Blade IV 4.9

Time for Tridude to eat some major crow! I purchased a Blade IV 4.9 and was pleased with it overall but wasnt sure about all the hype (performance/big airs). The quality is top notch no doubt but all the BIG AIR stories were a mystery to me. Well today I have become a believer! Unbelieveable performance and HUGE air with nice 2 point floatee landings. Finally, winds cooperated 15 to 20, gusting to 25 mph. Actually, I was boarderline being overpowered a few times but what an awesome kite. I flew it against my Bego 400, which more than held its own (8 to 10 foot jumps) no problem, but I went higher on the Blade (10-12 ft numerous times)! In conclusion, if I have offended anyone about FF Blades do accept my apology! I have always liked the kite, but today I witnessed its true potential! as usual................
sotaked!!

Yes I def need to get on a board! The kitesurf shop here in Charleston (AIR)is having a demo day next month along their board sponsor, Ground Industries, out of Greenville, SC. I def plan on making that. Will prob be the only fixed bridle guy there! Its a nice shop-posted their link below! as usual.....................................................stoaked:!!:D

http://www.catchsomeair.us/ride_guide/kiteboarding_launch_ar...

winds picked up a fair bit here over the past couple of days so i decided i jst go 4 it! o dear god!! i wud estimate that wind speeds were around 15mph gusting maybe 20 at times n the pull and lift the Blade IV was generating was amazing!! at one stage i got pulled about 25m (my mate was standing by my kite at launch n i ended up near him) then after a particulaly big gust in the middle of a pendulum i cleared my mates head!! bout 6ft!!! totally n utterly blown away!! not literally ov course bt came close lol
i reli want 2 rig up a strop n harness on my bar now 2 give my hands n arms a bit ov a break in high winds, any ideas wud be appreciated! thanks guys

Another Blade IV 4.9 review

Mind if I piggy back on this review post? I received the Blade IV 4.9m from DaVinch last week and had a chance to try the kite the past two days. I can happily say that the experience was very positive! :D

Kite Bag
When I opened the shipping box and a protective plastic bag provided by DaVinch, I came face to face with the like-new Flexi Blade IV 4.9 bag. For those of you who have Flexi products, you'll recognize the quality even on initial inspection of the bag itself! Needless to say, compared to the spartan nylon stuff sack my "Chinaese" Pansh Legend came in, this bag with its additional pockets, etc., can easily function as a day-pack--holding a lot of accessories, personal possessions, etc. The only complaint is that the main compartment is only just large enough to accomodate the folded kite/lines/handles. A harness assembly will not fit in the bag.

Material and Foil Features
Unpacking the kite, I discovered a feature I'd read about in other reviews--convenient velcro straps for securing the bridle lines when packing. Of course, they are color coded to match the bridle lines.

The kite material is crisp and feels like a harty thickness. The Blade IV has a mesh material covering the cell air-inlets. While they currently are in new condition and look fine, other reviewers have complained that this material degrades over time due to snagging debris, crashes, etc. The cell openings maintain their open shape thanks to bracing in the opening interior.

Bridle Lines
Bridle lines unpacked easily without much untangling needed. The lines are conveniently color coded in blue and red for left and right, respectively, with two styles to differentiate between brake and power/lead.

The Blade IV comes equiped with a easy to use Angle of Attack Adjustment (a.k.a. AAA) bridle, making it a no-brainer to adjust the AoA (while the kite is grounded). The kite bag includes a Setup Guide illustrating the AoA settings available. Adjustments are made by simply moving a single larkshead knot on each of the two lead line bridles.

Kite Performance -- "Normal" AoA
The test was conducted on two subsequent afternoons at Sylvan Beach Park in La Porte, Texas (USA) with nearly identical conditions--steady 10 mph on-shore coastal winds with <2 mph gusts. For this newb trying his maiden voyage with a kite as large as this, I was relieved to have such ideal, safe conditions. :P

I used 25m Flexifoil 440# / 220# lines with 40 cm Flexifoil 4-line handles. A little tension on the lead lines and the Blade stands in attention, calmly waiting futher instructions. (Sideline Cam -- #@%$#!pit Cam)

After hearing so many stories of the amazing lift of the Blade series, I played it safe and started with the AoA adjustment set to "Normal" which is the setting just under the highest lift. Furthermore, I lauched the kite up and to the side rather than up the power zone. The pull was manageable and not crazy (I was wearing sandles on grass). The kite moved to the edge of the window and parked nicely, allowing me to use my camera phone for a picture.

I then proceded to send the kite to the apex--stable & patient with lift apparent. Moving on to some figure-8's up high, the kite displayed nice control responding well to brake-turns.

So far so good...it hasn't spanked me yet! <whew>

With confidence increasing, I tried a lauch directly up the power zone and had some nice 3-4 meter scuds on the grass; the kite went straight up and parked without incident. Oh, and I tried a few butt scuds to the delight of the spectators! I then moved on to testing the agility and stability while powered up. Obviously, the nearly 5m kite generated some decent pull lower in the wind window, so I felt I needed to facilitate rapid turns by brake-turning. The response was wonderful with nearly wingtip turns at 60-70 degrees above the field at 12 o'clock.

Flight Performance -- "High" AoA
This was my first experience with a high angle of attack, so I admit that I don't have much to which to compare this. I also didn't have previous experience with jumping, so you'll have to seek the details from other reviewers. However, I can say this. The launch up the power zone didn't have a very noticeable increase in pull, so it wasn't as scary as I had psyched myself up. It was manageable! I felt increased lift at the apex, but it didn't loft my 13 stones (190 lbs) as I'd feared...at least not in these 10mph winds :tumble:

Powered up, the kite moved more slowly through the window, generated plenty of pull, and maintained its agility and stability. I'm loving it at this point.

Finally, near the end of the second session, with lid on, I attempted my first pendulum jumps based on some animations I'd seen on forums. Sent the kite to 2 o'clock, turned it toward 10-11 o'clock and ran the other way slightly upwind. When I felt the power kick in, redirected to the right and jumped!

<drum roll please>

Okay, only 25 cm off the ground on my first, but!!! it held me and didn't drop me. Trying again, I gained more height. After 5 or 6 attempts, I was getting 1 to 1.5m with nice floating landings. Never once did the kite let me down. A remarkable experience for a newbie like me. If I can do it, you can too!

I flew the Blade IV 4.9m until the daylight was rapidly leaving the sky. By the end of the session, I was hot, sweaty (it was 90 degrees F with 70% humidty), slightly dehydrated, but stoked with having flown this kite.

Final Thoughts
I haven't flown a lot of kites. I have various sizes of Ted's ProFoils up to 2.5m and a Pansh Legend 3.0m. I've been flying quadline foil kites on weekends for 2 months. I've heard many frightening stories about the Blades, and admit that my heart was racing when I first launched it. However, what people advise is correct--you must respect the power potential of the wind and these kites. In only 10 mph winds, a beginner like me was able to get 1 to 1.5m pendulum jumps in only half a dozen attempts. I know, that in 15+ winds this kite would demand the respect that I've shown it at 10 mph.

I'm ready to give it a go--bring on the 15!!

Thanks, hoping to get at least 15-20 and I will gear up. 15-20 not gusting high lift. 20-30 Least lift. Gotta go for it.

Ok. Tridude do you fly that flysurfer static?