Well, I finally got to try out the Ground Industries Flight 93 today. I had ridden it down some hills by my house, but hadn't had any wind until now.
Unfortunately the wind was stupidly punchy, gusty, shifty, and overall just a kite flying nightmare. You get what you get and don't throw a fit, I
guess. It would go from nothing to 20 mph in a snap, so I'd get yanked forward, then the kite would overfly the zenith, luff, power back up, yank me
forward again, crash, bow tie, and repeat. Really quite frustrating, especially because I was by myself. I spent about half of my time out running
back and forth, untangling lines and bridles, untwisting the kite, and hoping the wind wasn't going to flip it back over 10 times before I could make
it back to my handles (I had no stake). On a different note, when things did work, they worked splendidly. I could eventually position the kite in the
air as such that I could eventually step into my board, and when eventually the wind cooperated for a few minutes, I was eventually able to get in a
few really awesome down-winders. Maybe the planets came into perfect alignment or something, I don't know. But it did work out a few times, which made
me very happy. Screaming fast down wind runs were about all I could do given the conditions, but I think the fun I had outweighed all of the
frustration.
The board performed magnificently. I loosened up the trucks a little from what Dylan had them set at, and put some WD-40 in them to silence the
infernal creaking sound they made when you turned. It is very stable and comfortable to stand on. People say it's a short board (which it is), but the
stance width does not bother me. The Talon bindings are freakin' awesome, as well as the Bionic trucks. The entirety of the construction looks and
feels like it could survive a nuclear attack. The deck is very flexible, but impossible to bottom out. It is responsive to turns, has insane pop,
looks sick, and I am very pleased with it. This board has so much potential, and I cannot wait to take it to Big Bend with me. If you ever have the
chance to buy a Flight 93, go for it! I promise you will not be disappointed.
Sean Tully
i like kites.