Any opinion / experience about which models or sizes are practical for land use in high winds and gusts?

I'm thinking the rare 6m Phantom would be for pretty extreme conditions, while an 8m V2 would be a nice compromise and not overlap with my 12m Phanny. (the Scorpion also came in in oddball 7m size too).

I've always wanted a super small arc, but man, I hardly ever even get to fly my 10s. I bet it's hard to launch those little suckers in the wind they would be needed for. I can handle 35 mph with a 10. Curious to see what others say. Personally, I'd be interested in an old slower turning model in the small sizes. Slower the better in crazy conditions and in really gusty stuff those small guys can invert quick if you're not paying attention.

I've read somewhere on the PL site that the 6m phantom could be very aggresive in high winds, and to be very careful IF kiteboarding with it. I can't imagine how fast it would be in 35-40mph winds. You would need a really small bar so you don't accidentally kiteloop yourself into your grave

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Originally posted by rudeboysaude I bet it's hard to launch those little suckers in the wind they would be needed for. I can handle 35 mph with a 10.

I was thinking exactly this when trying to set up my 10 in wind like that. Then I thought there is no way I would go out alone in that wind so should be able to get an assistant ?

@flyjump Yeah, Todd has one of the really small twinskin bars that you'd want with a 6m Phantom. The thing is silly small, you put your hand in the middle of the bar and only have a couple of inches sticking out on either side.

Assisted would be the way to go. Those little suckers flap in the wind so much and if you don't have them super inflated on the ground you'll get the tip clap and surge on the launch and stain your shorts. Keeping the lines from wrapping while it's flapping around is key and an assistant would be able to help you out in that sense. really, we shouldn't be kiting alone in over 35 anyway. Stuff can happen fast in high winds especially if it's gusty.

Maven, lol that bar sounds crazy. Have you been able to try the phantom 6 yet? And also the the tips sticking on a launch in those winds sounds wicked scary. I can't imagine that thing opening in the powerzone and hot launching. A kite that fast would........ I can't even think

last year at NABX AJ took Ziggy's 6m Phantom for a ride while the Dutch were out setting records with 2-3 m kites. He topped 60 mph as I recall in a bitty PL Comp buggy. Winds were like 20-gusting-to-stupid

I just shipped a 6m Charger and am waiting to hear how the owner gets on with it.

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Originally posted by flyjump Maven, lol that bar sounds crazy. Have you been able to try the phantom 6 yet? And also the the tips sticking on a launch in those winds sounds wicked scary. I can't imagine that thing opening in the powerzone and hot launching. A kite that fast would........ I can't even think

I haven't seen Todd's 6m Phantom yet, he just got it on Monday. But he's had the bar for a while.

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Originally posted by acampbell Winds were like 20-gusting-to-stupid

:D

We opened it up last night and inflated it in the house, this thing is mint. It will prove to be interesting launching it and like maven said, the bar is the silly small 40cm 04bar with upgraded 07 top hat. Can't wait! Is there a lube that can be used on the zippers?


Lad, the 6 was more or less picked up for when conditions go nuclear in Wildwood. I'm curious to see what's the bare minimum that I can fly this in.

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Originally posted by Todd We opened it up last night and inflated it in the house, this thing is mint. It will prove to be interesting launching it and like maven said, the bar is the silly small 40cm 04bar with upgraded 07 top hat. Can't wait! Is there a lube that can be used on the zippers? Lad, the 6 was more or less picked up for when conditions go nuclear in Wildwood. I'm curious to see what's the bare minimum that I can fly this in.

best lube out there for zippers, pulleys, mixer lines, and even the skin of the kite is "sailkote"..........dry lub that last, sand doesnt stick, sweet stuff..........any sail shop or West Marine carries it........$18 or so a can.................

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Originally posted by acampbell last year at NABX AJ took Ziggy's 6m Phantom for a ride while the Dutch were out setting records with 2-3 m kites. He topped 60 mph as I recall in a bitty PL Comp buggy. Winds were like 20-gusting-to-

I was using my own 6m phantom. I hit 59.6 in my xr+. Next day I hit 67.8 in the apexx. I get about 4 session a yr on the water with the same kite on those 30+ days. I have had this kite in 50+ winds with no trouble............aj

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Originally posted by acampbell Dutch were out setting records with 2-3 m kites.

what am i, chop lever ... + canadians

hehehe

that phanny 6 was smokin fast and stable too.

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Originally posted by tridude best lube out there for zippers, pulleys, mixer lines, and even the skin of the kite is "sailkote"..........dry lub that last, sand doesnt stick, sweet stuff..........any sail shop or West Marine carries it........$18 or so a can.................

Thanks Tridude I'll look for it on my next trip to the marine store.

OK, Sorry Ricardo, I know you were out there tearing it up too.

AJ thanks for the correction and amplification

My 6m phantom was not a well behaved kite at NABX last year. The day before the rain the kite was a beast; surging, oscillating, almost inverting; it was terrible. Scary. That was the day that AJ hit 59.6mph. I didn't even take it out the next day.

Turns out there is a small fix (top skin pleat toward the tips) that can be done to keep the kite for misbehaving. I'm still awaiting where to do this pleat (if it can be done on a cell that has the strapping reinforcement sewn on it). If anyone has this mod done to their P6, I would appreciate knowing what cell it was done to.

I'll get that 6m charger tomorrow (thanks Angus!). I expect that it will be more stable in high, gusty winds than the phantom. It could also be a more all-around kite than the phantoms, for the wind that I usually buggy in.

hard to find days for gear like that. what a buffet of punishment.

snatching and clapping like clam on crack. the heart breaking part is the busted junk when it over.

... where can I buy one? :D

I'm impressed. Looks like those kites need 25 MPH and up winds before they start to work properly and that's just too much for me. Blowing snow and high winds make for pretty nasty conditions. Add in gusts and low temps and it gets real nasty quickly. The heat just gets sucked right out of you.