Power Kite Forum

kite for jumping

mzfckr - 9-7-2008 at 01:25 AM

hello. i want to buy a kite for jumping so i read a bit of these forums and it left with a choice of HQ crossfire 5.0m or HQ beamer 7.0.

so the plusses for the beamer is that the landing is softer because of size?

and the plusses for crossfire is it is much better kite?

so which one you reccomend?why?

edit: maybe pansh ace kites are good for it?maybe blade?

BeamerBob - 9-7-2008 at 03:38 AM

So what kind of experience do you have with power kites?

mzfckr - 9-7-2008 at 03:40 AM

mastered 2m kite. now want to start jump.

BeamerBob - 9-7-2008 at 04:26 AM

You are on track then. The Blade is considered the best for jumping. IMHO the Crossfire would be next, followed by the Ace. The beamer will lift in certain circumstances but isn't really made to do so. Not the best choice if you want to jump. It is intended to be a low wind kite for traction such as in a buggy.

acampbell - 9-7-2008 at 05:42 AM

Yeah go with larger sizes of the Crossfire II rather than larger sizes of the Beamer. Crossfires go up to 10m (!) but remember the larger the kite, the smaller the practical usable wind range. The 5.0m or 6.5m are practical choices for jumping.

Blades are great as Bobby says but they are pretty pricey and very aggressive.

mzfckr - 9-7-2008 at 05:58 AM

where is a good,cheap place to buy blade kites except ebay(europe only)? does the blade come with handles or bar? which one do you reccomend for jumping?

acampbell - 9-7-2008 at 06:23 AM

Look for used Blades here or on ebay, but be prepared to wait. Retailers are not allowed to advertise less than list. They are available new kite-only; you choose the handles or bar and lines. (Unless a retailer puts together their own package.) 4.9m is a good size at the low end for jumping; smaller and you can still get lifted but the let-down will not be floaty and graceful. Even then you have know how to re-direct to keep from being dropped like a rock.

mzfckr - 9-7-2008 at 08:22 AM

is this a good offer?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/flexifoil-blade-111-3-6-6-meter-power-...

barnes - 9-7-2008 at 08:30 AM

Looks like a good auction, nice kite, and the bar is pretty cool to have when your ready for it, but keep in mind it still have 9 days to go, the price will go up by then for sure.

mzfckr - 9-7-2008 at 08:34 AM

the word blade mean the company who makes kites for water or flexifoil model blade?

BeamerBob - 9-7-2008 at 08:50 AM

Blade is the model kite mfr'd by Flexifoil. One thing I noticed is that those handles are the dark black models and I've heard they are more prone to break. New handles are that big a deal though. Remember it is priced in British pounds and shipping will be a little high.

jumping

azkitemare - 9-7-2008 at 11:23 AM

The pansch are super lifty kites! good for jumping and the price is right, I have a U-Turn oxigen 2 4.5 meter that is wicked! lofty jumps, nice landings, and the oxi is much better in gusty winds and at the edge of the window. But it costs 4x more than a pansch, similar cost to the Blades.

mzfckr - 9-7-2008 at 12:36 PM

no one ships to me, except corssfire 5.0.

any one knows a cheap, european kite shop, which got blades in stock?

btw, which is better for jumping - blade IV 6.5 m or blade IV 8.5 m?

edit: is 460£ good for blade iv 6.5 kite + 200/250 kg kite lines + bar 70cm?(from kitesaloft.com)

im a little confused now... can a bar with harness have a safety system for blade?

BeamerBob - 9-7-2008 at 03:12 PM

I never tried my blade with a bar but it is such a pleasure to fly on handles, I wouldn't want to change a thing. Use the handles with a strop if you need a break. Not sure about pound/dollar conversions right now. They are around $900 here fully furnished.

furbowski - 9-7-2008 at 03:35 PM

I'm 160 lbs, and I can fly my blade in winds up to about 15-20 mph, depending on the quality of the wind, the ground (soft sand = higher wind, wet grass = lower wind), and how much room I have to fly (if I've only got twenty meters extra room, lower wind but if I have hundreds of meters of room and that's all soft sand I can go quite a bit larger with the wind, more room to recover the kite after mistakes)...

That's the 6.5. I'd say the 8.5 would lock you into a substantially smaller wind range.

You haven't mentioned your weight yet, if you're fit and 200 pounds plus then perhaps the 8.5 might be alright.

You haven't mentioned your local winds yet either, if you get lots of 8-12 mph winds and you are big then that would maybe direct you to the 8.5...

But really I would go for the 6.5 unless you have consistent light winds and you are big. They are super expensive kites and the 8.5 would have you very soon wanting something smaller, I bet. You're already making a pretty big jump up from the 2 meter, don't let your kite lust run away with ya....:lol:

Another thing to consider about the blade is the adjustable AoA, a bit like having three kites in one. I have barely tried the highest AoA setting, it takes at least 10 mph of wind to come alive and be fully flyable, add that to the high AoA and I'm already jumping. At fifteen I'm beginning to teabag! Also on the high AoA the blade will yank hard with every gust, and low AoA it handles gusts much better.

Hope that helps....

edit -- agree with beamer, it's fine on handles, use them first, if you really need a bar you'll know after you've flown it a while...

furbs

acampbell - 9-7-2008 at 04:34 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by mzfckr

im a little confused now... can a bar with harness have a safety system for blade?


yes most bars have a safety system that lets you cut the kite away from the harness then holds the kite ona safety leash that dumps the kite on its back by the brake lines.

mzfckr - 10-7-2008 at 12:30 PM

now i think blade 6.5 is out of my budget. so maybe cheap pansh is good for it? maybe pansh ace 7m or pansh ace 6m?maybe bigger? advices needed.

furbowski - 10-7-2008 at 04:47 PM

What's your weight and normal wind range where you fly? Posting that info will get you much better advice.

The bigger the kite, the smaller your usable wind range.

mzfckr - 11-7-2008 at 12:53 AM

my weight is about 190 pounds but my son also want to fly it. he is 140 pounds and growing.

about wind range dont know havent measured yet.

NPWfever - 11-7-2008 at 01:34 AM

Take a look at the 4.5+6m package deal, 4.5m Legend for your son, and the 6m for jumping, can't beat that price! Of course as he learns he can use the 6m, and u can use the 4.5 on higher wind days! :smilegrin:

mzfckr - 11-7-2008 at 07:46 AM

isnt better to get a 7m kite instead of 6m?

BeamerBob - 11-7-2008 at 08:11 AM

The 6m is kinda slow turning, so the 7 will be even more so. If you want to jump, the turning speed is important.

f0rgiv3n - 11-7-2008 at 08:16 AM

I have the 5m mz and i weigh 175lbs. It EASILY lifts me off the ground, and I got some 6 foot jumps the other day in 10mph winds.

NPWfever - 11-7-2008 at 09:38 AM

I have an 8m, and don''t fly nearly as high as these guys with the 5's and 6's do, the 6m is the best size for jumping.

furbowski - 11-7-2008 at 10:21 AM

4.5 and 6 does sound like the package for you.

be aware the panshkites rarely come ready to fly, and usually require a little bit of fiddling just to get into the air.

I consider fiddling and tinkering with my kites to be all part of the adventure, others have said the opposite. Each to their own.

Do be careful with the wind, and treat the 4.5 with respect, as it is at the upper limit for a first strong kite for 140 lbs.

If you go with this, be sure to let us all know how you get on!