What’s a good size mako for someone around 135 - 140lbs? I ride in 12-25kts mostly in choppish maybe flatish conditions at times.
I was thinking the 130 x 35 but I heard that’s a bit small and mostly for real high winds. I don’t really have a style…I just ride around.

Frank
I’m about your weight and ride the 2011 Mako 130x35. Its a great size. Smooth and fast to ride, such fun carving waves and a blessing in choppy conditions. I ride it in light conditions (around 15mph) in conjunction with a 2012 Rise 10m. and into the high 20’s with a 7m Rise. I’d say it really starts to shine around 17mph. If you consistantly ride at the lower end of your wind range you might also want to consider the 140 size (or even the new 135x37)?
Hope this helps
andy

Huge bonus that you’re around my weight… how much actually? In any case it takes a lot of the guess work out of selecting a board.
I ride mostly from 10mph - 18mph, occasionally up to 28mph. I ride 11m and 7m ckites which I believe are less power full than your typical bow/hybrid style kites. I hardly ever get to ride in true flat water, mostly choppy stuff I would say.

By the sounds of it I would be able to get away with one mako, 135 x 37.
I might give the 130 x 35 a shot but it sounds like it’s too small as I do tend to go out in 10-15mph a lot.

Hey Frank!

I’m in the exact same bracket as you at the 135-140lbs range. I’ve been riding the 130x35 almost exclusively since last year. With a 10m and 15 kts I’m good to go all day long. I absolutely love this board and find it really rides bigger than it is for its ‘get up and go’.

If you are a light wind machine then go with the 135, it will give you that extra little bit for those light days but will easily shred hard and fast when you get up into the higher wind days.

Don’t hesitate to drop me a line if you have any more questions - .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Ned

Hey thanks Ned.

How much wind can you handle with the 140 I wonder?

15kts is as low as the 130 mako goes without having to work hard is what I’m sensing here.

I’ve got a 11m ckite which is probably about the same as your 10 SLE in terms of low end pull I’m guessing.

We get a lot of 10-15kts days here in the summer and I hate to miss them.

The 135 or 140 is probably the way to go if I want a one board quiver which is kinda what I’m thinking of.

frankm - 01 May 2012 06:27 AM

Huge bonus that you’re around my weight… how much actually?

Just under 65kilos so about 140lbs. I don’t think you’ll go far wrong with the new size 135x37 as your one board quiver.

Hey Frank,

I think for a one board quiver that Andy is spot on, go with the 135. The 140 may get you out a bit more in light wind, but for guys our size it’s just a bit much board most of the time.

The jump from the 130 to the 135 is ‘smaller’ than the jump to the 140. By that I mean if you calculate the surface area underneath you, you’re adding about 400 sq cm going to the 135, and then over 650 sq cm going from the 135 to 140. So the 140 just feels that much bigger under you compared to the 135.

If I were you I’d go 135 all the way.

Thanks guys. The 135 is likely the ticket.

I tend to lean towards lighter winds so even the 140 would make me happy I’m sure.

Then again I get caught with to much kite lots of times too… so the 130 might not be so bad either.

Eventually 2 boards makes sense. (1 could be a surfboard) It’s a lot easier to change boards than kites as conditions change. But start with the 130/135 they smooth out the bumps enabling longer sessions & bigger grins.

jl - 06 May 2012 07:25 AM

Eventually 2 boards makes sense. (1 could be a surfboard) It’s a lot easier to change boards than kites as conditions change. But start with the 130/135 they smooth out the bumps enabling longer sessions & bigger grins.

I hear ya.. i had two recoils ( just soldem) and I always had both at the beach, very quick to swap boards as you say.
I like “smooth out the bumps” as my knees sometimes ached after riding the recoils for very long… maybe that’s jus old age haha!

Hey Frank, I weigh in at 130lbs, I ride mostly inland lakes and rivers so conditions tend to be choppy, and gustly.  I’m typically riding in 10 - 15kts most of the time, occasionally up to 25 kts with my Mako 140.  It has been my go-to board for all those conditions on 8 - 12m Rises.  I absolutlley love it, it handles the chop so well and I like to freeride - so its’ fun to cruise, carve and jump with.  If you’re riding in lighter winds I believe the 140 would get you out more often, more easily - which is key to progression…. you don’t learn much on the beach or riding a submarine - sloggin your way along. 

Cheers, AS

130lbs is light weight for sure. I’m gonna be in gusty conditions a lot too and in fresh water a lot and my biggest kite is 11m ckite which is less powerful than your 12m rise.

You make a good case for the 140.

Thanks for the info.

-Frank