Hello everybody,

I am glad I found this forum. I live in Greece where people are not very interested in using power kites. They use SLEs for kitesurfing.
During this summer I tried to learn kitesurfing. Although I do not consider myself an expert, I can control my kite (naish Cult 12m) quite well in up to 20-25 knots. But the winter is coming and since I have a previous experience on roller skating I decided to try kite skating (for the winter time that is) using my trailskates.
I am currently in the process of buying a power kite. However I do not know whats going on with sizing. I weight 110 kgrs (242 lb) and I have no idea of what kite size I should choose since power kite (foils) provide much more power per square meter than SLEs.
Could you please help?

Thank you,
Dimitris

Are you looking at fixed bridle kites, or depower?
The other thing to take into consideration is where you will be riding. On snow, or ice?
If you are going depower, then you can get some bigger kites, but if you are planning on riding on ice, then stay with something small... It doesnt take much to get moving on ice. Snow is a different story. If you are riding snow, I'd say just use your Naish Cult that you already have. Though, you may want something a little smaller for the same winds. Look at a 10m maybe? Though I think an 8 would probably server you better. If you go foil, you can probably safely go down another meter or two...

Thank you for your response. Let me try to answer some of the questions...

Quote:

Are you looking at fixed bridle kites, or depower?

I would very much like to have both options of using a control bar or handles since I am not sure as to which one is more convenient for the trailskates (maybe wheels of doom later on!). I 've seen both being used.

Quote:

The other thing to take into consideration is where you will be riding. On snow, or ice?

I ll be riding on dirt . Trailskates are inline skates with 6 to 8 inch. wheels for all terrain riding. (www.trailskate.net).
Is dirt considerably different than snow as to the size of the kite being used?
I was thinking of a HQ Crossfire II 6.5 to 8 m. Do you think it would do? Winds might vary from 8 to 20 knots

In light winds the 8m would be fine. Might be a bit much when the winds get over 15... Seems like a lot of kite to me. I prefer depower, but thats just me. The crossfires seem like fine kites (never really flown one).

I ride on similar gear ( Coyote Rollerblades ) in similar ground. ( grass / sand).

Your cult should do the job in those winds but it is a bit big?

I am MUCH happier with a depower kite on my blades but you can use handles !!! Something in the 10m depower range or 15m twin skin would work best IMHO.

Probably a 5m fixed bridle would work unless your goal is jumping , then one size up. If jumping is the goal then a depower is a better choice.

If you are going to ride land and sea then Closed cell foils and Twin skin arcs are worth a look. NOTHING says you can't use LEI's on land if you know how to fly them !!!!

Help a newbie plz . What is SLE's

I think it stands for "Supported Leading Edge" or something like that. It's an inflatble though - that much I know. It'd be the "typical" kitesurf kite. The kind u need to pump up.

Miles - I quite enjoy flying my fixed bridles on handles when I have the skates on. They are so much more responsive than flying on a bar. You can crank every last drop out of your kite.

Hey Dimitris, welcome to the forum. I met 3 guys kitesurfing at Achivadolimni beach on Milos last August - what a terrific bay.

I am 200 lb and prefer to use my 5.5m fixed bridle on handles in relatively smooth winds when on a hard packed surface with Coyote skates. If it is really gusty I'll put up the 8m or 13m depower. If you are on longer grass or a softer surface you need more kite to get you going. I couldn't even put up my 2m kite in the 20-30knot summer winds on Milos so I hope your winter winds are lighter and less gusty.

Bill