Extreme Kites Kiteboarding

Here's my review of the 2010 Big Mama 15M from Wainman.

Conditions:
wind = 11-14mph
water =1 foot small chop / ocean riding
board = 2008 Spleene Monster Door (164x50)
rider = 240lbs (been kiting since 2001)
bar = wainman with 27M lines

Let's start with the kite and bar.
- kite is a delta design with only 3 struts and high quality. No complaints about the build, fit, or functionality of the kite. The bridle is simple with only 1 pulley and there are many different adjustment points. I left it stock.
-bar comes with 20M lines + 7M extensions = 27M. The bar is nice, but the chicken loop flop around, not easy to rehook after pulling unhooked tricks.

Now to the good stuff. This kite generates amazing low end pull and speed. ( I normally ride a 2008 waroo 20M in these conditions). I will now be selling my 20M as it's not needed anymore. The Big Mama can now cover the range of my 15M and 20M waroo, which is 11mph - 24mph)

The kite turns as fast as my 15M waroo, pulls as hard as my 20M. It's way more stable in the air. water relaunch is a breeze and it almost does it by itself. (can't say that about the 20M waroo in light wind)


In summary:
Pro's - super stable hard pulling kite with simple bridles and easy to relauch in the water - has enough low end to replace my 20M waroo
cons - expensive compared with the Best kites

OK here's an update: We finally got some wind in North FL. It was in the 14-17mph range. The Big Mama is a beast in these winds. I would normally be riding a 20M waroo and a board in the 147 range. Noooot with the Big Mama. I was able to cruise upwind on a 140 board in choppy surf.

- this kite loves to go upwind.
- jumps _ I will wait for a windier day to comment on jumps. In these conditions there isn't much jumping going on.
-turning speed. The kite is no faster or slower than the waroo 15.

I am going to try to fly the kite with a best bar and lines and see how reacts.
- best bar is 55cm ( that's 10cm longer than the wainman bar)
- best bar has 25M lines ( 2M shorter than the wainman bar)

I am hoping to gain some turning speed by doing this, and hopefully not lose to much power by the short stroke from the shorter lines.

More later.

I kite on an inland lake and also use the 20m Waroo as my primary kite. I put an Orange Bladder in My 20m and it really helped the low end I can probably get the kite into the air with 5 to 6 knots of wind and need a few knots more to get going.
Do you think the Big Mama will fly in this light of a wind? Also I usually have to go overpowered because the wind goes from 6 knots to 25knots can the Big Mama handle the high end like the Waroo?. What is the bar pressure like compared to the Waroo? For reference I weigh 185 lbs.

The big mama will fly in 5 or 6 knts too. It's much lighter than the 20M waroo. I haven't put it on the scale, but i'd say it's at least 25% lighter. The big Mama only has 3 struts and few less lines on the bridlle. Bar pressure about the same at the waroo. I have ridden the Big Mama in gusty conditions (8-25) and it was very managable (**note I am 240lbs)

The Big Mama has a huge advantage over the Waroo.......The Big Mama is very easy to relaunch from the water!

I am pretty confident that you would love this kite. Is there a local shop that could let you take it for a demo ride? If you are ever in North FL you are welcome to try mine.

Thanks for the great info. Let me know if you see a used one around.

Larry lklansingkiter@me.com

I went ahead and bought a used Big Mama and find it is much better than the 20M Warroo. I am very impressed with this kite. It flies in much lighter winds and can reverse launch in much lighter winds than the Waroo do to its lighter weight. It also moves faster through the sky and turns tighter.
Larry

Glad you liked it. Send some pics.

Update:
After several months of riding the Big Mama I am still happy with the kite. I have ridden it in winds up to 25mph and that is the upper limit for me with the kite. I was just getting yanked and launched. Crazy fun. The kite is more fun in the 15-20 range.

I've also used the kite in 10mph wind while riding the new airush sector. I was in the surf and able to sail upwind.

Sector + Big Mama = fast in light winds. It was like landboarding fast!

Hey Punk_FU: did you or anyone else ever try the Big Mama with the Red Line Best Bar and Lines? If so, how did that work out?