Power Kite Forum

help wanted

logantheninja - 1-2-2009 at 09:39 PM

hey guys im going to sell my beamer for a somthing in a 6m range and this is what i want in that kite

*inflatable for water
*for snowkiting
*and for jumping in fields no board's or anything just jumping
* CHEAP!
*and de-powerable bar

please help

dylanj423 - 1-2-2009 at 10:04 PM

Whoa dude... slow down a bit. These kites are powerful, and in the wrong hands can be dangerous. I say this because I have seen a lot of your threads, and you seem to like to leap before you look.

Have you been dragged around at all by that 3m?... Imagine a gust that you dont know how to handle, and a kite that you are hooked into swooping through the powerzone in high winds. This is how people break themselves flying kites.

How much flying have you done?
Any boarding experience?

How much do you weigh and what conditions are you flying in?

A 6m kite isnt going to do you much good on water... it probably needs a good bit of wind to even fly. The higher the winds, the more dangerous inexperience can be.

We just want you to be safe. I hope you dont take this the wrong way, but it seems like you would get hurt the way you are going on about this kite stuff.

This is all my own opinion, and Im open to being wrong. But I have to express my personal concern for your sfaty, Logan.

You have anybody to fly kites with where you are?

logantheninja - 1-2-2009 at 10:19 PM

i have been flying kite for a long time and i met up with a instructor at a frozen kite lake and talked about kites and he recomended a 6m kiteand told me that i have great control of the power and where to put it

also i am good at jumping for a 3m kite

logantheninja - 1-2-2009 at 10:53 PM

ya

furbowski - 1-2-2009 at 11:09 PM

what dj said!!!!! (I is an oob compared to him, btw) he is especially right on 6m not being enough for water... And answer his Q's for better advice....

but good to hear you are keeping the stoke going strong, and even better to hear you're making contact with some other kiters!

gotta tell you good control static is just the beginning, if you can't get on wheels / boards / whatever soon then you should try to learn to fly your kites blind (eyes off the kite) you will NEED that skill when the time comes and any work you do now on that will pay off loads! Also try flying while sitting down backwards...

did you get a harness / QR sorted yet?

but my big piece of advice is to try and narrow down your objectives a bit, as you will have a very hard time finding a kite that will do it all!!! And the kites that come close to doing it all are expensive!!!

and finally there is a ton of advice to be had on this forum, but you do need to take things a step at a time! There are tons of people here who can give you the advice you need far better than me but like me are unwilling to give too much advice because we are seriously worried about you and big kites, the last thing many peeps want to do is give you support while you speak (for example) of testing out your health insurance!!!

if you read the responses to your posts carefully you will find you have gotten tons of advice already....

it's not the kites, really, it's the skills, show folks you are working on the skills and your risk management and things will open up!!!

cheers,

furbs

logantheninja - 1-2-2009 at 11:16 PM

thanks
but every body that i have been flying with recomends a bigger kite
i dont need a waterkite

i will be selling my pimped out goped
for a 4.0 or 4.9 flexi blade and i have been practicing flying with out looking at the kite and evvery thing around me

BeamerBob - 2-2-2009 at 04:41 AM

I'm curious about what jumping technique you're using to jump with your Beamer. The only kind of jumping I've ever been able to do with one is to jump in the air while you loop it in front of you and you just cover some ground before you come back down. Or you can fly it in 25 mph winds or more and it will loft you from time to time if you just hover overhead. Best case, if you get off the ground, it isn't going to be reliable coming back down. The beamer just isn't made with any lift in the design and a 3m will hurt you coming back down. If you are indeed ready for the blade, it would be a good jumping kite with some power to prepare you for a suitable water kite. The minimum size to get off the ground with should be the 4.9. The 4m will set you down too quickly if you actually get a good jump. Your kiting might take a different avenue by then as well. You can't really imagine what your tastes will be by the time you have stepped things up slowly and developed your skills further.

acampbell - 2-2-2009 at 06:00 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by logantheninja
hey guys im going to sell my beamer for a somthing in a 6m range and this is what i want in that kite

*inflatable for water
*for snowkiting
*and for jumping in fields no board's or anything just jumping
* CHEAP!
*and de-powerable bar

please help


While you are at it, fix the economy and do something about that pesky cancer thing....

WELDNGOD - 2-2-2009 at 06:58 AM

sorry dude, it will take several kites to cover all that you wanna do. And once you get rollin on something,jumping will not be that much fun anymore.You need to spend time checking out different kinds kites and ask lots of questions.
A Flexi Blade is not for you, yet. Try a Rage first. Say a 4,7m , not the 6.0m, you wouldn't get as much fly time w/ a kite that big. Just take it 1 step at a time.

harddrive8 - 2-2-2009 at 07:13 AM

Also, if you get jumps with a 3m Beamer on a fairly regular basis, you may not have winds suitable to fly a 6m kite in. Rushing through the sizes without advancing the skills to handle those sizes comes back to bite people for making that decision. There's a good amount of difference between a 3m and a 6m kite. My second kite come as a package deal from Pansh when they ran the 4.5m Legend (similar to the Beamer) and a 6m Ace (similar to a crossfire 1). I pulled out the Ace only in the lightest of winds at the time until I had flown the Legend enough to get comfortable with a larger kite in winds above 6-7mph. I'm very thankful I listened to the posts I had read on here and followed that line of thought too. I would tend to agree that from a 3m Beamer (also my first power kite), something in the range of a 4.5-5m kite is a great advancement in size. I believe the power difference, even with a small increase in size, will really surprise you.

USA_Eli_A - 2-2-2009 at 09:02 AM

you'd need to live in the gorge to justify a 6m for H20....Wait and grab a lesson on the water this spring!

cheap kites........ugh.....another option "be patient and save up until you can score something worth the money instead of some rag you'll find used and beaten to a pulp already.

If you can make it to the oregon coast, we're starting to get our good winds back...just had a great KGB session with Issac at sunset on Friday...

PHREERIDER - 2-2-2009 at 10:43 AM

i have a 6m water kite (c-kite) and in 30mph + it is ultra fast and not for the novice


be patient
take some lessons
sounds like a HQ neo would be you best bet 8/11m

save your money,
save your bones...

logantheninja - 2-2-2009 at 01:38 PM

thanks but the reason im looking for a bigger kite too is there is only like 4 to 10 mph winds and evey once and a while we get high winds and that is when i jump my beamer

but i would rather be able to jump in like 10+ mph

and i have changed my mind i want
*jump-ability
*snowkite ablilty


and can you just take a slingshot diesle kite to like fields and just fly them and jump?

dylanj423 - 2-2-2009 at 01:45 PM

In 4 to 10 mph winds, in order to jump, you either need to weigh less, or have a bigger kite than 6m.

You would need a pretty big tube kite to have much power at 4-10 mph winds. For light winds like that you need a fixed bridle kite, not a depower.

If you did want a depower, there is a peter lynn guerrilla 18m on the forum right now that might work... maybe. But if you dont know what youre doing, and a big gust hits with that size a kite... well, I guess I have already expressed my concerns. For this kite, you NEED a harness.

And what do you mean when you say cheap??? Everyone has their own idea of what that means.

logantheninja - 2-2-2009 at 02:00 PM

i found a 13m Slingshot Diesel with a New pro-fire Bar with 5 line safty with quick release
for $350 wich is smaller than the PL but i could buy a harness for it

dgkid78 - 2-2-2009 at 02:04 PM

and i have changed my mind i want
*jump-ability
*snowkite ablilty


HQ Montana !!!!!!!!!! Cheaper!! but not cheap!!! than compared to other brands in the same category
I learned Depower on my 7m right after i had got bored with a crossfire 2.4.........couple broken bones and stitches from being dragged over seashells and i kept that sucker in winds 12-18 mph only even though the Montana is rated for higher winds. Oh Ya and most Depowers suck under 10mph. the 7m depower would wake up at 15mph+ for my 145lb weight. I have yet to take out the 9.5m. winds been sucking. :no: oh ya and those balloons for water might blow on you if you crash'em on land. Are you staying dry or planning to use it on water? if you plan to stay dry get a depower land or crossover like a Neo

logantheninja - 2-2-2009 at 02:14 PM

in the summer im going to go water kiting if i get a pump one

furbowski - 2-2-2009 at 02:24 PM

$350 will do you for the blade 10.5 depower on/off that is for sale on this forum (not the powerzone mod one) but that is a dangerous kite, that will get you going for jumps and snow in 6-10 mph, but the big blades are called widowmakers for a reason. tube kites (inflatables) don't get going until 6-8 mph and don't get powered even in the big sizes until 10 mph... any depower won't get lit up until 10 mph, even the silver arrows don't show their full range until 8-10 mph...

low wind jumping kites take a lot of skill and come with a big risk factor, you'll need to be very persuasive and diplomatic to buy one with your past experience unless the seller doesn't care much for your safety... Lots of peeps have tried to find low wind solutions, but the fact of the matter is if it ain't blowin you ain't movin...

good luck on your quest... :Ange09:

PHREERIDER - 2-2-2009 at 07:03 PM

tube kite not gonna fly in 4-10mph esp. SS turbo D. very rugged heavy rig.

to keep a tube in the air at 8-10 mph you will need to be on the move and keep it busy,,,, and quite a bit of skill.

neo is great direction for you but you have a lot to learn my friend and yes you need a harness and some idea of how it works.... not just the size and the low $ and the fact you want to jump

with taking big steps with reflexes you really don't have yet the first minute could be quite painful and the second minute could be worse if you can get up from the first.

MadKiteBoy - 2-2-2009 at 07:38 PM

if you want to do land and are looking into water i would say look at a HQ Neo... im a realative noob but i really enjoy the wind range of my neos and the stability in which they fly. The saftey mechs work very well also.... jus another point to consider

flexiblade - 2-2-2009 at 07:47 PM

The following are general approximations of kite sizes and wind ranges - kite make, flying style, and skill are all factors that determine full flying experience.


Fixed Bridle sizes and appropriate winds for jumping:

2 - 3m don't worry about these, by the time you can jump (17 - 25mph) the wind makes the kite very snatchy, will jerk you instead of lifting you - with horrible landings.
4m (15 - 20mph) can do the job but doesn't have the canopy to properly let you down once you're up.
5m (14 - 18mph) good size for lift and slight float on the way down.
6m (13 - 16mph) will lift for sure with a decent amount of float.
8m (10- 14mph) definitely will get float on your way down.
10m+ (8 - 11mph) these are a handful to operate (very slow turners) but will get you lift in lower winds.
WARNING ON FIXED BRIDLES - If the area in which you fly has gusty winds these kites will not turn off instantly - they can turn around sometimes with full brakes applied which can put you in a very bad place.


LEI (Leading Edge Inflatables) wind appropriate guide for land use:
3 - 5m don't bother - they don't really come into their own until at least 18mph and they fly like gnats - turn on a dime and will hurt you if you take your eyes off them for a second.
7m (15 - 20mph) similar to a 4m fixed bridle except has a much more tolerable power range in the fact it is depowerable (you can control how much power rather than the wind alone determining this). Will lift but rather abruptly - with not much hang time.
9m (14 - 20mph) a little more power than a 7 but with similar downsides to the 7m
12m (12 - 18mph) this canopy will give you float but will give you a lot more lift on the way up - harsh learning curve.
13m + (12 - 15mph) similar problems as the 12m - except even more, and higher, lift. Just ran into a guy who showed me the scars a 13m left him with when a gust caught him while jumping it.


PL's (Twin Skin Inflatables - Arcs) - Land wind guide:

8m - this is about as small as they come (I think the f and s arcs came in smaller sizes) will get you off the ground in 20+mph but will be quick through the window and a little squirely to get the hang of for launching and landing - not recommended unless your used to how an arc flies.
10m (16 - 20mph) will get you off the ground but not all that high and can be quick in those winds.
13m (14 - 20mph) smooth lift with good float - is my favorite size to fly.
18m (8 - 15mph) strong smooth lift but ground handling in the higher winds can become tricky in that they are slower turners and when they get powered up they pull like an unstoppable truck - slow and steady and unyielding.

The LEI's and PL's wind ranges are totally different on water, as well as with experience - I like to fly my 10m Guerilla in 30+ winds - but this is because of experience in pigtail settings ( which knot you connect your lines to on the leading edge determines the overall strength of the kite).

If your going to try snowkiting you can get away with a fixed bridle only if the winds are clean and not gusty - gusty winds will result in you falling over a lot and having to reset your kite every time. Depowers are the way to go on snow. If you just want to jump on land - go with a 6m fixed. If you want to cross over to kite skiing pick up a PL 13m - this will also get you on water later. - BE WARNED - I think I mentioned this to you before - most people on this forum have a "quiver" of kites - they have worked their way through many different types of kites and have, somewhat, settled on what they find suits their needs the best. Jumping ahead of where you think you are at in experience can cost you dearly.

ADD ON -

a 6m Neo would be a good choice - just one you need to save up for.

logantheninja - 2-2-2009 at 09:29 PM

ok i have found a 13m slingshot with depower bar and 5th line for saftey and im going for it

with it only $350 im going to get a seat harness to

flexiblade - 2-2-2009 at 10:38 PM

Just be very careful and have someone help you launch it - in moderate winds - 10 mph with the sheeting system (black strap that attaches to the front lines of the kite) pulled in all the way (shortens the lines to the front of the kite) - this will depower the kite. Make sure to use the longest setting on the leaders from the bar (farthest knot from the bar), they attach to the lines that run to the back of the kite.

And Make sure to wear all the safety gear you have - especially a helmet. Post back here to let us all know that you're still alive. I think a 13m LEI is the wrong way to make a transition to simply wanting to jump - you are getting in way over your head.

logantheninja - 2-2-2009 at 10:58 PM

ha

but i have got down launching and landing in the edge of the window

+ the guy im buying from is a trainer and i am going up to meet with him and he will help me with every thing that i will need to know about lei's

flexiblade - 2-2-2009 at 11:15 PM

good to hear - report back after you first flight. Good luck.

furbowski - 2-2-2009 at 11:59 PM

just finished watching "into the wild" -- good flick.

@ ninjaboy: you remind me of the guy in the movie... :o

good luck...

piku303 - 3-2-2009 at 12:01 AM

sounds dangerous to me man...so much kite for someone who doesn't have a lot of experience. if you want to jump and ride for cheap get a pansh ace 5 or 6m...for under 200 new its your kite. im 115lbs and my ace 4m lofts me 4-5 feet in 15mph winds.

csa_deadon - 3-2-2009 at 02:44 AM

Man, I'm just hoping to see a post from him after his first flight.

BeamerBob - 3-2-2009 at 04:43 AM

:wow::shocked2::duh:

I remember stepping up from my beamer to a 5m Crossfire. I was in awe of the increased power and that suddenly I didn't have anywhere to hide from that power like I did with the beamer because of the lift at zenith. Logan is getting double the power I upgraded to and changing the control system at the same time. The potential for disaster here is very high. The potential for buyers remorse is even higher.

logantheninja - 4-2-2009 at 09:07 PM

hey update!

today was awsome it was pretty low winds but i got a couple big jumps in:Ange09:
and the guy was soo nice for $350 flat i got

13 slingshot diesel+ pump
new lines+ de-power barwith a big chicken loop
sand bag
dakine hawiii harnes+spreader bar
another 4 or 5 line depower bar with small chicken loop
a how to kite surf dvd
and tons of replacment parts

and i think it is every thing i want and cheap

also my dad can use it on higher winds when i feel unsafe

flexiblade - 4-2-2009 at 09:15 PM

Do either of the bars have a safety release for the chicken loop? Have you got a safety leash, and if so where are you hooking it? - Not being snyde about the questions just concerned that your safety system is properly hooked up - Good to hear that your first session went well.

logantheninja - 4-2-2009 at 09:27 PM

there chicken loops have safety release
and the safety leash hooks to the 5th line
and it has 2 oh sh*t! release to
and i have practiced them all

flexiblade - 4-2-2009 at 09:35 PM

Good to hear - keep us updated on your progress.