Power Kite Forum

what kind of small kite recommended?

thrash - 27-3-2011 at 08:32 PM

Just got home from the pre event WOW!!! The winds were blowing the entire time! 25 steady with gusts in the upper 30 mph range. most everyone was flying 1.8m and below kites. Alot of 1.5 little devils, worked great! But i dont have one amd they are not made anymore, any recomendations for a 1.5m kite for nabx?

nocando - 27-3-2011 at 08:39 PM

I have A bullet 1.5 with me and will pick up a 3m Apex when I get there

You can take your pick

thrash - 27-3-2011 at 08:44 PM

Hardly anyone had bigger than a 1.5 m kite, even the pros were amazed at how windy harpers was all weekend!

Seanny - 27-3-2011 at 09:03 PM

My 13m Venom would be in PARADISE with that!! Wish I could be there!

The only problem I see with a 1.5m kite, is it's not really going to behave like a power kite. Someone mentioned this in another post... Bladerunner, I believe... And he's right. Kites below 3m or so will behave more like stunt kites than power kites. Not sure of your weight, but you could probably handle a 3m Beamer or so in that kind of wind. It'd be the best if you really want a power kiting experience. Whether or not it's safe for a fresh novice to fly in 25-30 mph winds is debatable, but I say go for it. I'm not trying to tell you to go out and kill yourself, but seriously. People will tell you to fly a tiny ass kite in barely a breath of a breeze, and duct tape pillows to yourself head to toe. Although many of these people have much more flying experience than I do, I am here to tell you that WHEN FLYING POWER KITES YOU ARE PUTTING YOURSELF AT RISK FOR AN ADRENALIN RUSH. IT'S OKAY TO GET CUTS AND BRUISES FOR THE THRILL OF IT. :thumbup::thumbup: That doesn't mean don't listen to their advice, but if you use your head, you'll do just fine. You will learn from experience where your margin of comfort is. The more you push it, the more experience and thrill you will get. But, at the same time, you will also put yourself in more danger. Just don't do anything stupid. The general rule is, if the wind is above 40, call it a day. Now go get 'em tiger!

702dirtsurfer - 27-3-2011 at 09:20 PM

I used to fly a 2.1 little devil with 10 ft lines or even off the handles in bomber winds :D

arkay - 27-3-2011 at 09:28 PM

v13 is way too big for the playa surface in those winds... but on the beach it's perfect! Last year I went between my rage 2.5 and sting 1.7 when the winds where nuking. Anything mid-to-low aspect in around 1.5m-ish would do great.

Seanny - 27-3-2011 at 09:41 PM

I didn't see the UPPER 30s part. I thought he just said 25 to 30. In that case... Yeah. V13 too big. V8 or 10 would be better. With my V13... 20 I'm smiling, 25 I'm overpowered but smiling even more, 28 I'm really working to stay put, and 30 is about where I have to call it quits. Playa doesn't sound like something I want to be dragged across.

BeamerBob - 27-3-2011 at 09:43 PM

EDIT: this was typed before Seanny responded and let us know he thought we were talking about winds in the mid 20s.

Seanny, I must say that is some bad advice. You might run a 3m kite if you are going for the world record in a race buggy, but with 38 mph wind gusts, along with all the apparent wind, 3m is way too much unless you are someone who regularly hits in the 60s and at any moment could be in contention for the record. For comparison on your 13m venom, I flew my 15m phantom which probably with true numbers has about the same projected area, in winds that were about half that and steady. I was in survival mode the entire ride of a half hour with it, except for a few lulls where I dared dip the kite down from zenith for a bit until the apparent wind built enough to have me overpowered again.

The big boys would probably use a 2.2 or 2.5m kite and be hitting double+ the wind speed in full race buggies. Lesser talents like me would be using the smallest depower they could find like a 3m apex, maybe a 6m arc or a 1.5m or so fixed bridle. I probably don't have anything I could ride safely with in 38 mph gusts at my skill level. Maybe someday after living there for months or years, but not yet. For more insight into lakebed riding, look at the thread about Ivanpah Learning Curve.

macboy - 27-3-2011 at 10:36 PM

Thrash - Hear ya! I was so paranoid I hooked myself up with the 1.5, 1.8, 2 and 2.5. I even borrowed my friend's son's 1m Profoil!

First kite I flew out there was the 1.5 and it was a rocket. I decided that I was OK waiting for calmer winds. Overall I flew the busters the most and once, found myself wanting a bit more and had the 6m Rage out - but you can bet the wind was significantly subdued.

Hell, the second night out there we drove off the Playa and parked behind BBills.....the RV was rocking hardcore and it wasn't a party on the inside! :lol:

Seanny - 28-3-2011 at 05:28 AM

Sorry guys, I really didn't see the "upper" part. That post was REALLY bad advice for those conditions. 2m is the biggest you should go. Any bigger and you will take the gusts like being hit by a train.

Does the Frenzy come in a 4m size? I bet that would be nice for this.

thrash - 28-3-2011 at 06:33 AM

We got a couple of 3m kites sunday morning and it was a little calmer. As i said earlier most people had less than a 2m kite. all the guys i was with said they felt overpowered with a 2.1 little devil and switched back to the 1.5 little devil or something similar. I have a 1.2 flexifoil sting, great kite to learn to buggy in those winds but no could make it go up wind. I would like to find a small kite so if its nuking at nabx i wont be sitting around waiting to barrow someones kite.

702dirtsurfer - 28-3-2011 at 09:34 AM

702dirtsurfer - 28-3-2011 at 09:35 AM

Telling ya man try that 2.1 little devil off the handles or short lines when it blows that hard. You can just park the kite and cruise, and with one quick motion completely collapse the kite by putting the bridals in one hand and pulling the kite towards you till you almost have the kite balled up. Once the gust has passed throw it right back out there.

Or buy a new kite works too lol. But I think everyone should at least try it once, experimenting on line length is good kite study/knowledge to have.

cheezycheese - 28-3-2011 at 09:58 AM

no 1.4 beamers or 1.8 cores...?

BeamerBob - 28-3-2011 at 09:59 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by cheezycheese
no 1.4 beamers or 1.8 cores...?


1.4 would be safe feeling. I've never had one that small and that size is discontinued with the advent of the Beamer V.

indigo_wolf - 28-3-2011 at 10:33 AM

Ozone Imp Quattro 1.0 /1.5
Elliot Lava II 1.1/1.5
Elliot Magma II 1.5
Flexifoil Sting 1.2/1.7
Flexifoil Rage 1.8
HQ Beamer IV 1.4
PKD Buster III 1.4
PKD Buster Soulfly 1.5
PKD Nippair 1.5

Imp Quattro should be easy to get through any Ozone dealer.

Elliots are nice kites, but don't get enough love in the US. Smaller sizes might need to be special ordered.

Flexifoils are a bit spendy new, but they pop up on eBay and NIB elsewhere regularly often. Baby Stings show up more that the Ragelet. I had to wait over 2 years to find a Rage 1.8 in Midnight.

Beamer IV 1.4's should still be on the shelves for a bit longer.

PKDs receive almost as little US love as the Elliots, but Jeff at http://www.BigKidKites.com should be able to sort you out for them.

ATB,
Sam

geokite - 28-3-2011 at 11:06 AM

I used an 8m Venom2 all day on Sunday at the pre-event. Had to keep it low during the stronger gusts, but I never felt like I needed a smaller kite. The large buggy helps. Arcs just swallow up the bumpy wind out there.

Managed to buggy all the way around the wet spot (the standing water on the northern side of the lake), without rolling through any mud. Took 2 hours, 19miles.

BeamerBob - 28-3-2011 at 12:13 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by geokite
I used an 8m Venom2 all day on Sunday at the pre-event. Had to keep it low during the stronger gusts, but I never felt like I needed a smaller kite. The large buggy helps. Arcs just swallow up the bumpy wind out there.

Managed to buggy all the way around the wet spot (the standing water on the northern side of the lake), without rolling through any mud. Took 2 hours, 19miles.


I'm curious why you chose the 8m instead of a 9 or 6m phantom. Trying to learn the ways of the lakebed.

geokite - 28-3-2011 at 12:27 PM

That was my first time trying out the V8 on the lakebed. p9 would have worked very well also. So no particular reason, just tried a new kite.

awindofchange - 28-3-2011 at 12:33 PM

We have 1.4 M Beamers and 1.5 M Hornets in stock. :) Welcome to our world. The lakebed is unlike anything else.

chris - 28-3-2011 at 01:29 PM

If the big winds continue, I'll have a 3m Apex III with me on Wednesday if anyone needs to try one.

BeamerBob - 28-3-2011 at 02:44 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by geokite
That was my first time trying out the V8 on the lakebed. p9 would have worked very well also. So no particular reason, just tried a new kite.


thats encouraging that the v8II will go that high in the buggy there. How heavy are you and how heavy is your buggy Geo?

I flew my maiden flight on the new Apexx IIIs yesterday. 7.5 is torquey even in low winds and the 5 turns way faster than I imagined. The Apex III is now like a low lift Montana it seemed on my short low wind flights. That 3m might be a good addition to really be sure you won't get overpowered. I wonder how much depower range you get with such a small kite?

awindofchange - 28-3-2011 at 04:10 PM

Chris, We got all your gear here waiting for you. Just wanted to let you know. Can't wait to get a run on the new products!

geokite - 28-3-2011 at 04:49 PM

I'm 165 and the buggy is 70lbs.

thrash - 28-3-2011 at 05:45 PM

beamerbob thanks for putting back upivanpah learning curve! I read that about a month ago but it didn't really click at the time!
702 thanks for the advise. i will try that.
indigo thanks for throwing out the small kite sizes and makers.
goekite not everyone has the balls and skills you have! i will say sunday was a much different day than the days prior, i even got brave enough to break out a 3m that day but came back overpowered and trading down!
kent are you going to have kites for sale in the parking lot, motorhome, hotel room, ect. or will we need to go to your store?

awindofchange - 28-3-2011 at 11:18 PM

give me a call at the store. I can deliver to the Playa but out of respect for NABX, I try to refrain from sales on the playa. We have riders heading to the playa pretty much every day so getting you something is usually not a problem.

elvislives - 29-3-2011 at 07:16 AM

Two years ago I did my personal best of 35 mph with a 1.5m sting. Granted, 35mph looks kind of wimpy. I only get to buggy about twice a year, so my experience curve is held in check. However, the winds were howling so I pulled out the 1.5m Sting I bought for my daughter and I felt well in control. It was a blast. One thing I failed to mention is I weigh in the upper 200s (OK,OK, 300) so this kite was hauling a load. If anyone remembers physics, mass x velocity = momentum. I don't plan to do much over 35 mph (may shoot for 40) because that is a heck of a lot of momentum to stop on the playa.:D