Power Kite Forum - Flysurfer Viron 4m or PL Charger 6m

Flysurfer Viron 4m or PL Charger 6m

chudalicious - 15-5-2011 at 11:39 AM

Looking for the alternative to the access...
Need something to boost my confidence in winds that I normally don't feel comfy flying in, which is anywhere from 22mph+

Needs to be a closed cell and not be as quick as the access. I realize this is a tall order as the chargers are VERY quick to begin with and really, any kite that small is going to zip around higher winds.

Any advice?

shaggs2riches - 15-5-2011 at 01:03 PM

I'd think that the charger would be a better option as an engine in those winds. The viron sounds to be more of a learning tool than anything.

ripsessionkites - 15-5-2011 at 01:05 PM

The Venom II 8 would be better than the CH 6

Not even sure when you would ever need a 6. Probably hurricane weather.

The Viron is a trainer and a crusing only machine so it will not advance you.

geokite - 15-5-2011 at 01:09 PM

Probably not what you are looking for, but...

I recommend that we urge kite companies to stop making smaller kites more efficient, and ask them to produce kites with little pull that are larger (so a somewhat smaller kite that is very inefficient). I mentioned this topic a while back on this forum (thread having to do with the value of a 6m phantom), but I must be in the minority as no one echoed my sentiments. Oh well.

shaggs2riches - 15-5-2011 at 01:17 PM

Your saying a kite that can have a good pull in low winds (12mph), but not be over powering once it gets over 20mph.

erratic winds - 15-5-2011 at 01:57 PM

The opposite, I think shaggs, asking for bigger kites that are less-powerful in order to have a bigger kite in higher winds. Bigger kite=slower&more predictable, instead of the superfast blink-and-you'll-kiteloop performance we get out of say my SSOctane 5m. ;D

I totally am in love with the idea. I think there is a market for a 6 that produces as much power as a 3 and flies as predictably as an 10, all in high winds. But I guess I'm dreaming? :dunno:

shaggs2riches - 15-5-2011 at 02:23 PM

I think that this is what chudalicious is after with this thread.... Rip is probably in the ball park there with the VII 8m. This is exactly why there is a huge following after the phantoms, a lot of people don't want a kite that is super zippy in the window. Steady pull and real forgiving when you want to focus on other things.

shehatesmyhobbies - 15-5-2011 at 02:38 PM

I'm with ricardo. Venom II 8m. Wishing I had one in my quiver!

John Holgate - 15-5-2011 at 02:40 PM

Quote:

any kite that small is going to zip around higher winds.

I agree the 4m Access XT is very zippy in 20-30 knots and always takes me 10 minutes of flying it till my reflexes get used to the speed. Here's an idea out of left field - what about tying a big tube tail to it ?? or a drogue chute ?? might slow it down and as an added bonus, everyone will say 'wow, look at that' !!! :tumble:

Seanny - 15-5-2011 at 03:45 PM

I don't take out my 13m Venom unless the winds are 22-30 mph. That's what I love to fly it in. I'm probably about your weight, Chud. A 6m Charger would just be completely impractical. An 8m Venom II is probably the best option, like Ricardo said. It will be extremely fast in high winds due to the circumstances, but it won't be as fast and twitchy as many other kites in that size range.

Adam told me that the Dutch landboarders don't even take their 8m Chargers out unless the wind is above 40. I'm not saying you are a Dutch professional landboarder... I'm just saying that it's possible to fly a kite that small in that kind of wind. Although, keeping it in control would be very difficult, seeing as short lines are probably used, and you can't put your hands anywhere on the bar other than directly in the middle at any given time...

Anyway, my vote goes to an 8m or possibly 10m Venom/Venom II. If you don't plan on taking it into stupid wind, maybe a 10m would be better? If the wind range you're looking for is 22-35 or so mph, there's no need to go 8m IMO... You have both of those kites, don't you?

thanson2001ok - 15-5-2011 at 05:00 PM

Interesting thread. Chud has identified a real issue.

Would a 5m Flysurfer Speed 1.5 give you the same crazy speed and twitchiness? I am looking at one now.

chudalicious - 15-5-2011 at 05:42 PM

Considering I just found a V2 8m, I was pretty psyched that it would take care of anything over my "scary" zone. But, that said, the PA is a little over 5m. Now I had a 5m Apex II and it was far too strong a kite to deal with (ripped me off the ground, in fact) in only 18mph and I was flying quite conservatively. So, all things being equal (plus it's the only comparison I can make) I am not sure I can hold down the V2 8m in those kind of winds (thanks for the vote of confidence Rip!)

Some of you nailed it exactly.... Looking for a TAME kite that will allow me to fly on those days and not just sit and wish I had bigger, ah hem.. well you know.

The reason I was looking at the Viron 4 is exactly because it is made for beginners so it should not throw you all around. Also, the Charger 6 because I figured it's projected area was close to being around 4m and the way arcs seem to handle the crap winds made it just seem that much more attractive.

A larger kite that is very inefficient? That would be a DREAM!!!

ripsessionkites - 15-5-2011 at 06:03 PM

yes, i believe in you

the CH would be very aggressive and you would be kiteloop like crazy. the VII 8 is more tame for you. also you need to calculate your trim strap as well. in high winds pull it in more, and in lighter winds let it out.

i heard the Viron 4m needs about 25 to 30 knots to happily get moving for snow.

just curious why you're dumping your Access for a Viron?

DAKITEZ - 15-5-2011 at 06:14 PM

I missed it ... did you say how much you weigh here somewhere? You must be very light if the apex II 5m got you off the ground in 18mph. I usually tell people its too small to pull out till after atleast 20mph. Maybe your wind gauge is off a bit or you have some very gusty conditions??

How about possibly shorter lines and heavier lines to create more drag and slow the kite for you a little? Then there is the obvious answer and that is buy a apexx buggy :rolleyes:

In a apexx you would want the 10m apexII in 18mph winds ;-)

chudalicious - 15-5-2011 at 06:21 PM

Yep... I am a HUGE 135lbs.

I am just thinking about WW and how much I wanted to get out there but my fear (and mostly my fever and bronchitis) kinda held me back in those 20-35mph days.

I just wish I had something for that kind of wind that gave me confidence. Since the charger is way too zippy, that is out. Hearing the Viron needs some winds in the mid to upper 20s almost makes me want it more! I am selling the access because it was not enough to get up and snowkiting in the lower winds but when it gusted, it supermanned me head first into the pow. It just powers up so fast when it drifts back into the zone sometimes... had to use the brake a lot to stop it from happening on gusty days. Also, we want to start looking at water considering we live in RI and have lots of beaches. Just need to get to a nice getaway to learn water stuff first!

Also, please note that my quiver is shared between my fiance and I - yes, I fund this addiction and he funds the technology one :duh:

action jackson - 15-5-2011 at 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by geokite
Probably not what you are looking for, but...

I recommend that we urge kite companies to stop making smaller kites more efficient, and ask them to produce kites with little pull that are larger (so a somewhat smaller kite that is very inefficient). I mentioned this topic a while back on this forum (thread having to do with the value of a 6m phantom), but I must be in the minority as no one echoed my sentiments. Oh well.

or you could just fly on 15m lines to reduce power!........aj

indigo_wolf - 15-5-2011 at 06:42 PM

FWIW: I think the Viron's PR campaign as a beginner/trainer kite might have been too effective.

On the Flysurfer site, the fine print does list it as a storm kite (i.e. while retaining most of the modern bells and whistle's it sounds like they detuned it a bit for high wind shenanigans). This assumption carries all the inherent dangers of reading between the lines.

Quote:

Originally posted by John Holgate
Here's an idea out of left field - what about tying a big tube tail to it ?? or a drogue chute ?? might slow it down and as an added bonus, everyone will say 'wow, look at that' !!!

In high/gusty winds you have to spend a fair amount of time insuring that tube tails don't get tangled in the bridles or flying lines..... not impossible but a distraction. If the tails lock up in the bridle it tends to screw with your steering inputs or deform the canopy to the point where flying become difficult. If you are just bombing around in the air, it's a lot easier to keep the tail streamed out behind you. It becomes more difficult when you are sining and trying to maintain a certain position in the wind window.

Most drogues have a single attachment point and foils with the exception of something like a Snapshot doesn't really have an attachment point for them. I expect they would also adversely affect the steering due to the single attachment and the way the drag is distributed.

I do like the idea though. Lots of fodder for some mad scientist type experimentation.

ATB,
Sam

Seanny - 15-5-2011 at 07:39 PM

Venom vs. Apex:

Isn't the Venom's AR higher? The Venom has a huge amount of depower. It's fat enough to get going in lower winds than say, a Scorpion or Phantom, but thin enough that you can hold it down in quite a lot of wind.

Also, I think by nature the Apex has more raw grunt than the Venom because it's open-cell.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

The Venom LIKES to be flown in high wind. There is a big difference between flying over powered and flying out of control. With a Venom in high wind, I can be over powered and still feel safe and in control. With an open cell foil, the line is a bit thinner methinks. A Venom to an Apex isn't really a fair comparison. You really need to get a feel for Peter Lynn kites, especially if you're used to flying something else. They are generally very forgiving, and you will grow to love them.

I weigh 10 pounds less than you do and find that I can hold down my Venom and Scorpion in more winds than you'd think, due to the sheer amount of power the kites allow you to spill off at once.

No need to spend the kind of money a Flysurfer requires. Not yet.

And with ANY kite... If you're willing to fly it in high wind, you have to be willing to accept the consequences of what could happen. No matter how "safe" a Viron is, the tables turn when you start getting into wind with a 3 or 4 in tens place, especially if you live inland and gusts are a factor.

John Holgate - 15-5-2011 at 09:56 PM

Quote:

I expect they would also adversely affect the steering due to the single attachment and the way the drag is distributed.

Darn your logic, Sam. LOL!!

Quote:

I usually tell people its too small to pull out till after atleast 20mph. Maybe your wind gauge is off a bit or you have some very gusty conditions??

Whoah, Dude!! I'm starting to go sideways in the Vmax at around the 22mph, that's when I pull out the 4m Access. 16-18mph is really fuss free cruising with the Apex 5m for me.

Chuddy, the 4m Access is mighty quick in the sort of winds we're talking about, but it is a very confidence inspiring kite in those winds once you dial your reflexes in to it. It's the kite you'll pull out in 30mph on the beach with the buggy and hit some decent speed. I can't help feeling that with the XT and the Frenzy's, they may seem a little 'too powerful/quicS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K- at times but at some stage, you're gonna want that performance. Nothing worse than selling something and six months down the track you say, 'geez, I wish I still had my...."

Scary now, can be real good fun down the track..... :smilegrin:

markite - 15-5-2011 at 11:18 PM

speaking up tube tail - last month we did a fly at a school yard for a little kite event and i put an old tube tail on a small foil - didn't like it for the change in angle of attack on performance but it was crap on/off wind and a small foil. It was fun to bring it low and loop it in front of a buddy trying to set up a kite so it draped the tail around him - and the kids enjoyed chasing the tail.

foil_tail2.jpg - 58kB

markite - 15-5-2011 at 11:18 PM

and one more

foil_tail3.jpg - 68kB

DAKITEZ - 16-5-2011 at 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by John Holgate

Quote:

I usually tell people its too small to pull out till after atleast 20mph. Maybe your wind gauge is off a bit or you have some very gusty conditions??

Whoah, Dude!! I'm starting to go sideways in the Vmax at around the 22mph, that's when I pull out the 4m Access. 16-18mph is really fuss free cruising with the Apex 5m for me.

Exactly John ... I notice you did not say you were over powered but are getting pulled sideways. Its time for a higher aspect kite. Your skills are progressing and its time to move up. I am with you in the quest. As much as I loved my apex's it is time to move on for me. I can now hold down more kite than ever before, but I am getting pulled sideways and not forward. There is only one answer to that ... faster kite. I am not blaming the kite. It was not designed to be a speed monster, it was designed to be a solid, predictable, power house. And it does all those well. It was not designed to be fast.

Feyd - 16-5-2011 at 03:48 AM

Chudderific, Molly weighs about the same as you do. For really high winds (30 gusting to 35+) she used to fly either our 8m V2 or the 5m Apex 2. Both are great choices except she had a few issues with the Apex having front end collapse when going up wind agressively in gusty conditions. The 8m V2 (projected area 5.6m) was ideal. Rarely have did she ever wish for smaller than that.

Ricardo is right, the 8m is a high wind dream machine in the land of Arcdom.

We now have an 8m Charger (PA 5m) and a 6m Phantom 2 Prototype and both work very well in high winds if flown on the short bar. But you're right the Charger is still a Charger. It will produce a lot of power and in the small size 8-6 it can get you into a lot of trouble before you know anything is happening. I've played with slowing down the steering on the Charger and you can slow the steering but not the speed. So you end up with a Formula on car that steers like a garbage truck. It was better to fly it fast and get my reflexes up to speed.

To give you an idea of the power the 8m Charger can produce I flew my 12m (PA 7.6) one day in winds blowing about 25mph gusting to 35mph and maxed out at 65mph. I took the 8m out the next day and bagged 67mph by sining the kite. High speed while cruising couldn't match the 12m but when you snap it into a dive serious power is the result.

The 6m has been the best kite for Molly this season for speed. But I wouldn't recommend that size to anyone who doesn't have a lot of expirience with Arcs in high winds. Molly is one of the best kiters I've even seen and she has the skill/expirience level to figure this kind of stuff out quickly. She knows where to put the kite and where NOT to put the kite in high winds so that goes a long way towards being able to fly extremely zippy kites in those conditions. Even a small kite will smack you down if you put it in the wrong spot at the wrong time.

You don't want to be hucking on either size over land IMO. They boost like thier bigger siblings but not a whole lot of glide after. :rolleyes:

Molly used to fly the Apex 2 5m for the high winds before we got our 8m. They handle gusts really well, they have great depow and can actually turn pretty well depowed, have minimal lift (though somehow she hucks on the Apexs) and have a really good predictable turn rate in high winds. As much as I'd like to recommend an Arc in this situation but if you feel the 8m V2 is too much I think the 5m Apex2 would be a great choice. And now they offer the 3m Apex3.

I don't know if this helps or just confuses you situation. I apologize, I'm not quite awake this morning.

John Holgate - 16-5-2011 at 03:49 AM

Quote:

Ah, so. I was thinking getting pulled sideways = need smaller kite. I hadn't thought about a faster kite.....makes sense. Wonder if a vapor flys on a turbo bar.... oops, sorry Chuddy - I'm digressing on your thread!!

cheezycheese - 16-5-2011 at 06:06 AM

Don't feel bad John..., I'm learning here too. Quick question aimed at Feyd's statement... Does a depowr kite turn slower when fully depowered..? Or how bout when not enough wind ?

(sorry Chuddy, I was gonna start a thread, but a lot of my ?'s are being answered here. ) end hi-jack.

chudalicious - 16-5-2011 at 06:21 AM

It's all good - no worries on the hijack. I am glad people are getting questions answered! I know I have enough for a few hundred threads myself

Feyd - funny thing about the Apex 5m is that I had it, and did not like it so I had sold it. Plus, it was so close to my Frenzy 7m that it did not make sense to keep it. Having flown it (and now getting selling of my Frenzy) I still don't think I would reinvest - just was not my kind of kite I guess. But thanks for all the feedback - very helpful! Molly sounds like she is the bomb-diggity kiter :cool:

At this point, I can say that the 6m Charger is off the table. However, I am not sold on scratching off the Viron just yet. I'm going to wait for a few windy days with the V2 8m and see what happens. If I need something with less PA, I think I'll look into the Viron a bit closer and by then, hopefull there will be more feedback on it.

flyguy0101 - 16-5-2011 at 06:25 AM

Chud- if you decide to let the 8m vii go let me know. if you are looking for ultra stable and more of a beginner kite i would recommend the vortexs if you can find them. Super stable, even grunt, and can literally sit at zenith for hours with no input.
Scott

mougl - 16-5-2011 at 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DAKITEZ
In a apexx you would want the 10m apexII in 18mph winds ;-)

Um, 18 is where the apex 10 got fun in the XR+ bro... :lol:

snowspider - 16-5-2011 at 06:56 AM

Chud I was going to give a short recommendation to check threads that give comparisons of the Venom kites to other kites , I came to the conclusion just short time ago that they would be perfect for the performance you're looking for. I want to outfit my 13 year old with a "gust munching" easily managable kite.
In reading the response to your question my thoughts are you're getting input from experts and near experts on flying at the extreem limits of what kite and flyer are capable of. Know and accept your abilities and concerns as they are now and fly accordingly. Its never a bad thing to go small and progress. The force of the d-arc side is strong!

PHREERIDER - 16-5-2011 at 07:27 AM

a CH 6 in high winds ... you'll have to have ALL your attention flying the unit . its gonna uselessly fast. with the right skills its what you want when u want the "survivor sessions"

penalty for missing a loop a or two is gonna be high.

8 or 10 venom will give more usable feedback thru the bar. a point to remember as you drop in kite size the action WILL be faster and FULL use of the window is the game. the smaller size, the kite will be hanging DEEPER into the window power zone and produce different rate of side pull verses a bigger kite higher in the window.
also the depower on smaller units is small, kite really starts to be behave like a c-kite.
with c-kite action its more of knowing what to do with the flow of power, there is no "ease up", its right to next move. and when their small the flow is fast.

the V10 you have should be a solid go to unit. when it too much, ITS TOO MUCH. high wind reflexes will come, be patient. gear will not solve your problem(a rant thread yet to happen!).

and yes some small units really have NO suitable conditions( kinda goes into the could v. should). like shoes that are too small. useless

YES , seany, venoms do great in high wind

chudalicious - 16-5-2011 at 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by flyguy0101
Chud- if you decide to let the 8m vii go let me know.

Pretty much no chance in this one Scott.

It's still en route to me and we LOVED the way the 10m V2 flew so now getting the whole quiver and flying on navi's. Picking up a 16 for Anderson too!

SSpider - Yeah, I totally can understand the top limits of the kites and the level that I am at right now cannot compare to the expert flyers we have on here. I know Rip mentioned that I won't progress on a smaller kite but at that point, I am less worried about progressing and more concerned with just being able to enjoy the day without wearing a diaper!

I am, by nature, a very impatient person but in this case, I need all my limbs in working order so Ima take it slow and push it more with the bigger kites in lower winds and work my way up.

:wee:

Feyd - 16-5-2011 at 04:01 PM

Hey Chud, I think Ricardo's position on the Viron is that as a entry level kite you will only progress as far as the kite's design allows. You're skill level may be beyond what that kite has to offer already.

He may be right. I don't have any epirience on the Viron so I can't say how well it would fill your requirements. From what I've read it may not be ideal. But I find kites also suprise me with what you can get away with.

I'm suprised you sold the 5m Apex. Unless it was an Apex1. The Apex two is one of those kites that suprised me. It works as it's designed but can do so much more. I think its really one of the most underated kites out there.

Funny how things are to different people. We sold our Frenzies in favor of the Apex2. Our's were Frenzy '05's which were the last series that I really liked. The kite was pretty much castrated after '05 IMO. (Explains the 5m Apex/7m Frenzy overlap?) We still have the 3m and keep going back and forth as to whether or not to sell it off. She doesn't go out much.

Molly is a machine. Really, she suprises me everytime we go out and she just keeps getting stronger and better. I thank my lucky stars she's not the competitive type or I'd be in real trouble. :embarrased: After 20yrs I still think I'm a damn lucky SOB.

I'm glad you're not gunning for a 6m Charger. I think it would be an awesome kite but I don't think its what you're looking for.

Cheezy, a lot of kites especially early open cell foils have a tendency to really slow down steeringwise when heavily trimmed. Which makes sense when you consider the you really shorten the frontlines when under heavy trim. It makes the rear lines steer like they're a lot longer than normal. Kinda the same effect when you throw the bar all the way out.

You'll notice this with the Arcs that are pre-VPC. The VPC Arcs steering is a lot less affected by the trimming.

Our Apex 2 do pretty well trimmed. Rangers are okay to. Both are better than the '05 Frenzy or Molly's 19m P4 SA. I don't know how the small P4s turn trimmed.

ripsessionkites - 17-5-2011 at 12:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Feyd
Hey Chud, I think Ricardo's position on the Viron is that as a entry level kite you will only progress as far as the kite's design allows. You're skill level may be beyond what that kite has to offer already.

He may be right. I don't have any epirience on the Viron so I can't say how well it would fill your requirements. From what I've read it may not be ideal. But I find kites also suprise me with what you can get away with.

I'm suprised you sold the 5m Apex. Unless it was an Apex1. The Apex two is one of those kites that suprised me. It works as it's designed but can do so much more. I think its really one of the most underated kites out there.

Funny how things are to different people. We sold our Frenzies in favor of the Apex2. Our's were Frenzy '05's which were the last series that I really liked. The kite was pretty much castrated after '05 IMO. (Explains the 5m Apex/7m Frenzy overlap?) We still have the 3m and keep going back and forth as to whether or not to sell it off. She doesn't go out much.

Molly is a machine. Really, she suprises me everytime we go out and she just keeps getting stronger and better. I thank my lucky stars she's not the competitive type or I'd be in real trouble. :embarrased: After 20yrs I still think I'm a damn lucky SOB.

I'm glad you're not gunning for a 6m Charger. I think it would be an awesome kite but I don't think its what you're looking for.

Cheezy, a lot of kites especially early open cell foils have a tendency to really slow down steeringwise when heavily trimmed. Which makes sense when you consider the you really shorten the frontlines when under heavy trim. It makes the rear lines steer like they're a lot longer than normal. Kinda the same effect when you throw the bar all the way out.

You'll notice this with the Arcs that are pre-VPC. The VPC Arcs steering is a lot less affected by the trimming.

Our Apex 2 do pretty well trimmed. Rangers are okay to. Both are better than the '05 Frenzy or Molly's 19m P4 SA. I don't know how the small P4s turn trimmed.

thx Feyd

when you progress your VII will change to the CH 10 and 15 with a Speed 3 19 as your full quiver. but I also see you have CH12, so maybe get a 15 / 19 and a S3 21.

if you're after a FS in a smaller size, go with the Unity instead. the Viron looking at your videos, you're beyond its level, YOU HAVE SKILLS. =)

fine tune those first than buying a kite that may set you back.

chudalicious - 17-5-2011 at 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ripsessionkites

if you're after a FS in a smaller size, go with the Unity instead. the Viron looking at your videos, you're beyond its level, YOU HAVE SKILLS. =)

Surely you are talking about the hockey video! :tumble:
In all seriousness, it's a matter of feeling comfortable and knowing that you WON'T put the kite in a place that will make you pay. When the winds kick up, my fear kicks in and I may as well feel like I am holding onto a space shuttle bound for orbit.

Again, appreciate the vote of confidence. I don't get out to fly as much as I'd like, it stinks that our beaches will be off-limits now that summer is almost here.

Like I had said, I'll try the V2 8m and see what happens :megan:

Now to sell off the Ozones to recoup some funds!

Bladerunner - 17-5-2011 at 06:46 AM

When it all gets too much I always turn to my trusty 2.5m Profoil.
I think it somewhat fits that large inefficient quality. If 2.5m is large?

Never felt overpowered on it. Have you tried a small FB in that wind?

jokiter - 19-5-2011 at 10:43 AM

Great topic and very good comments here!

To add to Bladderrunner note - I'm on a landboard and usually fly on a very smooth beach. So in high winds I'm usually conservative and only trust my small FB kites. Recently I replaced my Pepper for a Beamer IV for that kind of conditions. I also tried several Access 4m. The newer models are too quick for my taste, but the Access I or II are lovely in strong gusty wind. Again - I'm more looking into surviving than actual high performance in these kind of winds :yes:

. All these options are of course not suitable on the water.

indigo_wolf - 19-5-2011 at 11:25 AM

With apologies to Paul....

Quote:

Originally posted by jokiter
All these options are of course not suitable on the water.

Unless you're missing a couple of sandwiches from the picnic basket :crazy:

Sorry.... couldn't resist. :rolleyes:

I'm weak.... :sniff:

:lol:

ATB,
Sam

chudalicious - 19-5-2011 at 11:29 AM

Yeah, I am keeping my 2m Flow as a small kite choice and to teach friends with. Very zippy indeed at that size!
Still in the quiver shakeup mode but narrowing it down day by day.

Got the 8m V2 in yesterday and unrolled in at home - it looks HUGE! I hope it's inefficient as hell! Gorgeous though and looks almost brand new.

Now my questions lie with what larger arcs we want V2 13/16 or CH 15/19.
Ohhh the choices
:crazy:

ragden - 19-5-2011 at 11:47 AM

I wouldnt look at the Viron... I would consider the FS Unity. Here is the comments from a FS rider Gunnar on the Unity. Something to consider:
-----------
I am probably gonna get reprimanded for this, but here is my opinion about the Unity 8m2

The Kite is a great little Freeride kite with some Freestyle and Wave potential. It turns a bit better than the Pulse 2 and have way more Depower and Stability which makes it great for unhooked down the line riding.

There is almost no backstall so it is a pretty good freestyle kite when powered up. It is not designed to jump as good as the Psycho4 or Speed 3, the lift is not as aggressive and the float is less. That is inherent to its lower aspect ratio.

The feel of the kite is pretty new for Flysurfer Kites. It has a very soft power development, but still feels very solid.

The bar is also another thing that just makes this kite great. The Infinity 2.0 bar is definetly one of the best bars I have ever used.

--
Gunnar
---------------
Now, that was for the 8m, you might want to consider the 6m for your weight....

chudalicious - 19-5-2011 at 12:25 PM

Thanks Mike - the Unity was another one on my radar.

I love the FS and PL safety as it is a no fuss to walk to it and walk it back out to relaunch (unless, of course, you get inverted or nutzo tangles from the release OR your on a snowboard and have to unattach)

Add that to the fact we could use on water (ah someday) and yeah, I hear a 6 calling me

Have to sell my Ozone's and try the 8 V2 when it gets around 20mph. If I can hold it down and feel comfy, no need for anything else as many have echoed above. However, should it be too much, I am not sure I could handle the 6m as the PA of the V2 8m is like 5.5m so pretty close there.

PBKiteboarding - 30-5-2011 at 06:12 AM

The Viron is a great Kite to fly and very forgiving in Gusts too.
So simple to relaunch. Some get them for use with SUPs fro that easy relaunch and sitting at the edge of the window, auto relaunch.

The Access is more powerful per size though.
A few more details and Pros and Cons to each.