I was going off the Kite Power web site, where the 19m silver arrow is over $4000.

So point taken.

The only time i see foils in whyalla they seem to have a lot of issues, but maybe it is the type of rider they attract not the gear itself, im sure a good rider could handle a foil, on one day two separate foils launched both boetied and both landed in the carpark very unusual but seems common in whyalla and its not the same guys all the time. One rider has a 15m psycho and that seems to do well but 2-3 more knots and every one with a large kite is out riding.

Hi Waxman and others,

The Zephyr at full retail price is only $2199 which makes it seriously cheaper than the Flysurfer, even at $2800, thats $600 in ya skyrocket which will buy you a really top notch, late model, pre loved board!

I reckon that's significant. Also, 4 knots less that 7 knots is only 3 knots. NOthing, not even a flysurfer will go in 3 knots. Please be a bit fair dinkum

The 19m Speed will probably go in 4 knots on a Sector 60, but only just.

Cheers,

DM

... riding a big agile kite in lightish winds on a race board feels like riding a twin tip in 20 knots, it definitely has your attention and is alot of fun. Big kites never went away for me, they were being taken away by the industry because they weren't so popular, and I for one am happy big kites are on the comeback. I don't care that I suck and proberly won't be anygood but damn has it increased my time on the water.

Has any one seen or better yet, tried one of the Best Taboo 17m?

cheers,

Robbie

Darren

What has the most impact on the light wind capabilities?

Currently I ride a SB 10m metre and a 137cm twin tip - I need 17 knots to have fun with this set up.

What would the impact if used my twin tip with the Zephyr (ie could I expect to have fun at 14 knots) ?

Alternatively, what would the impact of using my 10m kite with Airrush sector 60?

Just thinking about budget constraints: what would give me the biggest impact initially - the kite, or the board?

radman4 said...

I watched a vid the other day of the new 21 m flysurfer and it was unreal ,the wind was around 6-8 knots and the guy was popping 15-20 foot airs and looping the kite a couple of times while floating along for about 30-40m, no way in crap could you do what he was doing on any lei kite that even exists at the moment,or will probably exist in the near future,it would be useless where i am in wgtn nz as the wind is always gusty ,most of the time for a kite that size, but if i was somewhere else with consistant light winds i'd add one to the quiver regardless of the price.

This is the one you're talking about.

I don't know about you but I'd rather be on the 21 than be the poor guy on the water trying to kite with a SUP and still not going anywhere.

sleek1 said...

shannon8888 said...

or you could go for a surf , go to the pub or watch paint dry.

you got some wet paint on the go?

i could very well have at a moments notice something on the go that is

fair call rm4 mines only 2 yr old maybe there is room on this earth for 2 radical mans,i sold my pillow didnt go mutch better than a lei still had to walk back up wind in light airs

Kitepower Australia said...

ice said...

Darren

What has the most impact on the light wind capabilities?

Currently I ride a SB 10m metre and a 137cm twin tip - I need 17 knots to have fun with this set up.

What would the impact if used my twin tip with the Zephyr (ie could I expect to have fun at 14 knots) ?

Alternatively, what would the impact of using my 10m kite with Airrush sector 60?

Just thinking about budget constraints: what would give me the biggest impact initially - the kite, or the board?

The board. However you will not get that really light wind bottom end without a big kite, but getting a bigger board now will give you a few more knots bottom end.

Sorry gotta disagree,adding the bigger board is gonna give you a bit more on the bottom end but all your gonna do is cruise around getting bored ****less,get the kite, with your weight and current board size your gonna be ripping in 10-15 knots boosting is better than cruising anyday in my book.

waxman said...

LEI's are catching up fast, kites like the FOne source fly in 2-3kts....

You may as well get a source cru(i)se from 2-8 kts then ride what you like...

^ That is some of the stupidest sh1t I've ever read on a kite forum. 2-8 knots?

Waxy... This is a silly argument. Please be honest dude, we are both mechanics ( yes I just qualified) but we also are team riders for different shops. Stop pimping...
Oh and this was not an invite for an argument or stupid retaliation... Just fed up of the $hit being thrown round and havin a go at different shops around the country. Instead of this I think we need to look at the bigger issues, such as the problems occuring at mullaloo and Byron.... Open you eyes lads, we won't need to worry about what kite goes in the lightest wind if we cannot kite anywhere.
Just my two cents

flame on

tobes said...

hey how did you get my vid it is illegal to reproduce in full or in part any one of those 47 seconds without permission you will be hearing from my lawyer [}:)]

ice said...

Darren

What has the most impact on the light wind capabilities?

Currently I ride a SB 10m metre and a 137cm twin tip - I need 17 knots to have fun with this set up.

What would the impact if used my twin tip with the Zephyr (ie could I expect to have fun at 14 knots) ?

Alternatively, what would the impact of using my 10m kite with Airrush sector 60?

Just thinking about budget constraints: what would give me the biggest impact initially - the kite, or the board?

Hi Ice,

The board will have the most amount of impact initially, and a 10m will get you going well on the Sector, but won't get you going upwind. You still need the grunt when you point the board upwind because of the additional drag created as the fins start to work hard against the pull of the kite. This is where the power of the big kite comes into play, you can lean into it without fear of edging the kite into neutral and therefor killing off your ability to generate speed to build apparent wind power. Once that power is tapped, you can really edge in on the board and crack upwind.

In really light winds, the key is to feel your speed and as the gusts ease, you bear off the wind ever so slightly to relax some of the pressure off the fins, keep the weight back to reduce the wetted area or friction, flatten the board out to decrease drag and you maintain the speed which maintains power. When the gust comes back, power on, ride the fins upwind and edge to gain ground upwind. It's heaps of fun finding the perfect balance between speed/drag/apparent wind angle. Very Challenging!

A decent 14 knots will easily have you planing around on a twin tip with the zephyr. You'll be able to ride but not stay upwind in about 12 knots, so anything say less than 12 knots will be no good without the Sector or a race board.

I have ridden the Zephyr in ~22 knots on a race board and had no problem, probably possible to hold more on a twinny. It really is a very versatile kite. I'd go kite first, then the board. Just more versatile - the kite can jump as well as go fast and you can unhook on it too. The board will only go fast!

Cheers,

DM

radman4 said...


A decent 14 knots will easily have you planing around on a twin tip with the zephyr. You'll be able to ride but not stay upwind in about 12 knots, so anything say less than 12 knots will be no good without the Sector or a race board.

Mate i think your gonna upset a lot of zeph riders with this comment,i'm no zeph fan but on a 137 tt youd be rocking upwindin 12knots on a zeph,it would be a bit pointless making it or buying one if you wern't.

Totally depends on the board shape and the rider weight and experience Radman.

A Zep is great fun on a Skimboard or a race in 12 knots ( I have both).. you can ride all day in that, but not what I'd call fun in 12 knts on twinny with any rocker.
A nice flat board and rider about 70kg will be ok.

KiteNutt said...

radman4 said...


A decent 14 knots will easily have you planing around on a twin tip with the zephyr. You'll be able to ride but not stay upwind in about 12 knots, so anything say less than 12 knots will be no good without the Sector or a race board.

Mate i think your gonna upset a lot of zeph riders with this comment,i'm no zeph fan but on a 137 tt youd be rocking upwindin 12knots on a zeph,it would be a bit pointless making it or buying one if you wern't.

Totally depends on the board shape and the rider weight and experience Radman.

A Zep is great fun on a Skimboard or a race in 12 knots ( I have both).. you can ride all day in that, but not what I'd call fun in 12 knts on twinny with any rocker.
A nice flat board and rider about 70kg will be ok.

hey dm said the above about not being able to ride upwind in 12 knots dont know what happened there,but there are a few guys riding zephs here and they have no prob riding and boosting on a zeph in 12 knots ,i ride a argo 13.5 with a 130x39.5 t/t with minimal rocker and have no probs staying up wind and boosting in 12 knots and im 98 kg,suppose it comes down to skill level.

i reacon your better off with at least 2 kites one lightwind and one mid/strong wind with a tt to start then add a surfie and if you want to go light as throw in a race board ,but not before you get the kites.

Hi Guys,

Sorry to upset, but the Zephyr is no magic bullet. It's a fantastic kite and I love it and probably spent more time on it last season especially early in the season, than on any other kite.

If you are talking about just riding and maintaining ground, yes you can probably get away with it in 12 knots but board and body weight and also water conditions will play a big part in whether it will be easy or tough.

If you're talking about easily holding ground, throwing in the occassional boost and staying upwind, then you need a bit more wind, especially considering my experience as an almost 90kg rider and I ride smaller boards in choppy conditions with about a 1-1.5 knot downwind current most of the time at Pinnaroo.

The zephyr does perform miracles when combo'd up with a light wind board such as a decent skimboard, raceboard, Sector, or specialised light wind twin tip like Exiles, Phantom, GLide etc.

I'm not going to sell someone a Zephyr on the promise thay will be riding around having fun in 10 knots on their fave twinny. There is enough BS in this sport without me adding to it.

DM