Has anyone tried one of these? This looks like an interesting take on the wing
theme by removing the breakable bits with a certain reduction in the aerodynamic beauty and effect. Could also double as a floating lounge chair.
The lack of a harness might limit the flight time similar to a quad without strops as it's all arm strength. Several kites of this style have appeared but not a whole lot of first person reporting.

Quote: Originally posted by TEDWESLEY

Has anyone tried one of these? This looks like an interesting take on the wing theme by removing the breakable bits with a certain reduction in the aerodynamic beauty and effect. Could also double as a floating lounge chair. The lack of a harness might limit the flight time similar to a quad without strops as it's all arm strength. Several kites of this style have appeared but not a whole lot of first-person reporting.

You nail it Ted, all the fun bits of wing sailing without the fragile bits.

We have the WASP in demo. A couple of 4ms and a 6m. They are ridiculously easy to learn on if you have any sense of riding wind. I've had it out on the mountain board, inlines, coyotes and skis. I wasn't sold till I rode one and now I see the potential.

This is one of my kite students. He literally had the wing in his hands about 10 minutes when I shot this. He was all over the lake, upwind at will.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B7P-J0bH7fC/?utm_source=ig_web_c...

They can be fitted with a loop system for a harness and I recommend it for a long duration or high wind riding.

Let's get together and you can check them out.

I've got one that is similar. Pretty easy to use. Your arms really don't get tired as long as there is enough wind to hold it up. I plan to use it on water (liquid that is) when it gets warmer. Until then, I use it on land.



https://youtu.be/9IH7qX4vE1U?t=52

How much time do they take to pump up? And how quickly do they deflate?

Fast inflation. I pre inflate (old habits die hard) with a ryobi inflator and top of to pressure with a gauged pump. 7psi for the WASP tho at such low pressure I'm not sure I trust the guage. Ping test and wingtip bend see sufficient to indicate if it's inflated enough.

But even without pre inflation it's fast.

Chris- We're sure to meet at some point this season. Long Lake is coming along if we ever get some wind.
I see some real uses for smaller venues as well as the open spaces. Our local golf course comes to mind. It looks like a fast set up for an exploratory ride to test snow and wind conditions. Keep in touch.

No pump comes with the wing, correct, that is a separate purchase?

Highly recommend the WMFG Tall if that's the case. Pumps my LEIs in half the time of the little ones. The double version is even faster, but that seems a bit excessive to carry around for me.

One of those wings on Nahant looks like it would be really fun.

Took the 6m WASP out yesterday. It is a legit beast. Powerful enough to hold me up by sheeting in quick when the wind drops me. Very nice.

Quote: Originally posted by Feyd

Took the 6m WASP out yesterday. It is a legit beast. Powerful enough to hold me up by sheeting in quick when the wind drops me. Very nice.

So one video shows some jumping with it on the water while foiling. How realistic is that? I only see this as a viable toy in high wind. Wondering if a framed wing has more advantage if you wanted to jump with it. The original Skimbat video from many years ago was big on promoting jumping and air. Nowadays, the guys who sell them seem to discourage that.

I think most of the vids out there are done with top tier athletes, so it remains to be seen if a mere mortal can do some of this stuff.

As for safety - it seems to me it would be safer than a kitewing because it doesn't have metal (or carbon fiber) parts so it weighs less and would likely have less momentum when slamming into the board/ water or your head, etc.

Quote: Originally posted by B-Roc

Quote: Originally posted by Feyd   Took the 6m WASP out yesterday. It is a legit beast. Powerful enough to hold me up by sheeting in quick when the wind drops me. Very nice. So one video shows some jumping with it on the water while foiling. How realistic is that? I only see this as a viable toy in high wind. Wondering if a framed wing has more advantage if you wanted to jump with it. The original Skimbat video from many years ago was big on promoting jumping and air. Nowadays, the guys who sell them seem to discourage that.

The first Skimbat vids I saw about 12year + ago showed all kinds of. Hucks , long glides down hills etc. Made me want one. Agreed, the US examples now, don't come close. But then those selling them and using them here tend to be of a certain non-bucking age imo.

I've done small jumps on the 4m. Just to see what it's like. Speed is your friend. The 6m should be better if the power is any indicator.

And I've wacked myself in the head with it. No dumber than I was when I started.