Kite Shapes Explained (Bow, Delta, C kite, Hybrid, Flat, Aspect Ratio, Buying Choices etc)

This tutorial explains the primary differences between the many types of kite on the kiteboarding market these days. It explains the difference between C shape kites and flat kite (sometimes called bow kites). It then explains why high aspect and low aspect kites perform differently. To help new kiters decide what equipment suits them, the video looks at a few options, and explains common terms you will here when searching for a kite.
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[@kitesurfcollege]

Access our playlist to watch all tutorials in order: kzbin.info/aero/PL41dAinz_9ZeaG5FJ_XU8vyBAE_HL_Cgl

[@ivodupal3607]

If I meet you one day somewhere, I buy you a good bottle of Rum (y), best videos on YT ;) Thank you

[@ezequielalvarez9116]

Let me say that if someone paid for this video they should pay even more cause your work is freaking awesome! Thanks a lot!

[@samuelseguel8573]

totally agree!

[@dgipro]

This guy it’s very good !! I’d learn a lot

[@joseepaminondas6407]

Finally, we can get to know the person behind the well-crafted videos from Kitesurf College. Congratulations!!! All the kite surfer in the world are grateful, especially here in Brazil.

[@fabienh3943]

I used to follow quite some tutorials from you. Funny to suddenly discover the face of the voice. You sound a bit like an old school teacher: very articulate, very clear and well spoken. This video caught me by surprise 😊 Excellent as always though! Thanks.

[@kitesurfcollege]

Thanks Fabien. You're spot on, I actually used to be a teacher. Before I got too addicted to kiting to be a good employee.

[@FarhadOmid]

Fabien H definitely has some johnny ive vibe to it ;)

[@jeroenoverwater6638]

Defintely some of the best learning content out there. Been kiting a few years now and I still come back here somtimes to refresh my memory! Keep it up :)

[@AndiMannott]

man... your videos are a treasure... I recommend them to all my students after the lessons and even from this basic knowledge video I took something away! thanks!

[@user-vd9zq8gc7z]

Hi there! I`m still under impression after watching this tutorial. I suggest making the same video on board shapes (twintips) as beginners often make wrong choices being mislead by either salepeople or adverts. You might tell about such techs as sizes and weight, rocker, width, flexibility, NACA channels etc. All these factors influence greatly one`s gliding, jump levels, going upwind and managing the board in the strong wind conditions. There is also a lot to say about direct boards, I suppose) Best regards from cold Russia, Dmitry Yarizov

[@gethighwithmike]

Excellent explanation! Everyone should watch this

[@user-vd9zq8gc7z]

Thank you for your great video and for the subtitles in particular! I`ve been kiting for more than 5 years and still I found the tutorial very informative. Please, approve my translation so that kiters from far and cold Russia could also enjoy the video and learn the basics about the kite shapes. We guarantee an accurate translation as it`s been done by a kiter in cooperation with his wife - a professional translator.

[@kitesurfcollege]

Hello Дмитрий Яризов. Thanks for making the translation. Great job, it's approved.

[@Prydeclub]

Дмитрий, я сделал перевод субтитров для видео про гидрофойл. Если бы ваша супруга согласилась его проверить, всем пошло бы на пользу, так как я кайтер со стажем, но не профессиональный переводчик 🤗

[@user-vd9zq8gc7z]

@@Prydeclub Привет. Можем глянуть, быстро, к сожалению, не обещаю. Можно в почту youtube.9.techmail(Гаф гаф)spamgourmet.com файл с переводом кинуть. Или может какой механизм проверки субтитров у ютьюба есть?

[@JB026]

Excellent video, this video would have been great Before I started as a beginner buying a Vegas... Now I know what to look for on my next kite. Thanks

[@ride_the_wind]

This guy is simply the best in explaining anything. hands down.

[@fabdefab3996]

First time I find such clear explanations on different shapes! Very interesting and well done!

[@maciejgrzybek2502]

This is one of the most useful video I have ever seen. Great work! This should be compulsory for everyone who start their journey with kitesurfing! Big Up!

[@AP-fl1ln]

I can’t stop thank2023, you make me clear:in the region in Germany I live tube kites are not optional so because of you I discovered the right kites:🙏flysurfer kites=very save and easy to learn getting into kiteboarding/kitesurfing step by step.Sorry my bad English

[@paulblando657]

Superb dissertation on a complex evolving subject by a man who cares about the sport.

[@kitesurfcollege]

Thankyou Paul

[@XPRESSBBOYSOPRANO]

Scary how good this video is :) keep it up , excellent work ;)

[@MrFidibussi]

Excellent video - this is the first time I really understand the relations of kite design and the effects for the rider. Thank you very much.

[@wdavidson4761]

You make Top notch videos : easy to understand, great graphics, usages of charts and graphs that engineers and normal people can all benefit from. I know of no one like you that can express so much info with brevity (since I’m way too wordy!). I went from Cabrinha converts for 2 years, to RPMs for 6 years , then to Dice 2 years ago. Your videos enable me to grasp many concepts I wouldn’t have understood. Let me know if you ever visit NC , USA Outer Banks - OBX !

[@pablo.amoress]

this video is very good ! i was having a few questions always about combination betwenn aspect ratio and the arch and this video solved it !!

[@stephensinnhuber8401]

Very informative. I've been kiting a long time and still learned new stuff. Every day is a school day. I will share this with my students. Keep up the awesome work.

[@Kah0ona]

This is an awesome explanation. Like really comprehensive and methodical; something that's often missing in these explanatory video's of others. You are doing a very good job explaining this, and luckily I have bought the correct kite since starting again this season (been off kiting a few years, back now due to moving house) So, thanks!

[@jeromeserre]

Super clear video, the most useful I've seen in a long time. Many thanks Nick! No excuse for choosing the wrong kite anymore! ;) Just curious: are you under contract with Duotone? Do you have a kite school?

[@stokakrishna]

You explain things in the best way possible!

[@diegobmarques]

Best video ever about this subject! Thanks a lot 🙏🏼

[@rileyreese3991]

The most incredible, well crafted, easy to follow Kite tutorials! Thank you for making out Kite learning experience even smoother. Your work is superb! I´d love to donate you money for the awesome job!! :))

[@samuelseguel8573]

GENIUOS!! Thank you very much to you and all your team! Kitesurf college and duotone! You are amazing. and you are doing a great contribution to our sport and lifestyle.

[@GreKno63]

Two comments on this generally very good video : 1. You missed covering probably the most complex aspect of kite shape - its draft, the fore-aft or chord-wise curvature. 2. Bridle-less 4-line C-kites have limited depower because the centre-of-drag is above the kite's point of de-power rotation, which makes the kite rotate to a positive angle-of-attack. If you place a tensioned 5th line on a bridle-less 4-line C-kite, the depower rotation point is shifted upward and above the drag force, and the kite's depower will be vastly improved.

[@The1Creston]

Thank you for taking the time to make that video! I feel like I have a much better understanding now.

[@ArthurT22]

Best video ever made! Great material. Thank you.

[@ricardoserafini3816]

Great video, thanks for making it clear and simple. Really appreciate it.

[@neilvanrooyen31]

Great video kite surf college. Used a C shape Slingshot for a while - no wonder I was having difficulty. Wrong kite shape for me. Your explanation is clear and concise. Might've turned me into a Duotone customer.

[@peterbarton8943]

Terrific videos, i have learned so much from all of them. Thanks a lot.

[@sygrydadumna]

chapeau bas! at last a tutor who actually TALKS to me and bother EXPLAIN. thx! :))

[@freddydad1]

Best kitesufing instructional videos out there..

[@gomethrius]

If I was rich I would fund you guys. Seriously, you deserve to be kiting year-round and making these videos full time!

[@kitesurfcollege]

Thanks for the kind words. Safe kitesurfing to you and best of luck in your career or with any lucrative investments you may have ;-)

[@zoubabprophete5179]

Thank you so muuuuuuch !! Love the explanation. Big cheers from france !

[@mrklim112]

Great explanation and tutorial as always 👍🏻

[@TheNNPW]

amazing information - thank you so much! I would have been so lost without this information!

[@shauncrous4153]

Excellent video! I see so many new kiters on the wrong kite struggling so much

[@kitesurfcollege]

Exactly, that's the reason I made this video. I've seen many older kiters who've been sold a high-aspect C-kite, and are not enjoying the sport as much as they should.

[@gavinheron1]

Great video. Just after buying a quiver of high aspect ratio kites which were almost impossible to turn because of backstalling. The kites were in a really good sale, so I took a chance. However, if it sounds too good to be true then it usually is! Been kiting for many years so I should have known better and stuck to the excellent content in this video.

[@gBayCanada]

This was excellent. Very informative and helpful. I too used the wrong kites and wish I had this info sooner. Now, you need to do the same video for boards - especially directional boards. Way too many styles to choose from.

[@Smidge]

Thank you so much! This has helped me so much on picking my kite!

[@lawsonbaird2324]

So useful, thanks! Where does the DuoTone Juice fit in the collection esp vs the Rebel?

[@MatDGVLL]

knowledge is key. Thank you for this one

[@zandaker]

So useful.. unbelievable that other brands dont explain their kites visually

[@manuelbolanoscollado9714]

Man, you are THE man! Brilliant, as usually, and finally someone has explained the kite shapes in a way that we, the begginers, can understand. Superb video!

[@kitesurfcollege]

Thank you Manuel

[@___Tom]

SUPERB video, really great, thanks a lot!

[@rhcp7710]

Awesome explanation, thanks

[@kristobahl]

thats one hell of a vid. like freaking epic explanation

[@FredMalab]

Fantastic video, congrats!

[@AP-fl1ln]

Thank you,for my spot i had the wrong kites. For my spot in Düsseldorf needed a flysurfer kite size 5m,8m.... Thank you very much for have helping me 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@adjacircidrao]

Great video, excellent tips. thanks.

[@croquar]

Wow, super interesting thanks!! Super clear.

[@deroux]

Super informative. Thank you.

[@MartinDevoto66]

Excellent Video!!!!! 👏👏👏👏

[@bennyshaviv9269]

phenomenal vid. thank you !!

[@marcusdutton1808]

Really informative and well presented detail - thank you for a fab video.

[@kitesurfcollege]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@mendosergi]

Excellent videos!!! thanks

[@Island606]

great video! very nicely done - thank you!

[@madsteeez]

I regularly go back to this video. It's the best

[@madsteeez]

Hah! I've just watched it again

[@kajtki1]

Thanks, super helpful! Where would you place sigma shaped kites on that scale?

[@j.b.outdoormoscow4757]

Thank god I was not mistaken buying my first kite. I bought blindly. And thank you too

[@Zen0xious]

Wow, excellent video, thank you very much.

[@ametkarakus7859]

Very useful video thank you very much.

[@first1389]

awesome video - huge thanks

[@ryul91]

Thanks for the video! How is the ozone reo classified?

[@JonSteinarMidlang]

Thanks for the great videos. Have probably seen all your videos, and a few repeatedly times. Recently learned to kite, so these are good explanations. Norway, Glesvær

[@kitesurfcollege]

Glad you like them

[@paulzottola5534]

Great video. Helped clarify things for me. What design would you recommend for a complete beginner who is also a big guy (280 lbs or 127 kg)?

[@davidwalker881]

YOU ARE THE MAN FOR SURE ,NICE TO SEE IT AND LEARN AS WE GO.I NEED YOUR THOUGHTS ON A KITE SUITABLE FOR POWERING UP A TRIMARAN.AS IN A 40 FT ULTRA LIGHT NON FOILER SO AS TO BE A LITTLE HEAVIER THAN IVE SEEN .THANKS

[@leonardopapanicolaou2054]

Thank you kind sir ! Brilliant video.

[@lbrancato]

Hi Nick .tks for the awesome help . I’m a beginner. I started to ride last year . I have a zephyr 17 for light winds and a cathalist 12 ( both Ozone) . I don’t wanna be radical as I am in my 50 yo , so safety is priority and having fun by riding in light to mid winds is my goal . Am I using the right gear . Cheers . Al

[@PiotrMys]

Excellent video.

[@nickolaydobrev714]

Spot on, great job! I wish you could fill that chart with some more hybrid shapes and examples from different brands/models. A 'typical' bow and Delta, a high AR/super flat, etc... but can also understand your limitations. Good job to Duotone too for supporting you!

[@kitesurfcollege]

Hello Nickolay. If you tell me the kite you have, or want to know about, I've probably used it or tested it and can let you know where it fits on the flatness / aspect ratio axis.

[@raffipatch8319]

I am curious I have a 2010 cabrinha switchblade, I assume it is on the slightly flatter side with swept wing tips and slight concave on the back edge. Is that correct? I am only a year in to kiting I also have an ocean Rodeo 2016 prodigy and I would like to get an ocean Rodeo allulah roam. I would like to know more about that.

[@normsbigwindow9379]

Very informative. Thx you

[@un10njack]

Hi I really enjoy your tutorial and I find them very useful I want to ask which kite is better like one quiver kite between evo and the bandit ( or other ) thank you very much 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🔥🔥🔥

[@vladrafikov104]

Thanks for describing Duotone!)

[@yuckiteyucatankite7439]

Excellent video!

[@nataliapiorowicz7896]

Excellent as usual. Thank you.

[@kitesurfcollege]

Thank you.

[@ted1558]

GREAT VIDEO !!

[@robinsonguedes89]

what's the best kind of kite for long downwinds?

[@prayfawind]

love this video, made me a subscriber

[@SteveHofsaess]

Great video,, many kite manufactures use "1 kite quiver" but I noticed that looping kites do not jump as high and jumping kites like the rebel don't loop very well. Also the dice feels like it is 1 size smaller and the neo feels 1 size bigger. I guess I need 4 kites in each size

[@nickolaydobrev714]

4 kites in each size - that was a good one! :) Better get the best performance from each of the of kite types in its sweet spot (size) ;)

[@FTheG]

Brilliant thanks for the video!

[@cesarhoody4880]

Respect for YOU!!!👍👍👍

[@kitesurfcollege]

Cheers Cesar

[@lxfguits]

I bought a used evo based on the examples you gave here and I am very much liking the all round feel of it. I also like how the information you give actually helps me spot the matching shapes from all the other manufacturers I have seen as well. Would you consider making a similar video about board selection as well? I have tried more different boards than kites and find that it makes quite the difference. For example I currently have two boards with quite a lot of rocker and I like them mostly because they are much more forgiving in chop. Not as efficient but much less fatiguing to ride.

[@kitesurfcollege]

Good idea guits. I'm working on that at the moment. It's a bit harder to figure out, strangely. For the kites video I used a lot of research from the aviation industry (and simplified it for the kite shapes video), but there isn't the same level of academic info available on boards.

[@karimrako]

Thanks Man for the nice info

[@nils3030]

Great video as always! Why didn't this video exist before I bought my first (wrong) kites this year? 😩

[@dominiquegagnon5264]

What happened ? Why was is a wrong kite and what type?

[@EliSpizzichino]

good info, but what about snow kites? Are the not inflatable kites used only on land? I wish to buy a wing for snow and water but without having to carry a pump....

[@charleswilcocks]

Having watched quite a few of the videos, most, if not all of the older videos used Core kites, but this video is primarily centered around Duotone. I am quite new to kiting, and want to get my own, rather than struggle with renting from local place. 1. How do you rate the new Core kites (& new Bars) vs the Rebel / Neo? 2. For same wind, would the size of comparable kite (Core vs Duo) be the same? 3. What size would you suggest for wind range (Summer 5-11kts; Winter 6-17 kts) & 80 kg body. Thanks for all the really good material - appreciate any thoughts on above questions...

[@kitesurfcollege]

Hello Charles, happy to help. Core are focused on making high performance kites. That means the kites are rapid to respond, however that does mean that they are quite aggressive to handle for most, and are more likely to stall after jumps if not looped. Also for jumping they make you climb quickly but you also come down quite quickly. Duotone kites have been the market leader for years, but have also made some of the biggest improvements to kite design in recent years. The rebel, for example, is a kite that always glided well, giving soft landings. Typically a kite that does that is hard to steer and easy to stall. However duotone have made numerous improvements and construction changes that now mean you get that forgiving glide and power from simply sheeting in, plus now with rapid steering and much more stall resistance. Also their click bar is outstanding. Generally sizes of all kite are comparable a 10m2 from one brand should be similar in size to a 10m2 from another brand. The difference is in the projected aspect ratio (the size of the shadow it makes). So a 10m2 flat arc kite will give you a lot more than a 10m2 C-shape. 5 to 17 knots is very light wind. If it rarely goes over that then you definitely want pretty big kites, maybe a 12 and 15. You could then add a 9 for stronger wind. What sort of kiting do you see yourself doing? Do you plan to play in waves, or foil, or would you like to ride a twintip and start jumping? And what's your home spot like, flat, choppy, wave etc? Let me know and I can give you some more specific recommendations on what equipment might work.

[@leninavila3176]

Good !!....Thanks for your work!....do you have links for buy kites?

[@bubbahottep8644]

Great stuff.

[@francotremsal6989]

Wow! So clear!

[@Peter-sn1yf]

Is the north Vegas of 2012 a pure c or either a dice?

[@totococozza]

Hi there, Congratulations for your videos they are very clearly made it. I have a question? I am 108 kg what size of kite I should buy as beginner? Best Toto

[@giovannileandri]

Good morning - your explanation about kite shape is great - I was wandering ,though , if you could compare Cabrinha different kite shapes to Duotone ones - thanks - Giovanni

[@MartinManriqueSailingCoach]

Excellent.

[@rnelias]

Excellent vid as usual! Very clear and informative! Could you add some info about the 5th line? Is this line used to help in holding the flat shape on flatten kites?

[@kitesurfcollege]

Hello Renato. It depends if it's a "loaded" 5th line or not. A loaded 5th line carries tension from the kite and acts a bit like a bit of extra bridle - it holds the shape of the kite and hinges the leading edge. An unloaded 5th line, has negligible tension - it's just there to be used as a safety line, or to help with relaunch.

[@rnelias]

@@kitesurfcollege makes sense! Because some kites usually will have better handle when used with the 5th line... Keep the excelent content! As a subject for next videos, maybe you could follow the info about kite shapes with lines length... ;)

[@robinmordasiewicz]

amazing video.

[@danyboy6265]

Excellent Work !!! Would Just be interested where you Put the Mono and the juice ... Thx a Lot !

[@kitesurfcollege]

The Juice is close the rebel in shape but has a lighter weight & construction (the juice has a lighter canopy material and 2 less struts). The light weight helps it fly in less wind, makes it drift back nicely during front stalls, and makes it lighter to steer. The stronger and more rigid rebel handles strong wind better, keeping its shape and performance even overpowered. It's a similar story with the neo and mono. The mono is a bit like a stripped-back light-weight version of the neo.

[@danifeifer3959]

@@kitesurfcollege makes sense ! again thx a lot, keep on with the great work !

[@flinkaflenkaflrsk]

What shape do you recommend for wave riding with directional board? I understood the kite needs to drift easily when. You're on the wave

[@mateuszsolinski4796]

Duotone neo or ozone reo for example

[@kitesurfcollege]

Wave specific kites are almost always a medium arc (somewhere between flat and C) but with low aspect ratio and a full bridle for depower. If you're primarily looking to ride waves, then you can get one of those. But if you want to mix up wave surfing and twintip riding, then a standard hybrid is fine, hybrids perform well on the waves.

[@Kitemax]

Thanks for the comments. You mean that the new Dice 2020 for example, will be a good choice for this?