One kite that does it all?..... hardly. You need a quiver of several at least.

With that said, though.... one kite I DO own is a Paraski Flex(Canadian) which has four modes.

It uses a zipper to change size(zips material away or lets material out along leading edge)...and also can be taco-tied (tips rolled in and tied together or close-30 cm- at center) in addition to it's zipped or unzipped setting.

Looks like you're flying an empty Gyro sandwich pocket (w/tips tied together) in either of it's two 'storm'mode (high wind )settings! Oddest looking thing when it's in that setting.

Quite poor upwind ability unfortunately....and still needs about 6 - 8mph to get you to start moving. but.....

.....a wide range kite if a poor man's quiver of one.

HAS ANYONE HEARD OF ANY OTHER 'ADJUSTABLE' KITES out there or is this kite unique?:puzzled:

i am definatly going to check this out when i get home. i want something that doesnt take up a huge amount of space. unlike my quiver right now.

there was an RRD kite that had a zip on it but i cant think of the name

Never mind, I'm not a big fan of npw style kites. I just got to looking at it. It is interesting but not my style.

it has been around a few years. It was designed for skiiers. More of a drag chute type thing. Ragflappers! got no use for em'...yet. Let's see you loop it!:wee:

Vio made several variable size kites. I have a 10m from Rude Boy that seems to be having issues that I'm going to try to resolve. Seems like a bombproof wing tho and the zipper downsize system is very clever. Very Slick.

I've seen them for sale periodically.

Quote:

Originally posted by WELDNGOD it has been around a few years. It was designed for skiiers. More of a drag chute type thing. Ragflappers! got no use for em'...yet. Let's see you loop it!:wee:

....ragflapper and drag chute is right!


Yeah...forget looping it!

I just use it for skiing and on ice skates. But I can get some air with it.

Now if they made a size adjustable foil...that would be interesting!

But owning 20 different kites is more fun..if less packable!



.

YUP , my Vio kite zipped up.

Fully open it flew well. In zipped mode I think it was just to get you home if the wind picked up? EXTREMELY SMART placement of air inlets ! Tucked on the bottom edge like some newer kites. It was something crazy like 16m open , 12 zipped.

The original bar and safety were a bit primitive but they fly on any typical 4 line bar.

Quote:

Originally posted by skimtwashington Quote: Originally posted by WELDNGOD it has been around a few years. It was designed for skiiers. More of a drag chute type thing. Ragflappers! got no use for em'...yet. Let's see you loop it!:wee: ....ragflapper and drag chute is right! Yeah...forget looping it! I just use it for skiing and on ice skates. But I can get some air with it. Now if they made a size adjustable foil...that would be interesting! But owning 20 different kites is more fun..if less packable!.

some ParaskiFlex freestyle... even a kiteloop with a backloop?? on the water at 2:20 .:roll:


A kite buddy of mine rides strapless surfboards with these kites for a few of years now. They do go upwind extremely well in normal and zipped modes. Never seen him in storm mode ever.

There are usually compromises with adjustable kites when adjusted from their normal mode.

I think there is less need to own big quivers these days. I have been using a 2 ARC quiver for 10 years now. This gets me from about 10 or 12 knots to 30 plus knots.

I have a Vio Proteus 7 which zips down to 5m. And yes Feyd, they do have issues. Mine is working pretty well now, but still tip tucks and curls. Tips are very small - it is very elliptical in planform. I modded mine for a dual pulley depower rig like the newer Ozones and addeda Flysurfer type FDS 5'th line. The old bar sucks, and I totally rebuilt it more like an Ozone bar. It's a heavy kite, but the construction is impeccable. I think the scoop intakes on the bottom work quite well.

An old site, but this gent has all the mods and skinny on Viokite:
http://www.powerkite.me.uk/
Takes some digging to find stuff, but there is lots there.



krumly

Yup. He looped it! Lines are short and hard to do. It's got a swivel so you can loop and not have a twist in lines .....as same reason they can do 720 body spins.
....but unlike a foil....I bet the power drops out completely until it reaches the power window area again in the loop.

Curious......Pics of the Vio and zipper /modes?..... can't find a schematic of how it 'changes' on-line at that link.

skim -

Not the best pic, but look at the two black lines that follow the ribs spaced three cells apart from the ceneter of the kite. Those are each one half of the zipper. The zipper wraps around the profile, and you stuff the center three cells inside to decrease the projected area.

krumly

Spider Modulus, sadly Mick who used to make them passed away 2 years ago. These kites were used for polar exploration

Any know what the Paraski Flex is sparred in/uses for a leading edge spar?

The 90° bar orientation still freaks me out a bit.

Would still love to give one a go. Far enough into platypus territory that it holds a certain appeal.

ATB,
Sam