I'm LIT...on a 12?

[TampaBay Noob]

So today I went to clearwater beach to soak up some of the wind and get some more time under the 'ol kite. I figure....18k-20k on my 12m Spectrum is right in it's range. So I launch the kite and get the feel of the wind while I head out to the water to practice. I have the kite completely depowered on the strap with the bar depowered as well (Slinghot Profire). The kite didn't work me or anything but it had way too much power. I didn't get lofted but the gusts were too much to control. I would get stable..then a gust would come, and I would slide about a foot in the sand. After body dragging for a bit I brought it in and put the kite down. Another kiter, an Aussy by the name of Tom, came into shore and set his kite down and gave me some pointers. I noticed on his 16m Xbow, his depower strap was about twice as long as mine. He was able to park it at zenith and talk to me w/o problems. Is it possible that I just maxed out my kite's wind capability? What gives? I would think my kite would have felt much lighter than his in this type of wind. Any pointers/advise gentlemen?? thanks -sean

[inferno]

just because the bar is depowered doesnt mean the kite is....
make sure all your lines are the same length

when depowered your back lines should be pretty slack

[TampaBay Noob]

Yeah the lines are equal. I just bought the bar/lines from WSW the other week and we checked them at the shop. I had the depower strap pulled all the way so the lines were slack as well, that's why I'm so confused. I would have thought with the kite depowered as much as it was it wouldn't have had the pull it did...AND I was just sitting the kite low at the edge of the window. Man, talk about frustrating.

[TampaBay Noob]

I was out there from about 3:00-5:00. I just checked the wind on iKite and noticed it was about 22k gusting to around 27k or so at that time. I think that explains it, i just didn't have enough strap left to depower the kite as much as was needed. I even re-did the line setting on the kite to further depower it and it only helped a little. I didn't think the wind was gonna blow that much. Oh well, live and learn. My kite and I are okay to fly another day...when it's not blowing so much.

Well, you cant compare the spectrum to the crossbow, both completely different kites. The crossbow has a much larger wind range.

What you were experiencing sounds about right for a C kite. Gusts of 27 would definately pull you around while trying to stand on the beach. I ride my 13m up to about 30, and I am 190lbs. At 30 I am getting pretty uncomfortable and want to go to my 9m.

[TampaBay Noob]

Yeah Tom, i was def. a little uncomfortable...and I'm 180lbs. At the end of the day I think what I learned was my kite's wind range. I now know what it barely flies in and what it almost makes me fly in. I only have a 12m though...so I'm gonna work on my quiver a bit if I want to get out on the water as much as possible. I was thinking about grabbing a 16m Monkey Griffin when I can...not anytime soon though.

It's good that you know now what it feels like at the top end of that kite!

BTW, I have a 2006 15M Yarga (great kite) which is practically brand new if you are interested. $200 for it. It's been ridden about 8 times, blue and grey, no repairs, no holes, no leaks, still crisp. Just got a 16m waroo.

[TampaBay Noob]

Great price bro! Can you tell me a bit more about it. Come with a bar/lines, pigtails...how's it in light wind?? Would it suffice as a light wind kite, because that's gonna be the next type of kite i purchase.

The 15 will start working at around 13-15, but if you want a real lightwind kite, then you might want my 21M nemesis. That is a BIG kite and I am guessing the extreme low end is around 8-10mph in flat water.

I'm selling that one for $150, kite only (no bar). It's in excellent condition also.

I was planning on selling it on ebay for around $200 but I will sell it for $150 to a local rider.

BTW, a good quiver starting with your 12 (of c kites) would be 8, 12, 16, 21.