http://www.cautionkites.com/kites/zombie/

That's even lower than Speed3, wth..?

I'm having last minute "before I lay over the cash" jitters and am burning the midnight oil on my first ever kite, and for low wind..

Hi Man

First off I've never flown a Caution Zombie.
I have however flown a lot of inflatables and still do.
I personally am very skeptical of this claim. Mostly because an inflatable kite is heavier than a Speed 3 due to the bladders and inflation hardware.
Also I own a Cabrihna Contra 3 14 meter. This is a lite wind specific kite and I can tell you it will not relaunch in that little bit of wind.
My Contra is supposed to have a wind range starting at 8 or 10 knots. It will fly in 10 but I don't think I can launch in 8.
I'm not bashing Caution I hear they are good kites and am considering a 7 meter Mayhem myself. I just think that is an unrealistic number to state as a starting wind range for any inflatable kite.

someone pleeeease im about to sink USD$3000 on a speed3 19m deluxe lol..!

pretty kite....I say get it

KS

why don't you demo some kites first, learn to go upwind, improve your skills, go out on the spot and talk with other kitesurfers before spending too much money and realize it's not the kite you wanted

watch out for marketing hype. there is no kite that will get you ride in 5 knots especially a tube/LEI.

LEI riders do something else below 10 knots.

Yes the Speed2/3 19m are the best kite so far for light winds under 10 knots but you might be very well disappointed when you try on your own in 7-8 knots and you don't succeed

Riding in very light winds take a lot of practice as to get the best performance from a kite when the wind is not there

With a Speed2 19m I need maybe 7 knots, and I fly up to 15 knots (with 2 boards). In the beginning your range might be 10 knots to 13 knots (not fun).

It is much easier to learn in 15 knots with a 12m kite.

If all you get is < 10 knots, I can tell the process will be long and frustrating

I would wait before spending on a S3 19m. I would go with a 12m which you will anyway need for bigger wind days.

That could aslo help if you tell us where you ride. Inland lake, Ocean ? Gusty or not.

The Speed (even if improved) is the most gust friendly kite.

hi dennis, thanks for your regular inputs, really appreciate it.

i dont have the luxury of learning first and then buying later cuz, i get free lessons buying a packaged deal and i save lots of money in this way. How much? About a mid-range kiteboard's worth! (that's how much us suckers get charged where we are)

So, please, it's not like im some impatient brat or something, no lol..

Winds /can/ reach 15 knots here, but I'd err on the side of caution and say 7-8 is our average. on beaches. that means... ocean? its not open ocean though, islands cover the horizon, so... chops? small waves?

gusty.... i... dont think so.

on the CK website you're looking at the Light Green, thats only the flying range, the Dark Green is more like the riding range.

if your a lite weight like me you could probably get away with it but youll also be riding a Door or Surf (light wind board).

FS 3 gets my vote.

however just to keep you wondering : OZ ZEPHYR

Quote:

Originally posted by ks.kaizen hi dennis, thanks for your regular inputs, really appreciate it. i dont have the luxury of learning first and then buying later cuz, i get free lessons buying a packaged deal and i save lots of money in this way. How much? About a mid-range kiteboard's worth! (that's how much us suckers get charged where we are) So, please, it's not like im some impatient brat or something, no lol.. Winds /can/ reach 15 knots here, but I'd err on the side of caution and say 7-8 is our average. on beaches. that means... ocean? its not open ocean though, islands cover the horizon, so... chops? small waves? gusty.... i... dont think so.

Whoever is selling you the kite and giving the lessons should have much better and more useful information than a bunch of strangers on a kite forum. Also I don't know the details of this deal, but as long as you put down your $3k deposit or however much it is why can't they give you lessons on both a Flysurfer and a Caution or other LEI and then let you choose a kite at the end of the lessons.

If you have to buy before you try, the Flysurfer would have better resale value if you didn't like it.

Ocean winds are better. good.

7-8 knots average. OK so you can get days above 10 up to 15. These are the days you will learn most. Hope you can manage to go ride these days.

In your package deal with lessons, does it mean you have local Flysurfer support. If yes this is a good +.

75kg = 165lbs. I am 185lbs and I used to have the Speed2 15m 2 years ago before the 19m.

The 15m still gets me going before the tube, but I prefer to ride powered now.

At your weight the 19m is correct, but the 15m can also do very well in light winds with a DOOR type board.

If I were to only have 1 kite, it would not be a 19m. I'd rather have the 15m with 2 boards. Small RIP 134 + DOOR 159 kind of.

You would lose 1 knot on the low end, but gain a big 6-7 knots on the top.

But again once you've improved and like power, you may enjoy the 19m a lot.

Again nothing to help you but put more confusion. It's not easy to make choices. It took me 4 years to finally stop swapping kites every 2 months. But I have 4 kites and 3 boards. Will get more in the spring. This is an addiction

Ah Denis that's brilliant insight.

A DOOR is exactly what I'd like to avoid; how does one do wakestyle with doors, I'm pretty sure it's a feat to manage, with such a large and heavy, well, DOOR. Especially a beginner like me it'd probably feel more like a kitchen table

The Ozone Zephyr, like i said on another post: "it's true, the first kite i ever really wanted since i started my research a couple weeks ago was the Ozone Zephyr, but found that on the ground erviews seem to point that it was still not near as good as these bentley-priced FSes."

Looks like I have a choice of having two kites, or two boards.

Two FSes 15 and 19 + one Flyradical M = Bankrupt.

One FS 15 + One Flyradical L + One Flyradical M = needs a little luck?

One FS 19 + One Wainman Big Momma 15m or the Caution Zombie 15m + Flyradical M = Best?

Argh, there goes my "a penny saved is a penny earned" mantra... Oh FFS let's me try a 15 dlx + Flyradical L first and just hope and pray I don't ever need to outgrow it, and climate change brings my locality better winds lmao..

Which combi would you guys choose?

OMG we're digressing, I'm sorry!

Also still interested to know if anyone actually tried the zombie! Light green at 5 knots and Dark green at 8 knots, not bad at all!!

lmao check this out:

http://www.cautionkites.com/kites/zombie/2010_MANUAL.pdf

There it states that the Mayhem 18m manages EVEN BETTER! Starting range at abt 3 knots 165lbs rider!!!!!!!!!

their sales team must have been having some good blunts charting these things out..

Two FSes 15 and 19 + one Flyradical M = Bankrupt. <--- my pick

no way, 3knots to kiteboard on 18m ... 3knots is the flying, youll probably need like 7 - 9 knots to move.

My FB 16m has a windrange of zero, so I should be able to move KB in 2 knots. not possible.