I have 2.7 / 4.9 / and 8.3 Reactors and have become proficient on the buggy and want to move to a snowboard this winter. Seems most use a depower for snowboarding. Can I make my Reactors work with a "strop" and a harness? Is it better to learn on a bar and depower? I have a wandering eye for an Apex II-- I think... Thanks for the advice...

You can snowboard with fixed bridle kites, in the same way that you can use a ground board with them. It's a bit harder to keep your balance, but it is possible. Depower is generally recommended though.

I spent my 1st winter flying fixed bridle kites. ( 3m JoJo , 4.5 and 7m Bullets )

They work O.K. with some minor drawbacks. Wind speeds change as you travel around our lakes . Often I would head out and then run in to too much wind out in the middle. Large open cell foils can save the day because we often run in to extra low winds. I still bring a large open cell with me to use before depowers will work.

I believe that when learning a new ride you are best off with the kites you know how to fly best. Depower seems the #1 choice on snow but learn one thing at a time.

I'm pretty much with Bladerunner. Learned to snowkite with fixed bridles on handles, on skis. STill do it from time to time, 'cuz it's fun and retro (nobody else around here flies FB). But I now really prefer depower. Our inland winds are quite gusty. Do try your FB's - start undersized and work the kite until you get the hang of it. Or you might try shorter lines with a bigger kite - it won't have time to accelerate through the window so much.

krumly

park-n-ride with my peter lynn twister 7.7 sqm in quite gusty, 3-9 knots windspeed:

Thanks guys for the advice and the video. I think my next purchase with be an Apex II. Now I just need to decide on 7.5 or 10m.....

Thinking about the buggy and the beach and having distant memories of what snow is like, I think the venue has a lot to do with the choice. If wind direction or riding space leads to cutting it up with short tacks, then the added maneuverability of FB wins out. If in open spaces and good winds leads to long park-and-rides then de-power wins. Points about stronger winds out on open lakes are good examples, too.

When thinking about an Apex II for first de-power, don't rule out the Montana if budget allows. While the Apex is well liked and heralded as a great entry-level depower, it gives short shrift to the Montanas, which are great high performance kites that are still easy enough and stable for first time de-power fliers that have good experience with larger FB's.

ejmichel -

I have not flown an Apex, but from what I've heard they are an intro depower kite . If you are comfortable with your quiver of Reactors, I'd definitely look at something more performance oriented even for a first depowerable. If you're conditions are gusty but with winds typically over 10 mph, consider an Arc.

As an example, I was flying on a MN lake last winter with a 9m LEI bow (Cabrinha Crossbow) and was moderately powered. Before closing down, I threw up my Brooza 5.5m FB foil just to see what it felt like. It was a struggle - I probably would have been OK with a 4m FB.

krumly