Power Kite Forum

"Blade is King" but is it next step?

DonaldLL - 22-5-2009 at 01:34 PM

I am either having problems sending a U2U to BeamerBob or it is possibly a problem between the chair and the keyboard... so I'll post my question here. I read BB's

The Blade is King

You can't help but get excited when you read the review and all the feedback about this kite. For me, I think about what's my next step up from my beginner kites and I wonder if the Blade is too much of a jump (no pun intended)? Do you go from a 4m Beamer IV to a Blade or are there other steps in between, i.e. Crossfire or Twister, or some other kite "less lifty" than the Blade?

B-Roc - 22-5-2009 at 01:58 PM

If you feel you are ready go for it. There doesn't need to be any intermediate steps if you exercise caution and good judgement and start out in low winds and work your way up. Lifty kites like the blade are more than controlable when they aren't flown in conditions that overpower the pilot and if its the IV series you can adjust the AoA to reduce the amount of lift any way.

There is no reason to avoid a kite like the blade if you fly smart and respect the amount of potential lift the kite has and then do your best to fly within your abilities in wind speeds you are comfortable.

And if you want a really big blade, I know of a guy who is selling a 8.5 at a pretty fair price and I could talk him into reserving it for you :rolleyes: ;)

mougl - 22-5-2009 at 03:17 PM

Hi Donald!

If you would like to try your hand on a kite that offers some great lift, let's try to set something up where we can meet up and I'll give you the handles to my Twister II 5.6. This thing is a beast in 10-15 mph winds! Then again, I only have 4 flights under my belt. It may help you to decide weather the King is a good "jump" for you :P

KiteProject - 22-5-2009 at 04:01 PM

DonaldL

It depends on the Blade. If you are interested in Blade IV, I can tell you that it's not a beginner kite. I have two sizes and as amazing a kite it is, it can be a beast. It is not a beginner kite. You need some time with an intermediate kite before graduating to a Blade IV. I was lucky, I didn't break any bones but came close.

tridude - 22-5-2009 at 04:15 PM

amazing kites......your gut will tell you when its time.........................kite killers, pads, and helmet for sure!!!!!!!!!!! Id say work that 4m Beamer for a few more weeks then go for it....................you'll never look back...............................lol::lol::duh::duh:

speleopower - 22-5-2009 at 04:18 PM

Fly safe and you could learn with a Blade. Problem is very very few people now days have the self control to not fly beyond their abilities.

Get one and don't fly beyond your abilities. You will be happy with a Blade.

Scott

awindofchange - 22-5-2009 at 04:50 PM

So, I have flown Blades - from the Blade II to the Blade IV - and yea, they have some serious amounts of grunt but I have also flown the Twister II's and Crossfire's and I gotta tell ya, there isn't really that much difference between the models as far as outright grunt and lift. All of these kites will yank you off the ground when you want them to (and even if you don't). It really comes down to pilots skills. I personally love the Crossfire II a bit better because it has the grunt as well as speed. I can redirect it very fast to help gain some hang time and it is awesome. A big Crossfire II on a bar with a mountain board is awesome - and change the bridles to the speed setting and they work killer in the buggy!!!

I agree that the Blade is a great kite and awesome for jumping but I think there has been some major overplaying on some of the other models on the market that may lead someone to believe that these other kites aren't true performers and that the only way you will get airborne is to get a Blade....not true at all! In fact, I haven't flown a Blade yet that has more lift and hangtime than the Peter Lynn twinskins or the depowerable snow kites such as the Frenzy or Montana.....

If you can't dig deep enough in your pocket for a Blade, take a look at the Crossfire II or the Twister II....very nice kites for a fraction of the cost of a Blade.

Anyways - just my two cents worth.

DonaldLL - 22-5-2009 at 05:11 PM

mougl... yes I'd like to take you up on your offer. We'll have to get together. We'd make the run to Naples for a good day with the kites. The next couple of weekends I'll probably stay close to home but sooner rather than later I gotta give that a try. I'll be in touch

KiteProject... when you say intermediate kites, which ones would you put in the 'intermediate' class?

Speleopower... that's why I question myself. I know at this point I can't really be anything more than a beginner but I am getting the itch to get some feel for the 5 to 6.5m lifty kites. I might be getting ahead of myself...

Bladerunner - 22-5-2009 at 07:01 PM

How often are you able to fly ?
It is all about fly time. Someone who can fly 60 hours a month will progress WAY faster than a person who gets 6. I'm pegging you at about 6 days a month ?

As you see there can be both opinions about going to a blade next. I think you have caught the bug ! I have a feeling you won't be able to rest until you have flown one. Sounds like you get a chance to try one. DO IT !!!!!!! Blades DON'T make Widows. DARWIN makes Widows ! :smug:

I feel that you can handle a 6.5 if not now , soon. ONLY because I feel you are sensable enough not to try it in too strong of winds.

I have handed my 9m Blade II to a fellow who had only flown a 3m 4 line once before that in a nice smooth , low wind and He took to it right away ! :cool: It is all about flying the kite in the right wind.

Others are right. Twisters and Crossfires and such do the job as well but the blade has that attraction that some people have to follow.

kitedemon - 22-5-2009 at 07:05 PM

Donald,
The big thing is don't push too hard! Everybody learns at differnt speeds. I have watched guys push too hard, get a kite like the beamer and a week later show up with a monster (8m Ace) and launch himself into a swamp and manage to break a leg in the process. Traction, cast physio... he has never been back. RESPECT the wind, respect the kite!

tridude - 22-5-2009 at 07:07 PM

Blades are the best for adrenaline rushes, pucker factor, and lift. The only thing close is the Bego 400/600.............................................:lol::duh::duh:

Bladerunner - 22-5-2009 at 07:35 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by tridude
Blades are the best for adrenaline rushes, pucker factor, and lift. The only thing close is the Bego 400/600.............................................:lol::duh::duh:


UMMMM........

That XXL in your sig' isn't exactly SMALL on the pucker factor ! I would have expected you to include it ? :smug:

speleopower - 22-5-2009 at 09:19 PM

Yup the XXL has a higher pucker factor than the Blades. Trust me!

tridude - 23-5-2009 at 05:41 AM

Quads are sweet for pucker but the Blade 2s and 3s have more IMO:lol::lol::duh::duh: so go for it DonaldLL.........................................:lol::lol:

ripsessionkites - 23-5-2009 at 05:57 AM

what a funny topic ... kites and puckers.

@Donald, try everything you can.

im always willing to send out test kites for anyone. your fee is just the shipping cost. if the twister 7.7m isnt too big for you, i can fire that off.

KiteProject - 23-5-2009 at 02:01 PM

Flexifoil Rage produces smooth, predictable power.

Quote:
Originally posted by DonaldLL

KiteProject... when you say intermediate kites, which ones would you put in the 'intermediate' class?

tridude - 23-5-2009 at 04:44 PM

blades are predictable.............................you can rest assured if you take one out when you shouldn't your gonna get your ass kicked.........................now that's what I call predictable........................:lol::lol::duh::duh:

tridude - 23-5-2009 at 04:49 PM

Donald L use the KISS table and youll be fine on a blade (keep it simple simpler)

as Blade R said, start in light winds. log some hours building confidence and skills...................youll be fine and never look back....then you need to get and Arc, Neo, or FSer.................. of course keep a fb for those quick fixes......good luck...................................:lol::lol::duh::duh:

acampbell - 24-5-2009 at 07:27 AM

Good point Tridude.... Predictable.

I have handed my Blade 4.9 to people who have never seen a kite before, but it was in "Goldilocks" conditions- not too little, not too much, just right.

Put it up in light, smooth coastal winds and it's a #@%$#!cat, surefooted and smooth. Put it up in high punchy winds and it is an angry, violent beast ready to rip your arms off.

KiteProject - 24-5-2009 at 09:07 AM

Having a beginner kiter know when to should & shouldn't is asking a lot. I know that I didn't develop that skill until I had made some mistakes and luckily they weren't costly ( although I came close).

I keep focusing on safety and caution because I just don't want the sport to get a black eye.

Quote:
Originally posted by tridude
blades are predictable.............................you can rest assured if you take one out when you shouldn't your gonna get your ass kicked.........................now that's what I call predictable........................:lol::lol::duh::duh:

KiteProject - 24-5-2009 at 09:12 AM

It takes some experience to recognize "Goldilocks" conditions. An enthusiastic new kiter can easily cross into not so "Goldilocks" conditions.

I am sorry if I come across as overly cautious but I'd hate to see an enthusiastic kiter getting hurt and the sport getting a black eye.

Quote:
Originally posted by acampbell
Good point Tridude.... Predictable.

I have handed my Blade 4.9 to people who have never seen a kite before, but it was in "Goldilocks" conditions- not too little, not too much, just right.

Put it up in light, smooth coastal winds and it's a #@%$#!cat, surefooted and smooth. Put it up in high punchy winds and it is an angry, violent beast ready to rip your arms off.

acampbell - 24-5-2009 at 09:46 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by KiteProject
It takes some experience to recognize "Goldilocks" conditions. An enthusiastic new kiter can easily cross into not so "Goldilocks" conditions.

I am sorry if I come across as overly cautious but I'd hate to see an enthusiastic kiter getting hurt and the sport getting a black eye.


I completely agree. I spoke with Don several times before sending him his kites, and he seemed to have done a lot of homework, was asking the right questions and knew to be respectful of the wind. We both agreed he and Wendy would start with the Sting 2.4 before putting up the Beamer 4m.

I think with some time on the 4m, he will be able to extrapolate from his experience and appreciate what a larger more powerful kite could do.

Ironically it seems that really it's the smaller kites that will whack you. Provided the flier has a modicum of common sense, the larger kites will evoke enough fear and caution that they will keep themselves out of trouble. I have found we tend to let our guard down with the smaller ones and fly them in increasingly dicier conditions.

DonaldLL - 24-5-2009 at 10:33 AM

BladeR... good point about flying time/week or month. I'd say right now it looks like about 10 hours a week. That might go up a bit after yesterday... I found a beach location where I can fly.

Well.... this is always interesting. I know, as y'all do, that the responses will be from go to no-go and everything in between but when you get a good number of comments you can kinda paint a picture. The picture is a little clearer today than just a couple of days ago and the reason is that after yesterday's flying I have now experienced for the first time some of the things described in the responses provided. For one, I flew for the first time at the beach. Now I know first hand what smooth wind is all about. My anemometer showed 9 to 11 mph with virtually no gusts. The sand was hard and a bit rocky and I don't want to go into details but he location was not perfect. On the other hand, I was so excited to give it a try I quit looking for nirvana and took out the Rev first. I wound up flying that for a couple of hours and had to shut down due to a storm heade my way. It was a great learning session for me in many ways. I drove inland (back home). I wasn't ready to quit and I hadn't flown the foil(s) yet so I passed by the park near home where we fly. At first it felt like that heavy stillness after a heavy rain and it was. For some reason, I guess it was just hope, I wandered out into the field and set up the 4m Beamer. There was a light breeze with little or no gusts and I figured I'd practice "working" the kite to see if I could keep it going in what I thought was not enough wind. Well, to my surprise, there seemed to be a slight increase in the wind and an improvement in my skills. I guess having to think ahead and read the wind and read the kite actually made me a better flyer that day. I felt like I made a step forward in knowledge and understanding about flying the kite. If this wasn't my 'Goldilocks" conditions then it was close to it. I got to experiment and push as hard as I wanted to without worry (since no gusts) but still had the rush and the pull that made it fun and exciting. I got in another 2 hours flying time.

So I learned what smooth coastal winds are like. I also, learned how to fly in lighter winds and what that can teach me. I got a chance to fly without gusts for a change; that was nice. From this new perspective I had a better image in my mind of what kind of day would be a good day to break out that "next step" kite.

Thanks guys for all the responses; I appreciate all the time and effort and support...