So I have been flying a 3.3M Predator by HQ for the last few days and it has been a total blast. I'm really getting the hang of it and can manage it well in most winds up to 25 mph. I think I am totally hooked on this sport.

I realize that a 3.3M 3-line will not be enough to kite ski with this winter and that's really what I would like to do. So what would a good second kite be? I still plan on going out and practicing with my 3.3M, but I'm gathering up the funds for a second kite. I will be skiing in central Wisconsin. I am only 150 lbs.

So my questions are:
1. What type of kite should I be getting?
2. 2 lines, 3-lines, or 4 lines?
3. What size?

Thanks,

-Alex

do you have a budget / doable target for funds?

with that info someone who knows snowkiting (not me, not by a long shot) will be a bit better able to advise you.

research winter winds and sites as well....

A Flysurfer Pulse2 would be quite a nice transition for you. They are a great entry level depowerable kite that you can progress with. Easy to fly and forgiving.

If I had known what i know now, i would have dropped handles and gone depowerable much earlier in my kite 'career'

Very few people choose fixed bridles as their #1 choice for snow kiting.
I started with them and regreted it. The only F.B. that served me well was my 3m trainer. I was extremely familiar with it so it was a natural kite for my 1st high wind days. I suppose my 9m Blade has given me a low wind day when others struggled. For everything else depower is the way to go.

Snowkiting pretty much always means variable winds. Depower is far safer and more usefull in those winds.

depower for your needs seems the way to go...............ARC or FSer Pulse/Pulse 2......... awesome kites, user friendly..................dont forget a lid....................any flyers in your area for tips/instruction..............................yeah youre hooked.......................:duh::duh:

What size should I be looking for for a first depowerable kite? 10M? Should I be thinking about lessons too?:puzzled:

my 15m arc has a pretty good range (im 225 lbs)... and theres a cool video over in the atb section of a mamber on a 15m in 30mph winds... 12 or 15m covers a lot of ground... er air

if you can swing lessons, go for it... a little good advice never hurt anyone!

Gambler.

If you're in WI, you're close to us here in MN. If you want to stick to a foil for snowkiting, which I think is much easier, you'll see alot of Ozone kites around here. Frenzies and Mantas. A 9M Freny would be a good choice for most of the winter winds we get here in MN. If you decide you want to ride water someday when the snow melts, I'd get a closed cell foil like PL Arc or a flysurfer. Lots of people around here fly inflatables all year round too. Just more work in the winter pumping.

I don't know how far away from Duluth/Superior you'll be, but Randy Carlson at the University of Minnesota Duluth has a kite instruction course that is dirt cheap. It starts in the fall and he sends you an email everytime they go out. You get access to all of the universities kites too to try whatever you like.

Lots of winter kite events here in the Midwest as well. Snowkite Expo in Duluth, Mille Lacs Kite Crossing, Snowkite Rally. Those are always good events to try out different kites. I'd say pick up a used depowerable foil in the 7-10M range or a 12-15M Arc and start in low wind. You don't need much for snowkiting. Or new if you have the money. My buddy that runs Velocity Kiting is an instructor as well and based out of Green Bay. What part of WI will you be in?

A.

just hook up with the local kiters, never mind the lessons.

unless you have cash to burn....

I have no cash to burn so I'll be looking for a used one. I'm about 2 hours west of Green Bay, WI. I have a few more questions:

What makes a foil desirable for snow kiting?

I'm thinking about going closed cell in case I get into kite boarding or something on the water. What's the difference between open and closed cell for snow kiting? Just more work?

Quote:

Originally posted by Gambler What makes a foil desirable for snow kiting?

reckon even i can answer that one... no pump, quick set-up.

i'm assuming foil vs. lei here.

as for the rest wait the for the real snowkite vets to drop by...

Yep, no pumping is a big one. Having to take your gloves off to fiddle with hooking up lines and pump bladders sometimes isn't desireable. Maybe for some it's fear of popping a bladder as well in the cold and icy conditions, but I rarely see that happen. If you do any sort of winter travel using a kite, foils can be repaired in the field so you make it home. They also pack up smaller so you can bring two kites on the trip. My arcs will still even fly with a tear in the canopy.

Open vs closed cell in snowkiting, not too much difference. If it's snowing alot snow can get trapped in a closed cell and you have to land it to empty it out vs just landing on the leading edge of an open to dump. I prefer closed cell because they retain their shape in the lulls. Open cell can collapse or tip tuck easier. Plus, you can use them for water as well. Dual purpose.

If you plan to just park your car and setup your kite and ride, an LEI would work fine too. Lots of options. There are guys here with two kite quivers. LEI in summer, open cell foils in winter. Some just use their LEIs all year, and I use Peter Lynn Arcs all year. It really all comes down to the fact that all kites will work for general snowkiting, it's just trying to maximize the features you want.

A.

I am curious why everyone says depower in the winter. I plan to ride on the same soccer fields in the winter and have the same small spaces. I also plan on using the FB kites. Does anyone else use FB for snow? One again I like the Let Go factor. I do have 2 Waroo's I can use for Depower but it is cold in SD

Thanks

Dan

My reply was based more on what is the " norm " and my experience for fozen lakes and such.

If the #1 goal here is to be able to let go rather than deal with the gust of your small field why don't you fly the Waroos unhooked ??? You can fly any depower unhooked. You even still have a bit of power control with the trim strap.

If you are wanting to stick with another fixed bridle that is cool. In my experience a 5m fixed bridle will serve you best as a bit of an allrounder. I would suggest about that size.

Garydog.

SD has to have some pretty decent lakes that will freeze over in the winter. Why fly a tiny field when you can ride the big space of a lake! Fixed bridle kites are fine, but they have a smaller useable range. Some of the lakes around here are so large you can't see the shore line so when you're out in the middle and when the wind picks up it's either take down your FB and walk, or be glad you have a depower and pull that strap all the way in and ride it out. It's no fun post holeing all the way back to your car. In mountains, you'd better bring your snowshoes. Some of the places I've ridden were waist deep.

Most depower kites today are just as easy to dump power as letting go does. You just hit the safety and it's down. You can ride with any kite you have and it'll be fun, but usually a person can get one depowerable kite and ride pretty much all winter long versus a couple fixeds for the range of winds. I started snowkiting on a 6M Little Devil and it worked, but I had some scary moments. I sold it and bought a 15M G2 and that was the only kite I ever rode all winter long. It's really just a personal choice in the end.

Rudeboysauce really hit the nail on the head. Its a matter of personal preference. I ride my depowers for everything now. I started with fixed-bridle kites, but once I started riding depower, I couldnt go back. The biggest advantage I can say for snowkiting is the ability to ride one handed. Though not nearly as a big of a deal, but it would be hard to do jumps and grabs with a fixed bridle.

I've known people who landboarded with fixed bridle kites, and I've seen some folks snowkiting with fixed-bridle kites. Its really just a matter of personal preference. I prefer depower, but that doesnt mean you cant do it with fixed bridle...