Bigger kite trend at Sherman

[Thor29]

I've never heard that beginners should be on larger kites. That seems wrong to me. Beginners have a much harder time dealing with an overpowered kite if the wind picks up. If the wind dies, a beginner will struggle but that's nowhere near as dangerous as dealing with too much power. While it's true that experts can ride smaller kites, beginners should stick with the herd and see what most people in their weight class are riding. (An interesting comparison in motorcycles - my FZ1 (1000cc) would be much easier for a beginner to ride than a Ninja 250 because you wouldn't have to shift as much too keep it going. But if you gave it too much throttle, well, let's just say the result would be very tragic).

[le noun]

I think bigger kites is just an early season trend. When all the beginners from the previous season arrive at the beach and either way don't have smaller sizes or just prefer to be overpowered in order to go upwind.

I also think that the huge amount of difference a board produces (from a foil to a surfboard to a twin tip) and a difference in riders weight that can go from 120lbs to 230lbs makes for all sizes to be seen at the beach.

Just to give an example, I came to Sherman on saturday late morning. Most people were coming back from a 9m session. But I decided to pump big for multiple reasons: I was coming straight from the city and saw that the fog was already showing signs of early burning, pitsburg's sensor up the river was falling and the forecast was calling for a big dip in wind activity mid day (usual pattern for sherman).
I pumped 14m (my quiver is 8/11/14m) because of all the signs explained above and because I wanted to take the boots out and work on my raileys behind the second island.
Was I juiced? yes, overpowered? never.
I've no problem unhooking during the hour I was out and at no time when walking back inland was I scared.
Now, I could have definitely pumped my 11m if I've had been riding my surfboard (like jimmy jack explains above, it's not fun to be overpowered when riding strapless).

When coming back, most people were pumping 11m and 12m. But yes, I saw a guy who looked a lot lighter than me (I'm close to 200lbs) going out on a 5m maui cloud and a foil board and he looked just fine.

At the end of the day, it's experience and knowing your equipment that will dictate what size to rig.
If I'm planning on taking the boots out, I'll pump my 14m all the way to upper teens, low 20's, the 11m can handle all the way to upper 20's and once you are around 30mph I take the 8m out (I'm talking in MPH here, not knots)
If i'm taking the surf board, I can shave at least 5 to 10 MPH out of what I would comfortably be riding with the TT.

Regardless, it is always good to ask someone before giving them a launch if they are sure about what they are doing if they seem to be rigging to big. If I come back to the beach OPed on my 11m and see someone obviously lighter than me pumping 12, I'll go and talk to him/her. No need to yell or calling someone an idiot, sometimes, people just don't know.

Cheers, have fun and be safe!

[tommy]

thanks for all the info
i want to go, go, go
and i've been getting a little frustrated by misalignment of conditions
this week, the wind has been good but the surf is too big
last week it was flat but the wind was weak
boo hoo
everyone keeps saying the conditions will get better - more beginner friendly

[Aloha]

I could see the concept of a multi-year trend enabling riding bigger making sense ...

I've got an 18 that doesn't feel uncomfortable until the wind is over 20 and a 9 that doesn't until over 30

With my kites 5 years ago of equivalent size(s) this wasn't so

The bigger the kite you fly, the bigger your

depower's gotta be

[le noun]

With my kites 5 years ago of equivalent size(s) this wasn't so

Totally agree phil, I use to have only 2 size difference between all my kites in my quiver(7/9/11 or 8/10/12)
I've taken it to 3 size this year with no problems so far. Lot less of overlap.

[dracop]

lol

To the OP: Do you have kite size envy for some reason? So looking at the date of your original posting, I went to SI for a few days immediately preceding your post. I was pumping a 17m Blade Fat Lady v3. For me, at 245 pies before my water logged wetsuit and impact vests are taken into account, it worked great! I like working the Fat Lady :P Note that most people are surprised at my weight as I am not fat, just built courtesy of 15+ years of weight lifting.

If you weigh a buck forty, you need a very different kite size. Doubly so if you are on a directional or surfboard. Working a 9m to death and riding a 165+cm board (light wind TT, directional, or surf board) is not my idea of fun. On a TT, give me the larger kite in that scenario, I'll go DOWN in board size, and I'll do lots of flat water tricks :D I urge you to try the approach especially at SI and especially if you go behind the islands, as it allows for long, floaty jumps that are ideal for practicing tricks (altho low vis from any crowds - so again, perfect for PRACTICING tricks more than showing them off).

One thing I do find bizarre as a visitor to this area and SI in particular is why so many people use directionals and surfboards at a river location. Its not that choppy and there are alot of flat water areas. But hey, to each their own and while I find the local taste to be strange, all of the people Ive met at SI have been really cool.

[sloughslut]

What i find bizarre is people riding 17m kites at sherm, i like my surf board, there is huge swell if you know where n when to look

[friggin old guy]

Swells? What swells? It's better behind the island. Really. Surfboards on a river......Don't pay any attention to such folks, they're not having any fun.

Pay no attention to sslut.....no swells. Anywhere.

[tomf82]

One possible explanation for larger kites..

Sherman has a tendency to increase in wind speed in the afternoon/early evening. I've had plenty of occasions where I've rigged 12m but could have been good on a 9 an hour or two later, but chose not to size down because I'm getting out soon, want to boost huge or am simply being lazy.

And to all you directional board naysayers--treat yourself to 3 days, 3 weeks, or longer at SI and you'll be surfboard cruising too. You'll get bored of blasting back and forth behind the islands, your knees will want a break and you'll be in the right state of mind to grab a directional, throw on a baseball cap and cruise up river. The swell up there isn't like the ocean and in some ways that's pretty cool. You can get cut backs and bottom turns without kite-ripping whitewater, board-to-head curling lips or Mr. Whitey nibbles.

[JimmyJack]

Here, Here, what Tomf82 said is spot on. The other thing is, many of us are bay kiters as well and let me ask you what you would rather have under your feet when the wind dies under the north tower or out in the circle? A TT or a surfboard? And why then don't we switch back and forth b/n TT and Surfboard? Well, you get used to what you ride and want to continue to improve so you just tend to stick to it. Once I learned to jibe and jump with 80% success, my TT never left my garage. Carving that turn at either end of the reach is joyous enough, but as Tomf82 points out, there is enough swell in the bay and delta to have plenty of fun on. Go to SI on an ebb when it is blowing 20+!