15M & Marty, 20M & Kenny

[lesvierra]

It has been fun following the input from Marty and the size of kites Kenny has been flying. I've been following Marty's blog. He's had some interesting sessions lately, near epics. I blogger wouldnt let me comment so I'm throwing it out here.

Martys new kite, a 15m instinct. It outflew the other 20m+ kites. If I got it right, he loves it. He's going bigger, again. Kenny's selling the 30m and others sizes for the 20m waroo, going smaller. Seems like they are going to meet in the middle. Marty is weights in at 150? Kenny 200+?

So, I need a new light wind kite. Is the 15m instinct right for me? I think I've advanced to an intermediate rider, 235lbs. Is the 20m
Waroo to big for me or will the depower keep me in check?

[Marty Lowe]

. Martys new kite, a 15m instinct. He's going bigger, again.
Marty is weights in at 150? Kenny 200+?

The 13M was fine at Rush, with the Glide
But with the 9-11mph that we constantly get at ULLB,
the 15M will allow me to use my smaller board,
and flys like a 15m C, not like a big kite.
Smaller=Funner IMHO
180 lbs
I believe Kenny is close to the same weight.

I stand by what I've suggested for you,,
if you go Instinct, 15m, 11M quiver will give you 90% riding time
(once abilities are there)

-Marty

Kenny...............

[Kenny]

Les,

Well first of all, I am glad to hear that you are thinking about the water and not just the snow.

Second, Marty thank you for setting the record straight - I weigh a buck eighty.

The two quiver kite that I would recommend is a Waroo 20 and 12. You can ride 95% of the time in Utah with those two kites - add a 9M and it is up to 99.9% of the time. Or, you could get a Waroo 20, Instinct 13. That would be a really sweet setup and would still allow you to ride 95% of the time with a smaller gap inbetween.

The 20M has a ton of depower, yet it has the juice to get you through some pretty significant lulls. You could ride a 16M Waroo or a 15M Instinct at the same time and work the kite up and down, especially if you had a big board (like a Glide). The only difference is that you will be able to jump sooner and ride more powered up with the 20, perhaps use a smaller board as well.

Yes, I am selling my 30M because I found that the 17M Flysurfer Silver Arrow provides almost as much power, yet it is so much easier to handle - no pumping, no gigantic kite to turn over. I would estimate the power output of the Silver Arrow is equivalent to a 22 - 24M inflato.

By the way, as I have stated in previous posts - the board is the real secret weapon to Utah kiting. Marty, Jon, and I all have a SS Glide for a reason. I would like to get my hands on a FS Flydoor or a Spleene Door because I have read that they do better in the chop, but until then my SS Glide is the board that works the best when the wind is light and inconsistent.

Coming back to your question - Due to your heavier weight, the difference between a 15 and a 20 is going to be a lot more noticeable. You need all the extra power you can get. You weigh 55 LBS more than Marty and me. That means that you will need a knot or two more wind to ride on the same size kite. Sure, the Instinct is an efficient kite, but if anyone tells you it generates as much power as the 20M Waroo they are pulling your leg. Both are new generation, flatter kites.

By the way, Marty and I don't get any free stuff like some other fortunate souls. We express our honest opinions. I respect Marty's opinion.

Kenny

[lesvierra]

Thanks for the direction oh great ones. Sure appreciate it. I cant wait for the day when I have a couple kites and a couple of boards and more importantly the time to use them. Like someone said from this forum when I was looking to buy their kite and they recommend multiple kites, "this aint a getto sport". Soo true. I like the 20m Waroo 13m instinct idea. I want the glide but then you need the small board too. I'm getting it. Thanks again.

[jason morton]

I agree with Kenny. There is no way that a 15m instinct is going to replace a 18-20m kite. I have both an 18m and a 20m. I love my 18m and am not fond of my 20m. I only ride the 18m. Not to say that the instinct is not worthy. I am buying a 15m instinct next week. I rode the 13m instinct and loved it. I also am getting a glide next week, thanks to Marty telling me about one he saw on ikitesurf. I was sold one day at rush. I was kiting on my 18m with my 135cm board. I was getting rides but was only able to stay upwind in the gusts. Then i took out the glide. It was like adding 5 mph of wind speed. I am sold on the glide. I also weigh 245 lbs. I will test the 15m instinct with my 18m RRD in light wind. I would rather ride an 18m with a smaller board than a 15m with a glide. The opposite of Marty. I also think Kenny has the primo light wind setup with a 17m foil and a glide.

[jason morton]

my hopes are that ozone will make an 18m instinct. I love 18's. It's big and powerful, but not gigantic like a 20m. This would be my dream quiver.

7m instinct
11m instinct
15m instinct
18m instinct
17m flysurfer
I want to ride 100% of the time!!!

[Kenny]

Jason,

Try the 20M Waroo, it does not feel like an enormous kite. I think the reason why is that it turns fast and the depower is so great. I have never been blasted and lost my edge on the 20M Waroo, which in the past was a common occurrence for me since I like to ride powered up. When I start riding at Utah Lake again, I will be happy to let you take mine out for a spin.

Kenny

[Marty Lowe]

Plydes,
Plywood copies of the Glide.
I made one, Ralph is working on one,
I used 5/8ths plywood,
cut it out, using the Glide as a template,
sealed it with spar urathane.
no rocker necessary,
heavier,, but, cheap.

and it's fun to ride a handmade board.

-Marty

[Marty Lowe]

I would rather ride an 18m with a smaller board than a 15m with a glide. The opposite of Marty.

Don't mis understand,
I DO want to be on a smaller board.
The 15, I hope, will allow me to get off the Glide,
most days,
only time will tell.

-Marty

[Marty Lowe]

There is no way that a 15m instinct is going to replace a 18-20m kite. I have both an 18m and a 20m. I love my 18m and am not fond of my 20m. I only ride the 18m. Not to say that the instinct is not worthy. I am buying a 15m instinct next week.

No sarcasum intended:

I am very interested to see how much you use your 18m,
when you have the 15m.

My 13M easily replaced my 16.5

even my 12M Turbo Diesel replaced my 16.5 Contra....
Which, buy the way, are both for sale.

I still have a 19.5 Contra,
I can't see that I'll ever use that again.


Big vs. not as Big.

No right or wrong,
looks like all personal preference.

IMHO

-Marty

OK I'm done ranting,,
Headed for ULLB..
Kiting, Camping, Tequila.......
Isn't this fun....

[Kenny]

I am very interested to see how much you use your 18m,
when you have the 15m.

My 13M easily replaced my 16.5

There are two schools of thought when it comes to rigging. Those that rig a larger kite so that they can jump and ride powered up most of the time and those that rig a little smaller that don't intend on jumping as much, but like to ride comfortably.

The new "bow style" kites are more efficient and I could rig smaller. However, I find that the bow style kites are allowing me to rig even bigger due to the increased amount of depower and the fact that they turn faster than my old kites.

I found out that I can comfortably ride my Waroo 16m when other riders are powered up on 9M kites. On a C kite I would get yanked around when others were on 12's. I did learn that I should go into shore while on a 16 when 9's were being put up because I was riding too close to the limit (Steve, thanks for catching my kite a few weeks back).

Just came back from Rush. Had the place to myself. The water was completely flat, yet I was totally powered up. Locations are kind of like kite selection, different strokes for different folks.

Kenny

[whit]

Marty wrote............Plydes,
Plywood copies of the Glide.
I made one, Ralph is working on one,
I used 5/8ths plywood,
cut it out, using the Glide as a template,
sealed it with spar urathane.
no rocker necessary,
heavier,, but, cheap.

and it's fun to ride a handmade board.

-Marty Cool


When I was in South Padre this spring, there were a few guys that had made their own boards out of plywood. Very wide, no rocker, they took a piece of marine plywood, varnished it and put foot straps on it. A cheap light wind board. They were riding the North Flats at So Padre, which has very little chop though. Whit

[lesvierra]

Hey Marty,

Are you going to be around this week? I'd like to try the plyde idea and use your glide as a template. Anyone have some extra bindings and fins I could buy.

Les