to try and learn to kite ski, I have several smaller traction kites but I don't think we get enough wind to ski behind them. Or should the torch just stay on the water?

I'm no kitesurfer, and never heard of the torch, had to google for it. It's been made at least since 2005, you might want to include the year of the model so the kitesurf folks can help you out better.

I'm no kiteskier either, but I think there was a thread (using tubekites on snow) a while back, I remember the issues were avoiding crashes and ice, otherwise OK aside from the general semi-disposable nature of tube kites.

It's still a couple months until winter, my suggestion (totally imho!) would be to research a bit more and make darn sure that's the best kite for what you want to do, a bit of patience can really pay off, and of course i realize that's part of what you're doing by making your post!

sorry, not much help, really, best of luck with your kiting adventures...

Torches are very good C kites. The die hard C kite flyers Loved them and that is why they came out so many years .
The 2nd place finisher in a recent contest at Squamish was a friend who still rides Torches.

4 line C kites are a pain on snow. Avoid them. 5 line is O.K.

C kites don't have near as big a wind range as Bow, sle, foil or arcs.

SO ...... about the only reason to go with an older C kite would be money:?:

You should be able to pick up a complete one with bar and lines around the $200 mark ? The newer the model the better. A 5 line 8m Torch wouldn't make a bad kite for snowkiting with experience.

Recently a 9m O.R One kite sold for $300 around here. A kite like that would be SO worth saving the extra $100.
You have to deal with some pretty bad winds snowkiting so the better depower and gust absorbing of the bow / hybrids / arcs really is valuable.

After all that I gues what I'm saying is yes, you can use a Torch and yes 8m is a good size to move to but NO it is not exactly the 1st choice for snow kites.

Hope that helps

Thanks lads, good explanation Bladerunner... you probably know the kite as it's in the Vancouver area as well, the guy has a 06 8m and a 06 10m on the skypilot board.

Wish I wasn't so far from the action as I wold love to spend some time with more experienced guys, also believe it won't be too long before I want to start kite surfing as well and thought this kite may be a nice cheap way to learn what the inflatables are all about.

Looks like I have some reading to do about the differences between, bow, sle, foil or arcs and get myself a little more educated.