Power Kite Forum

Exploring the new Apex

wolphy - 25-9-2015 at 10:55 AM

WARNING: This is mostly rant, so only read if you are otherwise bored... :frog:

This is the first time I had successfully flown my Apex III on Floyd Bennet, and it flies amazingly!!! I must add that it was Kelly (gemini6kl) who helped me tune the kite by adding extension to the control lines...

The wind was in 12-13 mph range, and I felt very comfortable with the way the kite responded, the amount of power, and, now that my board skills are much better (still far from great), the quality and distance of the ride.

This is my first run after dislocating right pinky on Tuesday, so I was being extra careful to avoid falling. I also for the first time had a long ride on the east-bound runway, so I was not yet familiar with the quality of the pavement there.

The results: controlled ride, safe return, no walk-of-shame, and above all, awesome time.

I did manage to successfully record the session, but my chest-attached camera was pointing at the kite all the time and the only things to see in this video were my hands on the bar, the kite in the air, and the clouds. Looks almost like I was not moving - so there will be no video post.

abkayak - 25-9-2015 at 11:18 AM

very cool...glad it's all coming together:thumbup::thumbup:

jrhook - 25-9-2015 at 03:13 PM

Hey wolphy, I'm constantly in a love/hate relationship with my Apex. Of course, the biggest issue I have is space and wind...two requirements of this kite more so then many others. It just seems that it would be most at home in the snowfields of Norway where park and ride is all that is required of any kite. I'll really be able to love or hate it soon at Wildwood!

gemini6kl - 25-9-2015 at 09:28 PM

There u go . Its good to hear you're getting better on the board. Soon ull be cruzing up and down that field with a big grin on your face. :DI don't know why the apex series 4 needed so much tuning to fly right im really surprised cause hq makes such great kite's . But I'm happy to we got it all sorted out. U should post the video I wanna see your run.:thumbup:

wolphy - 26-9-2015 at 09:20 PM

Quote: Originally posted by jrhook  
Do you know if kiting is allowed at Liberty State Park?


I saw online that it is. Haven't gone there yet. If you do come out, tomorrow (Sunday) the wind is great.

wolphy - 26-9-2015 at 09:27 PM

Quote: Originally posted by gemini6kl  
There u go . Its good to hear you're getting better on the board. Soon ull be cruzing up and down that field with a big grin on your face. :DI don't know why the apex series 4 needed so much tuning to fly right im really surprised cause hq makes such great kite's . But I'm happy to we got it all sorted out. U should post the video I wanna see your run.:thumbup:


Thanks, Kelly! I'll make another vid tomorrow. On that one the camera is pointing to the sky, and you can see only the kite moving and me occasionally cursing and commenting. But not the land/ride. Here is the link if you still want to see it: https://youtu.be/OItdTbwJ_qA

gemini6kl - 27-9-2015 at 05:13 AM

yesterday was great, I mostly was shooting some video for my next project. but the wind was good a 4m or 5m was the size to fly size . yea saw your video and ure right it hard to make out much, u should get a gopro its the best action cam out there . I bought the hero 4 silver and its the best investment I made for shooting kite films. The quality of the video is extremely clear and the camera can take a beating. I don't think I'm going out today I am renovating a room at my mths house so ill be probally be working on tht. the weather next week dosent look tht great either looks like most days will be rain, but if Wednesday or thurs is good then ill be going out.:thumbup:

wolphy - 29-9-2015 at 08:16 PM

Here is a bad (but better) vid from Sunday. :) Skip the first minute.

https://youtu.be/zTp3c-2Sfew

Kober - 30-9-2015 at 07:22 AM

Video is private ...... But congrats on de-power progression ...... Hope that harness works well for you .....

wolphy - 30-9-2015 at 07:59 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Kober  
Video is private ...... But congrats on de-power progression ...... Hope that harness works well for you .....


Ooops - changed the privacy. And yeah, the harness works out great! So far tried it both on water and land, and I am very happy with it. Thanks, Kober!!!

wolphy - 28-3-2016 at 12:46 PM

I have been off for a while, mostly due to the weather. :D Now back in business. This is a low-wind (7-8 mph) recording, with my Apex @ Floyd Bennett Field...

abkayak - 28-3-2016 at 01:11 PM

Wolphy is back...out of hibernation i see
expect beach invites soon

wolphy - 28-3-2016 at 01:14 PM

Quote: Originally posted by abkayak  
Wolphy is back...out of hibernation i see
expect beach invites soon


LOL. I'll be waiting... impatiently.

wolphy - 4-4-2016 at 08:01 AM

Another attempt, trying to use static camera... The wind was too much for me and I had to stop.

windrider1 - 4-4-2016 at 03:02 PM

dude we gotta get u a better camera. asap. lol

wolphy - 4-4-2016 at 03:06 PM

Yes, it was an old #@%$#!ty flip I had laying around - but the test was for my new tripod mount and being able to capture the lane with me in it. I am very close to getting GoPro.

OffAxis - 5-4-2016 at 04:30 AM

Hey guys, I just wanted to ask a quick question. I'm considering getting my first depower kite for snow/land kiting. It seams to me that a lot of people recommend the HQ Apex for a good starter depower, but very few people actually have them in their quiver.

Is the HQ Apex 7.5m or 11m something that is worth keeping in your quiver or is it just a stepping stone to better kites as you learn?

My budget is super limited and don't want to have to keep buying/selling kites as I get more experience. I'd like to get one that I will keep for a long time.

nate76 - 5-4-2016 at 05:11 AM

I've got quite a bit of time on both the Apex 4 and Apex 5 series kites and find them very useful well beyond the learning stage. My favorite size is the 5.5m, which I use a lot for high wind days and/or in steeper back country terrain where I just want a solid wind engine that isn't going to loft me off the side of a mountain. I really recommend the kite in those kind of conditions.

Just had a great back country session with a buddy about a week ago. The 2nd day we were out, it was pretty windy. Started out with white-out conditions, but then mellowed a bit. Spent the whole day on my 5.5 Apex V, and never felt spooked or overwhelmed or out of control, even though I had really nice power for climbing the hills and making a lot of ski laps. It was a great day and the kite performed really well in this regard. The 8m is also nice if you need a little more power - just depends on what your normal riding conditions are.




nate76 - 5-4-2016 at 05:16 AM

Here's a review of the new Apex V for anyone who is interested. Fun kite.

OffAxis - 5-4-2016 at 05:57 AM

Thanks Nate.

abkayak - 5-4-2016 at 06:03 AM

HQ Apex is a keeper....it will always be the easiest kite you can grab and go get some
the diff between getting the 7.5 and 11...just depends on your weight and winds your out in most often
but the 7.5 will be way less intimidating up front

wolphy - 5-4-2016 at 07:55 AM

As this is my ONLY depower foil kite, I can only say about my experience. Once properly trimmed, it has been nothing but a joy to use and ride, and I have it for almost a year. In my area, it works well most of the wind days.

Ever since version III, this great piece of German engineering has been top-notch (ease of use, power, flying characteristics) and you just can't go wrong with it. Jut get at least Apex III or newer.

And get OFF my progress log chat, will you! :evil:

OffAxis - 5-4-2016 at 09:04 AM

OK, enough said. Carry on!

Thanks.

Memopad - 6-4-2016 at 04:59 AM

I picked up a used Apex 3 5m and enjoyed it the few times I used it this season. It was great for me in the "higher" winds (upper teens, not even 20) though most experienced people would be on a bigger kite still. Even at lower wind speeds it worked great when I was on mostly ice on the lake. Really nice to have something that doesn't pull as hard when you have zero traction and it's hard to hold an edge.

I bought the Ozone Access 10m as my first kite because it was well reviewed for beginners, etc. What I've found is that it doesn't have enough power for me as a light wind kite, but it's too big as a higher wind kite especially on my frozen lake that had hardly any snow this winter. It was great in just the right conditions, but as you progress and want something a little snappier or with more lift the Access won't be at the front of the pack. You'll love it for high wind days where it won't kill you, but 10m isn't the right size for that. I say this because if I could do it all over again, I'd still get the Access but I'd have gotten it in a smaller size so it would be more useful to me as my skills improve. If those two sizes of Apex are your choices, I'd get the 7.5m because I'll think it will grow with you and be useful far longer than the 11m.

nate76 - 6-4-2016 at 08:28 PM

Great insights, Memopad. I'd also agree to go with a slightly smaller Apex/Access "Trainer" kite that will do well in higher winds, and then take the saved money and put it towards a higher performance large kite (Montana/Summit etc) where the higher efficiency and lift can really help in light winds.

I'll say that the new Montana 9's in the lightweight 30D fabric perform really well in lighter winds. I'm really happy with them.

wolphy - 25-4-2016 at 01:33 PM

If failures are path to mastery, I'm on my way! :D



P.S.: and I now have a better cam!

Windstruck - 25-4-2016 at 04:28 PM

Quote: Originally posted by wolphy  
If failures are path to mastery, I'm on my way! :D



P.S.: and I now have a better cam!


Wolphy! Pavement without a helmet, gloves, knee pads or elbow pads. You must be cruising on that spongy east coast pavement. All the stuff out my way is a whole lot harder! :lol:

wolphy - 25-4-2016 at 05:02 PM


Quote:

Wolphy! Pavement without a helmet, gloves, knee pads or elbow pads. You must be cruising on that spongy east coast pavement. All the stuff out my way is a whole lot harder! :lol:


Long gone are the days I used to think of Americans as pampered sissies. ;) Well, I have never kiteboarded without a helmet, and I usually wear knee and elbow pads, but my wrist pads are lost, and I just "paid" the small price for that...