Had another great trip down to Sandy Point with the Peak 2's recently. I'm finding them more and more a really friendly to fly but excellent
performance for your money kite. I still haven't had the 4m out in ideal conditions yet, but I did get a few km's on it at Shallow Inlet and one
thing I'm convinced of, is that it gets better with a few hours of flying. I think it's a combination of learning the kite and materials/bridles
'settling in' over a bit of time. I thought the 4m was a little on/off in it's power delivery when it was new and would flap with only a little bar
out, but now I'm finding it much more progressive in it's depower and much less prone to flutter. Either way, I'm liking them more and more. They
didn't get a lot of 'air' time in the video, but Trevor's 9m P1 gets a bit of screen time. Check out the Speed Week video in the 'buggying' section.
Christmas came early for me. The other day a flysurfer peak 2, 15M showed up at my doorstep. Wind_dog alerted me to someone on Ikitesurf.com that
had it for sale.
I cannot wait to take it out and try it out. I have mainly flown fixed bridals but wanted something bigger and lighter for those low wind days.
Christmas came early for me. flysurfer peak 2, 15M
That would be one heck of a fine present in my house too! Only catch is they don't make a 15m. I'm not trying to mess with you or be snarky, it's
just that I really want a 15m Peak and hold out some hope (however dim) that the soon-to-be-forthcoming P3s will expand in size to incorporate this.
Alas, the P2s only come in 4, 6, 9, and 12m sizes. I've heard from some folk in Australia that this is highly unlikely so I'll just have to keep on
dreaming. If you did in fact land the 12m P2 then that is a fine kite indeed and a fantastic Christmas gift!
Oops, 12M. And i should say Christmas present to myself...
I had figured you meant the 12m. A fine gift to yourself nonetheless! Have fun with it. There are a lot of folks on this forum (myself included) that
truly appreciate this kite as a low wind session saver.
I reckon this picture would be from FS, since you're still waiting for winter in your area (..?) Or did you get to try disthing? Would you know
anything about sizes or any changes from Peak 2 ? :puzzled:
*edit; found some info on russian FS site; google translated;
I was able to get my 12M out for a little bit yesterday for some static flying. With light winds it flew great, lots of pull, lots of fun. The rain
started to fall and the wind was picking up so I decided to cut my first test flight short. Also my daughter and dog were getting wet.
While packing it up I noticed there was a knot in a black line about 20 feet from the handle. Is this knot there on purpose to limit how far the bar
travels if the safety release is activated? Or should this knot be removed?
For packing up, when i first got the kite it was folded in half and was rolled with the bar starting from the tips. When trying to repeat this in the
wind the folded base of the kite was catching the wind. Any suggestions on how to wrap up best in the wind?
I was able to get my 12M out for a little bit yesterday for some static flying. With light winds it flew great, lots of pull, lots of fun. The rain
started to fall and the wind was picking up so I decided to cut my first test flight short. Also my daughter and dog were getting wet.
While packing it up I noticed there was a knot in a black line about 20 feet from the handle. Is this knot there on purpose to limit how far the bar
travels if the safety release is activated? Or should this knot be removed?
For packing up, when i first got the kite it was folded in half and was rolled with the bar starting from the tips. When trying to repeat this in the
wind the folded base of the kite was catching the wind. Any suggestions on how to wrap up best in the wind?
The knot is there on purpose! I made the mistake of undoing the lines, undoing the knot, got scolded (rightly so!) and replaced the knot. You are
correct, the knot is to keep the bar from traveling too far up the line if you release the chicken loop under load.
As for folding up in the wind I wish you the greatest of success. I've struggled with that too. For better or for worse I fold all of my Peaks the
same way. I secure the kite, figure 8 the lines to the bar up to the bridles, roll the bridle lines around one end of the bar until I've taken up
enough bridle to rest the bar in the center of the trailing edge. Next, I fold each wingtip to the center. I repeat the fold in to the center with
the remainder of the kite until I have the kite the width of the bar centered. This takes more folds with the 12m than the 4m, etc. I then fold the
kite half way towards the bar and then roll the kite around the bar until it is a smooth cylinder, sort of like rolling up a sleeping bag. This
cylinder then gets pushed into a similarly shaped stuff sack (long, skinny cylinder). I can get all four Peaks stored like this into a single large
backpack or split them into two smaller backpacks for easy transport.
Yes, this is a wholly different way of packing up the kite than they show in the flysurfer videos. Their videos show the folding similar to the way
you described. Delightfully, the videos show the kite getting folded up in what looks like a wind still day. As you know only too well things go
differently when there is a lot of gusty, shifty wind at ground level messing up your routine. I carry three weighted sacks that I sometimes use to
pin the kite in various positions as I go through my packing routine.
I'm sure folks reading my thread post here are cringing at my technique, but it works for me. I'm open to better methods if somebody wants to share.
Bottom line, 12m of single skin fury can be a bunch to handle on the ground packing up. I've found that typical twin skin kites are far easier to
pack up size-for-size. Just more structure to them. Good luck!
I just un wound my lines around in my house... The knot is a single overhand knot in the center safety line (fls?). I will leave it there.
Excuse the re-write, I cannot figure out how to do quotes. I know i have done it before at least in u2u's.
So when you pack, you are upwind with the kite down wind, you have the bar on the trailing edge of the kite (bridals neatly in the center I imagine).
Fold the sides in until the same width as the bar. Then you fold the leading edge down to the bar at the trailing edge and roll the remainder up
around the bar.
As the newest owner of the Peak1 6m formerly known as Ssayre's,
I have been waiting for a chance to take it for a spin.
Yesterday was too windy, 85 mph, gusts to 105 at nearby Mount Bachelor.
Today was 0 mph gusting to 8 mph but I tried anyway down in the flats..
This was my first time with any kite on skis;
2 feet of medium density powder topped
with a breakable crust. Good challenge.
Skinned out, waited for wind gusts, hot launched and
got a few rides, a few turns, a little uphill and
one kerplunk. Now addicted!!!
Peaks are my goto for buggies and now skis.
Looking forward to more wind next time and I'll carry
a bigger peak2 as well.
Always on the steep part of the learning curve.
Gin Shaman2 6m, 12m
Flysurfer Peak1 6m, Peak2 9m,Peak4, 3m
Misc. other kites, never getting out of their bags.
Riding a Libre Fullrace with an AQR on the beach
Riding a Blokart inland when gust factor > 4
And a couple Manta Singles for friends to ride.
As the newest owner of the Peak1 6m formerly known as Ssayre's,
I have been waiting for a chance to take it for a spin.
Yesterday was too windy, 85 mph, gusts to 105 at nearby Mount Bachelor.
Today was 0 mph gusting to 8 mph but I tried anyway down in the flats..
This was my first time with any kite on skis;
2 feet of medium density powder topped
with a breakable crust. Good challenge.
Skinned out, waited for wind gusts, hot launched and
got a few rides, a few turns, a little uphill and
one kerplunk. Now addicted!!!
Peaks are my goto for buggies and now skis.
Looking forward to more wind next time and I'll carry
a bigger peak2 as well.
That 6m size is just a blast. It produces good power in the entire mid range and can really be flung around much better than the larger sizes. Just
an all around fun kite.
With the additional brake crossover strap that mounts between the left and right lines, do you mount it so it hangs below the grey/black front lines
or above it? Above it would make more sense to have it above when pulling the strap to reverse launch but below would make it hang better while
flying.
Been a while since I've posted here. I just tried out my Peak 2 12m for the first time a few days ago. Man, that thing is a joy to fly. We had 20 km/h
winds (about 11 knots) and still being inexperienced I had it under full depower going downwind and it still had lots of pull.
Only problem is that the plastic on the chicken loop cracked. I was thinking I might just buy some new tubing to replace it, but it doesn't look like
it's easy to get the old stuff off.
They don't seem to mention anything about new sizes for the Peak 3. I'm tempted to get rid of my Speed for a peak, decisions.. Really miss my old
Peak.
If only they could somehow increase the lift of the new Peak 3. There was a video posted though:
In regards to adding more lift to the Peaks. In my opinion, doing so has been and would be counter to the initial design intent of the Peak, which is
a purpose built alpine touring kite. IMO they pretty much nailed it with the Peak 1. Low lift, packable, broad wind range and extremely simple bar
design. Minimalist, efficient and supremely capable at what it was designed to do. It wasn't until FS increased the lift and AR in a effort to make
the kite sportier, that the Peak series started having issues. By trying to adapt it to a broader use spectrum and adding some freestyle ability to
it, the Peak became less proficient at it's initial purpose and yet not really a competent freestyle kite. Still a very good and amazing kite but less
of a purpose built piece of equipment.
Is the goal to have what is arguably the best purpose built touring kite in the world with the best light wind performance in it's price range or a
budget freestyle kite? Which, let's be honest, if you make a budget kite that has a lot of lift that is likely to attract beginners learning on their
own, it's not the best combination. Whereas the original and Peak 2 allow a high margin of safety for people just starting out. Which allows and
encourages long term participation in the sport.
I'm sold on the single skin design. And I feel that there is room for a high performance variant. But instead of taking the Peak from it's intended
purpose and turning it into something else there should be other variants designed specifically to do certain things. Call it the Peak Freeride, make
it higher AR and liftier with the fancy bar. And make a Peak Tour with low lift, low AR and high grunt with a minimalist bar that once again fits in
my Camel Bak. :D
Chris Krug-Owner @ Hardwater Kiting. Authorized Dealer of Ozone, Flysurfer, HQ kites. www.hardwaterkiter.com 603-986-2784
I'm in agreement with Feyd on this. Of my peaks, I like the bar on my 6m P1 the best. It is light and performs the functions for which it was
designed. The trim function really isn't used very often on my P2's, as I change kite sizes rather than trying to run over- powered on the edge of
control. Complicating something that was made to be simple doesn't help
the original intent of this type of kite. There are lots of potential newbies for whom this kite offers a safer introduction to our sport than some of
the alternatives. A peak isn't a Corvette or Ford GT, but rather a Jeep as Chris has pointed out.
I'm waiting for more information on the P3 to see what's new in this latest iteration of the breed. I'm all for simple,
reliable and safe, and one area that could be improved is ease of packing in gnarly conditions. The teaser of " a new line of security reef" whatever
that may mean, has me interested.
Reactors 2.8 3.5 6.9
Peaks 4m 6m 12m
HQ Neo2 11m Ozone Chrono V2 15m WASP 5m
Flexi wide axle w/mids and runners
Skis Nordic skates and winter stuff
Quatro Wing Foilboard Slingshot Foils
NAPKA US06
In regards to adding more lift to the Peaks. In my opinion, doing so has been and would be counter to the initial design intent of the Peak, which is
a purpose built alpine touring kite. IMO they pretty much nailed it with the Peak 1. Low lift, packable, broad wind range and extremely simple bar
design. Minimalist, efficient and supremely capable at what it was designed to do. It wasn't until FS increased the lift and AR in a effort to make
the kite sportier, that the Peak series started having issues. By trying to adapt it to a broader use spectrum and adding some freestyle ability to
it, the Peak became less proficient at it's initial purpose and yet not really a competent freestyle kite. Still a very good and amazing kite but less
of a purpose built piece of equipment.
Is the goal to have what is arguably the best purpose built touring kite in the world with the best light wind performance in it's price range or a
budget freestyle kite? Which, let's be honest, if you make a budget kite that has a lot of lift that is likely to attract beginners learning on their
own, it's not the best combination. Whereas the original and Peak 2 allow a high margin of safety for people just starting out. Which allows and
encourages long term participation in the sport.
I'm sold on the single skin design. And I feel that there is room for a high performance variant. But instead of taking the Peak from it's intended
purpose and turning it into something else there should be other variants designed specifically to do certain things. Call it the Peak Freeride, make
it higher AR and liftier with the fancy bar. And make a Peak Tour with low lift, low AR and high grunt with a minimalist bar that once again fits in
my Camel Bak. :D
Very well said! I agree with the Peak Variants. Maybe they could go back to the characteristics of the P1 with all the Peaks they release from now on
and open a new line of single skin aimed for freeride as you said. I definitely get what you are saying though and agree. Having a Peak Freeride line
would be epic!
Initially it was the single skin and quick pack/unpacking that got me to purchase the Peak 2 9m. However, after a season of landboarding, I got too
used to it and wanted something with lift.
Considering our parks here are quite small, getting a kite on the smaller end but with the same amount of grunt of larger kites would make sense. The
Peak definitely checked all the boxes in that matter. All I can say is that it had amazing characteristics, but for me I just naturally wanted more
lift when on a landboard.
These new P3s are looking sweet! I'm intrigued by their "reef line safety" system. It seems somewhat akin to the Ozone Re-Ride system which is uber
sweet!
I'm puzzled by what they say about sending the reef line safety with installation instructions. Have they abandoned the 4.5 system? If so, then it
would seem that the safety system should come pre-installed. :puzzled:
I'm thinking a sweet quiver would be the 6m and 12 m combo. Yes Chris, I know....:D
Good questions! Yes, it is kinda confusing. Apparently the Peak3 is coming as a KO (kite only) option. The theory is to be able to produce a bar
for all Flysurfer kite variants across the board. This will keep the cost down in some respects but at the loss of a Peak specific bar. This will
obviously reduce the cost of the kite itself. Which let's face it, isn't the Peak bar the series started out with. That being the case, and given
the new safety system, they will likely require a retrofit of whatever bar one chooses to use on these kites. This will obviously reduce the cost
of the kite itself. For example the 6m will be around $650 (guessing based on the Euro pricing we've seen.)
Personally, I really like a 4.5 line. Less troublesome that a dedicated 5th. But then again, if the 5th line allows the use of ReRide and the FS
Reefline, I'll live with the 5th. Not only for the safety factor but for ease in set up and pack down. This could make the Peak the fastest kite ever
in terms of unpack and launch. :P
Hope to have final details soon:evil:
Chris Krug-Owner @ Hardwater Kiting. Authorized Dealer of Ozone, Flysurfer, HQ kites. www.hardwaterkiter.com 603-986-2784
I flown the PEAK 2 and PEAK 3 from Flysurfer Probe yesterday and compared the two sizes in 12qm. The PEAK 3 is very similar in its characteristics
to the PEAK 2, but it has been improved and fine tuned in many respects. On the first and second glance one realizes in amazement that there has not
been much change. The number of cells is the same. The shape very similar, only the Bridle was significantly reduced and changed. But it is the small,
almost unimpressive changes that make the performance jump at Peak3. flutter In direct comparison, the 3 no longer flaps. If the 2er, with pushed
forward bar, hunted through the wind window, one felt the cloth flaps clearly at the bar. It always shook it back and forth. That is no more at the
3er. Barfeeling In general the barfeeling has become more direct and progressive. This means that you can feel every centimeter when pulling the bar
(pulling on the dog) you gain an increase in the kite. This was much more spongy at PEAK 2. So he just depends on the gas if you can say that. To
steer The 3er hangs more crisply at the bar and during the steering it is noticeable that the PEAK3 no longer makes these pockets at the tip as seen
in the picture below. A loop now feels really flown and not choked. A railing system was installed. When steering, the brake is not only pulled by the
cloth, but also the cloth at the tear-off edge tightens somewhat. This has been used for paragliders for a long time. This should be a secret of
better handling. Lowind First we thought the 3er is a lighter cloth but it is the same. The PEAK3 makes more pressure in the past. In direct
comparison, you have the feeling in the 2er that energy and energy is lost by the flutter. The 3er cuts more efficiently through the air and converts
all the energy into propulsion. Upwind Here the PEAK3 has a clear nose. It just goes to the wind window edge. In the photo below, we have the kite
on 12 stand and stand exactly on its own height. The PEAK2 simply hangs slightly further back. Safety As Safety there is a new Raffsystem. A rope
runs through the kite at the top of the leading edge. When triggering, the kite is gathered from the tips to the center and thus pressureless.
Unfortunately, we have not been able to try this because the system was not yet assembled. So the bottom line is a nice continuous development of
the singleskin kite without now any aspect worsened .... what often occurs times with the kiteherstellern.
Credit goes to "Jason" on XK for having originally posted this on XK.
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