Deer powerkiteforum.com
How are you? Off the bat, thanks for all the advice and encouragement!!! Even though I've never posted, this is my go-to place whenever I have thoughts or questions about powerkiting..

You've all inadvertently guided me through my first major kite purchase (P/L TWII 5.6) and even premonititioned my first spankings!! (psychics???)

So I've been yarded and discarded, bled all over myself (someone should have told me a p3 is not a real trainer!!!), and learned the nessisary respecks that our sport requires.
Who's first major kite doesn't have bloodstains? lawls///

Anyway, heres the juice..
I live in Big Sky, MT and I'm rocking the 5.6.. Winds here are... tempestous at best. I spent the summer in high alpine meadows studying micrometorolgy and flying my p3.

Got the 5.6.... Life changed. Got spanked, lesson learned.
Living in Big Sky I have access to great kite country (and a golf course/meadow with no access issues) )
We got the pow pow here, and I'm wondering about first snow kite purchases...

Narrowed down to 8m XT or 10m Alesca

winds in winter can be BRUTAL, or perfect.
I weigh about 165.. 170

I want that steady traction and I'm not really concerned about lift right now. (telemark + lift...? maybe next season.)

I dont need a high wind kite, I want something that consistantly preforms in a broad spectrum of conditions, and is reliable in its depower.

I'll also consider the XT10m..

Thoughts?


The 6m XT sounds like its not going to be enough kite to consistantly provide the traction I need in pow + deal with variable wind.

<3 u
Daniel

If your powder is thigh deep or deeper, I'd go with the 10M (either Access, AlaSCa, or wouldn't rule out the 10M Apex) I think you will find the extra power helpful in getting you up on top, and keeping you there in the deep stuff. Welcome to the madness!!

I assume you are referring to the Ozone Access XT. This is a great kite, well built, gentle and forgiving.

I have a 10m and it is great for lower wind days on the snow.

+1 to consider the drag created by powder. It would also be good to know the average winds you fly in to guide you to the 8 or 10.

For your "brutal" days, what does that look like for wind speed?

Powder days vary here. <goes without saying
typically it snows about 8-10 inches a week excluding late season (feb/march....whoah)
but it can always be more\less

wind speed can get to 30/40 on crazy winter days/ +depending on altitude
good wind days its usually around 7-15 with gusts MAYBE hitting 20/25 (based on thermal/cloud activity)
on low wind days its always blowing 5-10 somewhere with gusts occcasionally hitting 15

The snowpack gets lots of sun where I would kite-ski but with a base of 120+ who cares?? There's plenty of resistance from the pow-pow once you get off the beaten path though.

My main concern in all this is safety though. I don't mind being a little scared, but I don't want one mistake to make or break me, especially while I'm still working on redirects and depower .

so I doubt I would take this kite out in anything over 25

Here is Ozone's wind chart... Allow for the impact of powder.

http://downloads.flyozone.com/landkites/downloads/windchart_...

Keep in mind that one kite will not allow you to safely and effectively fly in everything from 8 to "brutal." But a kite that fits the most common range you experience and start saving your money. Buying used here at PKF is always an excellent way to maximize your budget!

I experience a lot of the same conditions where I live. I enjoy my Scorpion 16M many days but when in doubt use the Sabre 9.5M. It will sit out front in park and just let you cruise or turbo up, nice wind range and get the heart pumping.. IMHO

Welcome to the forum Daniel. You have a great area to snowkite in

I'm about 200lb and find my 8m Access II half depowered is about the same pull as my 5.5m open cell fixed bridle. The winds in Southern Alberta sound about the same as Southern Montana (7-15 mph with gusts to 30 mph). The 8m is big enough if there are a couple inches new dry snow on relatively flat terrain but I need more kite for deeper snow or hills. I often think I should have gone for the 10m.

You also need enough space to hang your kite to dry in wetter Spring conditions- my basement isn't big enough to hang the 13m VenomII but the 8 is great.

First if you need to get rid of the v2 I could take it of your hands and I suggest the 19m v2 for sale by macaboy if you never plan on taking it over 25 you shouldn't have to worry about it gentle giant if you add a 13 you'll have a set up that will take u to the 40's great depower easy to fly but get in line if you ever decide to get the thirteen

Thanks for your responses!!! I'm stoked to hear me and the canadians share similar conditions.
MT+canada= BF forevers
I hear the alesca is gentlemans kite, how forgiving is its lift?
I know from skycountry.ca you get the whole kaboodle + harness for 1100

I looked @ the frenzy, but after youtubing a few more experienced riders I feel certain I'm not ready for that kind of speed/lift. I just want a plenty of depower and something forgiving in gusty conditions.

10m is just sounding better and better

I do want something that can make it uphill in pow.. backcountry kiting is pretty dope here


I'm still undecided, and I am considering being frugal and nixxing a kite from someone one the forums.

Can anyone give me an idea of what kind of price range I'm looking @ on second hand kites?

Is it too ambitious of me to be thinking about an 11m fyx?

It's only going to be an extra hundred and change...

Can an owner give me their impressions on the possibility of the fyx as a beginner snowkite?

I learned snow kiting on Frenzys. I had flown stunt kites for years and power kites (static) for a year or more.

I never got in trouble with them. I had a few "oh poo" moments when apparent wind kicked in and took me faster quicker than I was expecting. :shocked2:

But, I was always conservative with flying conditions, conservative with kite choice and always careful to avoid anything that would loft me.

The Access (which I now have) would have made it a little less tense and would have been a little more forgiving. I don't imagine I will get rid of the Access unless my riding style gets real aggressive. Or I move over to the d'ARC side more.

Any chance you can hook up with some locals and talk to them about what they are flying. They can give you a much better idea of what works best in your local area.

There's a 9.5 sabre for sale on this forum by rdavis for $450 - that's a steal.

I love my Gin's. Very stable, good depower, can be lifty but no surprises and loads of control - worth checking out.

If you want just grunt and low lift I'd be thinking Apex or Access.

I'd go 8-10 meterish with a lower aspect kite (Apex / Access) and maybe 7.5 - 8 meterish with higher aspect kites (Yeti, Frenzy, etc.) only because you don't want any surprises. An 11m Frenzy in 30mph gusts is going to be more than a handful to learn on (even though you have FB experience).

Quote:

Originally posted by B-Roc Any chance you can hook up with some locals and talk to them about what they are flying. They can give you a much better idea of what works best in your local area. There's a 9.5 sabre for sale on this forum by rdavis for $450 - that's a steal. I love my Gin's. Very stable, good depower, can be lifty but no surprises and loads of control - worth checking out. If you want just grunt and low lift I'd be thinking Apex or Access. I'd go 8-10 meterish with a lower aspect kite (Apex / Access) and maybe 7.5 - 8 meterish with higher aspect kites (Yeti, Frenzy, etc.) only because you don't want any surprises. An 11m Frenzy in 30mph gusts is going to be more than a handful to learn on (even though you have FB experience).

Holy crap thats great advice.

As I reread my post, I think I worded it poorly. If you are looking for only 1 kite I'd go with an 8-10m lower aspect kite (access / apex) OR a 7-8m higher aspect kite (frenzy, yeti, montana, outlaw) - not both. Or i'd seriously consider the 9.5 sabre for the price alone and just fly conservatively in proper conditions (~10 - 20mph given your weight depending upon the snow coverage / depth).