Power Kite Forum

Skimbats are way cool!

B-Roc - 20-10-2014 at 02:06 PM

I first saw the Skimbat promo video below in late 2005 / early 2006 and having failed to find a reliable importer of the wing I purchased my first power kite and have been landboarding and skiing with a kite ever since.

I have often considered purchasing a Skimbat but never wanted to invest the money in something I've never tried. After 8-9 years of waiting, two Skimbat riders showed up yesterday and I finally got the chance to ride one and all I can say is, "Wow" :thumbup:

Those things are awesome :cool: The winds were 20-25+ and I was on my 4.5 Yeti. I was offered a 5.5m Skimbat and enough instruction to not kill myself and I had a ball. I didn't ride it long as I didn't hook in and my arms were killing (haven't flown without a harness since 2008) but that is definitely something to add to the "must-have" list. I felt so much safer on a 5.5 wing and rode way faster and it was much easier than I anticipated (I've tried windsurfing on a landboard rig and that was tougher than Skimbatting).

The North American Skimbat Assoc is trying to re-launch/brand the product and I'm hoping for much success and another chance to try or buy one someday.

Anyone else have much experience with Kitewings? I know they come up from time to time but less and less in recent years.

Cheddarhead - 20-10-2014 at 03:48 PM

Always wanted to try one. The one chance I had, I was already busy kite skiing my heart out and forgot about the offer later that day:( I happened to meet some people from New Hampshire that were wingers and they offered to let me try one. My fault I didn't follow up on it. One main advantage I could see around here with one is the space factor. You don't have to have alot of space to use it compared to kites with long lines. I told my wife I would be sorta afraid to try one on the chance I may like it too much and want to buy one. Of course she thought that was a smart idea:P

I'm fortunate to have the World Ice Snow Sailing Championships coming to WI this winter, so perhaps I may have another shot at trying one. I can only hope.

rofer - 20-10-2014 at 05:31 PM

I imagine you probably need a lot of nice, clean wind to really use them since they're smaller than a lot of kites and obviously much closer to the ground.
That said, those look awesome and I'm pretty jealous. Surprised at how well they jump too.

Feyd - 20-10-2014 at 06:46 PM

Try this.

http://www.kitewingusa.com/

We have a fair number of wingers in the area. Pretty popular down on Sunapee where Will Tuthill and co. live. His eldest daughter is quite the competitor on the things. I've never flown one but have always been jealous of Will being able to fly right up to the BBQ and grab a beer in the back yard.

Cheddar will be seeing plenty of them when WISSA comes to town. More of a Kitewing event than kite in my opinion.:D

B-Roc - 20-10-2014 at 07:22 PM

Informative website but doesn't appear to have been updated since 2011 and when you "click to buy" you are brought to a dead link. Let's hope the NASA (North American Skimbat Assoc) guys get the new website and distribution channel up and running.

FWIW there was a ton of ground wind when I used it and I think the thing is likely only fun when the winds are blowing 15mph+ but Rick (NASA) said he can get going in 6-7mph depending upon the surface condition (snow, ice, parking lot).

I really liked how safe I with no punchy effect although the sail wiggled about a bit as I struggled to figure out how best to hold it.

Based on the limited experience I had I'd almost say it was more enjoyable than any foil I've ever flown in 25+ mph winds (with the possible exception of a 4m Access II which I sometimes regret having sold). I think the comfortable top end of the 5.5 Skimbat is higher than the top end of my 4.5 Yeti since the wing seems to produce more speed where the kite starts to produce the type of power that leads to accidental loftings. I'd like to get my hands on a 4.8 to see how much of what it lacks in size it makes up for in maneuverability, speed and top end.

Kamikuza - 20-10-2014 at 09:41 PM

I got one, haven't used it for ages though. Need high wind, and if it's like that I'm on the water... but they are fun, and really good in places where kite lines would be an issue.

Feyd - 21-10-2014 at 11:44 AM

Try this then. If you're on FB they might have regular updates here. At the very least you can talk to someone via FB.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kitewing-Sports/313090026379

B-Roc - 21-10-2014 at 02:19 PM

Thanks for the link. I'm not on facebook but have bookmarked that page and I joined their yahoo group and email distribution list. Hoping a deal on a wing becomes available this winter.

Prussik - 24-10-2014 at 09:25 AM

In the right wind conditions kitewings are a delight to use. The major drawback is the need for a relatively high minimum wind speed. The wind has to be sufficient for the wing to fly (about 20 km/h) below which it becomes an awkward item to carry. So when it looks like the wind may drop, you do not want to be too far from home. I have made an arrangement so that I can rest the boom on one of my skis and walk back that way if needed but this will not work with blades. On the other hand the wing can handle very high winds. It is easy to get moving but it takes some practice to make a fast duck jibe and confidently and safely rip along hooked in. Response to gusts and wind shifts has to be instantaneous and instinctive when hooked in because touching the surface with the wing tip can result in a very ugly crash. It is a great addition to kiting and I always have one with me.

There is also another related wind propulsion option especially useful for those with windsurfing experience and equipment – Sailwing. It is a windsurfing sail with an attachment at the base which glides on the surface of ice or snow. You hook in like on a windsurfer but with one hand on the boom and the other on the mast. It offers the ultimate in control since you can sheet it out vertically and horizontally – so to speak. In strong winds it flies like a kitewing and when wind drops it rides on the surface. Very safe because you cannot hook anything. In extreme winds, when even the smallest kite is too much – this is the only thing that works comfortably – with 1.6 m sail.

rofer - 24-10-2014 at 11:31 AM

Prussik: Hmmm, sailwings sound interesting. Can you provide some links? I couldn't find anything about them when I did a quick search.

Prussik - 25-10-2014 at 11:00 AM

No links that I know of. In fact I know of only one other individual that uses Sailwings, though there may be more in northern Europe where the idea originated ages ago with Vikings ripping across frozen landscape (I am not sure about the last part...). This individual to whom this is THE mode of winter propulsion has been very successful in WISSA competitions to the extent that the sore losers lobbied the organizers to change the eligibility rules to ban him from the competition on the basis that he does not belong with Kitewings (hand held but rests on the surface) nor with iceboards (sail but no board). In spite of all the advantages there is no chance for the idea to be commercialized since almost all that is required is already available for windsurfing (with some easy modifications). The only new item required is the base for which this individual received a patent. When I looked at it years ago it appeared to me too complicated and an overkill for what is required but considering how successful he was I am far from criticizing the design. Unlike him, I use Sailwing in very specific conditions of very strong and, above all, gusty and shifty conditions when kites and Kitewings are either too much work or are outright treacherous. “Variety is the spice of life” also occasionally prompts me to rig one up. I only need small sails and a simple base which would not be ideal for light winds and big sails when the patented base may have its merits. No matter how ballistic the conditions are, when hooking in to a kite or a Kitewing is too dangerous or impossible, you can comfortably cruise hooked in with a Sailwing. What makes it so user friendly and immune to wild swings in wind intensity and direction is the “automatic” power adjustment. When the overpowering gust hits, the sail rises and flies in more horizontal position thus reducing the power. Similarly with a Kitewing but here wild swings in direction and intensity can dangerously tip the wing side to side and the danger of hooking the wing tip makes hooking in too risky. No such worries with the Sailwing. The geometry of the setup makes it immune not only to gusts but also to shifts in direction which can problematic with a Kitewing. Having the sail as small as 1.5 also makes things easier in extreme condition when the smallest Kitewing 4.0 can be too much.


KitewingRick - 27-10-2014 at 05:11 PM

Hello all,
This is Rick from the "North American Skimbat Association".
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/Kitewing-NASA/info Mark G. forwarded this forum to me today. I was one of the two wing sailors at Nahant, MA a week ago Sunday. I was there yesterday too but only took a short spin on MarS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s mountain board with his wing. Nursing a stiff back. Mountain boards are tricky if you've never ridden one, but I did get it moving at least.
Anyway, to clarify, "NASA" is a group I started on Yahoo back in 2007 and the purpose was to reach out to other skimbatters/Kitewingers for sharing information and getting together for events and casual riding. NASA and I are not officially part of Kitewing Sports but I do know the people involved and work closely with them. Right now the kitewing.com website is still a work in progress but as was mentioned earlier, there is a Facebook group page for Kitewing Sports and that is a good way to reach them. I can be contacted through my group page or private email. If it doesn't show up here, please let me know and I'll post it.
"Kitewing USA" is the former North American distributor.
I'll post here again as soon as I know the kitewing.com site is active.
To me the wing is the perfect fusion between two sports I've loved: skiing and windsurfing. And the wing lends itself well to other uses on ice, snow, or land. Even water, sometimes, but the original Skimbats were designed with ice and snow in mind. Try a wing on smooth clear ice with skates and you'll be addicted. As a general rule depending on surface and venue, you need cleaner wind down lower than for kites, but as Chris pointed out, being able to sail right back up onto the beach for a beer has its upside too.
Also, I just registered for WISSA 2015 http://www.wissa2015.com/ I was out there last February for the Sturgeon Stampede and had a really great time. This will be a great event for snow and ice riders of all stripes. Big lake, lots of wind.
Thanks for the posts from one of your "rigid frame" cousins.
Rick

Cheddarhead - 27-10-2014 at 06:13 PM

Quote: Originally posted by KitewingRick  
Also, I just registered for WISSA 2015 http://www.wissa2015.com/ I was out there last February for the Sturgeon Stampede and had a really great time. This will be a great event for snow and ice riders of all stripes. Big lake, lots of wind.
Thanks for the posts from one of your "rigid frame" cousins.
Rick


What a coincidence, I was also at the Sturgeon Stampede last winter. I was there on Saturday and Sunday, but only kited on Sunday. I was one of the few that was flying open celled foils using skis. It was a good time. I'll be sure to attend WISSA this year since Fond du lac is fairly close to me:smilegrin: Cheers!

KitewingRick - 1-12-2014 at 08:10 PM

This is to update on the topic: http://www.kitewing.com/ has been up and running for a few weeks now. The Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kitewing-Sports/313090026379 has been fairly active lately, we're all getting geared up for ice.
I'm working on some "Doomwheels" for beach riding while I'm waiting.
Cheddarhead, I must have seen you out there on Winnebago. I was the one who got stranded when the wind died in the long distance race. Our first day, Friday, the wind was cranking hard and the snow was nice and firm. Best ski sailing of the season.
In addition to running the Yahoo group, I'm also an admin on the Kitewing Sports FB page, so fell free to look us up and ask any questions.
Rick

rofer - 2-12-2014 at 09:10 AM

Those prices look a lot better than I remembered!
If I had the wind here I'd definitely be looking at grabbing one, but as-is I imagine I'd only get a couple days use out of it every year.

Edit: Looking at them again they keep looking more awesome. If I ever see one around the $400 I think I'd grab it for the rare days where an approaching storm makes my 3m a little too powerful. Wish I lived somewhere they were viable more often though.

RedSky - 2-12-2014 at 10:18 PM

I hope lucifer hasn't seen this thread,.... for his own good. ;)