Hey! Ive just arrived and settled in Auck. Now want to gear up and go for some action. I'm looking to reasonably cover the wind range with 2 kites... no idea how strong winds are around here tho.

I'm 80kg rider.
Will go for Slingshot RPM - they have 8m, 10m, 12m and 14m
so which ones do i grab 8 & 12 or 10 & 14?

Any advice will be appreciated

Other question. Is there any summary information on some website what are the common spots around auckland region?

hiya, ive been kitting for ova a decade in aucks and id go for the 8mtr and the 14mtr if i was you,they have heaps of depower so the 8 will do for the big 25-30kt+ days while the 14 would get you goin in the avg 12-20kts , but thats just my opinion, you can get accouple of boards too a big wind/small board and a light wind big board, perhaps a surf/kiteboard if u like the waves .
have fun bsafe.

try this site for wind info www.windsurf.co.nz/windsurf_weather_alk.asp

I've been riding RPMs for a couple of years now in the Bay of Plenty, pretty similar to Auckland, but I only weigh 70kg.

I started with a 12m and a 8m but eventually bought a 10m as well. I use the 10m about 60% of the time and the other two 20% each. The difference in low end between the 12m and 10m is two knots at most, the speed of the 10m almost makes up the difference. You need a small kite for the big days so if I had to choose between only two kites I would personally pick the 10m and 8m and ride a surfboard on the light wind days. My 100kg mates love riding my 12m whereas I find that it has a much smaller wind range than the 10m.

They are really well-behaved kites, hooked and unhooked. I've never had them do anything weird or needed any repairs and I've clocked up hundreds of hours on them. It's a shame Slingshot don't make a 9m,a 12m and 9m quiver would suit most riders. I think that they might make one next year.

Simon

i have a 8m 11m combo. i'm on the cusp of upsizing to a 12m because the 11 is abit gak until 18 knots. it works in 16 but not that much fun.

but i'm, grinning in the 18-25 bracket on the 11 so I just don't know.

bellow 16knot kitesurfing can F$%K off. my grin is soooooo much more on the landboard in light winds.

Should try new Ozone 2011 c4 12 and 9 best combo, plus has 2 setting wave and wake, on the wave setting kite drops a size becomes 8 meter gives you way more range than other kites.

Hey there and welcome to Auckland

The summer winds here tend to be lighter, so go big!!!
However, if you are a winter kiter than we can have some HUGE days.

Yesterday I was powered up on my 8m Ozone C4, and usually I ride my 11m C4 with a few days in the summer on my 14m and I weigh about 20kgs less than you.

If you can hold down a 10m in 25 knots, then I would go 10m and 14m, but I bet once winter arrives you will suddenly have a 3 kite quiver as your 8m will come out to play a lot

GO the C4 get rid of the pulleys and live it up!!!!!!

Impartial..................Not really

maybe i need a 12m c4. whats the difference in power between 12m c4 and my 09 11m edge?
give me review between the two if you can Dan.

Short review

JUST DO IT!!!!

long review.

09 edge quite high end oriented, very good top end and lots of power when you get there.

2011 edge Lots and lots of low end power and heaps of top end grunt, i think the new edge would kick your arse in such a nice way. you would probably use the 9 inplaceof your 11!!!!!!!!

2011 C4 totally different beast. Max power thought the loops and in the turns. Two options for trimming, wave set up with more depower, and Freestyle setting (i call it kick-ass setting) most folks using K/Ass setting as its very very direct and has heaps of depower still. More like your Frenzy kind of thing. Mate of mine got a freak gust at point chev the other day and put in 3 downloops in one jump traveled about 100m according to google earth. in other words a great kite, the best ive had form ozone!


The C4 likes to pull though the turns, and is great for wave riding or unhooked trickery as it sits in the window so very stable. As in it will drift down the line at Waitara very nicely. and if you end up wanting to learn Raileys or similar, it hardly needs trimming to unhook.

Love the new boston valve as well and the huge repair pack you get.

any more info you need just ask............

Hi Plummit, will chuck 2 cents worth.

Generally edges have more bottom end than C4 due to C4s C shape profile, example this year i had 2010 c4 12 meter and 2010 edge 9 meter in light winds preferred to ride the edge, as it had more pop in that 12-15 knots.

I now have 2011 c4 10 meter and 2010 11 meter edge , the Gap has def closed although edge is my light wind and race kite.
In terms of power the new 2011 12 meter C4 , and 2010 11m edge would be the same but would choose C4 for fun factor and is such amazing kite does everything really well.

Matt was saying the edge not really his type of kite until he tried 2011 edge, and now riding it all the time, loads of bottom end boosts large honks up wind turned well, much more an all round kite. 2011 11meter edge could be good option.

dan might disagree,
just my view

cheers steve

I agree with you steve

I think the edge is great for free ride style, and big boosting, the C4 more of a freestyle /wave kite.

by all accounts the 2011 edge is a booster, i know the ones i have tried are for sure.

2011 edge sounds like me. tho i need to try a c4. in saying all that i can't afford new so i'm a second hand/trademe deal hunter!

Your right dan 11m 09 edge is a screamer in high winds 20+ knots. Today i could almost see the ski tower from down here in the naki with the height i was getting.

But on the same note i like the waves aswell and downwind on this edge is pretty average.

F-One Bandit IV, 14 + 9 if you want a huge wind range.

I've got the 12, one of the first (on the water 3 weeks ago) in the country here is my review:

The 3 struts design means this kite is very light, when you pull it out of the bag you immediately spot the bullet proof build quality and sick graphics. Its a cinch to inflate thanks to the valved one pump system.

The kite has 2 battens near the wingtips and when inflated the structure is highly rigid.

Performance wise, I am still waiting for the airlite bars to come through, so was using a 45cm (a bit small) Bandit 3 bar.

- Super smooth through the gusts. Today was up and down like a yo-yo, kite handled it fine, no shaking and you can't Hindenberg it if you overcook a boost.
- Boosts big, real big. Get up there, sheet in more, its like being lifted by a big crane!
- Light in weight
- The kiteloops are phenomenal
- 2 attachment points for back lines
- Great price in NZ as direct sell from Christophe

I've been kiting since 2001, so the Delta-C is the obvious choice. The Slingshot Rally and RPM are supposed to be great. I'd recommend grabbing my Bandit IV 12 for a demo or speaking to Christophe who will give you a go, then comparing against the Slingy.

Check out f-onekites.us/portal/2010/11/12/f-one-ba...ght-wind-conditions/

If youre a full Addict youd get a 14, 10 and 8.

Auckland is so variable, Seabreezy 12 knot days to Cyclones of 25 gusting 35.

The 10m will be your bread and butter, while the 14m will be for desperate attempts.

Be prepared, all the brands have a good range the Slingys are super stable and strong.

Personally the Naish Parks are the buisness but i'm biased ....

Take your pick and get out there.

Welcome to Aotearoa Bro, get in touch and lets ride sometime

Plummit, my 2010 11 and 7mt edge are for sale upgrading to 2011.

if keen, give me a call 0222 444 456

cheers steve

i'll have a think steve. you in auckland? i'll be up there in a few weeks if the weathers right may do a back to back comparison. if theres not much between 09 and 10 edges i want to look at something else.

Yep fair enough, give it a try see how you go, yes here in auckland. just give heads up few days before and will sort out a good time

steve

I weigh 84kg and a 12 and an 8 works well for me. I am usually one of the last people of the water when the wind drops and the others packed up already.

For your weight a 14 is a bit of a waste. Hardly anyone other than the heavyweights use them here. If the wind strength gets that low requiring a 14, it is usually too variable to sail anyway.

I'm 72kg and ride with a 12m and an 8m.

Depends whether you can be bothered with marginal 9-11 knot conditions or not.