Hi
*** Question: Should I go for 7 + 9 + 12 or 7 + 10 + 13?
I'm planning to "invest" in 2017 Vegas as a progress from my 2015(!) Dices.
I'm 78-80 kg, riding in boots mostly on a pretty heavy Tona Pop 142cm...
My home spot is choppy with most winds within 14-20 kts range (well actually 13-15 happens more often that I would like...), but I spend significant part of the year on spots with 20-35 kts range, so I need that covered as well.
When I was switching from Evo to 2015(!) Dices I went from 7+9+12 to 7+10+13 as I expected much worse low-end. On one hand the 13 saved me some sessions (still it really lacked on lower end some times) and this extended size range for Dices covered wind conditions pretty well, but I really thought that 10m and 13m are a little bit too slow for my taste... Plus very often I really felt that 2015' Dice really lack power when unhooked and I hope to fix that by switching to 2017 Vegas.
I really always considered 9m as the sweet spot size, but never had Vegas so far... I really prefer fast and responsive kites, so I'm torn now.
From North's charts:
1. 2017 12m Vegas range is 13-24 kts, the same they claimed for 12m Dice 2015 (12-26).
2. 2017 13m Vegas range is 12-21 kts, the 2015' 13m Dice range was 12-24.
So it looks like it's only logical to go for 7 + 10 + 13, as it looks like 2017 Vegases have THEORETICALLY the same ranges as 2015' Dices...
Is the Vegas 12m low end range of 13 kts valid? I guess for 70 kgs guy it is... for me "not necessary".
What do you think guys???
My theory is when in doubt go bigger with the Vegas because they can handle heaps. Depends where and what conditions your riding too. I have 7-9-11 current models and a 2012 14m for those desperate days. We have a fair current and chop where I kite and I'm lucky to get the 14m going well in 14-15kn. I'm somewhere between 75-78kg last time I looked and use a 139 gambler. Having said that we don't get many summer days under 20kn (just look at cauncys posts) my go to kite is the 9 I love that thing. But if your on flat water with Bugga all current and a bigger board the numbers come back into line a bit with the north suggestions. Hope that's of some help. I rarely use my 7 either the 9 covers it well but I do think an 8 would be good for those nuking 40kn days. 8-10-12 is what I was thinking for my next lot.
agree with Matt, but since you do not appear to be in WA a bit of extra low end would not hurt, go 13, 10 & 8 for unhooked/freeride or 13, 9 and 8 if you like loops. The 7 needs quite a bit of wind to come to live. 9 is magic!
Weeeerrrrrrrrdddddd bbbiiiiiiitttttcccchhhh mmmuuaahhhaahhahahahaahahaaaaahaaaaa 
Matt988, Woott,
thank you for your helpful answers.
If 8 can hold 40kts it looks like 8 + 10 + 13 should be my safest bet for free/wake style. I just would really really like to have a beautiful nimble 9m in my set but I guess any other combination won't be practical and cost effective for a 3-kite set :)
I just hope that a 10m Vegas is much more nimble and faster than a 10m Dice.
Before placing order I will wait for some more input from you guys just in case I'm missing something :)
Cheers
Select to expand quote
fruuugz said..
Weeeerrrrrrrrdddddd bbbiiiiiiitttttcccchhhh mmmuuaahhhaahhahahahaahahaaaaahaaaaa
What are you gonna do with the 7,9,10 in Queensland? Should have gone 12sqm, 17sqm, 25sqm
Can I suggest instead of trying to cover 14-35, you work out which kite you will be most on. Then build a quiver around that and even consider past year models to keep the cost down considering they might not be used that much. No point in having excess dollars sitting in the shed depreciating.
Given you were on the dices (9m being your main sweet spot kite) now going to a full C vegas, then the 10m at your weight might be that kite anyway. So your 8-10-13 may inadvertently be the right sizes anyhow.
Personally I'd consider something like a 13m evo if you really want to maximise your low end. Big C kites in marginal winds don't work that well. Can still throw down some fun stuff which is all you will be doing in those winds anyway.
Just dont get it when people talking "wakestyle" want a fast and nimble kite.. in regards to wakestyle or unhooked tricks, fast and nimble is your enemy!
Select to expand quotedefault said..
Just dont get it when people talking "wakestyle" want a fast and nimble kite.. in regards to wakestyle or unhooked tricks, fast and nimble is your enemy!
Exactly, I prefer riding my 12 vegas to my 9 as it's so much slower
Select to expand quotedefault said..
Just dont get it when people talking "wakestyle" want a fast and nimble kite.. in regards to wakestyle or unhooked tricks, fast and nimble is your enemy!
I dont get it either.. I also dont get that the Dice is marketed as a wave kite (ie fast turning), but also as a wakestyle kite where stability is desirable. Isnt this contradictory?
Some confusing stuff in there, fast and nimble, does not mean powered when unhooked - it means hard to control and not much power.
Im on the 7-9-12, all with the hadlow 6 line setup. the 6 line setup makes a massive difference in the kite handling, and can give you more confidence to unhook on the 7 in 30 kts.... kite loops become insaine also and releaunch is the same as the dice - pull a side to reverse it out.
Not confusing at all.
Get some Kites that 'do it all'...get some washed up pro's still chasing the gravy train on them...sit back and watch them come.
Its not what makes for good kiting its what sells the kites, which is clearly a big motivator from the German Mega Corp (Boards & More - North) that has to get a return for their investor.
Guys,
English is not my mother language (I'm a Pole). By "nimble" I meant "loopability" of the kite. My concern simple was that according to what I can read here, apparently in the 8+10+13 set the only really loopable kite will be 8 and I need to live with this compromise taking specifics of my spots.
I really hope that the 10 in the Hadlow setup will be wild exactly when I need it and really commit to it and you all are mistaken :)
Great and helpful crowd here, I really appreciate your opinions.
Ordered :)
