acampbell - 24-8-2007 at 12:27 PM
Coastal Wind Sports, Inc. of Brunswick Georgia will be hosting HQ Kites for an afternoon demo event on Jekyll Island on Saturday , September 8 from
2:00 pm to 5:00 pm . The event will be located on "Kite Beach", the stretch of beach directly in front of Blackbeard's Seafood Restaurant, 1/2 mile
north of the Convention Center on Jeckyll Island, GA.
New models making their debut include the Crossfire II, Montana III and the new Scout (replacing the Beamer TSR). They will have all their other
models too.
Hope to see you on Kite Beach!! I have attached a Google Earth KMZ file for those not familiar with the location. Or go here for written
directions... http://www.coastalwindsports.com/JoinUsOnJekyllFAQ.html
Please forward info to anyone you might think is interested
Fair Winds
Angus
Attachment: Kite Beach-Jekyll Island.kmz (625B)
This file has been downloaded 507 times
acampbell - 28-8-2007 at 10:17 AM
The HQ event is shaping up nicely. PKF members TriDude and BeamerBob are making the trip down with family on tow. A handful of local kiteboarders
will be around, too.
A photographer from the Georgia Times Union caught me on the beach yesterday making a run in the bug. Couldn't launch the Scorpion but it was plenty
o' breeze for the Reactor 4.9 and the wide axle flexi...
http://photos.jacksonville.com/mycapture/enlarge.asp?userpho...
http://photos.jacksonville.com/mycapture/enlarge.asp?userpho...
With the kids back in school, the beach was wide open and I had a nice almost 4 mile trip to the south end of the island for a nearly 8 mile round
trip. (I put the harness on for the long trip after the photo shoot ).
tridude - 28-8-2007 at 10:00 PM
What an awesome looking beach! Im really looking foward to the 8th. Great bug vid Angus!
BeamerBob - 29-8-2007 at 05:24 AM
Good PR Angus. I can't wait. I'm licking my chops at getting to try lots of different kites and to be around others with the same passion I've found
for power kites. Thanks for putting this on Angus! I assume you already have some 12-15 mph winds set up with NOAA? See you next weekend
tridude - 29-8-2007 at 05:48 AM
12 to 15 works with a couple 18 to 20 mph surges!
acampbell - 29-8-2007 at 06:09 AM
If there is sun, there will be wind and it will be from the east, regardless of what the general area forecasts say. It's the good ol' see breeze
effect. It tends to build more after the tide reverses and starts to come in, and I have shceduled low tide for 1 pm that day, so it should be all
dialed in by 2 pm. Then it's perfect for a nice beam reach.
The catch is, it also sucks the water off the ocean and the moist air feeds the boomers moving in from the west. Take a look at the kite buggy photo
above and note thet big one building behind me. It did not let loose until I got home, but every once in a while I get chased off the beach and the
bug gets a good power wash on the top of the car going home.
Sometimes they roll through fast and I can throw tarp over everything, spike it down, and retreat to Blackbeards (restaurant in the background in the
photo) and have a beer while we wait. Nice thing about the GA low country is that you can see the boomers coming from miles away.
Now if it is cloudy, everything is a crap shoot and we go with the local predictions. But low tide still gives us room to play.
tridude - 29-8-2007 at 06:45 AM
Luv those afternoon sea breezes. Low tide today at 1525 (3:25 pm for you civilians). Hope to be at washout (Folly Beach) by 1230! Ive noticed the
winds have started in from the NNE again so lets hope the breezes continue. NO BERMUDA HIGHS please! They mess up the wind and waves!
Fly hard, Fly safe, and Fly it like you stole it!
tridude - 30-8-2007 at 05:29 AM
2-3 Sep
SAT
NE WINDS 15 KT. SEAS 3 TO 4 FT. A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS
AND TSTMS.
SAT NIGHT
NE WINDS 15 TO 20 KT. SEAS 3 TO 5 FT. A CHANCE OF
SHOWERS AND TSTMS.
SUN
NE WINDS 15 TO 20 KT...DIMINISHING TO 10 TO 15 KT. SEAS 3 TO
5 FT. A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND TSTMS.
Lets hope for the same next weekend! Angus this forecast isnt far from what you should see this weekend. Having said that you better fly that Blade
like you stole it, and intel afterwards of course!
tridude - 4-9-2007 at 05:42 AM
For all attending the Angus/HQ demo at Kite Beach, Ga! The winds are forecasted for Saturday here in Chaz at 15 easterly. Angus, you should be getting
similar winds as well! 4 days and a wake up!
acampbell - 4-9-2007 at 05:54 AM
Yeah the heat and humidity have fiinally broken and temps for the weeknd are expected to by in the low 80's with low chance of precipitation. If we
get rain it wiil be the kind to pass quickly.
All we need is just a little sun and the wind will take care of itself.
BeamerBob - 5-9-2007 at 06:45 AM
So many kites and just one day! How many people are expected on Saturday?
acampbell - 5-9-2007 at 10:54 AM
Hard to say. A few of you guys travelling from points SouthEast, a handfull of local kiteboarders, maybe some from Tybee Island, and the local
public. The Jekyll Island Authority put it on the cable TV channel that serves hotels on the Island, so hopefully some curious tourists.
Hamburgers, veggie-burgers, snacks and beverages at my place after for anyone interested. We are 1 mile from I-95 for an easy getaway for those with
a long drive home.
Weather looks good. 10% chance of precip. and winds 15kts from the NW, but looks like enough sun to pull it around from the east on the shore.
tridude - 5-9-2007 at 07:03 PM
SAT
N WINDS 15 TO 20 KT. SEAS 4 TO 6 FT. A SLIGHT CHANCE OF
SHOWERS AND TSTMS IN THE MORNING...THEN A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND
TSTMS IN THE AFTERNOON
This is the Folly Beach/IOP forecast but Jekyll should see about the same winds! Woohoo........ bring on the 6.5, CF 2's, and one of those big Montana
3's. The Psycho 3 will be available and with that big depower range-- you gotta try it! Angus, break out one of those twin skin Lynns! Looks like
air-o-plenty! OBTW, Ive got the dessert, Angus has the details!
tridude - 7-9-2007 at 04:44 AM
1 day and a wake up!
tridude - 7-9-2007 at 10:18 AM
NNE 15 to 17 knots today at Folly! The Psycho was off the charts. Thats about max winds for me on hard packed sand landboarding. I had to deflate my
tires to about 20 PSI to maintain grip! Forecast calls for same winds here tomorrow so Jekyll should see about the same! Waves were chest high with a
few sets to head high so I broke out the longboard as well. One day, I may grow up!:D
NOAA forecast for SC costal waters:
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING
REST OF TODAY
NE WINDS 10 TO 15 KT...BECOMING E 15 TO 20 KT IN
THE AFTERNOON. SEAS 4 TO 6 FT.
TONIGHT
E WINDS 15 KT. SEAS 4 TO 6 FT...SUBSIDING TO 4 TO 5 FT.
SAT NE winds 15 to 20 kts seas 4 to 6 feet
tridude - 8-9-2007 at 05:01 AM
Its 8am and the winds are NNE 10 to 12 at the beach On the road at
9:30--see you around 1230!:duh:
bloah - 8-9-2007 at 06:56 PM
please post pictures and any reviews of demo kites =]
Especially how's crossfire 2 and montana 3?
tridude - 8-9-2007 at 08:14 PM
The 7m M3 is sweet! Ill give Angus first go since it was his event!
SecondWind - 8-9-2007 at 08:21 PM
What kites/sizes did you get to fly Tridude:?:
acampbell - 9-9-2007 at 11:16 AM
We had a great day with 12-15 knots of steady wind from the Northeast. I have a few photos here... (Bobby, if you have some good shots, I will add to
the album)
http://www.coastalwindsports.com/HQDemoDayJekyll07.html
HQ wants us to lay low on some details of the new kites until they make their own official anoouncements, but I can expand a bit on what's already
been mentioned.
As Don Says, the Montana 3 is sweet! As big an improvement or more over the M2 as the M2 was over the M1. Look for availability announcements in a
month or two.
The Crossfire II has an adjustable bridle: Low lift, higher speed for the buggy, and higher lift lower speed for the 'Board (like the current
Crossfire). Several other nice designe refinments too. We flew the 4.0 meter and I think the new model will be much more versatile. Great kite and
a blast in the buggy. Get this: they are adding an 8m and 10m size to the line. Beasts!
The Beamer III has a new baby brother, the 1.4 meter. Fun and fast.
Ths Scout, the new successor to the Beamer TSR, will be available in whole number sizes, with the smallest being a 3m. It's a whole new design from
the ground up. We flew the 5 meter.
The Rush line of two line trainers will get a third line running from a brake bridle through the bar to a safety leash. Allows for reverse launches
and easier landing.
Tim Baxmeyer of HQ Kites USA brought along Jan Junker, product manager from HQ Kites in Germany. Jan explained that they are really stepping up their
R & D and it was evidenced by some of the major refinments we saw in the new models. Jan promises that 2008 will be an exciting year for them
with some major new announcements. Stay tuned!
archkiter - 9-9-2007 at 06:18 PM
I like the looks of the new Montana! Looks like HQ's graphics are steppin up.
SecondWind - 9-9-2007 at 06:22 PM
Same here - that Montana III looks great
tridude - 10-9-2007 at 05:33 AM
The Montana 3 was awesome. If your thinking high wind depower kite, you should demo one! If I had a land site to fly depower, I would have lobbied
hard to take it home Saturday! I flew a 7m M2 for about two months and it was nice, had probs at first with tips folding and occassional sail
collapsing but that was me having to learn the kite. Thats why I reviewed the kite here on PK as "not" a beginners depower sail. Cant say that about
the M3. After I flew the kite for about 10 mins static (popped a few BIG jumps) I took straight off upwind on the board, narrow tack angle, and had no
issues. Stable and powerful without a hint of tip tuck or sail collapsing (depressurizing). The graphics are nice too! Im no kite guru but I know
enough to say this kite is a PTPer (prime time player)! Fly hard Fly safe!
acampbell - 10-9-2007 at 06:54 AM
Something else worth elaborating on about the Montana 3 without giving away too much is the stability. When parked at the zenith, you can let go of
the bar and have it sit overhead with very little attention. While it 's not quite the let-go-of-the-bar-and-go-have-lunch auto zenith of the Peter
Lynn Twinskins, its' noticably more care free than the M2. I'll be offering a sweet deal on my 7m M2 and will be first in line for the M3 when they
announce.
B-Roc - 10-9-2007 at 09:15 AM
M III looks great and sounds like you guys had a ball and are giving it the thumbs up.
I'll be waiting for release date and "in-stock" news.
Keep us posted.
Baluk - 10-9-2007 at 02:24 PM
Wow, the M3 graphics look great! Almost looks like an ozone though, eh?
How is teh lift on the M3? compared to other years?
acampbell - 10-9-2007 at 02:31 PM
HQ claims the 7m M3 has about the same lift as the 9.5m M2. We couldn't do a side-by-side but I bet it's close. TriDude got some good air.
tridude - 10-9-2007 at 06:18 PM
I flew the M2 9.5 but was still learning the depower style so I cant compare and at my age my memory.........well you know! I can tell you the 7m M3
is "very" lifty. Static flying and popped 8 footers plus all afternoon (winds were 12 to 15 knots). Double digits jumps a couple of times! The M3 is
very fast with excellent pop, and float!
@ Baluk--actually the M3 looks more like the Air Evo minus the trailing edge mylar flaps! Sweet kite!
HQ-Powerkites - 17-9-2007 at 05:06 AM
Hi Angus,
We just finished Surf Expo yesterday. Thanks again for making the demo at Jekyll Island happen. Jan-Hendrik and I both enjoyed that day. And we
certainly enjoyed the burgers and other goodies at your house too. Great to have met your family.
Talk later
Tim
P.S. You are on the list to receive one of the very first Montana III's
tridude - 17-9-2007 at 06:37 AM
Tim,
Thanx again for the fellowship and the sails. Youve got a sweet line up coming out in 2008! Send Angus a 9.5 M3, Id def like to fly that one!
Don
SecondWind - 12-11-2007 at 02:38 PM
OK Tridude, I took your advice and ordered a 7m Montana III.
Should be here early next week
acampbell - 12-11-2007 at 02:49 PM
I've got a 9.5m coming out of the same shipment, plus some stock. Can't wait.
You will really like it, Joe.
tridude - 13-11-2007 at 06:56 AM
Sweet! Looking forward to hearing about it!
BeamerBob - 13-11-2007 at 07:45 AM
Even though I didn't fly this kite, being new to the traction side of things, I find myself having an attachment to this kite. When reading the
writeup on it, I deliberated a long time about the 7 or the 9.5. With the large wind range of a depower, is there downside (other than price) of
going with the larger sizes? It wouldn't bother me to give up the 27-34 mph wind range for a little more power in the low wind. I'm breaking new
ground here and would need to get my buggy before this becomes a prime consideration, but I like to analyze for awhile before I make a purchase.
acampbell - 13-11-2007 at 10:30 AM
Only downside of de-power is the lack of light air capability compared to a lot of fixed bridle kites. Curiously HQ lists the low end of these as 4
mph but that is just not realistic, IMO. It's the weight of the bridle & pulleys, I believe. My 7.0 would start to fly at about 10 mph but was
easy to stall untill you got it moving in its own wind. I'm looking forward to testing the low end of the 9.5 at the lowest AoA setting & will
advise.
Also, being hooked in brings another level of responsability in managing a kite.
BeamerBob - 13-11-2007 at 11:20 AM
I'm old enough that such responsibility raises the hair on the back of my neck a little. I think back to the two times I've turned the handles loose
in the buggy to save me from myself. I might be past the worst of that now that I've linked some turns. I'm already looking on the calendar for
another opportunity to head towards Jekyll Island again.