M bowkiters almost the whole time. We were both on, ahem, not just C kites, but 2005 C kites.

If I had been on my 12 C kite, I'm sure I would have been way downwind, but it seemed to me like the 14 C still had a bit of an advantage. I'm not a great kiter, and I don't have a light wind board or anything.

:)

andyandmarlys wrote:Today I launched my 19.5 Contra looking to nab a little 10mph wind at alameda... and was suprised by how inefficient and doggy the kite was.... I have been out in less winds with my 12m bow kite and been ripping.... (which I sold in anticipation of receiveing my 14m bow.... I am pretty excited... should be in tomorrow..)

The bottom line is that a big kite can not generate much power compared to a 12m bow kite..... Just doesn't steer fast enough... I tried my hardest to whip that 19.5m beast to generate power, but it can not dive and rise like a bow kite... I looked upwind and saw Yuri going at it with his 12m bow kite.... definately having more fun than I was....

I even hooked up my Turbo Diesel Bar to the 19.5m C kite to see if I could speed up the turning and response.... when I did, the kite did turn a little faster, but required Poypye arms to steer the kite........

Moral of the story is..... big C-kites are dead.... there is no need for a huge kite anymore... Small kite are fun... and with a bow, you can get the low end that you need while still having a kite fast enough to generate power...

Don't make me get out my 25!!! :evil:

It sucks up ever little hint of wind and turns that into raw power. When we get another lightwind day you should give it a try.

Also Yuri is not a good comparison for me because he weighs a lot less. I have had many a day where I was fooled by seeing Yuri out.

I think that Yuri can attest that I can ride my 12 bow on my glide in as low winds as he can... and yesterday when I was on the 19.5, he could ride and I couldn't

I am not skinny, I'm thin boned! :)

I weigh in between 165-170. And I have been side by side with Andy quite a few days where he has passed me by going upwind on his 12 td and a glide. My board's rocker seems to be a big element of unwanted drag. Above 10 it doesnt really matter but the glide IS faster. Its all compromise though. You should try your 25 with a glide or a glid and see what you think. I think both of you are around 215-225 right?