Gin have new snowkite coming before winter 2012/13 .... Gin Sherpa......
Bright colors and nice action video in link below ......

http://vimeo.com/41290984

Sizing and more info coming soon .......

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Now that's some eye candy......me likey!!

Hmmmmm... Need more info! Looks pretty sweet tho

I know the topic comes up now and then but what is it that makes this kite " Snowkite " specific ?

Seems to me most kites that are good snowkites are good ATB ( and for me Blade ) kites ? Kind of limits the market a little bit selling only to the snowkite crowd ?? :dunno:

:Ange09:

Quote:

Originally posted by Bladerunner I know the topic comes up now and then but what is it that makes this kite " Snowkite " specific ?

For lack of a better euphemism, let's chalk it up to "marketing zealotry."

Constant source of frustration that manufacturers segment their kites into artificial cubby holes. Especially true, when it's reflected on their website and impairs navigation.

Would prefer it if they just segment by number of lines, FB/Depower, Open-Cell/Close-Cell, Lifty/Not-Lifty and let fliers figure out the usage.

Things that might earmark a snowkite are resistance to inlets fouling, resistance to snow/ice build up on the safeties, and ability to use safeties/adjustments with gloves/mittens on, but there's very little reason not to have those things to be featured across the board.

ATB,
Sam

Thanks IndiGo !

I am not clear what you mean by resistance to inlet fouling ? + what bar set up is ideal for mittens ? + what system is resistant to snow fouling it ? I am thinking you mean cleats over strap but am unsure what is ice resistant ?

Skycountry have an amazing tight mesh covering the inlets on the AlaSCa . Is this what you mean ? I know I had real issues with my Bullets + Blade on snow. The open mesh would grab snow and ball it up inside the kite.

The only kite I have flown that is marketed as a snowkite is the AlaSCA. It comes with pretty standard bar. I think the one I flew was on an Ozone bar with a cleat depower strap and standard mushroom safety.

It seems the same things that make a foil a good beach kite are the same as what makes a good snow kite ? Resistance to sand / snow fouling the kite + controls.

To me, snowkite simply means "not for use on water". IMO there is no real distinction between a snow and land kite. Kites can be used on water or kites are not recommended for water (meaning: better on snow or land as they will sink if they get wet).

My Gins are all "snow kites". My flysurfer was not. The trimmer system and speed system on the pulse 2 and eskimo 3 are nearly identical and the safety system is similar but Gin's is way more refined. So what made the Gin's a snowkite and the pulse a snow / water kite??? Nothing from a control / bar / speed / trimmer system. One simply had closed cells and the other not.

Answer: distincting to the non-distinct where to throw thar monies

"Things that might earmark a snowkite are resistance to inlets fouling, resistance to snow/ice build up on the safeties, and ability to use safeties/adjustments with gloves/mittens on, but there's very little reason not to have those things to be featured across the board."

True. All the things that would make it "snowkite" specific would probably make it good just overall.

I agree with Indy and B-Roc, it's marketing hype run amuck.

How many of these manufacturers really know much about snowkiting in general? All I do is ride snow. I know what features I would like to see in a kite for my purposes and very few would not be a benefit for any land base traction kite.

Pigeon holing with a lable like "snowkite" is maybe an attempt to build sales but as there are relatively few snowkiters in the world I would say you have a better chance of turning non-snowkiters off.:ticking: