Gravityisamyth - 19-7-2007 at 08:15 AM
Alright. I've been reading on power kites for a little over 3 months and am ready to buy my first. But I have a few questions.
Is a crossfire 5.0 to big?
I want to be able to jump. If you think I'm totally crazy, than say so. I want some opinions. please.
acampbell - 19-7-2007 at 09:23 AM
A Crossfire is a great kite but not a good choice as a first kite in any size. It's aggressive and the pilot needs to be ahead of it at the edge of
the window, esp. in lumpy winds. You would be frustrated.
5.0 meters is generally a considered to be bit much for a first timer too. It's usable wind range would be very small for you for a while. Trying
to compensate by fliying in lighter winds is actually difficult and would frustrate you too.
You are faced with the new jumper's paradox: Any kite good for a beginner would not be suitable for jumping and any kite suitable for jumping is not
a good idea for a beginner. You're gonna get hurt.
Start with a good 3-4 meter entry level kite. That does not mean it has to be a yawn that you will tire of. You will be able to scud with it and
have a real blast. Consider a Peter Lynn Pepper (soon Pepper II), HQ Beamer, Flexifoil Sting, in no particular order. They are easy to fly and in
the right winds, any mistakes you make will be instructive rather than violent. In moderate to heavy winds, they can still spank when you do not show
respect.
Get to know it, then get your 5.0 Crossfire.
Rye - 19-7-2007 at 02:45 PM
I really wouldn't bother with the Sting, a great kite but little pull at all except extreme winds for it's size, loads of fun though. For the flexi
instead I'd choose the rage in either 2.5, or if you have a bit of weight, the 3.5, my 2 cents worth.
acampbell - 19-7-2007 at 03:00 PM
Fair point on the Rage. I was thinking of price point for the first timer. In the same line of thought I'd recommend the PL Reactor too; higher
performance on both but still OK for a first timer. Just both are berter suited for someone destined for the buggy.
Gravityisamyth - 19-7-2007 at 07:20 PM
alright. thanks guys for the help. but just a few more questions if you don't mind.
Is a Crossfire 5.0 good for jumping anyway..or should i get another once i learn to fly?
and my neighbor has a Beamer 3.6 and i've seen him jump..he won't let me fly it though. he's only gotten like 5 feet off the ground but it looked like
a blast. i've read that the beamer is a little more foregiving..
so would a 4.0 beamer be ok..in your opinion?
acampbell - 20-7-2007 at 07:06 AM
The Crossfire 5.0 would be good for jumping, a Flexifoil Blade 4.9 (and up) even better as the standard for lifty kites (but a lot more cash).
Unless you're a light build, the Beamer 4.0 would be OK so long as you are careful what winds you start out with. The 3m would give you a wider wind
range to start with.
Both could lift you. A board on the end of a rope can lift you with enough wind, but the problem with a small kite is the coming down part. Often
with a smaller kite it is a gust that lifts you and they, by their nature, dissapear as fast as they come up and the small kite is not floaty enough
to let you down easy.
Still in a stiff breeze you cn play around with little hops and moon-walking and that can be fun.
Gravityisamyth - 21-7-2007 at 06:00 AM
acampbell you are awesome. i just want you to know that