what are the pros and cons of both and which one of the 2 would you have as your first 4 line kite ?

Speaking from experience, I would say 3ish meter. But if you are set on a 4m I would say it depends on what you plan to do in the future with kiting. My vote is Viper S 3.9m

Here's why:

It's fast as &@$!
It's predictable
It's forgiving
It's a great kite to learn on
If you persue the buggy, the Viper is an awesome engine
Not lifty like the twister
Excellent upwind performance
All around bad @$$ kite

I have a Viper 3.9 as my first kite and I looove it! I wouldn't get a Hornet myself because I like a fast kite like the Viper. The Twister is too lifty for a first kite, in my opinion. I'd rather do a superman than get lifted into the air and dropped. YMMV

When I started kiting, I've talk with a guy (and forgive me for not remember your name, if you're here..) from DeKitez power kites, I've explained him what I wanted to do with the kite, what's my goal and where do I see myself after progress. Every single advise he gave me, made me a MUCH better flyer today, he gave me very good tips on a future purchasing and basically was strait about any question I came out with.
I was watching those clips on YouTube and wanted to jump too, so I got the PL Twister II, and just like DeKitez said, it was a jumping machine. I still have it today and I loved this kite.
Long story short, my advise to you is, CALL them, check their website ( http://www.dakitez.com/servlet/StoreFront ), you'll find a lot less confusing answers then you can find here......with no obligation to buy anything.

BTW - I'm not working with them nor their PR guy, just a VERY happy customer that remember where I started.

Good luck

Quote:

Originally posted by AviN When I started kiting, I've talk with a guy (and forgive me for not remember your name, if you're here..) from DeKitez power kites, I've explained him what I wanted to do with the kite, what's my goal and where do I see myself after progress. Every single advise he gave me, made me a MUCH better flyer today, he gave me very good tips on a future purchasing and basically was strait about any question I came out with. I was watching those clips on YouTube and wanted to jump too, so I got the PL Twister II, and just like DeKitez said, it was a jumping machine. I still have it today and I loved this kite. Long story short, my advise to you is, CALL them, check their website ( http://www.dakitez.com/servlet/StoreFront ), you'll find a lot less confusing answers then you can find here......with no obligation to buy anything. BTW - I'm not working with them nor their PR guy, just a VERY happy customer that remember where I started. Good luck

I started my addiction with Dino as well

DINO !!! That's the name !!

Thanks :cool2:

All great advice from the above post. Only you can decide what style of kiting you want to get into first. Then start small and work your way up. Don't let this bug get you over confident. It will and I'm speaking from recent experience. I wouldn't start with anything bigger than a 3m ish kite and fly the heII out of it. Learning the right and wrong things to do on a small kite will keep you from getting spanked and setting you back or out completely. It can and will happen if you don't respect the wind and what these kites can do. I wont be flying for 8 to 10 wks. out with a busted heel. Don't be me. Think everything out before you do it. Even though you can hot launch a small kite learn how to launch from the edge so when you need to with a bigger kite you will know what to do. Learn how to use the killers even though you may never need to on a small kite. You never know when you'll need that experience with a bigger kite until it happens. Watch all the videos from hear, you'll see these guys flying kites like theyr'e an extension of themselves. I'm sure they all started like you and me. We'll get there

I do not recomend the PL twister II 4.1 as a fist kite. I have one (won it in a raffle) and as an experianced flier I have NOT flown it. It is designed as a lifting kite. And I would suggest a gentler kite to start with. You don't want to be learning to steer a kite while also trying to figure out how to land with out breaking your leggs or neck.
Just my two cents worth.

I am also a Viper fan for a first kite. 2.6 or 3.8 depending on your size/girth.

And Dino is also guilty of selling me my first kite some years ago......

Lots of other great seller on this forum also. Jeff at Bigkidkites.com, Angus at Coastalwindsports.com, Kent at awindofchange.com,
Rip at ripsessionkiteboarding.com, Rich at eastcoastkitesports.com/ and Mike at bigmikeskites.com just to name a few.

Hornet - slow and predictable traction
Viper - fast traction, still predictable
Twister - medium speed, lifty...

For maximum fun flying a kite, go for the viper...
For maximum lift and risk, go for the twister...
For maximum safety, go for the hornet.

If you have steady, mild, onshore winds, maybe consider the twister. In inland gusts it's a dangerous kite for beginners, pure and simple.

Best thing is to get a 3m hornet and fly the sh#t out of it, then put the real money into your second and third kites, you'll know much better what you want by then...

Quote:

Originally posted by mougl Speaking from experience, I would say 3ish meter. But if you are set on a 4m I would say it depends on what you plan to do in the future with kiting. My vote is Viper S 3.9m Here's why: It's fast as &@$! It's predictable It's forgiving It's a great kite to learn on If you persue the buggy, the Viper is an awesome engine Not lifty like the twister Excellent upwind performance All around bad @$$ kite

Quote:

Originally posted by furbowski For maximum fun flying a kite, go for the viper...

Thanks for these posts, they pushed me over the edge to get the Viper S 3.9. Will be ordering next week.

ross if you can give us more info we can point you in the right direction. answers like ... what do you want out of the kite? lift, speed, etc. How much do you weigh? avg wind speed? any previous experience?

Most will point you towards a 3m and this is not a bad move, but I have come to realize depending on your location a 3m might not cut it. If you are 220# + and stuck in some place that has a avg wind of 8 knots then a 3m kite will be nothing more than a stunt kite for you. This might simply bore you and not feed the kite addiction. So more info will help fine tune your kite decision.