Rider: 80kg, beginner
Style: freeriding, surf
Weather: 8+knots
I'm interested in what kites people are using to get them out in light winds outside of the racing scene. Have read good things about the Core XR LW but never seen one at the beach ...
Would love any further info/any kites you've had experience with :)
I mainly kite at the local beach break but really just want to cruise around in light winds.
The ozone Edge is a market'd as a race kite primarily, but from what ive heard they boost better than most kites and theyre good in light wind in the bigger sizes. But if you want a dedicated light wind kite check out the ozone zephyr also
IMO i wouldnt go near a 'core' even if it was given to me!
Yo, as I've mentioned before, the zephyr by ozone it a great kite,at your weight you'll get going at 6knts on a lightwind board or 9 on a basic twinny, but at 13 knts its wicked fun,and behaves itself up to low 20 knts, my best kiting purchase
North Dyno 17m, Ozone 17m Edge and if you are heavy and want to be powered in 10knts and less the def the Spleene X19.
try to give them all a demo and see for yourself which one you prefer.
The Dyno is the quickest of the 3, the Edge got lots of bottom end grunt when you get speed up and x19 pulls pretty hard but is slow turning.
Have a look at Griffin TRX (17 or 14m). It has been much improved for 2013. Now is called TRX-Pro, as is turning even faster than TRX 2012.
TRX is designed for freestyle and freeride and is really good on the waves too. Not super-high aspect ratio kite designed specially for racing. It's a 3 struts, light, fast turning kite.
There are 2013 preview videos on youtube. You can look for them or I can post them here is someone ask me to do it (or I can send on a pm if you prefer).
My recommendation: try before buy if you can.
All my best,
Alex
"best lightwind kite for twintip" ( lots of variables ) Light wind kites can have very different qualities from each other. Most of the time, but not always:
High Aspect (thin and long) LW Kites:
Are "often" awesome at upwind and fast speeds and higher jumps
But not as good on relaunch (too long and thin), poor drift on waves, slower turning
Medium-lower aspect ( fatter in the middle )
Not as fast speed, floaty jumps but not as high, can be faster turning, much better on waves, easier relaunch if the LE is curved and bridle is right.
More struts can make the kite feel heavier, different bridles can make the kite feel heavier or lighter, Pulleys can make a kite relaunch easier. Try a few out, there is often a large difference in feel between different LW kites.
There is no dispute that the Ozone Edge is the fastest kitesurfing kite for kite racing, watch the video below, for proof the winning kite was an Ozone Edge.
For lightwind, based on what I've seen and flown over the last couple of years, the kites that really work and that are fun to use are Ozone Edge and Zephyr 17M's, the Core Riot XR2 LW 17M (does come in a 19, but the 17 is better) The Cab Switchblade 16M, North Dyno 17M, Cab Crossbow 16 and 18M. I've seen foils used in light winds, and I've flown a few 19M models but they just do not turn well enough to be any real fin IMO and are useless for racing as they don't go downwind anywhere near as well as the inflatables.
The key to having fun in light winds is to match any of the above inflatable kites with larger LW TT's or a race board. Crazy Fly have some excellent Light Wind specific twin tips this year that will see you out cruising well under 10 knots on a 17M inflato.
CF Allround 1.45x48 for $799 for example, http://www.kitepower.com.au/crazyfly-allround-2013.html
There are heaps of other light wind TT's around though.
Well actually I would highly dispute it as there are many factors in racing with not least being the rider, board and fins. I will leave that for another topic though as many seem to have forgotten the primary use given at the start of the topic.
Many of these kite probably wont be what your after as they are too high aspect, old school/race oriented.
Of those that are left I like the NAISH Fly the best. Try for yourself
Message for Kitepower .. so in terms of LW twin tip Crazy Fly ..one board is 145 x 44 and the other 145 x 48, how much difference is 3 cm width and how many knots would improve bottom end? Isn't the wider one going to be harder to edge/put pressure on calfs perhaps compared to the 44 cm wide one?
Something i have discovered with my attempts at light wind kiting is that real high aspect kites like the edge and the flysurfer speed 3 is that they are not allways the best option for light wind. particularily in waves/white wash and swell.
why? they need. no they crave board speed and aparent wind. if you can't get up to speed due to being hammered by waves / white wash lumpy seas then they can't power up easily and your doing the walk of shame.
in flat water conditions they rock and can crack in insanely light winds. in the surf and white wash a lower aspect kite might be a better option. it has more obvious power and can mangle through the white wash etc.
ps i have an 13m edge and a 15m speed 3 dlx.
The Spleene Monster Door is a hit for light winds, school use and big boys!
We got some locals riding them and they go upwind in 10knts on their 12m kites white others cant get of the beach.
Generally, with a light wind board most riders will actually increase their low end wind range a lot more than with a bigger kite. Once you get going you dont need much power to ride.
The big boards are also great for the heavier riders in lighter winds.
When we started teaching in our school on the 166/50cm Monster Door the success rate of people riding upwind at their first board lesson went up heaps, we even have people going upwind on their first tack :) YOU END UP WITH SOME VERY STOKED CUSTOMERS!
All the features below make the Spleene Monster Door an amazing designed light wind board and its actually fun to ride.
All Doors have a four stance options to suit all sizes of riders and stances.
Dynamic Flex Control
Thorough testing was done to figure out the perfect flex. The layers of the fiberglass are separated in zones and decreasing towards the tips. With that construction we can control the flex really precise. You don´t have burning legs or hurting ankles even after long sessions.
Carbon Construction
The 2012 Doors receive their huge performance boost by the application of high-quality carbon in the laminate construction.
Jet bottom Technology
This Shape-Detail describes a Channel on the base side of the board. It allows the board to plane more freely and earlier. Compared to a simple concave the Jet Bottom provides significantly more “edge bite” as it channels the waterflow along its edges. Even in choppy conditions the difference is very noticeable.
Concave Door Outline
The concave outline enables to ride at an extreme angle to the wind with the Doors.
Progressive Scoop-Rocker
For early planing and planing through lulls.
Flat Scoop Rocker
For ultimate maneuverability and early planing ability at all Doors.
The best feature is the ultra light weight of the board. Even tho its massive it is still easy to handle and carry.
I reckon you try one with your 12m next time its 10-12knts
Happy light wind days 
Before you go spending big money on some of the posted options you need to ask yourself what do you want to do in 8 knts as you arnt going to be busting out any tricks , if you want to cruise around you'll need flat water or a raceboard something like the vectors, personally I can't be arsed its not what I'm into, as any lightwind kite owner will tell you you keep pushing the boundaries of the kite and generally get frustrated especially in the early stages of owning your new purchase, but you will get days when it blows 13 knts and your ripping while y mates are looking at you in total disgust
Thanks for the info. In terms of griffin options - which has better low end out of the argo 17m and the 2013 trx 17m?
Eppo: my current board is a 135 TT. Don't remember the model.
Okay then start considering TT options as well at your weight. A board makes in my opinion (and it depends), much more difference than the kite (and it depends).
Don't believe me as an extreme example, get your hands on a skim board wit your current quiver.
At 80 kg I would go for the 17trx over the Argo 17 if you were looking at a griffin,it pivots fast and is way more fun to ride than a big widespan kite like a zeph or an edge Not bashing these kites but for surf and free ride there are way better options,and way easier to relaunch in light wind for a lerner ,but try to get a demo on all suggestions would be the best advice and drop in light wind to try the relaunch cos there's nothin worse than a crap relaunch when a k offshore,i would also demo a strapped surfboard 20" wide min as a light wind option,I have a 5'6 x 20" board that no tt even comes close to for light wind unless it's so big that it's a door and rides like a dog the SB is still light and nimble as.
Also my current light wind kite is a Fury Light 15 it has a ton of bottom end a goes upwind like your on train tracks ,pulls as hard as any 17 I have ridden not as fast as a 17 TRX and it's a wide span bow designed for free ride and race so not as easy on the relaunch but still gets me out on the SB in 9-11 knots so does the job nicely 
agree with ya surfing in sub 10 knots though.
ALSO
Eppo- Man your so wrong- A few of us (17m Edge, 2 x Zephyrs, 1 Spleene x19) were out last week. 9-13 Knots, rode some amazing waves nice enjoyable swell that was so clean.
Some of my most enjoyable riding has been in the 10-18knot bracket.
I hope I am. As I am considering a big kite again. But I did say sub 10 not 10 to 18. In those winds I too have had some awesome sessions.
To caney - the 17 TRX is a good option for an 80 kg rider for me it's not as good as the Fury light as I'm 95 kg so for me the 17 TRX lacks a bit when it's light as however the TRX is quick so you can work it and generate more power so suits a lighter more aggressive rider,
The Fury is a more park and ride kite that still loops and drifts well for surf riding,and have put it back to back on numerous occasions with a zeph17 and it eats it in the surf so I suggest you give one a go.
One of the biggest differences between the Fury Light and the Zeph is when the wind gets light it's easy to stall the zeph but it's near impossible to stall the Fury Light and the light I'm on is a 15 not a 17 will be looking at maybe a 17 or 19 Light for our 8 knot summer breezes.
If I had to resort to riding a sector or similar in the surf I would go for a SUP instead 5'6 x 20 works for me and to kite power up to you but have had some awesome surf rides in clean glassy swells 9-11 knots so well worth the ride,i just can't see myself riding a race style board but again if your haven fun on one go for it.
The upwind abilities of a kite is important in which brand you choose the zephyr and edge have similar lightwind qualities but the edge is superb upwind one of the main reasons its dominated the world race scene for the last few years, also going for the bigger longer board isn't necessarily as good as a short wider board for example a 150/ 41 has less volume than a 140/44 this size feels much better underfoot than the big lightwind boards, if all the kite board combos were layed out I'd pick the edge and shinn king George
Nice vid Chris can't wait for my 2013 TRX's to get here,like the single footstrap setup and waxed rear on the SB will give it a go prob way better for toeside.
