As I'm just about the only one still kiting on C kite-

[Matteo]

Let me get into this too....and say my thoughts:

- BOW kites have greater upper range (and Shuman has proven this !!)
- BOW kites appeared to be safer
- BOW kites seem to water re-launch easier
- BOW kites jump further and therefore you might be in the air longer
- BOW kites seem to fly slightly slower (up and down and kiteloops) but the forward speed of the kite is actually pretty good

- C kites seem to move faster (up and down and kiteloops). You can probably get the same forward speed of a BOW kite with one bigger size of a C shape (ie 16m BOW vs 18m C). I'm actually talking about the forward speed here, the speed that you are crusing at.
- C kites appear to jump higher but doesn't necessary mean that you stay longer in the air
- C kites seem to work better for powered moves (handle passes, etc.).
- C kites are easier to self launch from the beach

These are my considerations, now when I look at what kind of wind we get I'd go for:

- 18 to 21 C-shape for those light days (and we get a lot of them !!)
- 12 to 15 C-shape for those decent days (which we get a few of them !!)
- 9 to 12 BOW for those gusty cold fronts (which we get some of them !!)

plus

- 120-130 twin tip board
- 150-160 directional

This is what I'm working on...

Hope this wind will pick up soon otherwise I'm going to bore you to death with more of this crap....

seeya in the water...