So I got me a buggy and a few kites now. I'd just like to get some opinions o. Where my quiver lacks and in what conditions I might be using x kite. I have:

3m Beamer
4.5m Little Devil
9.5m Montana
PL Folder Buggy
Snowboard (soon)

I'm about 160lb and would mostly be riding on grass and frozen lake(snow). What conditions should I be using what kite and what size/type of kite should be on my Christmas list?

Thanks!

what is your typical wind and what surface do you ride on?

I'm guessing he rides with cheeseheads! :P

An arc might be a nice addition to the quiver possibly in the 12-16meter range depending on kite. Though your montana should be doing an outstanding job almost as a one kite quiver for snow/ grass. It really depends what you are after higher winds or lower winds. For higher a 5-6 meter depower foil and for lower then maybe a 12ish meter depower foil. Arcs are really fun and bring a new perspective to the game, but really do perform best in the top half of it windrange, they handle gusty conditions great too!!! Kinda hard when you are already flying a decent all round kite like you are!! Sorry I couldn't be much help. Budget also makes a difference here to.

Good Luck
Shaggs

Once you are comfortable on the snow with the 9.5 Montana, you'll probably need a 12m -13m depwoer kite to cover lower wind days.

See how you like the Montana in midwest gusty crap before you get a bigger depower kite. You may decide to go with Arcs or soemthing with more depower range like an LEI bow or hybrid SLE. If you can find big lakes, you may get to enjoy smoother winds this winter.

krumly

If you are like us you will want an ULTRA low wind weapon to avoid getting skunked.

A large open cell like a Reactor 10.8 may be a nice addition.

Yout 9.5 and Little Devil will overlap. Go with the 9.5!

Quote:

what is your typical wind and what surface do you ride on?

I can't really be certain what our typical wind is, I've only been flying for a few months, July-Oct. In the short time I've been flying the winds have been pretty low on average. It seems most days are 4-7 mph, then once to twice a week we get 10-15mph winds and a few times a month we been getting 20+ mph. It's pretty gusty and I fly mainly in parks or soccer, football, and baseball fields. I live like 20min from Lake Michigan but I'm on the west side of the lake and 90% of the time the winds are blowing from the west...

Surface will almost always be grass, park grass. (see main post)

I guess my next kite would be something for the low/no wind days. I know de-powers don't care for much under 8mph but how about ARCs? My budget is pretty flexible but I can't see myself investing in another $1000+ kite, at least until I get a full season or two of experience under my belt. Maybe a giant 10m fixed bridle? Panish maybe?

Arcs are generally worse for those really low winds. The large fixed bridles are your best option.

You will want to be careful about which large fixed bridle kites you look at for those low winds. I have flown a 7m pansh ace before, and it turned like a freight train. In otherwords, it normally crashed before it successfully made the upstroke after a dive in light winds. You might be better off with an Ozone Yakuza, or a Peter Lynn Reactor.

I've never flown a fixed-bridle on snow, but I guess it would be doable. Personally, I find that flying a depower is very enjoyable on the snow. Unfortunately, a depower big enough to ride in less than 10mph of wind, is going to be very expensive. Out of my price budge right now. My 15m works great at 10mph, but not really less than that...

Best of luck..

Reactors are made by Peter Lynn and are an inexpensive (relatively, of course) low wind kite.

For the snowkiting trips across Greenland, they use large Ozone Yakuza GTs for the really low wind.

Quote:

Originally posted by Maven454 Reactors are made by Peter Lynn and an inexpensive (relatively, of course) low wind kite. For the snowkiting trips across Greenland, they use large Ozone Yakuza GTs for the really low wind.

Didnt know that about the Greenland trips. Makes sense. Thanks.

Midgaar -

May sound like heresy if your into foils, but you might look for a bigger LEI bow that is 3 years old or so. Look around awhile on Ikitesurf and bet you'll find a 16 m Cabrinha Contra or Crossbow with bar in decent shape for under $400. OK, it isn't a Flysurfer Speed 3 Silver Arrow, but you can still keep going down to 8 mph wind.

Before everyone gripes about LEI's popping on ice and being a pain to fill in cold weather, they are still the mainstay of snowkiters in Minnesota. Most of mine don't even have one pump inflation, but they work just fine - if an extra few minutes on the set-up is enough to keep you from going out, you don't want it bad enough. The depower range is huge.

FWIW, I like foils too - got plenty of 'em.

krumly