I'm new to the sport! I do not have a buggy, however bought a 5m Tensor by prism. I want to buy a buggy and with much advice, I need to get a 3m kite before I invest in a buggy. I will practice my jibe, ect on foot my next trip to the beach which will be in 2 weeks. I pick things up fast, I race motocross and do downhill mountain biking. I love extreme sports. The reason I tell you this, is that I dont want something I will out grow. I have flown my tensor for aprox 1.5 hours but have flown kites for 6 years. I'm 6 foot and weigh 210lbs. My question finally, I want the best 3m kite I can get. I will be using it for fun as well as a trainer for buggying. Who can tell me what the best quality 3m kite is. Money is no object. Thanks for helping me out as you all have done for me so wel,l thus far!

Ozone Flow 3.0M

You can buy new or there is low mileage one available here from Kent.

ATB,
Sam

How is the lift on this kite? I heard that there are some 3mkites that will spank you good. I dont want to be jumping huge, but a little lift is fun. ?

Sorry to say it but a 3m kite is too small to look at for anything jumping. 5m is the barebones smallest canopy that can pick you up, and give any substantial float to break your fall. However in a scary amount of wind even a 1m could lift you, but you'd be lucky to walk again. Go with the 3m flow, it is a popular buggy engine, that will later be an excellent higher winds kite. Ozone is one of the top foil kite makers out there. You can't go wrong.

Wow, Look like the quality is much much better than my Tensor. Another question? Should I sell the tensor and go with a 5m ozone? if so , which one? Flow as well?

The Flow is the only 5M fixed bridle that Ozone currently sells.

Unless you are really unhappy with the Tensor, there is no overwhelming reason to sell the Tensor.

However, the one advantage of keeping in the family of kites is that they will have similar flight characteristics within their wind ranges.

One thing that bothered me about the Tensor is that it has an adjustable Angle of Attack, but at least in the pics I have seen, they don't use stainless steel rings, so you have two sections of bridle that are rubbing against each other.

ATB,
San

A 5m flow is a good kite in low wind. I use it in 15 to 20 for jumping. It would be a good engine but it will pull more than your tensor for sure.

Great to know! Wolf, you really know your stuff! Thanks! I'm buying a Flow 3m right now! Cant wait to get it. Should I get the handles or the bar, or both?

pyro, do you think the 3m flow will pull like the 5m tensor?

The Ozone Flow is a good kite. I think the Ozone Method may be a little better. It flies with a much wider wind window and it's faster, so it's more fun to fly static than the flow. It's very easy to fly - I haven't bow tied mine but you occasionally have to apply a little pressure to the brake lines to stop the kite over-flying you. This, in turn, will give you more upwind ability and more speed when you get in the buggy. And they make them in a 2.3m, 3m, 4m, 5m and 6.5m. Long term, a better investment than the Flow methinks. Although if you're flying in gusty conditions, the Flow may be the better pick - it's a little slower with a bit more bottom end.

Speaking of buggy and Ozone Method....... try this...

go to this site it has all the info you will be after go to tutorials

www.coastalwindsports.com

:bouncy:

I am not sure of the tensor but in 25+ mph I use a 2 meter flow. FYI I weigh 165 pounds and I ride a 60ish pound buggy. under 20 I use the 5m but I have to be very careful and I cant max the speed out for fear of sideslip.

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under 20 I use the 5m but I have to be very careful and I cant max the speed out for fear of sidepull.

Which is where the Method would be better - it sits further forward with less side pull. You'd have to work it a bit more than the flow at slow speed, but they're pretty forgiving at the top end.

Not knocking the Flow though, I like mine a lot.

Well I want to buy a kite today. Since I have a 5m already, I will go with a 3m. I looked at the method, and I do like extreme fast kites. I will tell you that I fly at Myrtle beach and sometimes the wind isnt all that much, but I did get pulled off the ground and dropped and drug a little bit with the tensor 5m. It seems that the method might allow me to fly in less wind conditions. Im sold on Ozone! Just need to figure out between the flow and the method. It looks like the method is a little larger?
Thanks Nocando, I have been the website and been through most of it already. Awesome site. Man I cant wait to get a buggy. I will be doing my figure 8's next week with my new 3m.:singing:

If john shows that video one more time I won't be able to resist I want one of those so bad I can't hardly stand it
The 3 m flow is the way to go but if you want to add a low wind kite then the method is going to be the better deal I have a 3 and a 4.5 little devil by ozone it is the predecessor to the flow great buggy engine and tons of grunt even in the low wind has great up wind but also allot of side pull especially when the wind pics up
I want the 6.5 method so bad on an ozone turbo bar john I call dibs if that one ever goes up for sale such a sweet kite deffinatly one of the highest quality kites on the market

Flexifoil Rage is another option for kite buggying. These are great, stabile kites with a lot of pull, but not that lifty...

im not sure of the method. i have thought about it. it looks like it is a little more intermediate level as for the flow only being a begginer to intermediate kite.

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it looks like it is a little more intermediate level as for the flow only being a begginer to intermediate kite.

About the only difference I can tell between the Flow and the Method (as far as skill needed) is the Method can overfly and occasionally needs a little bit of brakes to stop it from overflying. Apart from that, it's dead easy to fly. Nothing like a Yak or Century 2 which require a lot of attention.

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john I call dibs if that one ever goes up for sale such a sweet kite deffinatly one of the highest quality kites on the market

Don't hold your breath!! Think I'll be hanging on to this one for quite some time......

thanks john for the clarification. may need to demo one the next time im in an area to demo one.

Another option may be a 5-6m de-power. The access or apex would make a great buggy kite from what I've read. It would have the same grunt as a 3m but the surface area to get a little crazy. A 3m Beamer was my first kite and I love it, but my new 5m Speed 1.5 is a ton more fun to fly. I need alittle more wind to get it going but the couple times it has lifted me I did t get slingshotted like I have with my Beamer. Just through I'd toss that out there. I know a few guys here love their HQ Apex kites for buggy engines I'd imagen the Ozone Access would be very similar.

Flew the 3m Method today - only static, not quite enough for the buggy. Talk about a sweet, fast kite. Much nicer than the Flow. I was really impressed.

If you have on shore winds, no question - get the method. If you are flying in inland gusty conditions - go the Flow. The Apex II 5m depower is my go-to kite for crappy conditions. It's a very stable, reassuring kite. But it's got no float - if it picks you up, it will put you down pretty quickly!

Have decided to go with the method! Now the problem is finding one. I was talking to VPK in Virgina, and he told me I needed to wait 1-2 months bescaus Ozone was coming out with the new version. I have a call into Brian to see what the situation is. I wanted to fly it this labor day weekend. Dont know if I will have it. Anybody have one for sale? 3M?

Give Kent at A Wind of Change a call in the morning. If he doesn't have it in stock, he should be able to tell you what's up.

Kind of early to be shuffling the production chain for 2012 models already. :puzzled:

ATB,
Sam

Indigo, thats what I thought! Called Steve directly and its on the way! Man I can't wait. Selling the prism! Going all Ozone!:wee:

I hear of folks growing out of the Flow?
Not sure about the Method?

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Originally posted by Powerws Wow, Look like the quality is much much better than my Tensor. Another question? Should I sell the tensor and go with a 5m ozone? if so , which one? Flow as well?

i have never seen/fown a Tensor but I do have 8 non-foil kites from Prism and I will say with out question that Prism is really good high quality stuff throughout the entire range from beginner to advanced. (Their service is really great too). I somehow doubt Prism would put their name on any kite, foils includied, unless it met their high standards.
I have 5 Ozone foils and Ozone is unquestionably top shelf too for foils.

I very much doubt you'd need to trade your Tensor for a Flow due to quality of craftsman/material (non)issues. if you simply prefer flight characteristics of one over the other then that is a different story.
I'm not sure as I haven't read the specs in some time for either Flow/Tensor but I am under the impression the Flow (and likely Tensor) is geared towards beginners.

dead on rev, from what I know. I cant wait to fly the method. Storm are brewing and when that happends, We get nice steady winds here Charlotte, NC. We will see and I will let you know how it flys. Thanks for the response.

Another option since you stated that you eventually want to buggy:
Wind of Change Buggy Package
It was my gateway drug and I have loved it.

Thanks cerebright! I'm looking at the Liber VmaxII. I heard it's the daddy! It will also allow for the expansion of the bigfoot wheels and tires. We'll see, need to get aqainted with my method!