Hi,
New to this forum. looking for advice . I am 83 kg and have a 12m Slingshot Rally (and some smaller Ben Wilson kites for heavier winds) The Rally seems a great kite but in lighter conditions it falls easily where others on water seem to have kites still in air. Was considering a 2011 13.5 Griffin or 2014 14m Griffin for those lighter winds. Is there much difference between the 2011 Griffin and 2014 new model? Would it be best to step up to 14m and not 13.5m Thanks !

PirateDunk said...
Hi,

I have a 2013 14m Griffin Argo. I'm about the same weight as you and find the kite, although a great kite, isn't a super light wind kite. From experience over the past year I need a steady 14kts minimum for it to be enjoyable. When it gets overpowered it gets rather draggy too. Its a fanstastic kite for boosting and has some great hang time. I'm comfortable on it from 14 - 20kts. My mate has the 14m TRX, also a great kite, turns faster but same light wind characteristics.

I prefer 17m kites for light wind 8-20kn and I'm around 87kg.
If your not keen on 17m My mate does ok on 14m catalyst.
I agree with the above comments as griffin are good kites but the Argo is not the greatest in light wind.

Thanks for great feedback
So moving on from Griffin for light winds, I guess I need a 14m+ and so far light the comment from castill0jf for his NRG
Any other recommendations? Thanks

I like the core 17LW matched with a cab plasma for my light wind days. heaps of static grunt and can get out a little earlier than the zephyrs, but i think the zephyrs are slightly more fun to ride.
blade fat lady is another
slingshot turbine
north dyno.
prob the 5 best for you to demo

ooh!!! ozone edge 17 or 19m is a good option too, but could be issues relaunching in light wind. anyone got experience with this?

Cant go wrong with a 19m Edge!
Great from sub 10 knots and well manageable well into the upper teens.
Easy to relaunch in even the lightest wind, with a trick of pull a steering line and a opposite center line... kite will swing to the side, roll up and fly away.

I am the same weight give or take and i use a Core XR2 LW 17M and my regular twin tips 134 or a 136 no dramas. can even hold it down getting on close to 20knots good kite set it to the fastest turning speed and it responds great for 17M's !

Seaking2 said..

Hi,
New to this forum. looking for advice . I am 83 kg and have a 12m Slingshot Rally (and some smaller Ben Wilson kites for heavier winds) The Rally seems a great kite but in lighter conditions it falls easily where others on water seem to have kites still in air. Was considering a 2011 13.5 Griffin or 2014 14m Griffin for those lighter winds. Is there much difference between the 2011 Griffin and 2014 new model? Would it be best to step up to 14m and not 13.5m Thanks !

what wind do you want to ride in
what board ie tt or directional or race
most important what do you want to achieve

Light wind with kite means, best kite that will get me back to my start launch area at the lowest possible wind.
Just get the biggest high aspect kite or go home. There is no alternative like for example, what is good for me will do for you crap or big board is all you need crap. If you are going to spend good money on light wind kite get the kite that will work up wind at the lowest knots possible. That means Ozone Edge 19m, North Dyno 18, In other words large race kites. Don't be afraid that experience is needed with these kites or they, turn to slow to have fun ****, because we are looking at slow wind that we can barely kite in and make our own fun. You will learn to relaunch them because you have to before a shark bites your ass off trying. I should know I have the 19m Edge here in Kailua HI. I am now the only one kiting with a raceboard or hydrafoil at the lowest possible knot. I am the only one with a twin tip up wind not walking. I do jumps at 8 knots. I know I have owned many good kites called good light wind kites but I would still walk, flite 17.5, fat lady, turbine 2011, infinity v1, and demoed v2, fat lady 2013. All new 2014 light wind kites are trying to get up wind better. There is no magic pill. That means higher aspect.
Hope my rant helps. Just a little science helps, with a little common sense. Go lowest with kite and board that will get you back home. Then if wind picks up be the first with a twintip while others are still on race board.

Agreed with the above. Don't Fck about with a 13/14m.

Kazan said..

Seaking2 said..

Thanks for great feedback
So moving on from Griffin for light winds, I guess I need a 14m+ and so far light the comment from castill0jf for his NRG
Any other recommendations? Thanks

Mate. Just get a Ozone Zephyr 17m. You will not regret it. Best light wind kite out there right now.

to say it's the best light wind kite i would disagree, depends what you want to do . for me i would say my 19 edge is the best kite but that's personal pref . i have flown the 2013 zephyr but for me and what i want from a light wind kite the 19 edge kicks the zephyr

Light win
Need light saber
Use the force Luke
Heavy wind
Need fiber

diamond2001 said..

Zepher and airush sector for jumping boosting and rolling in light wind.For up wind blasting an edge with a race board.For downwinders core X-R light wind.

Succinct and pretty good diamond!

My advice is to go to a busy beach on a light wind day and watch , you will see some kites out performing others , this is what I did and went for the cabrinah contra 17 m
One swoop of the kite and just park it , combined with a light wind board and you will be trucking up wind and gaining ground upwind , good for boosting aswell , check it out online or try to demo one , you won't be disappointed

Agreed riding a sector sucks massive wang. Give us a TT or a SB. But hey some crew like driving fast in a straight line.

High aspect kites are superior for going up wind and boosting . Especially in light wind! .Race kites boost so well and are exellent for geting back up wind to pop another,but when back rolling with big air I have found the edge to be very technical compared to the zephyr.The zepher is a better freestyle option and the edge just out edges the zepher in boost hieght and hang time.

I have taken core xr lightwind 17m on a twintip for a demo and it nearly riped my shoulders out of my sockets.I have bad shoulders from riding old 2008 switchblades.It has the best bottom end for scull dragging static grunt ,but if you want to get up wind I found it to be hard work and the bar pressure is quite heavy.
If its 6-10 knots and the swell is up its a good option for a downwinder.Slow but your still in the water doing something instead of wishing you were.