- Two kites cover 90% of a season: one mid, one small.
- Start from your weight in kilograms, then correct for wind and water.
- A kite that is too big is dangerous; too small is only annoying.
The first question everyone asks in the shed is which size to take out. The honest answer is that the number on the kite matters less than three other things: how much you weigh, how gusty the wind is, and how good you are at depowering when it picks up.
Start from your weight
A rough starting point in steady 18-knot wind: your body weight in kilograms divided by eight. A 72 kg rider lands on a 9 m², a 95 kg rider on a 12 m². That is the centre of the range, not the answer.
If you are hesitating between two sizes on your first week, take the smaller one. You will work harder and learn faster.
Correct for the water
Flat water gives you more usable power than chop, because you are not losing speed in every bump. On a lagoon like Paje you can happily ride a size down from what the same wind would demand in open ocean swell.
- Flat lagoon: one size smaller than the chart says
- Short chop: the chart size
- Open swell: one size up, and a board with more volume
Correct for gusts
A steady 20 knots and a gusty 12–24 knots average the same on paper and feel completely different in your hands. In gusty conditions size for the peaks, not the average, and accept that you will be underpowered in the lulls.
What to actually buy
For most riders between 65 and 85 kg, a 9 m² and a 12 m² cover almost every day of a normal season. Add a 7 m² only once you are jumping and chasing the windiest days on purpose.
And before you buy anything: ride at least three different brands in one week. The difference in bar feel between them is bigger than the difference between two neighbouring sizes.
