At Kitestorm I finally realized that you really do need a larger kite for getting pulled around on a vehicle - whether it be an ATB, buggy or in this case, a snowboard. No more flying static for this chica!

But when the wind died down to below 7mph, even though I was working the heck out of the 9m Frenzy, it was surprizingly just not enough for my 135lbs as I wanted more speed and the ability to have more fun on those light wind days. I mean I was able to ride but not as easily as I had hoped. However, Anderson was not able to get much of anything moving (which is how I stole the kite!)

That said, I am still pondering my next light wind kite and I have asked a few about the FS Speed3, who seemed to be having a great time while many of us struggled with the low winds. BUT - I have been cautioned several times by seasoned kiters that you can easily get into HUGE HEAPS of TROUBLE on the Speed3 and it has really go me thinking that I could not even hold down the 12, nevermind the 15m.

Can anyone shed any light on this? Should the speed3 come with a spike in my life insurance premium?

Any power kite should increase your insurance premiums.... And any large kite can easily become waaaaaaaay too much if the wind picks up. That said, there is a lot of days you'll be sittin and watching if you don't have a 15+ meter kite for low-wind.

See you do need that S3 DLX in 15m

As your skills build so does your kite sizes in the quiver.

=)

Quote:

Originally posted by ripsessionkites As your skills build so does your kite sizes in the quiver. =)

Such a true statement!

Very true.....I am thinking about replacing my wife (135lbs) main kite with a 12m flysurfer s3......I think it will be a good low wind kite for her.

... what trouble?

Quote:

Originally posted by Kamikuza ... what trouble?

Yep....I agree....everything I have heard is that the Flysurfer has MORE versatility and depower that should keep you out of trouble not get you in it.

Oh hell... I'll just get both.

I'll follow Rip's original advice and get a 12m standard and a 15 dlx.

:eureka:

And then... I'll need a pimp to pay for it all.

hehehe....Tx - I read your post too fast the first time....sounded like u figured out how to replace a 135 lb wife with a 12m S3.....was about to ask for detailed instructions

Quote:

Originally posted by macboy hehehe....Tx - I read your post too fast the first time....sounded like u figured out how to replace a 135 lb wife with a 12m S3.....was about to ask for detailed instructions

Lol....!!!! Fantastic idea!! Except mine would be worth at least a half dozen kites....she is very fun!!!

Speed 2s have no low end comp...................king of the lightwinds with very good range.....................once your skillz improve (getting upwind and learning to scrub off speed) you'll be good to go.........................:duh::duh:

A 15 sounds great for low wind, then when you get more confident you'll be zooming around and blasting big

But wouldn't the space between the 9 frenzy and the 15 S3 be HUGE?

Still about baby steps

I'd save the money and get the big one. 15 for light to moderate winds and the frenzy for bigger wind. But I'm nor sure what wind speed is typically your ceiling. But if you wanted a lot of range from no wind to moderatly stronge I'd go for the bigger then again. I teach at a public school so I can't afford a ton of kites. A 15 would cover most of your wind as a lower wind rider. The better you get the more edge you can hold. Don't be intimidated by big kites like a lot of people just use your head like you do and start in lower wind.

I think you'll find a lot of overlap in the S3 15 and 12 ... stick with the 15 alone.

You can safely any kite when it's in the proper wind range that being said, a 15m S2 or S3 isn't too much... just take it out in the gentle stuff at first, then accustom yourself to gusts as you go. My main kite for the moment is a 13m Venom... Much different from a FS I know, but I'm 125 lbs. and I fly that thing to just under 25 mph.

I've often asked myself whether or not DLX is worth it... I have concluded that, if you're going to spend that kind of money on a bed sheet with strings attached to it, you might as well get the DLX.

S3 has more top end than the S2 - I believe they depower a little differently, the S3 going more C shaped to lessen the projected area and power ... S2 still has plenty of range though!
Yes on the Deluxe, especially if you're after bottom end!

Well, at kitestorm, I learned that even with Anderson's 2011 9m Frenzy, which does have good pull and always got me up from the seated snowboarder start, was not enough to keep me going as it would sometimes fall from the sky during the lighter winds - like 4-7ish mph. In the morning, the winds were a little more at 8-12 and I was using my 7m Frenzy and it was just enough to get my arse up from the seated position. Kind of wishing now that I had used the 9m when the winds were a little better but now I know I can handle that (hopefully!)

BIG THING is I don't deal with gusts well. If it's too much of a swing in mph, I just don't bother as I would rather stay in one piece than tempt fate.

Been pondering the next kite purchase for some time and I just don't want to end up with a monster!

Silly question but if anyone knows please weigh in...

What size Frenzy would the power of a 12m FS S3 be equal to in size? how about the 15m S3?

I ask because I had heard that the sheer power of the 12m S3 would be equal to like a 14/15m Frenzy (if they made one).

???

Quote:

Originally posted by chudalicious But wouldn't the space between the 9 frenzy and the 15 S3 be HUGE? Still about baby steps

no because you have your high and low wind, the depower will cover your mid

if you have $$$, than your 12 STD will be the mid.

Thanks for all the feedback guys - very helpful.

Does anyone else struggle this much when deciding!?

^ yes, when dino is trying to pick out which pink skirt to wear for the day.

SORRY I couldnt help myself. this is no reflection on you by any means.

GETTING STOCKED FOR NABX.

lol....when I make my decisions for kites....I weight every bit of information I can get my hands on.

I don't own a speed series kite....yet. I have done my research on them though for when I eventually buy. It's a simple rule - if you plan on using the kite a lot in its bottom half of it's wind range, go deluxe, hands down. It's not just that it stays up in the sky; the lighter fabric actually increases the performance as well. I have asked speed2 owners what this practically means, and they have told me that the lighter fabric improves the turning speeds, the gust handling, and light wind sining (due to turning speed, and the lower weight of the kite)

As for 15 or 12...well, can't help you too much cause I don't own one. Here is a something to consider though. The guy I bought my psycho4 12 from bought a speed3 15. He sold the psycho4 12 cause he said there was still too much overlap between the speed3 15 and the psycho4 12 (which is not a light wind kite model). I think his next kite was an 8, but don't know for sure. So, I think there is still probably going to be some overlap with your 9m frenzy. I think there would be a significant amount (too much?) of overlap in range between the 12 speed3 and frenzy 9. So, simply from what you own, I would go for a 15, even if you just use it in sub 12mph winds. If you got the 12, it wouldn't be worth keeping the 9m frenzy around unless you are frolicking in the money and don't know what to do with it.

either way, .www.foilzone.com has a lot of speed3 users, maybe there is someone close to your weight that uses either the 12 or the 15. It's worth posting over there before you make up your mind.

I think you'd do well on that 15 for the really light wind days. I've actually never flown one but my buddy has the 19 Speed 3 and it blows my mind on what he fly's that up to....the depower and range on those things is insane...and if you do happen to get in trouble, the 5th line system works great!

I had read that Speed3's only come with FLS. Can you get a new one with FDS (5th line?!)

Keeping in mind i do not know how to jump so if i should go skyward all hell would break loose.

doesn't look like it's sold as FDS, but it is made with FDS attachment points so you could add a 5th line.

[post edit:...lol, got my fls and fds confused....I corrected it above so its accurate now]

this is interesting...here is a video where a guy flies a frenzy 10 and a speed3 15 (you can tell which he is flying because FS kites don't have the horizontal line connecting the back lines above the bar). Looks like the average is 10 knots....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ruouy2VWJs

That is a GREAT vid - thx for posting KD!

That may have just made up my mind. The FS landings look to be so much more gentle but they dont look to be that much different in raw pull. Then again, it was a bit tough to tell speed as it was mainly focused on the jumping.

....yes - I'm quite certain you can set up FLS or FDS on the S3's. Powerzone has a great kit (if it's available for the S3's) and it's super easy to install. Did it on my S2 19. Piece of cake.

No FDS on the Speed3 - canopy's not designed for it and you don't need it as the FLS works better than it on the S2. There was a guy who put one on but the majority of advice I've read is not to bother.
So S2 = yes to FDS (although it annoys me) and no on the S3. Just keep an eye on your line lengths if you self-land on the safety a lot re. stretching ... you should be able to land by grabbing the rear leaders in all but psychotic wind.

I also have a P3 13 and on Sunday, I flew both the SA2.5 19 and the P3 on the same day in about the same conditions. I was amazed at the pull of the P3 and the speed through the window but the SA2 has it for park and ride raw grunt.