pilot physics
1 Body Weight
More weight = more towing force needed. Most kite designs are based on 175 pound male riders. Here’s a safe rule to follow: for every 25lbs weight difference, you need to increase/decrease your kite one size. Suppose there’s a 175# kiter riding a 12m in the recommended manufacturer wind range. A 150# rider might be better on a 10, while a 200# rider could probably use a 14m.
2 Level
Experienced riders can usually handle more kite than similar sized beginners. More power = bigger moves AND bigger risks.
3 Riding Style
Kiters constantly loading and edging upwind need bigger kites to stay powered. A hips forward board stance keeps the board flatter on the water, requiring much less kite.
Wind Physics
4 Air Density
We all know hot air expands. When molecules spread out in warm humid Caribbean type breezes, winds have less pressure. Hot air offers your kite about 25% less power than cooler northern winds. If you normally ride a 12 in the tundra, you’ll likely want to move up a kite size in the tropics.
5 Wind Speed
As wind speeds double, available power increases by 400%! For example, a 20kt wind has 4x more power than only 10kts. For the best ride, follow this general rule: move down a kite size with every 4kt wind increase.
6 Gust Factor
A gusty day demands smaller kites. Size your kite according to the top gust speed. With gusts more than 6kts, you may want to go down a size.
7 Apparent Wind
It takes less force to keep a body in motion than to get it moving. Several things can trick your kite into thinking there’s more wind than is actually available (i.e., riding pace, water current, kite speed, etc.). You can safely ride a smaller kite if you know how to work these dynamics.
Water Physics
8 Current
An opposing current pushes you back into the wind, increasing wind pressure. Currents flowing with winds greatly decrease available power. Normally, 3kt+ currents in either direction require a kite size change.
9 Surface Topography
Like ski slope moguls, rough chop makes maintaining a controlled edge difficult. Flatter water surfaces allow constant fin and edge contact. The more control you have, the more power you can handle. If chop is 18” or more, riding a kite size smaller may be easier.
10 Salinity
A warm salty lagoon produces more buoyancy than a cool freshwater lake. The more natural float you have, the less power you need to plane. Keeping air density constant, you can ride a smaller kite in the ocean than an inland pond.
Kite / Board Physics
11 Kite Design
Did you know angle of attack is stronger in determining kite pull than aspect ratio or profile? Understanding your kite’s design is critical in selecting size. For example, flat kites have less attack angle, producing less drag and needing more wind for lift. This is why they can de-power and handle gusts so well. “C” kites have greater attack angle, which in turn produces more drag, providing low-end pull. Many go down a size when switching from “Flat” to “C.”
12 Board Design
Surface area, stiffness, float, fins and shape all play huge roles in managing kite power. The bigger, thicker, harder, deeper and flatter the board, the less friction produced. Decrease any of these characteristics and you’ll need more kite to levitate across the water.
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