Kitespear,

Great to see you on here.
If you show up and introduce yourself where we are riding, you are not a burden.
I won't hold your hand the entire day (Toby might try!!... j/k), but if you were getting screwed, I or someone, is going to help you out, just like you helped out at the DeSoto pier.
Once we help you out, (if a downwinder) we will leave you on the beach alone to catch the trolley by yourself!
But hey, it's better than getting worked or worse, out there, all alone.

Great to see you playing it safe and posting. I wish more new riders did the same. I think I can speak for the group in saying we would much rather have some one "burden" us (most of us don't think being helpful is a burden) than going out on your own, getting worked or hurt, and making the news.

If you weigh less than 180, I would think about a 7m, not a 9m, if you already have an 11m. The new kites have unreal low end (imo).
I can easily ride my 7m in 20 and my 9m in 15+. There might be a ton of overlap b/n an 11 and a 9m.

I personally have a 15m and then drop right down to the 9m, with no kite in between.
I then have the 7m for 25 plus knots. (those are all SLE kites, no C kites)