So since the winds out here are officially craptastic, I'm in the works of saving for a low wind engine. My thoughts have been that the flysurfer lineup has really make the gap when it comes to low winds, but it will take till next year for me to have saved for one. I'm prepared to start saving till I can get one if that is the best choice, but wondering what other options are out there. I wonder if anyone has had any chance with the Ozone Zephyr to see if it stands up to the claims. Its just too bad that the arcs don't drop down to the 4-6 knots nicely powered range.

Shaggs

Shaggs, I got a chance to see Eli fly the 17m Zephyr at SOBB last year. He was getting some really nice runs when most of us were sitting (in our buggies), and drinking coffee waiting for the wind to pick up. At the time I believe the winds were 2-5 MPH. Nice turning speed at the low end also.

I know it's not much help, but I try.

Mac Bego 600 is my low wind engine (145# boarder on sand and grass).

ill be converting 1 of 3 Vapor 16m to depower. keep you posted.

I bet a big open cell would do the trick too but have to say, the way the SA holds it's fill of air (like the PLs) makes it ready to fly at all times unlike an open cell which would have to fill first. Granted you may get one that would fill with a mere twitch of the lines.

You'd get away with a smaller fixed bridle open cell that you would with a big open or closed depower. I have heard many say that a nice big FB (10-14m) is the ticket and I'd have to believe them because on handles you should have a lot more control over the kite and be able to work more power out than with a depower.

@Shaggs: if you want to get low wind power for cheap, get a peter lynn twister 7.7 . i am totally amazed at their low wind power. if you have more bucks, any high aspect ration buggy foil around 10sqm will do the trick. for the twister, see my videos: http://www.youtube.com/hercion . the twister got me going on ski and board in winds around 4-8 knots.

+1 on teh Twister II 7.7m ... ask BladeRunner his experience.

Hmm teh Twister II peaks my interest ...

I had the Twister II out for 2 low wind days.
I'll post a review after work.

the ELF zero-sw 16m

http://www.kite-site.ru/zsw.html

Aspect ratio = 7.4

This is the kite russian win snowkite races with.

There is supposed to be 1 in quebec soon, and I might be able to try.

I got to use my 7.7 for it's intended purpose twice recently. I wanted it for quick easy set-up and low wind riding . Sub arc winds.
My local after work spot isn't too big and a light thermal wind is the norm. Too big a kite can be a problem in that tight space.

On the 1st outing the winds varied from 2-about 9mph ? I was getting a great ride out of it. The few times the wind got to 9 you could feel the lift. My attempts at jumps were poor but I'm SURE it is me. I am so used to a bar I had a hard time judging where the kite was by feel. My timing was way off. The one and only time I got it right the kite floated giving a very extended jump without having gotten very high. Parked low and cruising the kite needed almost no attention. Easy one handed flying .

The second time out the winds were more of a challenge. 0 - 6mph . I was riding with an 11m Vapor and 10m JoJo but I am a bit lighter and had to work the kite much more. The 2 bigger kites managed to fly in the 2- mph range and I was just a bit shy. I think I prefer keeping the kite to about 7.7 . Looping and flying hard are a bit more entertaining in those lower winds. At 10 and 11m the other kites were more park and ride after a few pumps. Nice out on the big frozen lake but not possible in my small park.
The 7.7m is a good budget kite for low winds. I expect to get a lot of use from mine this summer ! It has officially replaced my old 9m Blade II as low wind engine.

No AOA adjustment. Just full lift , full time. Nice bag. Nice LONG handles. Great bang for the buck!

... mwa-haha! ...

... not sure about the lift though :ticking:

While I need time on the timing the lift is definately the only setting in the package. In turn I really liked how it flew down low.

look, the twister 7.7 saved my day at the beach:

only 2-4knots (measured with windmaster2), and still some scudding and tiny "jumps" possible:



turn up your speakers, you can hear seagulls and the crinkle of the flying kite .. what a beautiful day that was. another way of fitness. kite-work-out.

Impressive! Looks like you got the shorter HQ Ultra Handles working it good in light winds!

thanks. in such low winds, its quite relaxing. but if windspeed picks up to 8-10 knots, its really exhausting for your arms. i think then an ozone turbobar would be fantastic. i have some snowkiting videos in lower winds (around 8 knots) with the twister on my youtube page. i can tell you - if you additionally wear gloves then your arms explode after about 30 minutes of kiting...

Shaggs, it depends on what you are trying to accomplish. If you are just going to buggy, then you will probably save some money getting a big fixed-bridle kite for those winds. If you are planning to hit the water, then the Zephyr or the large S3 is probably the best choice. I've heard lots of good things about the Zephyr, but never flown one. I love my S3 though... Works great in the buggy, on the water, or on the snow.

Yeah I will want something that will fit the bill for all aspects, gonna get a board for the water in the next month and have a mountain board on layaway that I should have by next weekend. Really think that the SA3 will be my best bet from what I have been reading and what I want to accomplish in my riding. Right now I gotta stick with what I have so that by the time I am ready to purchase another kite I will have gotten full use out of these ones. With our winds it's kinda hard to get a ton of air time.

S3 will give you more top end.....the S2 bottom end....................

Quote:

Originally posted by tridude S3 will give you more top end.....the S2 bottom end....................

This is true to a point. I dont have a problem with the low end on my S3. I've heard that the S2 has a little bit more, and I can say that on water (or snow) that I have a hard time riding if the winds are less than 10mph. On the water, I can get away with a little less when using my door. But personally, I dont bother heading for the coast unless I see at least 10mph consistently in the forecast...

In the buggy, I get more low end, but thats to be expected...

The Flysurfer SP2 - SP3 19m still best at lowest wind for Closed Cell.
Customer doing a Demo on my SP 2 19m Kite... while inflatables drop.




Fun in The Light Stuff on the SP3 19m I'm Lovin it...
Make those days fun! Get that power Back.



For Inflatable the Zephyr is Great!
Guys are stuck on it as a dedicated lightwind Inflato kite!

Looking foreard to another Great Summer... already many Light days! :singing: