Anyone flown this kite have any input on it? Dealer near me has a new one pretty cheap, and I can't find out a ton about them except they seem geared more toward water and less toward traction. I would like to use it for snow/land and possibly water. How does it compare to the synergy or venoms? Would this be a good 1st depower?

Thanks

IIRC they're still listed on the PL site with the Synergys - or they were, till the Charger arrived. I think they were designed to be easy and forgiving ie. an arc for learning on but don't quote me on that :D I got my 10m Vortex with a view to replacing my fixed bridles for land work ...
How cheap is cheap and what size?

He wants $500 and the kite is new in box w/lines etc. 12m size. I'm sold on arcs, but I am leaning toward a 15m. Not enough $ right now to cover the range w/ 2 kites so I thought 15m syn would be good. How do you like the 10m? I plan on using the kite for static, snow, possibly ATB and *maybe* water but I'd imagine I'd need something a bit larger than 12m unless the wind was really blowing (180#). In short, if I hear good things about it I may just pick it up as a first ARC but I'd like opinions etc. Does it have the adjustable straps like the syns for different wind conditions?

hmm looks like they're still on the PL site, sounds like they are less lifty than the syns and are listed with a slightly higher wind range.

In my thinking the Vortex wasn't marketed correctly. If they had produced it as a slightly less expensive twinskin it would have found a comfortable place in the market but it came out within the same price range as all others but made it sound like it was more of an intermediate performance kite.
I used a couple of sizes in the buggy and also for winter and on water. The Vortex is very easy flier and very stable but I found for me the power was a bit too on off - most noticeable on the water as I would angle upwind. Most kites would have a diminishing power the higher angle upwind until but using the Vortex on water it was a steeper power decline - like going through a door the power shut right off when I angled a few degree higher.
In a buggy it wasn't as noticeable because you are generally traveling at a higher rate of speed so you carry some of that apparent wind at a higher angle upwind - slower on a board on water as I went upwind so the power drop was more evident. On snow it was similar to buggy feeling - easy launch, steady flier extremely stable pretty good lift and float but you would get at least 15% better height and float going to a Venom.
The other thing was the repairs I had to do on more Vortex kites than others - perhaps it was more inexperienced fliers taking them out - usually water impacts bursting ribs with more mesh on the later part of the ribs of the Vortex.
Treat it nice and they are a good kite - especially if the price is right for you