Today is the first time it's not been raining for weeks. Took my blade down to the beach to fly it for the first time but it was too windy. I guessed it was blowing about 30mph. There were some kite surfers taking advantage of the weather and I asked 1 of them how fast the wind was blowing and he said about 25mph. Better to over estimate than under. I need a smaller kite. The wind direction was perfect. The dog got a decent walk out of it at least.

4m blade in 25+...would have found out a lot of things you dont want to know about...good move
get prepared...buy more kites

Yup, this is a sport that can suck you dry. I had three days at Ivanpah last November that became two days of riding as Day 2 was too windy for what I had (highest wind options at that time being a 2.5m NS3 and a 4.0m P2). Really bummed me out. I had Steffen make me a custom 1.5m NS3. It's small enough to fit in my pocket!

If there is any saving grace to having a super small traction kite for "those days" is that your outlay of cash will be a whole lot less than your investment for "those days" on the other end of the spectrum when you want something to pull you around when the winds dip below 5 knots. Now that is an expensive reserve option in your quiver. For me that equates to my 12.5m NS3. If it won't get off the ground and stay off the ground there's pretty much too little wind for anything.

Ultimate low speed weapon: 15m - 20m NPW made from the stuff kite manufacturers call their ultralight fabric.

"Yup, this is a sport that can suck you dry. I had three days at Ivanpah last November that became two days of riding as Day 2 was too windy for what I had (highest wind options at that time being a 2.5m NS3 and a 4.0m P2). Really bummed me out. I had Steffen make me a custom 1.5m NS3. It's small enough to fit in my pocket!"

You were just being a wuss.:P You should have at least tried the 2.5 straight off the bridle. You could still hook in just without lines

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre

You were just being a wuss.:P You should have at least tried the 2.5 straight off the bridle. You could still hook in just without lines

Indubitably.

Course you couldn't even see the Playa that day due to the sandstorm. Same day that BeamerBob posted about the Chevron sign getting torn to shreds right next store. But I'll take the Wuss emblem and wear it proudly.

Actually your idea of running the 2.5 right off the bar hooked in was something I (perhaps thankfully) didn't think to try at the time. Holly flying cows and tanker trucks Batman, that could have been Toad's Wild Ride.

In my mind's eye I'm seeing myself first taking a pee (downwind of course), carefully folding the kite and bridle lines in the car, hooking in while still in the car, walking out to my buggy holding the folded kite and bar in one hand, finding my buggy through the sand kicked up so bad that visibility is pretty much shot, sitting down in the bug, peeing again, putting my free hand on the chicken loop release, slowing my breathing to short controlled gasps, and then flinging the kite into the Tempest. Lord help me.

:eekdrull: