Hardly the King! Now that's funny. I never flew a single skin before this year. The more I've flown both the P2s and the NS3s the more I'm liking...... both! When the wind is clean it is a real joy to fly the STARS in the buggy. Just sort of a sweet deal to have chosen the right size kite for the conditions getting it up in the air, plunking your seat meat down in your ride and taking off. The Park-and-Ride characteristics in clean wind just don't have a parallel.

Now.... if the wind is janky (read: most times) then the winner by a nose are the Peaks. Hard to beat their power scrub when you need it most.

I'm heading to Las Vegas next month for a conference and am looking to get out a few afternoons to Lake Ivanpah. Looking like I'll be able to hook up with BeamerBob which would be AWESOME. I'm day dreaming of trying out both the STARS and Peaks in that setting which will be my first time ever with longer than 200 yards of straightaway before needing to turn around and the first time ever as well to get some clean buggy wind not blasted to bits by mountains, trees, and buildings.

Congrats Sean!

Nobody mentioned the big Speeds because I guess they are out of your budget, but the only thing I have flown that would pull anything at all in 3mph was my 19m S3 Deluxe. There were two times during JIBE that I was the only person flying, and getting decent park and ride upwind action at that. 12m P2 was flying, but not pulling upwind. I say save a little more money and just get a big brown bastard used like I did and you have your high wind machine right there. Plus they have a huge wind range anyway and you can use a 19-21m Speed 3 up into the high teens even for the feint of heart. Low 20s if you are feeling frisky.

Windstruck, You are going to have your ultimate expectations met. Nothing beats a trip to the dry lake other than sharing the dry lake. Having Bob there will be huge for getting comfortable with the place + building confidence.

Demon, I did mention my 1st hand experience with my 19m SA2 in our park. I agree that it is my " day saver " kite. Problem is the park Ifly and I use is too small and crowded to really take advantage of it.

After years of chasing our " sucker winds " I have decided it is more frustrating than fun. Even on those days I manage to work a ride out it feels like sex without climax when done. These days I don't go out until the weather network says it's going to blow strong enough to get my Phanny' to self inflate !