So after watching ebay the past 5 days, I finally won the bid for this kite. I was originally looking at a 5m blade maybe a 6.5 but when I saw this 10.5 online I had to try to get it. I purchased my first kite which was a Beamer V 5m about a month ago. Now I know you might think that it's a huge increase in power to go from a punie little beamer to a blade of this size but the wind around here is only about 10mph on an average day. Only a few times did I get to play in wind above 15 mph so with that being said I have a few questions about this new blade that I can't wait to get now.

First off I read that it turns slow like a truck. Just how slow is slow with this bad boy. Is it slow to the point where I might just regret buying it or slow like I might struggle to bring it from one side to another.

Second I would like to know if the lines from my beamer 5 will be fine for this blade. I don't know the exact specs but I know it's the standard lines that the beamer V's come with and I think they are 20 meters long.

So I bought a mongoose board from a neighbor for 20 bucks and was really hoping my beamer would at least give me some pull with it, but I found it super difficult to move with it unless I was actually angling it down wind on one of those 15mph windy days. Will this kite not have this problem at all, or is it just skill that I don't have yet and the beamer was perfectly fine in that area?

Lastly I'm interested in just how high these kites can lift people. I've seen the videos on youtube. Although there weren't many of them, should I expect to be lifted some 5-20 feet on an average jump or did those videos just catch some rare footage? Also the thing with the beamer is that the only way I was able to get lift was if it was windy. And by windy I mean like flying my kite just minutes before it started storming and mount prospect got hit with a tornado later that night. Will controlled jumps be safer on this kite in the sense that I wont need as much wind?

As always any information or feedback is greatly appreciated.

Please don't kill yourself. This is a major delta from a 5m Beamer. Sending the kite on the Beamer will pull you, the balde will launch you. When ur ready, I'd suggest taking it out in VERY light winds to start; Like 4-6 max. No joke, this kite is not called the widow maker for no reason.

Thanks for the info. Numbers are straight to the point, so I'll be sure to be on the look out for that 4-6.

Helmet, pads, and shoes that protect your ankles....

Absolutely the lightest winds possible for your first time out...

Dont try for 20'ers... Lol twenty feet is a long way up.... if you hit one of those first time out, that kite may prove its name to ya!

I would assume the lines would work, but I'm not 100% on that!

Great kite, but remember, that kite is way more likely to seriously injure you, than your beamer!

Looks like you are following your own advice to the Max!

It's not your lines but handles that will be all wrong. Most folks prefer pulley handles with this kite due to the heavy brake but need for it.

To add brake to this kite you need a LOT of leverage.

You clearly don't know how to jump or ride and now own about the most powerful lifty kite possible.

I put my 9m Blade down at about 10mph .

BAD NEWS !!!!

Please choose your location carefully and wear a helmet.

I have my first session with 10m HQ yesterday ..... and it really start to generate power in 7mph wind...... Also it requires more skills to maneuver then my 3m tensnor.... Not something that can be used as a trainer kite ....lol

Take Arkay's advice and start in 4-6mph. If your not accustomed to knowing the wind speed by feel buy a wind meter. Depending on your weight and experience 12-13 mph is the top end of that kite. Please exercise caution with it. Its not a beamer.

Thanks for all the info guys. I'm a bit scared now to be honest lol. One thing I didn't understand from your post Bladerunner (It's not your lines but handles that will be all wrong. Most folks prefer pulley handles with this kite due to the heavy brake but need for it.)

What exactly do you mean by the handles being all wrong? Also if you could send me a link to some pulley handles so that I could take a look at them since I haven't heard of them before. Also what do you mean by heavy brake but need for it.

Actually I think I just found another thread about pulley handles so never mind that part.

Your handles for the 5m will be short . When a big kite like that is powered up it is very hard to get the leverage required to control / back the kite down. The long handles are recommended the Pulley handles are a mod to get better brake action.

I know I can't hold my 10.8 down in 10mph winds with any room for picking up speed or gusts.

Remember to size for the gusts !

While a big kite will supply you power in lower wind it won't necessarily FLY in lower wind. I generate the power on my 9 and 10.8 from using motion and apparent wind. Just yesterday I was struggling just to keep my 10.8 flying while another beginer in the park was flying his 5m without too much trouble due to the faster kite. The wind was below 4mph. You will struggle to keep this kite flying in sub 4mph wind and be overpowered almost as soon as it flies.

I'm very anxious to experience this over powerment :/ kinda just want to see what the fuss is all about. But it will definitely be in calm wind the first time.

"OVERPOWERMENT" DEFINED
fyi... its a 5m..... 11m kites spank harder :evil:

"over-caution-ed-ness" is a better funny word to follow

I've had both a Blade III 7.7 IIRC or a 6.6 perhaps ... it was bigger than my 5m anyway oh and a Pansh 12m Ace. Both on handles.

The Blade turned real slow. So did the Ace, strangely enough say, a couple of seconds to turn 180 degrees ... well it felt like a few seconds anyway.

Pulley handles are a bit useless IMHO - yes they increase throw on the brakes but they double the pressure required too ... only use them if you're using a harness or backstrap too, then just fly off the brakes. But then, you may as well just skip the pulleys

No strap or harness and my forearms were exploding after a few minutes with the Ace. I built up to maybe 10 minutes in light wind, but those big foils are freakin' monsters ... NOT a toy, not to be underestimated!

Quote:

posted on 28-6-11 at 11:28 AM "OVERPOWERMENT" DEFINED fyi... its a 5m..... 11m kites spank harder :evil: "over-caution-ed-ness" is a better funny word to follow

49 MILLION Views :o:o Holy smokes! Very cute though.

Yeah be careful with that beast. You'll need the full archer to turn that puppy, one hand by your chest, one hand stuck straight out like you're holding a longbow... And just like archery, it's shoulder to the kite, not face on to the kite, you'll get a bit more turning speed and find it a bit easier to hang on to the powered handle.

And yes getting it flying might not be that straightforward! If you get it up and it falls right down again, try again on the bounce, two or even three times more will do the trick. And as soon as you get it inflated enough to turn, go across the window to the side, then up.

Your forearms will get very pumped!

Video please!

Yes. Video please. :evil:

(but do stay safe)

Learn to side launch.

Hot launch is crazy ( as a beginer ) in more than 6mph wind!

Be sure you have your kite killers attached correctly! Too short and you will have a problem. Test them in lower wind before you try them in higher wind.

+ 1 for video !

I'll have plenty of videos for you guys. That ace 5m video was sick. Sounded windier then anything I've experienced so far. Good news it's been sorted in the sorting facility in ca. Just got to wait patiently for this thing to get all the way to Chicago :/

The thing that gets me about the ace 5m vid. is the stuff about the broken pelvis down in the comments....had a friend with one of those and it sucked a lot for a long long time.

So are blades and aces similar?

Quote:

Originally posted by Bladerunner Learn to side launch. Hot launch is crazy ( as a beginer ) in more than 6mph wind!

Yup, if you have troubles on launch it will likely be less than this, if you lay out your kite, sort the handles and lines, and then tension the powers prior to launch and find the kite is all ready to inflate on the ground, then you've got this and you need to launch from the side.

Mind you, you might have better wind up top, be underpowered on the launch, then be overpowered nearer the top of the window, you might get a wee lofting if this is the case...

It's a big jump! pick your wind and spot carefully!

If they are similar at all I can see why it's called the Widow Maker. I had a 12m Ace (I think it was 12?) that I flew in the buggy ONCE. Got rid of it right away after too much time OUT of the seat on turns. Crazy anti-gravity machine. REALLY intimidated me.