I'm looking for a trainer to get me into snowkiting. A 3m 3 or 4 line kite with a bar. As a kite large enough for snowkiting will be to big for
training, I'm looking for something that is easy to start with, will teach me as much as possible, be fun to fly evenemang when ive used it for some
time and be as close as possible to a "real" snowkite (hooked in, depower aso). The main use will be training, but it would be nice if I also could
use the kite on the ice or with skis on high wind hardpack days. I weigh 180 lb, I'm a good skier, and where I live it's not very windy.
Kites I've been looking at (with price in gbp) are:
ozone flow with bar. 260gbp
Flow 3m with turbo bar 297gbp
Rush pro trainer 300 140gbp
HQ Scout II 189 gbp
I've also looked at hornet and Beamer, but the ones listed above is more interesting. when it comes to price vs reviews.
The flow is very much more expensive, but seems to be the most popular.shehatesmyhobbies - 24-9-2011 at 03:04 PM
I kinda like the idea of a HQ Scout II. Crossover bar system to help in the turns. Gives you more of a four line on a bar feel. The Rush Pro kites
are just two line kites with a third line for reverse launching. While good for learning how to fly, won't quite give you the same feel that you are
looking for to get into snow kiting. IMO
Having not flown the Ozone Flow 3, I cannot speak for it. There has been plenty of praise for it, would make a good high wind kite once you have
gotten some time on your belt. Just as the Scout would.Bigbear97e - 24-9-2011 at 03:05 PM
The ones you have listed there are all pretty nice kites .... probably the least cost is the HQRush Pro trainer ... 3 line on control bar with
excellent safety system and easy relaunch .... as a newbie, that would be my choice ... shame to spend a bunch just to find out it's not your thang!
What does "not very windy" mean in terms of average windspeed. If your average winds are low ... say 4 - 5 MPH, you may need to go bigger to actually
pull yourself .... like 7 or 8m ..... either way, trainer first is a very good idea .... you'll see in my sig the Vibe I chose to train on is pretty
small .... looking for more after just a few flights
Anyways, there are lots of websites where you can get historical weather data for your area... some forum compadres will chime in with ideas.
I am new too, but that is my 2cents worth .... welcome to kiting and if I may suggest .... by a bigger wallet....LOLdandre - 24-9-2011 at 03:17 PM
5m apex?
I think it would be enough to get you having fun w/ a little risk. Not enough to kill you.
And THAT would make a good high wind kite @ 180 pounds.
spend a little more moola. you're gonna want more kite when you get the feva
others to look @,
access <brits sell these all the time. stable kite! 6m would suit you awesome.com
or buy an old inflatable/foil on powerkites.comBladerunner - 24-9-2011 at 03:31 PM
" And Maybe skates" ?
Are you talking roller blades on Tarmac ( how I started out ), off road rollerblades or ice skates?
For ice skates or tarmac I suggest you stick with 3m rush pro or Scout even with low winds. For off road rollerblades and snow you might want to
consider the 4m Scout? These are less expensive but will serve your needs.
I got my 1st real runs on snow with my 3m, 3 line trainer but it was very strong winds. Had a HOOT with it on tarmac! Either of the less expensive
kites will still get you started but the crossover + chance to choose 4m make the Scout worth the bit more IMHO.
Use the difference in cost to buy a harness!bigkid - 24-9-2011 at 07:56 PM
Talk to Angus at www.coastalwindsports.com. He has a 3.3m Buster Soulfly and a bar for an awesome price. Fly it like a 2 line kite with the advantage of a 4 line.
You wont be able to beat the quality or the price.John Holgate - 24-9-2011 at 10:54 PM
Quote:
m apex? I think it would be enough to get you having fun w/ a little risk. Not enough to kill you. And THAT would make a good high wind kite @ 180
pounds.
Actually, I was thinking the exact same thing. If I was forced to have just one kite, it would have to be the Apex 5m. I can get going from about 12
knots in the bugg up to about 22 knots or so. It's as gentle and stable a kite as you are going to get and probably equivalent in power to a 3m fb
foil. Easier to learn (imho) than a foil on a turbo bar and with a bit of depower, easier to ease off in the gusts. They are not an expensive kite
but you will need a harness (but, you'll need that anyway with the turbo bar).
In light winds, it would only take a few hours flying to get comfy with it. I've flown the Apex II & III back to back and really couldn't tell
much difference, so if you can get a II for a good deal.....dandre - 24-9-2011 at 11:32 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by John Holgate
so if you can get a II for a good deal.....
AND THE 5m II IS PINK!!!!
SO COOL!John Holgate - 24-9-2011 at 11:40 PM
octagon - 25-9-2011 at 02:50 AM
Thanks! Many god advices. I think the Rush and the Flow is out of the list. My idea was/is that if I get the kite fever I'll eventually get a 6 and 11
depower kite. This one is just for learning. The Apex would really be nice, but it's a bit expensive since im not sure this is my sport, especially
since I have to get a harness (?). I guess the 3m Scout will be fine. Probably it won't be strong enough to pull me on skis, but where I live there
are lots of lakes with god ice, and on ice 3m will be a handful. Thanks again for the advise. This has occupied my thoughts too long...bobalooie57 - 25-9-2011 at 04:09 AM
Not trying to confuse the issue, but here's a pic of a friend snowkiting on skis with the Rush Pro 300( I think it was a vIII), in about 25 - 30 mph
wind.
dandre - 25-9-2011 at 06:28 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by John Holgate
pink bumblebee!!! <333
haha damn. that is one smooth flying kite.
I'm glad I was planning on picking one upjaymzmn - 25-9-2011 at 11:20 AM
HQ Scout for sure based on already having a crossover bar, excellent quality kite and lines and an amazing price. Flows are nice (I have a 5m on bar)
but they are expensive.BigMikesKites - 25-9-2011 at 12:10 PM
Don't forget the Peter Lynn Impulse. Both the 2 and 3m are great kites, on a bar, and priced well. Of course you can get any of the Peter Lynn
kites with a bar instead of or in addition to handles.octagon - 26-9-2011 at 12:42 AM
Jaymzmn, you've had both Scout and Flow. What's the difference? Guess the scout is a bit more of a static flying beginners kite? The downside with the
scout is that I can't hook in since the bar doesn't have a loop.shehatesmyhobbies - 26-9-2011 at 02:18 AM
The Scout JI comes with a harness loop so that you may use a harness.octagon - 27-9-2011 at 02:09 PM
Hmm. Now I've found a used 5 m Apex 3, ad a Apex 2 at discounted price (it's Pink!) Isn't it a too big step to go from some traner flying right up to
a depower kite? Off corse a 5 m depower is not very strong in ligtht winds, but there still is more to think about than flying unhooked on a fixed
bridle kite.
I have some old climbing harneses that I can use so that is not a cost, and I probably have more use of a depower in the future, as you said above.
How strong winds do I need to ski properly with a 5 m (@ 180 lb)?shehatesmyhobbies - 27-9-2011 at 02:43 PM
Actually the 5m Apex is a very stable, gentle kite as long as you fly it in the right wind range. Very easy to fly and very forgiving. The 5m size
would not be too much a jump in my opinion, (not like you are going from a 3m kite to a 19m Speed 3.
I have never used one on snow, I can not say how much wind you would need to get going.
If you get a depower, practice, practice, practice the safety release and understand how it works. Once you get it figured out, practice it some more
than make sure it operates properly each time before you get set to fly!John Holgate - 27-9-2011 at 03:28 PM
Yep, won't take you long to come to grips with the Apex. I tend to pull the bar in when I'm turning and let it out again to speed up the kite and
reduce the power as it goes back across the window. I've never been on snow with a kite. In the buggy I need about 12 knots to start having some fun
but you'll be static flying it much less than that for a start. It has about the same power as a low aspect 3m fixed bridle. Damn good little kite.
PS: rock climbing harness should be fine. My Ozone SB harness is almost identical to some of my rock climbing harnesses. Just clip into the Apex
chicken loop with a 'biner. - or thread the chicken loop straight into the harness - which will make it a little easier to reach the safety. Which is
something to practice - when you need to hit the safety, you don't want to have to think about it, it should be reflex.
