How do board size and rider weight affect the suggested wind range rating of a kite?
Many factors affect the wind range of a kite such as board size, rider weight, riding ability and riding style (super lit or just powered). Each of these factors can adjust the recommended wind range for a particular kite. The general idea is that the bigger the board and the lighter the person, the smaller the kite that is needed. The basic idea behind rider weight and wind range is that a heavier rider, in general, will shift the wind range up. A kite that has a wind range of 20-30 knots for a 75 kilo rider might have a 25-35 knots range for a 100 kilo rider, simply because the extra mass requires more wind to get low-end planing and allows the rider to “hold down” more wind on the top end. The basic idea behind board size and wind range is that a smaller board will shift the wind range up. A smaller board requires more pull from the kite in order to get planing and a larger board requires less pull for early planing and the wind range shifts down. In general, it is easier to become
