How many kites do you need

Ryan Rygo Goloversic. Many people dream of quitting their job, traveling the world and pursuing their passions. Rygo is one of those people who pulled the trigger. His mission is to help people and share the stoke. Get out there and kite! When picking the correct size kiteboarding kite, there are four things to consider: How much do you weigh? Is this your first kite or are you adding to your quiver?

What kind of conditions will you be riding in? What style of kite are you looking at? All kiteboarders have a quiver of kites Starting your quiver If you're new to kiteboarding and you are looking at your first kite, you'll want to pick a good all-around mid-range kite for your weight, the goal being to maximize your water time in the conditions that you'll be riding in.

When I say mid-range kite, what I mean is that kiteboarders have a quiver of kites: Mid-range kite High wind kite Light wind kite Why learn on a mid-range kite For most, the mid- range kite is best for starting. Need us to pick for you?

How long does it take to learn kiteboarding? The 30 hour rule in kiteboarding In kiteboarding, we have the 30 hour rule. Locations like the Florida Keys need a light wind kite How to pick a mid-range kite by your weight I've included a kiteboarding size chart that you can reference.

Kiteboarding Size Chart This should give you an idea on the average wind speeds you can ride in and how to choose the right size kite for the conditions.

When to consider starting on a different size Light wind If you live somewhere that almost exclusively has light winds, you might need to start with a light wind kite. Kicking it with the Key West crew on a light wind day High wind Likewise, if you are primarily riding somewhere with constant strong winds, you'll have to opt for a high wind kite. Rygo riding the slider park in Hood River Intermediate to advanced level riders I should point out that in , most kites cater to most levels.

Some niche kites are size specific Sizing gets more specific when looking at niche kites. Recent Posts. As a rule, such tables are made by equipment manufacturers and kitesurf schools.

Please note that the data in this table is approximate and does not include the skill level of the rider. So from the table below, you can choose your kite and the size of the twin-type board depending on the average wind speed at the place and your weight. What size kiteboard for 85 kg? You can choose the size of your kite using the kiteboarding calculator in Windy. Yes, there is one! You don't need to make calculations.

Here at the end of the screen, enter your exact weight. Open the nearest or your favorite spot in the app — for example, Tarifa in Spain. To make a spot favorite click on the star icon right to its name. Then look at the weather parameters — now you see the exact kite size depending on the two main parameters for choosing the kite: your weight and wind speed. As a general rule, together with a calculator, use also the kite size chart and other advice from this article.

And read " Mini guide to kitesurfing with Windy. Text: Natalia Kirasheva. Ivan Kuznetsov , an outdoor writer from the Dolomites, Italy, and Karelia, Finland, contributed to this article. A same-weight rider may have the skill to hold down a very powerful kite. To add to the confusion, some discipline-specific riders will purposely choose a bigger or smaller kite size.

As an example, wave riders will choose the smallest kite they can ride. Similarly, some discipline-specific kites will deliver different power. A kite designed for freestyle will be less powerful than one for big air jumps. Ultimately, the type of board you use Twin tip, surfboard, hydrofoil, etc. All this to say that you should not always rely on comparing yourself to other riders to pick the kite size you will use.

To put it simply, the more kites you have, the more often you will be able to go out. A quiver will open up your wind range. Despite your motivation, your budget may however disagree. When I started kitesurfing, I bought 4 kites within my first year. The wind conditions at my local spot in inland-Canada required such a quiver to satisfy my thirst for kiting. A 2-kite quiver will maximize the potential for the average summer conditions within a reasonable budget. Passed this point, it all depends on your motivation for catching either the lighter winds sub 18 knots or the occasional blasting conditions more than 25 knots , keeping in mind that you may have to develop extra skills before you can ride in these wind speeds.

If you consider buying multiple kite sizes, it is reasonable to keep 2 meters on average between each size, in order to avoid having equipment that has an overlapping wind range. For example, your 2-kite quiver could be a 7m and a 9m, or an 8m and a 10m. When going into smaller sizes, keep them 1m apart 5m, 6m , and roughly 3m in the big sizes 9m, 12m, or 14m and 17m.

In the big sizes, most brands skip some sizes for this reason. Need help deciding which kite size to buy? C Kite The first and original inflatable kitesurfing kite. Features square corners in a C-shaped arc when launched. The C kite gets its shape from the kite lines, which are attached at the four corners of the kite. Bow Kite The Bow Kite is an innovative concave kitesurfing kite with an almost flat look, after being launched in the skies. Sometimes it is called "flat kite," and its shape offers a near percent de-power and large wind range features.

Hybrid Kite The hybrid kiteboarding kite is a fusion of the best characteristics of the C kite and the bow kite. There are many hybrid kite variations, and some of them are almost identical to their inspirational kites. Both hybrid kites and bow kites are considered SLE kites because they have bridles. Foil Kite A foil kite doesn't have air bladders.

A classic foil kite is made of open cells that breathe air and inflate the kite.