Freestyle & Wakestyle Kites
Freestyle riders want sharp pop, precise feedback, and a kite that gives the perfect slack window for unhooked tricks. Wakestyle is the tougher cousin, driven by board pop and low kite positions that demand power, grit, and strong landings. If you are chasing progression with attitude, you will find it in one of these styles. Which side will you conquer today?
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2026 F-One Bandit Brainchild Kiteboarding Kite
F-One
$2,049.00 - $2,859.002026 F-One Bandit Brainchild Sizes: 8m / 9m / 10m / 12m Freeride / All-Around The F-One Bandit Limited Edition takes the legendary Bandit DNA and dials it up with cutting-edge materials and construction from Ralf Grösel’s innovative Brainchild...$2,049.00 - $2,859.00 -
2025 F-One Bandit V17 TEC Kiteboarding Kite
F-One
$1,479.00 - $2,059.00After two years of research and development, F-ONE is proud to present the brand-new edition of the BANDIT, our legendary kite, filled with innovations and offering ever more sensations and performances. Thanks to our new CODE-TEC fabric, this BANDIT TEC...$1,479.00 - $2,059.00
Freestyle and Wakestyle Kite FAQs
Honestly, when it comes to overall perception, the two are interchanged frequently. The main difference is that freestyle kiteboarding focuses on lift to perform unhooked and kiteloop tricks. Wakestyle riding has the kite sit lower to the water and the board creates the lift with a "load and pop" motion.
Of the two, freestyle is more beginner-friendly. Once you've mastered basic kite control and upwind riding, go ahead and start trying hooked-in tricks. Wakestyle is more advanced and requires serious board skills and comfort riding in boots. Our opinion? Start with freestyle and then see where you're kiting takes you!
Technically, yes. However, freestyle boards are often focused on responsiveness for unhooked tricks in straps. Wakestyle boards are stiffer with boot inserts made to handle serious abuse. If you're committed to wakestyle riding, a dedicated board will be well worth the upgrade.
| Wind 12-18 mph | Wind 16-24 mph | Wind 22-30 mph | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rider Weight | Kite Size | Rider Weight | Kite Size | Rider Weight | Kite Size | ||
| 200+ lbs | 17m+ | 200+ lbs | 17m+ | 200+ lbs | 12m | ||
| 200 lbs | 17m | 200 lbs | 14m | 200 lbs | 9-10m | ||
| 180 lbs | 14-17m | 180 lbs | 12m | 180 lbs | 8-9m | ||
| 160 lbs | 14m | 160 lbs | 10-12m | 160 lbs | 7-8m | ||
| 140 lbs | 12m | 140 lbs | 8-9m | 140 lbs | 6m | ||
| 120 lbs | 10m | 120 lbs | 6m | 120 lbs | 4m | ||
| Chart based on average rider, on a standard twintip kiteboard | |||||||