VIRGINIA POWER KITES KITESURFING CHART 

Note: This is the only kitesurfing chart with BOARD SIZE and KITE SIZE included. This is for the average 175 pound rider. More experienced riders may be able to generate enough power to expand on the wind range in this chart. Hybrid kites may turn as fast as C kites, and they have more depower, more hangtime, and more power per square meter. C kites generally are more stable and are great for unhooked riding, but they produce less power per square meter. They have fast turning speed. Large inflatable kites are heavier than foil kites and do not work as well in low wind conditions. Foil kites are slower turning than inflatable kites, but they produce the most power per square meter. Flatter kites produce more power per square meter, and foil kites are the flattest, with hybrids somehwere in the middle. Higher aspect ratio kites create more forward speed, but they turn slower as their diameter is longer. In light winds, freestyle tricks might be possible with large foil kites, but professional freestyle tricks are usually done with a smaller, faster kite. Foil kites and larger kites are more stable and are more based on freeriding, while smaller kites are better for unhooked performance. In gusty and variable conditions, you also might be able to use one size smaller kite with a kite surfboard and generate more speed. In gusty wind conditions, you may have to find calculate the average wind speed to determine what kite and which board is best.

 

Hybrid Kite	minimum required wind w/Surfboard, wide, large twin tip	Minimum required wind w/freestyle board
5 m kite	25 knots plus	40 knots +
6 m kite	20 knots	35 knots +
7 m kite	18 knots	25-35 knots
8 m kite	16 knots	23 knots-33 knots
9 m Kite	14 knots	18-30 knots
10 m kite	13 knots	15-29 knots
11 m kite	12 knots	14-26 knots
12 m kite	11 knots	13-25 knots
13 m kite	10 knots	12-23 knots
14 m kite	9 knots	12-20 knots
15 m kite	8 knots	11-20 knots
16 m kite	7 knots	10-20 knots
C Kite	minimum required wind w/Surfboard, wide, large twin tip	minimum required wind w/freestyle board
5 m kite	35 knots +	40 knots +
6m	27 knots +	40 knots +
7m	25 knots	40 knots +
8m	20 knots	35 knots +
9m	18 knots	25-35 knots
10m	16 knots	23 knots-33 knots
11m	14 knots	18-30 knots
12m	13 knots	15-29 knots
13m	12 knots	14-26 knots
14m	11 knots	13-25 knots
15m	10 knots	12-23 knots
16m	9 knots	12-20 knots
Foil Kite	minimum required wind w/Surfboard, wide, large twin tip	Minimum required wind w/freestyle board
5 m kite	20 knots	35 knots plus
6 m kite	18 knots	30 knots plus
7 m kite	16 knots	25-35 knots
8 m kite	15 knots	23 knots-33 knots
9 m Kite	13 knots	18-30 knots
10 m kite	11 knots	15-29 knots
11 m kite	10 knots	14-26 knots
12 m kite	10 knots	13-25 knots
13 m kite	8 knots	12-23 knots
14 m kite	8 knots	12-20 knots
15 m kite	7 knots	11-20 knots
16 m kite	7 knots	10-20 knots
17 m	6 knots	9-20 knots
18 m	6 knots	9-20 knots
19 m	6 knots	8-18 knots
20 m	5 knots	8-16 knots
21 m	5 knots	6-15 knots

Kite Power Per Square Meter by Type

Most powerful kite listed first:

Fixed bridle foil, open cell, high aspect

Fixed bridle foil, open cell, medium aspect

Open cell depowerable foil kite, high aspect

Open cell depowerable foil kite, medium aspect

Closed cell depowerable foil kite, high aspect

Closed cell depowerable foil kite, medium aspect

Bow/hybrid kite, high aspect

Bow/hybrid kite, medium aspect

C kite, high aspect

C kite, medium aspect

A 4 meter fixed bridle kite is like a 10 meter C kite or an 8 meter bow kite.

 

Fixed bridle foil kites on kite buggy (75 kg rider)

Kite Size	0-5 mph	5-10 mph	10-15 mph	15-20 mph	20-25 mph	25-30 mph	30-35 mph	35-40 mph	40+ mph
3 m		(X)	(X)	X	X	X	X	X
4 m		(X)	X	X	X	X
5 m		(X)	X	X
7 m		X	X
10 m	X	X

·        Kite buggying on hard packed sand is different than on grass. On hard packed sand, you can ride with a smaller kite. Parentheses indicate hard packed sand.

 

Depowerable foil kites on kite landboard (75 kg)

Kite size	5-10 mph	10-15 mph	15-20 mph	20-25 mph	25-30 mph	30-35 mph
7 m	(X)	X	X	X	X
9 m	X	X	X	X
11 m	X	X	X
14 m	X	X

·        On hard packed sand, you can use a 7 m in 5-10 mph. Parentheses indicate hard packed sand.

Depowerable foil kites on snow (75 kg)

Kite size	5-10 mph	10-15 mph	15-20 mph	20-25 mph	25-30 mph	30-35 mph
7 m		X	X	X	X
9 m		X	X	X
11 m	X	X	X
14 m	X	X

·        In less than 5 mph, use a large 8 to 10 meter fixed bridle kite with handles.

·        Snowkiting in deep powder is just like kitesurfing, so use kitesurfing chart for snowkiting in deep powder.

KITESURFING CHART: INFLATABLE KITE WIND RANGE 75 kg rider

Kite size	5-10 knots	10-15 knots	15-20 knots	20-25 knots	25-30 knots	30-35 knots	35-40 knots
5 m LEI						X	X
7 m LEI					X	X	X
9 m LEI				X	X	X
12 m LEI			X	X	X
15 m LEI		X	X
17 m LEI	X*	X	X

·        LEI kites do not perform as well as closed cell foil kites in light wind conditions because of their weight.

·        Flatter kites and higher aspect ratio kites will be slightly stronger than an average medium aspect ratio kite.

·        Higher aspect ratio kites turn slower. Lower aspect ratio kite have less forward speed.

·        Larger kites move slower; smaller kites move faster.

·        Wider, longer boards perform better in lighter winds. A 12 meter kite with a surfboard can have the light wind perform of a 15 meter LEI.

·        Waves and chop slow down your board speed. One size larger kite is needed in choppy conditions. 

 

 

FOIL KITE CHART

75 kg rider

 

Kite size	5-10 knots	10-15 knots	15-20 knots	20-25 knots	25-30 knots	30-35 knots
6 m					X	X
8 m				X	X
11 m		X	X	X
14 m	X	X

 

·        This chart is based on the HQ Neo 2.

·        With a surfboard or wider board, you can use a smaller kite.

·        Closed cell foil kites have better low end and work with lighter winds better.

·        With a foil kite, sheet out with the bar to get riding.

* Please note: in winds with gusts over 10 mph difference, always choose the kite size appropriate for the strongest gust. Use a kite size smaller because larger kites can be dangerous in strong gusts. Gusty winds occur more often in areas with strong thermals and in areas such as mountains and inland areas. Gusts can also indicate the arrival of strong storm fronts and may be a sign of an approaching storm.

Virginia Beach Wind Statistics: Average wind speed 13 mph (enough to go kiteboarding with a larger kite and a surfboard!)

The best months for wind are September through May, but there is still more than a 1/4 chance on summer months that there will be good wind conditions in June, July, and August. If you are scheduling for lessons, please contact us ahead of time. Weather conditions are unpredictable and subject to change. If you are traveling for a long distance, we recommend our longer camps, or we recommend that you make plans for sightseeing on no wind days.  There are also plenty of activities in Virginia Beach as well as fine dining. We do reschedule lessons on no wind days.

Virginia Beach, Sandbridge, and the Chesapeake Bay Area have a small group of close knit kiteboarders and kitesurfers who do not want to have the sport banned. At Virginia Power Kites, we want to work in harmony with the Virginia Beach kiteboarding community to avoid having the sport banned. That means that we take all safety precautions concerning the sport and accept information from anyone in the community about our lessons and safety concerns. If you are learning how to kiteboard, then you must follow the rules of the community you kite in. That means that you must understand and follow the regulations set up by the Virginia Beach community to take lessons there.

Virginia Beach is cool to ride, not really a kite travel destination, but we have a core of local riders moe than willing to lend a hand or advise the visiting kiter of where is best to kite. This is a list of locations by wind direction, ability level and general conditions for that location.

OVERVIEW OF VAKB LAUNCH LOCATIONS BY WIND DIRECTION:

45th Street & 88th Street (Virginia Beach Oceanfront) = N, NE,S, & SE
Waves from 1'- 12', sandy bottom, surfers, swimmers, kayaks, a pier, rock jettys and strong currents. Side/side-onshore winds Best winds April - October 10-30mph winds -

Beginners can get a lesson on 88th street, and more advanced riders will do a downwinder from 64th to 88th or vice versa depending on wind direction. After the summer, the best kiteboarding area is between 45th and 88th street.


First Landing State Park (Virginia Beach Chesapeake Bay)= N, NE, E, ENE, NW, WNW & W
Small to medium choppy waves, boating channel, strong currents, a pier, large pound pole fishing nets, swimmers and sunbathers on a small narrow beach(@ hi tide) mostly onshore winds. Best winds April - October 10 - 30 mph $$4 park admission w/ showers - Beginners to Advanced Riders


Sandbridge (Virginia Beach - Oceanside) = S, SE, N, & NE
Waves from 1'-12', sandy bottom, surfers, swimmers, kayaks, a pier and strong currents. Narrow beaches, rusty steel bulkheads line some areas, tons of beachgoers, Side/side-onshore winds Best winds April - October 10-30mph winds 

Most of our lessons occur in the Sandbridge area north of the pier.


 Buckroe Beach, Hampton Roads, Virginia= WSW, NE

Winds are much lighter here, but this area is very shallow and works well for beginners when there are SW winds.

http://www.windvisions.com/factorypoint.html

Great place for kiteboarding. There are two launches at this place, North Launch, and Factory Point, or the South Launch. There are small waves at this site and relatively shallow water. You should wear booties here because of the small mussels. The bottom is sandy and muddy.

ALL KITERS VENTURING OUT TO ANY OF THESE LAUNCHES SHOULD BE ABLE TO:
- SELF LAUNCH AND SELF LAND YOUR KITE SAFELY - SOMETIMES NECCESSARY DURING A DOWNWINDER IF KITE FALLS
- PERFORM A SELF RESCUE - GETTING YOURSELF & YOUR KITE BACK TO SHORE SAFELY AFTER A FAILED RELAUNCH
- PERFORM BODYDRAGGING UPWIND - TO RETREIVE A LOST BOARD ""BOARD LEASHES CAUSE HARMFUL BODILY DAMAGE""
- LEARN TO RESCUE/ASSIST ANOTHER KITER DURING A FAILED RELAUNCH -grab Leading Edge of their kite & tow kite, lines and bar to shore & secure on land, "THEN" tow kiter in using your kite
-HANDLE YOURSELF, BE A SELF SUFFICIENT KITER, HAVE YOUR SELF RESCUE PLAN IN ORDER & THEN HAVE A BACKUP PLAN, DO NOT RELY ON LIFEGUARDS/COAST GUARD TO SAVE YOU!! thanks & happy safe kiteboarding!!

The Virginia Association of KiteBoarders (VAKB) has been formed to represent local kiteboarder members in Virginia Beach. The purpose of the VAKB is to share kiting information, promote safety & to represent a positive image in our community for the sport & access to kiteboarding as it currently exists. VAKB has been devoted to the preservation of kitesurfing access,promotion of safe kitesurfing
practices & discussion of issues important to kiteboarders in Virginia Beach.
 

For kite reviews:

www.kiteboardingreview.com