Hi guys,

I've seen some information about Argo 17m in a lightwind threat, but I still have some questions:

Has the 2011 Argo 17m been improved for lightwind conditions comparing with the 13.5 (desing, less wheight, ...)? Or is just a 13.5 made bigger?

Any experience of light riders?

Any comment about top end?

I'm ~70Kg, and I get out in 8-9 knots average using a Griffin Argo 13.5 with long lines (30-40 m) and a race-board, but this year, with new even bigger race boards and bigger kites of all gears it seems that race series will be launched with really low wind averages, and in this cases having a good big lightwind kite (even being a light rider) could be an important advantage.

Sure I would get one soon, but I'd like to have some more information.

Thanks in advance for any comment!!

Alex

Hi have ridden the 17 Argo a few times now ,was riding a 14 park the other day and the wind got so light all i was doing was a great submarine impersonation on a 141 tt ,jumped on the 17 Argo and was ripping, had to pull in a few cm of depower to back the kite off to hold the edge,also have a 13.5 Argo and no way would i of been powered in that wind (95kg) .
Was most interested to see how the big kite would go doing backflip loops in 9-10 knots ,it was a dream ,another guy jumped on it straight after me (75kg) on a 128x38 tt and was also ripping ,side shore wind 9-10 knots maintaining upwind.
We have only flown the kite with the medium bar no need for a bigger one the kite turns sweet next time out i would like to fly it on the extensions to see what difference the longer lines make, will let you know,also have one being made up now for myself.

radman4 said...

Hi have ridden the 17 Argo a few times now ,was riding a 14 park the other day and the wind got so light all i was doing was a great submarine impersonation on a 141 tt ,jumped on the 17 Argo and was ripping, had to pull in a few cm of depower to back the kite off to hold the edge,also have a 13.5 Argo and no way would i of been powered in that wind (95kg) .
Was most interested to see how the big kite would go doing backflip loops in 9-10 knots ,it was a dream ,another guy jumped on it straight after me (75kg) on a 128x38 tt and was also ripping ,side shore wind 9-10 knots maintaining upwind.
We have only flown the kite with the medium bar no need for a bigger one the kite turns sweet next time out i would like to fly it on the extensions to see what difference the longer lines make, will let you know,also have one being made up now for myself.

"doing backflip loops in 9-10 knots " pictures please or it didn't happen

radman4 said...


another guy jumped on it straight after me (75kg) on a 128x38 tt and was also ripping ,side shore wind 9-10 knots maintaining upwind.

Since when is holding ground upwind "ripping"? I think you mean grovelling. FFS!

Chris let me try his 17 last week, I have ridden slingshots for 10 years and I'm pleased to say I will now be buying an oz make kite, it's a fantastic low wind machine, just try one and you will see, I don't think chris will keep up with orders the more people that try the 17 the more they will switch to griffin , well done chris , I'll be riding my new one in 3 hours hopefully. Pray for wind Sydney people

mc said...

Chris let me try his 17 last week, I have ridden slingshots for 10 years and I'm pleased to say I will now be buying an oz make kite, it's a fantastic low wind machine, just try one and you will see, I don't think chris will keep up with orders the more people that try the 17 the more they will switch to griffin , well done chris , I'll be riding my new one in 3 hours hopefully. Pray for wind Sydney people

cool .I would imagine that the biggun is .I am very happy with the lightwind performance of my 13.5 .(Particularly with long lines and a easy planing board)

Hi, Chris the designer here.

re the 17m, Sydney summer forced me to make a 17m, my aim was not to make a light wind kite with 30m lines, but to make a light wind kite that I can have fun in the waves, kite loop, unhook head towards the wave, hit the lip cutback and turn 180 degrees without waiting ages for the kite to go through the wind window.

So I made the 17m Argonaut

Using it on 21m lines, I am 86 to 90 kg on a bad day

with a 5ft 10 board from 10 knots, I am screaming upwind, riding waves, back roll kite looping on the waves and having a great time, while 65kg riders on 12m kites with 6ft boards are struggling to stay upwind.

Questions:
Yes the 17m has been improved for light winds, the leading edge is smaller than the 13.5 for faster turning and has a optimized light wind bridle.

Top end is good, the bar allows for a lot of depower with lots of throw. you could hang onto it in 18 knots if you wanted to, but its designed for light winds if you have the current with you then from 8 to 15 would be good.

To the dude saying he can do this in 10 knots on a 12m, good on ya, now 85kg riders on smaller boards can do it to and stay upwind and have more fun.

Just sponsored kite stock, we grow through word of mouth, not marketing hype.

Kite works very well on a medium bar. I have only flew it on a medium bar, no need for a large bar.

17m has a lot more power than the 13.5 and turns almost as fast or as fast as.

Kite works great in the waves with 21m lines from 10 knots

You can add 8m extensions to get a lot more bottom end, but you lose turning speed.

Price will be very good.

Im off for a kite ( back to work) , flamers flame on, any other questions I would be happy to answer them.

GriffinKites said...

Hi, Chris the designer here.

re the 17m, Sydney summer forced me to make a 17m, my aim was not to make a light wind kite with 30m lines, but to make a light wind kite that I can have fun in the waves, kite loop, unhook head towards the wave, hit the lip cutback and turn 180 degrees without waiting ages for the kite to go through the wind window.

So I made the 17m Argonaut

Using it on 21m lines, I am 86 to 90 kg on a bad day

with a 5ft 10 board from 10 knots, I am screaming upwind, riding waves, back roll kite looping on the waves and having a great time, while 65kg riders on 12m kites with 6ft boards are struggling to stay upwind.

Questions:
Yes the 17m has been improved for light winds, the leading edge is smaller than the 13.5 for faster turning and has a optimized light wind bridle.

Top end is good, the bar allows for a lot of depower with lots of throw. you could hang onto it in 18 knots if you wanted to, but its designed for light winds if you have the current with you then from 8 to 15 would be good.

To the dude saying he can do this in 10 knots on a 12m, good on ya, now 85kg riders on smaller boards can do it to and stay upwind and have more fun.

Just sponsored kite stock, we grow through word of mouth, not marketing hype.

Kite works very well on a medium bar. I have only flew it on a medium bar, no need for a large bar.

17m has a lot more power than the 13.5 and turns almost as fast or as fast as.

Kite works great in the waves with 21m lines from 10 knots

You can add 8m extensions to get a lot more bottom end, but you lose turning speed.

Price will be very good.

Im off for a kite ( back to work) , flamers flame on, any other questions I would be happy to answer them.

plz send one for biased demoing asap (crap wind abounds since xmas )

the 17m are new so will have more stock in 2 weeks

I will get a kite up to Briskites.com.au for demo when some arrive.

A few knots makes a big difference so does 4m of extra kite.

ive got a 17m taboo in 9 knots on 133 twin tip u can ride up wind. Big kites r great fun, everyone living in areas with light winds should have one

and if u wanna try something different on light wind days try a sup with a 17m kite ive only done it a few times and i really suck at it, its suprisingly alot of fun

the 17m Core XR LW and Ozone Zephyr fly good between 5-10knts but i think unde 5 knots only foils fly.

vid of old mate on in 3.5knts on a Spleene 19m foil.

haha thats the point buddy!

the kite that has dynamic turns in under 5knts will never exist.
you just struggle to get back to where you started off and pack up happily knowing it was only you that got out that day.

would like to see some more vids with "light wind kites" and wind readers in it.

Mr float knitting sounds like an exciting light wind option, hours of fun and practical with winter just around the corner

Next time im out on 17m ill try get some footage, i am also a sceptic of peoples claims normally its the opposite, where someones trying to say there out in 40 knot winds on a 12m kite

Mr float said...

catalaussie said...

Thanks radman4!

I'd like to compare too the 13.5 with long lines with the 17m with short ones, but sure I could have a lower bottom end with the 17m and long lines (looking for 7 knots average!). I would inform you too when I get it.

Just ordered today and I'm totally anxious to fly it!!! At the moment I've ordered the medium bar. Maybe for long lines would be better the large one, but I prefer the medium too...

Maybe Chris could put some light to the rest of my doubts.

"(looking for 7 knots average!). " I haven't had a fly yet and I'm sure that it is a good lightwind kite ( I'm a big fan of Argos) but this stuff being written here is rediculous

He's fairly light its dooable on a race board,the other day a guy was out in the estuary with a strong river current in 6-7 knots ,wind against tide ripping on the 17 on a tt board.

djdojo said...

radman4 said...


another guy jumped on it straight after me (75kg) on a 128x38 tt and was also ripping ,side shore wind 9-10 knots maintaining upwind.

Since when is holding ground upwind "ripping"? I think you mean grovelling. FFS!

Rider had to depower the kite so i would say "ripping"

light wind kiting...check this out



cheers