cjules - 11-12-2009 at 05:53 PM
Anyone flown this kite have any input on it? Dealer near me has a new one pretty cheap, and I can't find out a ton about them except they seem geared
more toward water and less toward traction. I would like to use it for snow/land and possibly water. How does it compare to the synergy or venoms?
Would this be a good 1st depower?
Thanks
Kamikuza - 11-12-2009 at 08:43 PM
IIRC they're still listed on the PL site with the Synergys - or they were, till the Charger arrived. I think they were designed to be easy
and forgiving ie. an arc for learning on but don't quote me on that :D I got my 10m Vortex with a view to replacing my fixed bridles for land work ...
How cheap is cheap and what size?
cjules - 11-12-2009 at 09:16 PM
He wants $500 and the kite is new in box w/lines etc. 12m size. I'm sold on arcs, but I am leaning toward a 15m. Not enough $ right now to cover the
range w/ 2 kites so I thought 15m syn would be good. How do you like the 10m? I plan on using the kite for static, snow, possibly ATB and *maybe*
water but I'd imagine I'd need something a bit larger than 12m unless the wind was really blowing (180#). In short, if I hear good things about it I
may just pick it up as a first ARC but I'd like opinions etc. Does it have the adjustable straps like the syns for different wind conditions?
cjules - 11-12-2009 at 10:49 PM
hmm looks like they're still on the PL site, sounds like they are less lifty than the syns and are listed with a slightly higher wind range.
markite - 12-12-2009 at 12:42 AM
In my thinking the Vortex wasn't marketed correctly. If they had produced it as a slightly less expensive twinskin it would have found a comfortable
place in the market but it came out within the same price range as all others but made it sound like it was more of an intermediate performance kite.
I used a couple of sizes in the buggy and also for winter and on water. The Vortex is very easy flier and very stable but I found for me the power was
a bit too on off - most noticeable on the water as I would angle upwind. Most kites would have a diminishing power the higher angle upwind until but
using the Vortex on water it was a steeper power decline - like going through a door the power shut right off when I angled a few degree higher.
In a buggy it wasn't as noticeable because you are generally traveling at a higher rate of speed so you carry some of that apparent wind at a higher
angle upwind - slower on a board on water as I went upwind so the power drop was more evident. On snow it was similar to buggy feeling - easy launch,
steady flier extremely stable pretty good lift and float but you would get at least 15% better height and float going to a Venom.
The other thing was the repairs I had to do on more Vortex kites than others - perhaps it was more inexperienced fliers taking them out - usually
water impacts bursting ribs with more mesh on the later part of the ribs of the Vortex.
Treat it nice and they are a good kite - especially if the price is right for you