I'm looking for a trainer to get me into snowkiting. A 3m 3 or 4 line kite with a bar. As a kite large enough for snowkiting will be to big for training, I'm looking for something that is easy to start with, will teach me as much as possible, be fun to fly evenemang when ive used it for some time and be as close as possible to a "real" snowkite (hooked in, depower aso). The main use will be training, but it would be nice if I also could use the kite on the ice or with skis on high wind hardpack days. I weigh 180 lb, I'm a good skier, and where I live it's not very windy.

Kites I've been looking at (with price in gbp) are:
ozone flow with bar. 260gbp
Flow 3m with turbo bar 297gbp
Rush pro trainer 300 140gbp
HQ Scout II 189 gbp

I've also looked at hornet and Beamer, but the ones listed above is more interesting. when it comes to price vs reviews.

The flow is very much more expensive, but seems to be the most popular.

I kinda like the idea of a HQ Scout II. Crossover bar system to help in the turns. Gives you more of a four line on a bar feel. The Rush Pro kites are just two line kites with a third line for reverse launching. While good for learning how to fly, won't quite give you the same feel that you are looking for to get into snow kiting. IMO

Having not flown the Ozone Flow 3, I cannot speak for it. There has been plenty of praise for it, would make a good high wind kite once you have gotten some time on your belt. Just as the Scout would.

The ones you have listed there are all pretty nice kites .... probably the least cost is the HQRush Pro trainer ... 3 line on control bar with excellent safety system and easy relaunch .... as a newbie, that would be my choice ... shame to spend a bunch just to find out it's not your thang!

What does "not very windy" mean in terms of average windspeed. If your average winds are low ... say 4 - 5 MPH, you may need to go bigger to actually pull yourself .... like 7 or 8m ..... either way, trainer first is a very good idea .... you'll see in my sig the Vibe I chose to train on is pretty small .... looking for more after just a few flights

Anyways, there are lots of websites where you can get historical weather data for your area... some forum compadres will chime in with ideas.

I am new too, but that is my 2cents worth .... welcome to kiting and if I may suggest .... by a bigger wallet....LOL

5m apex?
I think it would be enough to get you having fun w/ a little risk. Not enough to kill you.
And THAT would make a good high wind kite @ 180 pounds.

spend a little more moola. you're gonna want more kite when you get the feva

others to look @,
access <brits sell these all the time. stable kite! 6m would suit you awesome.com
or buy an old inflatable/foil on powerkites.com

" And Maybe skates" ?

Are you talking roller blades on Tarmac ( how I started out ), off road rollerblades or ice skates?
For ice skates or tarmac I suggest you stick with 3m rush pro or Scout even with low winds. For off road rollerblades and snow you might want to consider the 4m Scout? These are less expensive but will serve your needs.

I got my 1st real runs on snow with my 3m, 3 line trainer but it was very strong winds. Had a HOOT with it on tarmac! Either of the less expensive kites will still get you started but the crossover + chance to choose 4m make the Scout worth the bit more IMHO.

Use the difference in cost to buy a harness!

Talk to Angus at www.coastalwindsports.com. He has a 3.3m Buster Soulfly and a bar for an awesome price. Fly it like a 2 line kite with the advantage of a 4 line. You wont be able to beat the quality or the price.

Quote:

m apex? I think it would be enough to get you having fun w/ a little risk. Not enough to kill you. And THAT would make a good high wind kite @ 180 pounds.

Actually, I was thinking the exact same thing. If I was forced to have just one kite, it would have to be the Apex 5m. I can get going from about 12 knots in the bugg up to about 22 knots or so. It's as gentle and stable a kite as you are going to get and probably equivalent in power to a 3m fb foil. Easier to learn (imho) than a foil on a turbo bar and with a bit of depower, easier to ease off in the gusts. They are not an expensive kite but you will need a harness (but, you'll need that anyway with the turbo bar).

In light winds, it would only take a few hours flying to get comfy with it. I've flown the Apex II & III back to back and really couldn't tell much difference, so if you can get a II for a good deal.....

Quote:

Originally posted by John Holgate so if you can get a II for a good deal.....

AND THE 5m II IS PINK!!!!

SO COOL!

Thanks! Many god advices. I think the Rush and the Flow is out of the list. My idea was/is that if I get the kite fever I'll eventually get a 6 and 11 depower kite. This one is just for learning. The Apex would really be nice, but it's a bit expensive since im not sure this is my sport, especially since I have to get a harness (?). I guess the 3m Scout will be fine. Probably it won't be strong enough to pull me on skis, but where I live there are lots of lakes with god ice, and on ice 3m will be a handful. Thanks again for the advise. This has occupied my thoughts too long...

Not trying to confuse the issue, but here's a pic of a friend snowkiting on skis with the Rush Pro 300( I think it was a vIII), in about 25 - 30 mph wind.

Quote:

Originally posted by John Holgate

pink bumblebee!!! <333

haha damn. that is one smooth flying kite.
I'm glad I was planning on picking one up

HQ Scout for sure based on already having a crossover bar, excellent quality kite and lines and an amazing price. Flows are nice (I have a 5m on bar) but they are expensive.

Don't forget the Peter Lynn Impulse. Both the 2 and 3m are great kites, on a bar, and priced well. Of course you can get any of the Peter Lynn kites with a bar instead of or in addition to handles.

Jaymzmn, you've had both Scout and Flow. What's the difference? Guess the scout is a bit more of a static flying beginners kite? The downside with the scout is that I can't hook in since the bar doesn't have a loop.

The Scout JI comes with a harness loop so that you may use a harness.

Hmm. Now I've found a used 5 m Apex 3, ad a Apex 2 at discounted price (it's Pink!) Isn't it a too big step to go from some traner flying right up to a depower kite? Off corse a 5 m depower is not very strong in ligtht winds, but there still is more to think about than flying unhooked on a fixed bridle kite.

I have some old climbing harneses that I can use so that is not a cost, and I probably have more use of a depower in the future, as you said above. How strong winds do I need to ski properly with a 5 m (@ 180 lb)?

Actually the 5m Apex is a very stable, gentle kite as long as you fly it in the right wind range. Very easy to fly and very forgiving. The 5m size would not be too much a jump in my opinion, (not like you are going from a 3m kite to a 19m Speed 3.

I have never used one on snow, I can not say how much wind you would need to get going.

If you get a depower, practice, practice, practice the safety release and understand how it works. Once you get it figured out, practice it some more than make sure it operates properly each time before you get set to fly!

Yep, won't take you long to come to grips with the Apex. I tend to pull the bar in when I'm turning and let it out again to speed up the kite and reduce the power as it goes back across the window. I've never been on snow with a kite. In the buggy I need about 12 knots to start having some fun but you'll be static flying it much less than that for a start. It has about the same power as a low aspect 3m fixed bridle. Damn good little kite.

PS: rock climbing harness should be fine. My Ozone SB harness is almost identical to some of my rock climbing harnesses. Just clip into the Apex chicken loop with a 'biner. - or thread the chicken loop straight into the harness - which will make it a little easier to reach the safety. Which is something to practice - when you need to hit the safety, you don't want to have to think about it, it should be reflex.