So i got a Montana II 7.0m. I love this kite as this is my first depower and training on it and all with ATB. I get a little scared with this kite in 18+mph now i know that this might be a dream for some people. but the the thing just scares the crap outta me, maybe it's because the depower is limited and i still don't feel comfortable even fully depowered in that wind. . so far i have had it out 3 or 4 times in 15-20mph winds and everytime it's really scary for me cause i have to be careful how hard i pull on the bar or i get tossed. Lets say for now I have no intention on going out in those wind conditions cause i am still a noob. Should I even be looking at the Montana 9.5m for my comfortable days?? anywhere from 10-16mph or is that just the same as having the 7m in 15+ winds??????? any advice would be appreciated. and I am not specifically looking at just Montana, i understand there are better kites with more depower. but the Montana is a little more Affordable for what it does.

That wind range can be a handful at times for a depower that size until your really comfortable on the board. ALways better to be a little underpowered while learning, and let the apparent wind give you more power as you get rolling along. The 10-16 range might be perfect for you then with that kite for developing board skills. I find my depowerables with pulleys really don't start to come to life until around 12mph winds... below that I stick with fixed bridled kites.

Are you taking advantage of the trim strap ?

Try setting it at about 85% depower in those winds.

Try not to make big jerky motions in and out with the bar.

Keep working on it ! Nothing like fly time to help with the skills.

Yes Sir I am taking advantage of the trimp strap. I think though when i have been out in those winds it's always been gusty at least it was yesterday. and i everytime i had the trip set the wind would change and the kite would drop out of the sky and then pop up again with huge force, at least enough to scare the crap out of me and give me whip lash LOL.......Now about the 9.5m I feel comfortable in the 12-15mph would that be good for me or is it going to be like playing with the 7m in 15+ winds? i weigh 145lbs i know they are close in size but if i got the 9.5 i would sell the 7m

DG, I think that its the gusty winds giving you trouble and not the kite. If the winds are gusty enough that the kite is dropping from the sky at one minute and yanking you off your feet the next then its no wonder you are having trouble.

I'm a bit confused as to why you think the 9.5 will be better than the 7m. Are you saying that the 7m won't fly until 15 mph and at that point it's already scary? If thats the case then going to the 9.5 won't fix anything. Sure it might fly in slightly lower wind but you're going to feel overpowered at a lower wind speed so the 10 mph gusting to 15 mph (or whatever) will probably be just as scary as the 15 mph gusting to 20 mph on the 7m. Plus it will be more kite to handle and slower turning, etc.

What you really need are some steady winds so you can get it up in the air and fly it without getting hit with gusts. Also if you ARE saying that this kite won't fly below 15 mph then that sounds like a problem to me. I would expect that kite to fly in 10 mph without a problem. If it won't then maybe there is an issue with the kite. I have an 8m Access and I think it will fly at about 8mph (I think). I could hold it down up to 20 mph or so on skiis, but I bet that even 15 mph would feel way overpowered for me on the ATB since I'm just learning to ride it.

Keep the kite. Ditch the gusty winds while you learn to fly it.

I'm not familiar with Montanas. I find that my 7 can do the work of a larger kite because it is smaller and faster. I can spank that baby around creating my own wind / power when my buddy is stuck trying to get the slow speed of his 13 to produce.

I would suggest taking a bit more time with the 7m and really mastering it ! It's supposed to be a good kite !

NOW ...... Tell us more about this STOLE CROSSFIRE :wow:
How did that play out ?
I left my ATB behind my car and drove away. Stupid STUPID me. The person who picked it up didn't steal it so much as find it but no one called the phone # I had on it

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Originally posted by kiteNH DG, I think that its the gusty winds giving you trouble and not the kite. If the winds are gusty enough that the kite is dropping from the sky at one minute and yanking you off your feet the next then its no wonder you are having trouble. I'm a bit confused as to why you think the 9.5 will be better than the 7m. Are you saying that the 7m won't fly until 15 mph and at that point it's already scary? If thats the case then going to the 9.5 won't fix anything. Sure it might fly in slightly lower wind but you're going to feel overpowered at a lower wind speed so the 10 mph gusting to 15 mph (or whatever) will probably be just as scary as the 15 mph gusting to 20 mph on the 7m. Plus it will be more kite to handle and slower turning, etc. What you really need are some steady winds so you can get it up in the air and fly it without getting hit with gusts. Also if you ARE saying that this kite won't fly below 15 mph then that sounds like a problem to me. I would expect that kite to fly in 10 mph without a problem. If it won't then maybe there is an issue with the kite. I have an 8m Access and I think it will fly at about 8mph (I think). I could hold it down up to 20 mph or so on skiis, but I bet that even 15 mph would feel way overpowered for me on the ATB since I'm just learning to ride it. Keep the kite. Ditch the gusty winds while you learn to fly it.

My montana isn't giving me any trouble at all, it flies fine. actually i love it. I was only wondering about the gusty situation. as far as the question i had with the 9.5 i was only wondering that so i could get a little more Umphhh!! like higher jumps with the 10-15mph winds. Reading up on them it seems like the 9.5 is the all around kite,and what most prefer. I started with the 7m because i got it pretty much stolen on ebay, guy forgot to put a reserve and i got it for like $200 back in February and also I wasn't familiar with depower and this was going to be my trainer so i wasn't sure of the power that these kites could produce. and felt it be a little safer to go with the 7m...I hope this clears it all up. my mind races faster than i type and can be confusing with multiple questions.:D

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Originally posted by Bladerunner I'm not familiar with Montanas. I find that my 7 can do the work of a larger kite because it is smaller and faster. I can spank that baby around creating my own wind / power when my buddy is stuck trying to get the slow speed of his 13 to produce. I would suggest taking a bit more time with the 7m and really mastering it ! It's supposed to be a good kite ! NOW ...... Tell us more about this STOLE CROSSFIRE :wow: How did that play out ? I left my ATB behind my car and drove away. Stupid STUPID me. The person who picked it up didn't steal it so much as find it but no one called the phone # I had on it

Thanks Bladerunner i think i will stick with the 7m for now unless an opportunity pops up for something bigger. Ok as far as my poor stolen crossfire 4.0 only 2months old brand new. Back in February I had just gotten my Montana 2 7m and i wanted to try it out. So i took out the Montana and the Crossfire 4m(Just in case I don't like the Montana) out and headed out to the field. As far as i know there are no Power Kiters in my Immediate area, only Rev fliers who are X Buggiers (too many Surgeries and they say they are too old for that) Phhhhhttttt!!! never too old to fly. so everytime i fly it seems to be a show stopper. traffic piles up by the beach everyone's rubber necking. Bunch of teenagers watching me and wondering what i am gonna do with my Montana. asking bunch of questions blah blah blah. wind is 12mph Montana goes up I shoot down the feild like 20ft scudding. i have a huge grin and look back. the punks are gone and so is my Crossfire still in the bag.........I didn't even enjoy my maiden flight with the Montana becasue i was so furious. And i couldn't just put the Montana down and chase them. I didn't know what to do. :flaming: Till this day i have no idea whatever became of that kite. I never see it flying and i have tried looking at feilds as i drive around doing errands. I was addicted to Ebay and Craigslist looking to see if it was being sold. I miss that kite. Now all i got is the 2.4m Crossfire. I wish they would of stolen that instead. I never use it. I have used it once since i got my Montana and I forgot how Zippy it is and how exhausting it is. i think i outgrown it and as far as using it with the ATB on windy or gusty days. Forget it. TOOO FASSSSTTTTT for my taste.

your on the board, then the kite drops, then it loads up and snatches you, that's the scary part, right?

sounds as though you are running into the kite, work the board upwind sooner keep tension with the kite, as you work it upwind heelside find a stable spot for the kite and a good line for you on the board.

remember this and practice it. send the kite down into the power zone with hard heelside edging upwind,, send the kite up towards 12 oclock ease off of the heelside let it roll out then send the kite back down again with heelside upwind edging. repeat repeat repeat get the timing down. (you have to move the board as fast as the kite moves). if your gonna run down wind keep the load on the kite or it is going to drop.
more board time eases the fears