As a general rule of thumb you want to be thinking high aspect kites (like the Montana) for low winds and low aspect kites (like the Apex) for high winds. That will keep you safer in high winds and efficient in low.

Quote: Originally posted by RedSky

Quote: Originally posted by BeamerBob   Quote: Originally posted by RedSky   I'm loving your enthusiasm shaina03. Beamerbob is a legend. You couldn't pick a nicer bloke. Ok Redsky thanks for the kudos. You made me blush with that one. I'm much more comfortable with the term "kite geek" though. :embarrased: I checked my Paypal account today and still no $50 ?

Intl funds transfers take longer. :puzzled:

HMMMM

If I was a bit more sure that somebody could introduce you to how to ground handle an arc this would be a great place to start ?

http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=27942

If you're gonna start with an Arc, this is the one.

THANKS! I sent them a u2u, if it's still available I am going to buy it! I will take lessons at one of the recommended nearby places that could guide me in proper use of an arc kite. Now will I be able to handle a 13m, I know you say they are a different breed. What might my wind range be starting out and as my skills progress? Generally speaking of course. Would a 7 or 9 m Montana be a good smaller kite size along with the 13m arc? Is it a bad idea to start out with two very different kites? I have the time and ambition...if that makes a difference lol.
I appreciate the link!
And I'm just fishing for some info about this kite and it's compatibility with me , sorry so many your answers can be more vague :-P

I have one of these myself and you can fly mine when you get to Vegas either to move forward with it or first flight. This kite would fit in well with the 9m Montana to fill in the lighter winds before the venom started to come alive.

Sounds great! I spoke with him and am definitely buying it :Ange09:
April can't come soon enough! Many many thanks to you all for helping! You guys are awesome and I look forward to joining the community!

It takes a lot of nerve to launch an arc. They are so much larger than other kites.

Once they are in the air their " projected area " is much less and you wonder what you were worried about. I still have to get over that " it's too big " feeling.

Projected Area=How much of the kite is actually being used to build power.

Example: 13 meter Venom has a "projected area" of roughly 9 meters. Much of the kite is unused for the actual act of pulling. Inflatable kites are like this as well.

'projected area" gives one an idea of how the kite will pull and a rough comparison from one design or manufacturer to the next. It's not entirely accurate, especially with kites like the Flysurfer Peak coming onto the scene (very flat profile, tons of power per size) but it gives a pretty good baseline.

Shaina, the 9m Montana is actually meant for lighter wind than the 13m Venom. A 12-13m arc is a bit like a 5-7m fixed bridle foil. Arcs are amazing and unique, and you will love to fly it once you learn how to handle it on the ground. I don't think anyone here will be shy about telling you how difficult their first few times were launching their arcs. Once you learn the tricks, it gets so much easier. When you get it in the air and feel the direct control and the smooth flying in rough winds you will be in love. Also, one quick tip: Prism is one of the only company that puts their red lines on the right. All the rest put the red or brightly colored line on the left. Neither way is right or wrong, but just so you don't get your new Venom and hook it up backwards the first time

From now thru the rest of the winter on the w/e there will be kite flyers at Sylvan Beach on Onieda lake. Depending on which side of Rachacha your on it could be worth a ride down the Thruway to fly. Your little kite will work fine on bare ice with skis and if there is snow cover you're welcome to borrow any one of my five 5meterish kites. I think my e-mail is in my profile and I usualy post lake conditions in "north east ice" here on the forum.

I've got to think there is quite a bit of overlap between a 13m Venom and 9m Montana, no???

Quote: Originally posted by B-Roc

I've got to think there is quite a bit of overlap between a 13m Venom and 9m Montana, no???

For a 120 lb female the 9 m will be too much after about 15 mph which is just above where the venom would be powering up. Add in lots of skill or weight and then the overlap would increase IMHO.

I appreciate all the info from different perspectives, it definitely helps me prepare for what the possibilities are with this arc kite. I've done all the researching and youtube watching I possibly can to get ready. So what would be the best general wind speed to try to put this thing in the air the first time safely?
I've joined a couple groups on Facebook and I get updates about the conditions and when people are headed out there toward sylvan beach and out toward western ny. I'm definitely going to get out there once I get the kite. I'm not over eager to learn in the freezing cold -being so close to spring. But once I have it here it will be whispering "fly me, you know you want to!" So I'll probably suck up my hatred for the cold and get ahold of some folks out that way soon!

I'd say a steady 10-12 mph would be plenty for the kite to be responsive, but not over power you at all. You can launch and fly it down to 7 mph or so, but it will be a tad more frustrating because the kite won't respond to your inputs so readily. With some experience and rolling on wheels, you should be able to handle this kite in up to 20 mph winds. By comparison at my weight in my buggy on a sandy beach, I should be able to handle 25 mph winds, or over 30 mph on water.

Thanks so much BeamerBob!

Hey demoknight yeah I realized that the tensor has the red on the right...only after being thoroughly confused for a bit of time. But thanks for the heads up! I still wonder why they do that? Seems silly?

Shaina there is no standard as far as I know. Prism just likes to be different I guess. But they are a stunt kite company first and foremost. They just happen to have done a great job on the Tensor, even if it is a bit overpriced for the size and performance envelope compared to other traction kites. My guess is they started with their "red on the right" saying on stunt kites and figured not to change it just for one model of kite. Unfortunately it seems EVERY other power kiting company uses red or yellow or another bright color on the left.

Just a side note... I realized this after I had been flying nothing but my Charger and Toxic for a few months without taking the Tensor out of the bag; I crashed the Tensor immediately because I was holding the wrong handles and had the red handle in my left hand... /facepalm

Power kites tend to follow the water navigation theme. Red is left going downstream.

Red=Port. Port=Left

Appreciate the bit of info! That somehow got me googling the right of way rules for riding with others. Is there just a general rule, or should I really study the lists of scenarios I found about what to do when someone is approaching you?

It is actually pretty easy, whoever is farther upwind passes their kite higher. All of the rules boil down to that really.