What kite size to choose: a table by rider weight and wind
Kite size comes down to two numbers — your weight and the knots — corrected by a third that few people state: how steady the wind is. Here is the starting table and the three things that actually move it.
Starting table (freeride twintip)
| Rider weight | 12-16 kn | 16-20 kn | 20-25 kn | 25-30 kn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55-65 kg | 10-11 m² | 8-9 m² | 7-8 m² | 5-6 m² |
| 65-80 kg | 11-12 m² | 9-10 m² | 8-9 m² | 6-7 m² |
| 80-95 kg | 12-14 m² | 10-12 m² | 9-10 m² | 7-8 m² |
| Above 95 kg | 13-15 m² | 12-13 m² | 10-11 m² | 8-9 m² |
For freeride twintips in full wind. A bigger board buys you a size down; strapless surf riding tends the other way.
The three things that shift the choice
- Steadiness. When gusts run well above the mean, size down: a big kite in gusts does not depower enough, and that is a safety issue, not a comfort one.
- The board. More surface under your feet means getting going on less power — a big board is worth half a kite size.
- Your level. Learners struggle to handle a big kite low in the window, and are better served by one size less in genuinely more wind.
Reading it against the spot’s wind
The knots in the table are measured wind, not forecast. In this app a spot turns green for kite at 13 knots, and below 9 there is no point rigging: those are the same thresholds the alerts use, so when your spot lights up you already know which column you are in.
Compare mean and gusts before deciding: between 15 knots gusting 27 and a steady 18, the second day takes more kite and less nerve.
Frequently asked questions
Two kites or three?
Two cover almost everything: one for the average wind at your spot and one about 3 m² smaller. A third only pays off if you often ride below 13 or above 28 knots.
Does the table apply to kitefoiling?
No — on foil you drop a long way: the same day rides with 3-5 m² less, and the usable threshold falls to around 11 knots. These sizes are for twintips.