Big KItes and lots of hang-time.....

[Don Lester]

You know, lately I've been tripping on trying larger kites in medium winds to get more air and hang-time. Being light weight ( 155 lbs ) I've always been able to get along on small kites and still do for wave riding and stuff, but I'm interested in hang-time and I guess big kites give you that. Years ago I used to have 12m kites, but found I had more fun on 10's in light winds because they're quicker. Well ok that's fine, but small kites just won't hang that well in medium wind......... So the question is how big ? I ride Sherman a lot during the mid day lulls which is around 15-18mph so can a person my size get a 17m Zephyr in and out of the water without getting lifted in medium winds ?...... I realize I'll have to edge like crazy while in the water........... Thanks.......... Don

[OliverG]

For big hangtime you don't necessarily need a bigger kite, maybe just a different style kite. Seems like a blunt-force approach. I just dug out and pumped up a 2005 Windwing Outrage 10m, which I'll fly soon, maybe today even, for kicks. It's a very high-aspect c-kite, and no doubt about it, it will provide major air and hangtime.Maybe not too much else, but that would be just for fun and to fly a 5 year old kite. If you're used to 10m kites (don't you have rebels?), something like an 11m Fuel would be giving you a lot more pop, power, air and hangtime.

Don't get a 17m Zephyr... :roll:

[fearlu]

12-meter Vegas

[Don Lester]

Yeah the Zephyr is probably overkill.......... I think you might be on to something when you mention high aspect ratio kites. I remember a few years back demo-ing a Naish Raven, there were somethings I didn't like about it, but it did jump well with good hang. I know you'd give up turning for high aspect, but for super jumps and long floaty landings in average winds that would be acceptable as I can go back to my North Evos when I feel like flying a faster turning kite. I wouldn't need a quiver just one, so maybe a high aspect 12m, which would be big for me is the way to go........ Don

[adamrod]

i'd look for something high aspect, with a narrow leading edge and a relatively flat shape. I don't think a fuel gives as much hangtime as say, an octane. C kites tend to boost high and fast and then drop fast too. (more of an elevator ride than hangtime)

sure, big C kites give you hangtime, but i think a big flat kite will give you more float meter for meter.

in Brazil there's a guy Toby (who runs kiteforum btw) and he rides his 16m vegas when everyone else is on 7s and 8s. he uses a pretty small board (to help with edging) but man, that guy has hangtime.

[windhorny]

it's normally a guy on a 17 in that "mid-day" lull that ends up in a helicopter!

If you need that much hangtime, try paragliding. No kite, no matter what the difference will give you more than a second or two additional hangtime without being unsafe.

[baypirate]

I ride RRDs and my (intermediate rider) feel is that the Addictions have INSANE hang time.

You don't have to rig big, Addictions have lots of depower, and in the upper-end they generate tremendous pull. They are billed as "racing kites", but you can use that power to glide above water as well. One possible caveat - and I may be wrong about this - is that you don't get as much kick off the water, somehow I feel I get a bit pulled off the edge at the time of boosting compared to the other RRD kites (Obsession), which have that catapult feeling off the water.

(Downside of Addiction is that is a slow turning kite, basically a drag racing machine)

Maybe some of the better/official RRD riders can chime in, this is just my take.

[pipedragon]

Ya, it is not so much the size of the kite. You can go a little bigger to get more height in your jumps but you need a good board that will hold back a lot of power and know how to edge really well. Mostly it is the kite design that lends to big airs but it is also technique. I can ride my 07 Naish boxer SLE 9m in slightly overpowered conditions and boost pretty high. It also helps to have flatter water like in a low tide so you can setup for your jump easier.

[Don Lester]

Yes I know you can jump small kites high in lots of wind ........ that's not what I'm after.

I want good jumps in medium wind, but especially........ long floaty landing. I think you only get that with lots a square footage over head.........Don

[maxsteamer]

I think the old windwing kites had good hang time? but you would have to pull the trigger fast and hard to get the heigth to equal your hang time.. with that said? I think if you ask someone like Jessee Richmond, you will get a better answer to your question. The local guys to ask would be windhorny, or LMG, or Olli, these guys are old school kiters, that have some hang time to talk about.. and before you spend alot of your money. I would ask one of them what to buy.