Hey guys....I am looking for some advice on my next kite, and also have a question about one for my son.
So a little bit of background, im on Staten Island NY and Ive only flown static. I have done some limited scudding on grass, but no buggying / on
water, etc. I almost always fly in a grass field, and a couple of times on sand (in NJ). Although we have beaches here (on staten island), the sand is
a red clay type which stains EVERYTHING. So I try not to go out there.
I have been flying on and off for at least 10 years, and have flown sport delta kites (Quantum. HQ Whizz, etc) and a 4 line Flexifoil Rage 2.5 which I
can fly pretty well. I love the speed and the pull of the Rage (I am 170 lbs) and have no trouble handling it.
So ive just gotten into scudding, which I didnt know was a thing until I started reading this site. And id like to get a kite to take advantage of the
10-15 mph winds we get here from time to time. As I am in a metro area, we dont have the cleanest winds since the parks are usually surrounded by
trees but on days like today (15-20 - 25mph gusts) it was really good.
I bought the Rage 2.5 (on 4 lines with handles) a few years ago on the advice of a kite shop, and i like it, but is it the best kite for the type of
flying I want to do?
As I read more of this board, and get more educated on the specs of a kite, I am still confused with all the choices out there. Ive been on the sites
(HQ, Flexi, Ozone, etc) and am overwhelmed and just dont understand how to determine how a certain kite is going to fly.
For instance, take for example the Rage 2.5 I have. I read somewhere that the 2.5 is quick and has good pull, while the 4.0 is really slow moving
which is confusing. I assume the longer length would give it more pull and make it quicker, but I am obviously wrong.
And then going on the Flexi site shows SEVEN different models of "land kites".So at this point im just stuck in neutral, not knowing how to choose,
which is why ive come here in the hopes that someone can point me in the right direction.
My second question has to do with my 13 year old son who has started flying with me the last couple of years. Hes a little guy (65 lbs) and he has no
trouble flying dual line foils like the Snapshot 1.2 and Synapse 170, and enjoys them very much, especially the Synapse which has more pull to it than
the Snapshot. So as I was butt scudding on my Rage today, he asked if there is a kite out there which would allow him to butt scud as my Rage would
rip his arms out of his sockets. lol. Would anyone have a good recommendation for a kite for him as well?
Thank you! abkayak - 1-10-2017 at 04:59 AM
welcome
actually great timing
you guys need a trip down the jersey shore
all these questions and more can be answered in Wildwood, NJ. 10/9-10/16
others will give their opinions.....but only there is true enlightenmentjaycade - 1-10-2017 at 07:04 AM
Wow. I will definitely look to get down there on one of those days.
Would you have any more info on the event? Windstruck - 1-10-2017 at 04:08 PM
If you can hook up with other experienced power kiters at WBB or elsewhere, that's the way to go. You might get the chance to try some other kites or
at least get some knowledgeable advice first hand.
Here's some general info, which you may already know.
Kite size. Bigger sizes are for lower wind speeds or for more pull. Smaller sizes are for higher wind speeds or less pull.
Aspect ratio. The ratio of the sail width to height. Low aspect ratio kites tend to be "beginner" kites, slower, more stable, and less likely to build
power suddenly in the power zone. High aspect ratio kites fly and turn faster, can generate more power, tend to be less stable and prone to gusts, and
can sometimes have more lift. You may want to avoid kites prone to lift, unless you want to get into kite jumping.
Cell count. On a dual skin kite, more cells allow the kite to maintain a cleaner, more rigid shape. High aspect ratio kites usually have higher cell
counts. This can allow the kite to generate more power.
Bridles. More bridle lines are often used on high cell count kites, again to hold the shape of the foil. The trade off is more bridle can mean more
drag. Sometimes kite designers will attempt to minimize the bridle by using internal reinforcements within the dual skin.
Closed and open cells. The use of closed cells can also allow the kite to maintain a better shape and probably reduce drag; however, the disadvantage
is a greater risk of blowing out a cell in a hard crash.
Leading edge. Some kites utilize a mesh over the inlets on open cells. This can help keep the cells inflated in certain situations and keeps some
debris out of the kite.
Sail fabric and weight. There is a fair amount of variability here between manufacturers. Sometimes a manufacturer might also produce a kite using two
different fabric weights, using a light weight fabric for better low wind performance but potentially sacrificing durability.
You have a good beginner to intermediate kite with the Rage 2.5. If you want to fly in less wind, then consider getting a larger size kite next (maybe
3.5 to 4m). If you want to fly in higher wind, go smaller. I have a 2.5m Rage and a 1.8m Rage II. The Rage II has a AAA bridle adjustment
(angle-of-attack). The 1.8m is a quick little kite in high wind. It's almost more like a quad line stunt kite than a power kite, although it can
generate some pull in high wind. The 1.8m Rage II may still be available on Amazon and you could buy it kite only to save some bucks.
As for your son, you could consider either a larger dual line foil or possibly the Rage 1.8m if the winds aren't too strong. The advantage of the Rage
1.8m is the added control of the brakes and you could introduce him to quad line flying. For dual line foils I like the HQ Symphony Pro Edge (I own a
full set of those, purchased from shadeonme). The dual line foils are always good for teaching beginners.
There are lots of threads on this forum filled with advice.
When you get a new/different kite, it usually takes some time to get used to it. You will need to discover it's quirks, what wind conditions you enjoy
flying it in, and potentially do some tuning of the brakes (or bridle adjuster if it has one).
Hope that helps.John Holgate - 6-10-2017 at 06:01 PM
I would agree with the mad hungarian. A smaller Rage for your son which is also something that you could fly on higher wind days. Do not sweat about
all the different kites - the Rage 2.5 is an excellent choice for static flying. Some kites will be a little faster and more demanding to fly, some
will be slower. Generally, kites get slower through the air as they get bigger and also a lot more tiring to fly. I much prefer flying 2 - 3m kites
for static flying - I just find them faster and more fun. You would find a 4m kite quite a bit slower through the air but with much more pull.
Two words of caution, beware if you go to one of these meets and get a run in a buggy - it's a good way to find yourself addicted to spending lots of
money on different kites/wheels/buggy mods/gps/buggy trailer for your son... etc etc etc.....
And watch your ankles when scudding on grass - the grass around my place is quite inconsistent - one second your scudding, the next you come to a stop
then keep repeating - I have found it a good way to hurt feet and ankles. Sand, however, is usually nice and consistent and you can have lots of fun
doing long scuds being quite gentle to the bod. Relatively! I like using a harness for this as it lowers the center of gravity of pull, so to speak,
and saves arms and shoulders.
Don't get in the buggy!!! It will only lead to financial pain and aoxomoxoa !
