Anyone here use the GI flight 93? I'm looking for a board primarily for kiting but also for just a bit of gravity powered ATBing at a nearby state park. Any thoughts on this board? How sturdy is it, can it take a beating? I'm 150lbs fyi.

Thanks for any input!
Seeger

I have been riding the GI Fllight 93 for the past 14 months. I have the older style (2005) deck, trucks, cubes and bindings. I weigh 145#s

I think it is a great board and while I don't beat on it I would say it can take a good bit of punishment. It came with the stock light orange / yellow cubes (now # 4s) and I recently picked up the medium blue and navy blue (now # 2 and # 3 purple).

IMO, the yellows are killer for straight on speed riding but they don't allow for much carving and you won't be getting over to toe side with them.

The navy blue, now purple, are just awesome. Can carve over to toe side, slide over to toeside and leverage the board better for jumping. I have ridden down small hills with both the yellows and the (now) purples. The board is fun on a hill and either will work though I'd prefer the softer cube for more gradual hills and the stiffer for steeper.

The tires have held up well - though I just blew out a sidewall power sliding last week (likely my fault as I didn't check the tire pressure and the one that failed was low - or at least it was after I noticed the tire damage). The Talons I have are good and I think the newer (leather??) probably hold you even more snug.

Its a short board but I have no problem going straight with it and speed wobble has never been an issue. I do maintain the board pretty well and I ride on grass but I'm still on my original set of bearings and while they are a little noisy they still run smooth and fast.

I have no problem recommeding this board for someone your weight for either kite or land boarding. Plus the guys at GI are great. I've talked to Matt a couple times regarding tires, cubes, bearings, etc. Always helpful and responsive. And, I believe the deck, trucks and hubs are warrantied for life??? just so long as you don't go drilling holes in it or perform other modifications.

Excellent! Thanks for all the info, definitely leaning towards getting this board soon!

Good to hear, I'm assuming the Flight Lite 100 is much the same, all the same parts on it, Just more geared to the pie eaters amongst us.

Unfortunately college students can't be pie eaters. . .or really eaters of any sort. . . Ramen noodle eaters, I suppose.

Yeah, but you get to fly smaller kites, think of the $$$ you save.

I was debating between a Flight Lite and Flight 93 when I bought my board. I tried them both and opted for the less expensive option.

I seem to recall the Lite being a bit longer and of a slightly different contour. IIRC it was also more springy but that's likely do to its composite core. It was a super sharp looking board but I didn't feel like I needed that much board - especially since I'm a non pie eater myself :piggy:

The 93 has a 9ply maple deck, the flight light 100 is a composite deck. The 100 is longer than the 93 (hence the numbers...93cm to 100cm....the Patrol 106 is 106 cm). The 93 is also a little narrower than the 100. Other than the deck, both boards are the same. Talon bindings, crosshair hubs, ballistic tires, torsion cube suspension etc...

The 100 does have a little more flex and is lighter than the 93, this is due to the composite deck over the maple one. I don't know if one is any stronger than the other as I have not had any problem with either one. I am 240 and have never had a GI deck break on me yet (composite or maple). I have broken quite a few other manufactures decks before making the GI my only board of choice.

GI has introduced a couple of new items for their 2007 boards. The truck has been re-designed and is now powder coated with raised lettering. The torsion cube and hanger are brand new and stronger than the older cast ones. They also have the new (optional) Vegas hubs that are anodized in awesome colors and can be mix & matched to customize your board even more. The new Vegas hubs allow for a stronger wheel for increased tire pressure while providing a flexible inner hub which is flexible, not brittle. This allows for a rigid wheel with a flexible inner hub to give strength where needed without being brittle and causing failure in the hub.

Not to worry tho if you have an older style GI board. The new hubs can be added to any board as well as new hanger upgrades to put the new lighter hanger with the newly designed torsion cube onto your older boards. Right on GI!

I never realized the numbers were the board length.

Are those vegas hubs crossairs or multi-hubs?

Thanks for the info, I figure the 100 is about as big a board as I can fit in my trunk and still have it close, so I can pack a board and some kites with me in case it's windy on the way home from work.

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Originally posted by B-Roc I never realized the numbers were the board length. Are those vegas hubs crossairs or multi-hubs?

Here is a picture of them at our NABX event. They are dirty in this picture but they shine up very nicely. High gloss finish and all.

This is the red colored hub, GI shipped their gear to our shop for the NABX event and we was able to see a couple of the new colors before the dirt got to them. They had Green, Gold, White, and Red but said there was going to be some other colors as well. Anyways, here's the pic:
Webshots pic of Ground Industries new Vegas hub.

Cool. If I decide to bling out my board, I think I'll get some colored F1 MBS tires and the Vegas hubs.

Dont spend too much $$$ on bling, youre supposed to be saving for an Air Evo!

WOC is correct about the 106--seems to be indestructable! Great board and with a T3 cube upgrade to dark blue its almost like a new board. Not lighter but def more manueverable!

Just ordered the flight 93. I am extremely stoked for this board. This sport has been the fastest addiction of my life. One month ago I hade a two line Beetle Stunt kite. Now I have the Beamer 3.6 and a GI flight 93. Everywhere I go I'm watching the wind and scoping for a new place to fly. Living right on lake Michigan will hopefully offer some great wind.

Sorry, just had to share the excitement with people who will understand it, rather than those who will just offer insults and question the testosterone level of a guy who gets a high off of kites.

Quote:

Originally posted by tridude Dont spend too much $$$ on bling, youre supposed to be saving for an Air Evo!

I know, I know

Quote:

Originally posted by Jseegs Just ordered the flight 93. I am extremely stoked for this board. This sport has been the fastest addiction of my life. One month ago I hade a two line Beetle Stunt kite. Now I have the Beamer 3.6 and a GI flight 93. Everywhere I go I'm watching the wind and scoping for a new place to fly. Living right on lake Michigan will hopefully offer some great wind. Sorry, just had to share the excitement with people who will understand it, rather than those who will just offer insults and question the testosterone level of a guy who gets a high off of kites.

Sounds like youve got it bad, just like the rest of us! Let us know how you get on with boarding! Im sure the 93 is a great board. The Patrol 106 has been awesome, and after I swapped put my cubes (yellow to dark blue or #4 to #2) its a whole new board. Easier to carve, smoother transitions and better pop for jumping! Wear a lid and at minimum knee protection! Nice kite too--the 3.6 was my first 4 liner! Welcome to the madness!

Tridude, you went with a # 2 cube?

I also swapped my yellows out but I went with a # 3 (also got the # 2 with the intention of possibly riding more on the street but haven't tried them yet). I find the # 3s to be super carvey and can't believe the difference they make. After riding those I just shelved the 2s thinking they'd be way too loose. Maybe I'll give them a go.

Are you on the old or new style cubes?