So this is my first post on the forum but i have read dozens of other similar posts. So lets get down to it, Im looking for my first depower kite. I weigh 145 lbs, the winds are usually between 7-15 mph and im inland so its gusty. I mainly landboard but in the winter I will snowkite, did I mention its gusty because i got an example for you. The wind speeds this morning were 14mph with 32mph gusts. With that in mind i want to start trying to jump on my landboard. I currently have a HQ rush pro 350 and it can pull me along and what not but doesn't have power to get me airborne(or I'm not doing it right). I often fly alone so i need something that can be launched and landed solo. I ride in a fairly large park on a big grass field that's not the smoothest. Okay i hope that's enough information for someone to give me some ideas.

Oh and I'm a graduate student so it has to be on the cheaper side, so used is probably my best bet.

oops double post where is the delete post button....

If you're looking for a depower kite to deal with gusts, your two best choices are either the HQ Apex or the Ozone Access. They are stable and handle gusts well because of their low aspect ratio. They won't help you jump that well but they are a lot safer than the more high-end depower kites, especially for your wind conditions.

The Apex has a lower price (all sizes are within the sub-$1000 range) but the Access is supposedly higher in quality and performance, and therefore higher in price.

Size-wise, you may want to start small and get an 8-meter or 6 to deal with more dangerous conditions.

Any time the gusts are 2x the wind speed you are going to have problems. I hate those days. You need to either size for the gusts (which I do) and be prepared to struggle in the lulls or size for the lulls and be prepared to hold on or punch out in the gusts. If those are your common conditions I'd say an arc is probably best but those require a bit more technique and skill in the self-launching and landing dept than foils (at first).

Quote: Originally posted by B-Roc

If those are your common conditions I'd say an arc is probably best but those require a bit more technique and skill in the self-launching and landing dept than foils (at first).

Are you insisting that a Peter Lynn arc kite can handle gusts just as good as an Apex or an Access? The arcs' aspect ratios are much higher than the other two kites mentioned.

Quote: Originally posted by Sier_Pinski

Quote: Originally posted by B-Roc   If those are your common conditions I'd say an arc is probably best but those require a bit more technique and skill in the self-launching and landing dept than foils (at first). Are you insisting that a Peter Lynn arc kite can handle gusts just as good as an Apex or an Access? The arcs' aspect ratios are much higher than the other two kites mentioned.

I'm not insisting anything about arcs given I'm a foil flier. If he is going the foil route and wants low/no lift and stability in gusts he'd be wise to follow your advise. However, I do believe that any open cell foil (I have owned an Access and flown other peoples Access of various sizes and models all the way back to the original version) is subject to shudder, fold, collapse and reopen in conditions as turbulent as described. In those conditions, I think a closed cell kite or LEI could have an advantage in the air though not so much in the launching and landing dept. another thing to keep in mind is even though arcs have a higher aspect ratio they have a smaller projected area then foils.

B-roc is right winds that gust so high are a real problem.

You MUST size your kite for the gusts ! 14 - 32 are some major gusts. 32mph winds require a depower of about 5 - 7m . 5 - 7 isn't a lot of kite for 14mph but you have little choice ? Unfortunately no single kite does it all.

Without a doubt the most injuries I have seen / heard of have been directly related to gusts. Respect them or they will hand it to you ! All too often people go out with too much kite because it is all they have.

If for some reason you buy a larger depower , use your Rush when winds will hit 32 !

... Gusty conditions will always slow down your progression .... Try find big open space for cleaner wind or drive to the shore if possible .... I give up on inland riding after discovering difference of clean wind .... I drive about 1.5h each way now to get there and its worth it ... Gusty winds will hurt you at some point if conditions are 14-32mph plus some turbulence .....
.... If this is your only option then go for an Arc .... This kite really work wonders when riding inland ... then another option would be inflatable kite that will hold its shape when turbulent wind kicks in and works way better then any bridled foil in gusty conditions, but you need to be a skilled pilot to keep it away from ground, crashing it is costly ... Both of those kites are good for jumping, I loved getting air with my Synergy .... but after riding inflatables for so long now I would choose to ride them inland every time ....

So when u say inflatables u mean lei. Also do arcs suffer from the same crashing damage that an lei has on land.

Quote: Originally posted by smalls

So when u say inflatables u mean lei. Also do arcs suffer from the same crashing damage that an lei has on land.

Yes he means LEI. Others call them tubes or inflatable.

Arcs are far more forgiving that inflatables. The 'auto zenith' on Arcs make it harder to crash as its natural tendency is to climb to the top of the wind window directly above your head (auto zenith). This will happen even when you let go of the control bar which is useful when learning.

Launching takes some practice as I'm finding out.
An LEI holds air in a bladder which is prone to puncturing if crashed.

I just got my Venom 13 in the mail today, Looking forward to trying to get the thing in the air. I guess we're in good company, RedSky!

Quote: Originally posted by SpecialK

I just got my Venom 13 in the mail today, Looking forward to trying to get the thing in the air. I guess we're in good company, RedSky!

Here is an out dated video on arc set up for you.

Most of the stuff applies to all arcs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dZihDQYA1w

Here is another oldie from Carltb. Notice how he choses to launch hooked in. Kite companies don't say to do that but I prefer to launch that way. It helps prevent overfly. Might want to start unhooked but ?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAbfkrRyjus

Here is a more up to date one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWBA8OCQ0k0&list=UUnPDNLq...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9fZGGJuyuI&list=UUnPDNLq...

Quote: Originally posted by Sier_Pinski

Quote: Originally posted by B-Roc   If those are your common conditions I'd say an arc is probably best but those require a bit more technique and skill in the self-launching and landing dept than foils (at first). Are you insisting that a Peter Lynn arc kite can handle gusts just as good as an Apex or an Access? The arcs' aspect ratios are much higher than the other two kites mentioned.

I'm more than happy to insist that an Arc handles gusts better than an Apex or Access. We sell and use all three and when it's dirty wind, as well as the Apex and Access do in gusty, they can't come close to the gust handling of an Arc. The AR isn't much of an influence in this situation. Not like if you we flying an Elf for example.

Our gust factor is almost always double the baseline wind speed. This is why there are so many Arcs in use in this area. For most people looking for less "exotic" kites the Apex and Access are excellent kites for gusty conditions. But that comparison is based on kites in the similar flavor. For example an Access is a better gust handler than a Frenzy. But comparing Arcs to an Apex is apples to oranges. The arcs are in a class all their own in my opinion. The only kite that comes close to the Arcs in the ability to manage our gust factor is the Flysurfer Peak. But the Peak is more of an "active" management situation, allowing the bar to sheet in and out as the gusts force you to dump power, where an Arc does it by virtue of it's flexibility. It acts as a suspension system in a gust, absorbing shock and deforming. Looks terrible from a distance but often looks and rides smoothly from the pilot's perspective.