I kind of figured you are buying different style kites because you enjoy figuring out what and why each is different. Nothing wrong with that if you can afford to buy and sell. My only WARNING there is not to spend too much time exploring options. This game is 90% kite control. The sooner you figure out what style suits you and your needs and master that kite the better for progression. Having spent this time on Nasa and FB you will know what I think I know. Depower is the way to go for your situation.

What LEI / depower foil kites do you have? I think you have some old C kites? You are right to be Leary of those. They are / were a very aggressive style of kite with very little depower and safety.

I really think once you see the Peaks and Longstar 2 kites you will be moved to try them? They are sort of just up your alley. A new direction and innovations to keep you thinking about design. Tons of depower and wind range. I don't have a lot of hands on experience with these kites but the LS2 looks to have a smoother profile, smoother power delivery, Less of that awful flap when over sheeted and an adjustable stopper on the trim line that I am sure you will grow to love. There may not be any LS2 kites to see at WBB? Be aware of them and look at the Peaks as a similar kite.

The traditional kites that will suit your style are Ozone Access, HQ Apex, Flysurfer Viron and such.

I am pretty confident saying that once you get moving in the buggy your #1 desire will be the long beach runs available to you. Nice low winds with a big sail will be your thing. Trim stopper set so you can " park and ride " for miles with nothing but minor trim / steering adjustment! You will come out of WBB with a lot more clarity and confidence. If you get to JIBE you will go in knowing a whole lot more about the gear that truly suits your needs.

Between now and WBB you should focus on being confident enough with your kites to start moving in the buggy when there. Start walking out turns so you have thought about them when in the buggy. If it is available, take a tandem ride and ask the pilot to talk you through what he is doing.

Thanks for all the insight Blade!

Will check out the kites you listed.

Questions of course. Can a bigger depower be flown in higher winds than a comparable ranged FB? Im not much of a light wind fan.
Like to kite in medium winds. Since Im so close to Jekyll I can basically choose based on the winds when I want to go. Im thinking a 5m is about as big as I would like to tackle. Does this sound like a reasonable maximum size for say 10-20mph?

I know there is not a one size fits all kite but if one chooses the wind range for the kite then maybe? Especially at depower
prices. I could rationalize maybe 2 kites sizes(at the moment) for different wind ranges. The most fun I have had so far
was flying my little Symphony 2.2 in 25-30mph winds earlier this spring. A pain to launch and recover but what a hoot!

The LEIs I have are older. A Cabrinha Contra 12m, a Slingshot turbo 3 and a smaller 5m something. I was thinking the 5m might be fun to play with in medium winds as its range for real power begins in the upper 20s as I remember.

Quote: Originally posted by oldben

Thanks for all the insight Blade! Will check out the kites you listed. Questions of course. Can a bigger depower be flown in higher winds than a comparable ranged FB? Im not much of a light wind fan. Like to kite in medium winds. Since Im so close to Jekyll I can basically choose based on the winds when I want to go. Im thinking a 5m is about as big as I would like to tackle. Does this sound like a reasonable maximum size for say 10-20mph? I know there is not a one size fits all kite but if one chooses the wind range for the kite then maybe? Especially at depower prices. I could rationalize maybe 2 kites sizes(at the moment) for different wind ranges. The most fun I have had so far was flying my little Symphony 2.2 in 25-30mph winds earlier this spring. A pain to launch and recover but what a hoot! The LEIs I have are older. A Cabrinha Contra 12m, a Slingshot turbo 3 and a smaller 5m something. I was thinking the 5m might be fun to play with in medium winds as its range for real power begins in the upper 20s as I remember.

Somebody just posted a (near new) 6.0m P3 and bar. Just sayin.... :D

Honestly, this would be a great kite for your conditions.

D A M N it.

Im caught with my financial pants down until I sell the Boston Whaler. Spent all my play money on what else--kites!

Quote: Originally posted by oldben

Thanks for all the insight Blade! Will check out the kites you listed. Questions of course. Can a bigger depower be flown in higher winds than a comparable ranged FB? Im not much of a light wind fan. Like to kite in medium winds. Since Im so close to Jekyll I can basically choose based on the winds when I want to go. Im thinking a 5m is about as big as I would like to tackle. Does this sound like a reasonable maximum size for say 10-20mph? I know there is not a one size fits all kite but if one chooses the wind range for the kite then maybe? Especially at depower prices. I could rationalize maybe 2 kites sizes(at the moment) for different wind ranges. The most fun I have had so far was flying my little Symphony 2.2 in 25-30mph winds earlier this spring. A pain to launch and recover but what a hoot! The LEIs I have are older. A Cabrinha Contra 12m, a Slingshot turbo 3 and a smaller 5m something. I was thinking the 5m might be fun to play with in medium winds as its range for real power begins in the upper 20s as I remember.

AHA, I have been waiting for you to say this ! DON'T be afraid of the extra size involved in depower. Trust me on this! The way a depower works it doesn't feel as crazy as you think when under the kite. Please trust me on this. I am WAYYYYYY more afraid of small FB kites and strong squirrely winds than I am of the extra kite size involved in depower.

YES, you will use a much larger depower kite in the same winds as FB. Arcs are an extreme example of this. I am just getting lit up on my 15m Syn' when folks are moving down from 5 to 4 or 3m kites. I can fly that kite from 10mph to 20+ but that is pushing the bottom end.

Asking for any kite to work as well in 10mph wind and also feel safe in 20mph wind is a stretch! Sounds like you can do it with a 6m Peak ???? But YES you should think about a 2 kite depower quiver.

I personally LOVE a 6 - 10 mph day. Flying my big beautiful 19m Silver Arrow for miles along a nice beach. Sail set and taking up all sorts of sky as I go. I am a tiny old guy on a tiny old buggy ( or blades or board ) and pretty safety conscious. If Jekyll is anything like our beaches you will eventually want a big " day saver " kite but that is down the road.

Like I suggested. You will come out of WBB with a much more clear picture of where you are going. Wait until then to make any changes in gear.

Don't waste any precious fly time on your LEI's. Time is much better spent under a kite you are likely to use learning on your buggy.

don't listen to these guys buy all the different kites you can
i will be waiting as a bottom feeder

Ok Blade

Depower is in on the back burner. How soon I can bring to a full boil remains to be seen.

You guys know bottom feeding is a habit of mine, thats what started my kite feeding frenzy!

Ben, I noticed you like the Symphony 2.2 in some strong wind, i too enjoy that same kite in crazy conditions, lol. I switched to padded straps to save my wrists and some heavier line to handle the load. The 1.3 i have is even crazier in high winds, shoots around like no tomorrow, lol.

Quote: Originally posted by adambweird

Ben, I noticed you like the Symphony 2.2 in some strong wind, i too enjoy that same kite in crazy conditions, lol. I switched to padded straps to save my wrists and some heavier line to handle the load. The 1.3 i have is even crazier in high winds, shoots around like no tomorrow, lol.

Yep the Symphony was my first "big" kite.

I have had more fun with it. I fly it on a bar(came that way). In 25+ winds
will scudd you when passing low in the power zone.
I have no doubt would pull a buggy to some extent in high winds.

Pretty good pull considering its something like 1.6sqm.

Got the Rage 4.7 yesterday. I am really blown away again by the quality.
Seems like maybe Flexi is phasing the Rage out? There are no 3.5s which I would like to have had and no indication on the site about when they may again be available.

You have to keep an eye on Amazon for the occasional Flexifoil offering. Recently they were selling Prolink handles for cheap, and another time 25m 200/100 line sets for 50.00.
Then they were gone. To quote the president "sad".

I believe Amazon takes a limited shipment and disburses it for Flexi, probably to generate interest. Whenever stock runs out they simply say that they don't know if or when there will be any more.

I tried a 1.8 Rage. So much fun is this little rocket of a kite. Even on a bar it turns and zooms like a speed foil. It has some juice too. I plan to use it with the bug when my 2.5 NS3 is pulling the bug sideways. Come on hurricane!

Yeah Ed
I have been searching all over for a 3.5, watching Amazon, Ebay and the web. Flexi doesnt have them either. Will just have to pick my winds carefully. A 3.5 is a good all purpose kite.
The little 1.8 is tempting at $149 shipped, I believe I saw it at Flexi for $169 with handles and lines + shipping of course. I have the 3.5 Cross to fill the gap, just though it would be neat to have a Rage full house.

So anybody think this could be modded to in flight adjustable with a 5th line maybe? If the C line was adjusted to the low position then linked with a yoke line, pulling in the yoke line should increase the AOA, right? Would probably require a guide or ring at the base of the main lines bridal pig tail. While not exactly depower it would be a form of power trim.

Yeah I know I over think stuff, but just sayin.

http://www.flexifoil.com/template/Manuals/Blade%20IV%20-%20T...

Quote: Originally posted by oldben

Thanks for all the insight Blade! Will check out the kites you listed. Questions of course. Can a bigger depower be flown in higher winds than a comparable ranged FB? Im not much of a light wind fan. Like to kite in medium winds. Since Im so close to Jekyll I can basically choose based on the winds when I want to go. Im thinking a 5m is about as big as I would like to tackle. Does this sound like a reasonable maximum size for say 10-20mph? I know there is not a one size fits all kite but if one chooses the wind range for the kite then maybe? Especially at depower prices. I could rationalize maybe 2 kites sizes(at the moment) for different wind ranges. The most fun I have had so far was flying my little Symphony 2.2 in 25-30mph winds earlier this spring. A pain to launch and recover but what a hoot! The LEIs I have are older. A Cabrinha Contra 12m, a Slingshot turbo 3 and a smaller 5m something. I was thinking the 5m might be fun to play with in medium winds as its range for real power begins in the upper 20s as I remember.

Ben, I recommend listening to everyone pointing you towards the Ozone Access. I had the pleasure of flying the 14 meter Access in a very janky wind field near Chicago in winds ranging from 8mph to 18mph and even on the higher end, it was probably the smoothest kite I have ever flown. If I were in your position, I would look into a 10-12m Access for your wind range of 10-20 mph. 10m sounds like a big kite, but I promise it only feels large when you look at it spread out on the ground. Once you get it in the air, it is such a docile and forgiving kite, even in stronger winds.

Thanks DK!

I have been looking at depowers and really like the Ozone!

The fact they are in the paraglider/speed wing business factors large with me on design and quality.

Sounds like the 10m is the one I should be looking at.

Thanks a lot guys for all the advice and help!!

Jibes gettin close!! Hope to see it all then.