Are there any shops or online sites that sell speed 3's in the usa? I was thinking that I would get a frenzy as my first depower kite but I might as well go big right? Now to just find one of these bad boys :p

check out powerzone kitesports i think their website is www.powerzonekitesports.com or powerzonewindsports.com something like that

Awesome thanks!

John is a nice guy and will help you find what you need

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Originally posted by viperkid181 Are there any shops or online sites that sell speed 3's in the usa? I was thinking that I would get a frenzy as my first depower kite but I might as well go big right?

not sure if you are joking with this question or honestly looking for an answer .... the short answer is NO! A speed 3 as a first de-power kite is a bad idea. I am sure John (powerzone) will explain the same thing to you.

Why is it a bad idea?

A lot of power; can get out-of-shape & messy if you don't pay attention to what the kite is doing ...

It's kind of like buying a ferarri as your first car. Amazing machine, but a danger to YOU due to a lack of experience.

indeed , tedious units for low experience riders. they are not like video games you ACTUALLY have to have skill, balance and timing of REAL time experience.

think not of the $ but of the TIME. TIME makes good fliers.

as a person who bought a speed as my first depower kite, let me tell you a couple things...

1. its a fantastic kite capable of more than you can comprehend at the moment
2. its a very sophisticated piece of equipment that needs to be respected
-the complex bridle is easy for a new flier to screw up and get tangled
-it needs to be tuned every so often to maintain its flying characteristics
3. i wish i would have bought something else first
-im pretty sure it delayed my success for a while
4. i wish i had it back now
-id love to see what its really capable of in some more experienced hands
5. it made learning very difficult and a bit more dangerous than average
-i got lofted a couple of times and was afraid to pull it out on more than one occasion

that said... when i decided to try out the arcs, i took to them immediately... they are very simple, relatively safe, and confidence inspiring... i would honestly recommend that every flier use arcs first... low-maintenance, all the advantages of flysurfers (except low-end), easy to find in the used market, extremely versatile, long lived, etc...

also, you ARE going to beat up any new kite... why beat up something as expensive as a speed 3?

as evidence, i used to own a quiver of flysurfers, and have now switched entirely to arcs...

i am considering switching back soon, but that is after a couple years experience...

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Originally posted by PHREERIDER think not of the $ but of the TIME. TIME makes good fliers.

as always phree is spot on! A big depower is a whole new animal to deal with, and you're going to beat it up as you learn depower kites.

Good thread.

ViperKid - what is your experience level?

I am considering a 19m Speed 2SA. Why? When there is wind I have no time, when I have time there is no wind. Kinda. So, being able to snow kite or blade in 6-10 mph is very desirable. I was hoping my 19m Venom would do the job but disappointed w low end.

I would find it of great value to understand some more of the dangers, risks, idiosyncrasies of Speeds. I am a 185 lb with intermediate skills. I do not jump. Yet.

@thanson2001ok I would stay away from the Speed2 if you can. I'm not saying its a bad kite but it sure as #@%$#! is a handful to fly. Their are a few big differences between the speed 2 and 3. One major one is stability. I have flown both and I much prefer the Speed 3 for its stability. When i have flown the speed 2's they have always overflown as soon as you happen to look away. I rarely have that issue with the 3 except in very low wind conditions. The only trade off I noticed is the start grunt of a speed 2 is higher than the 3. But once the you get the apparent wind working on the 3 I think you have a faster kite then the 2. I think its has been debated to death but I think the speed3 is a huge improvement over the 2 making it a more fun and safe kite to fly.

Is the ion a better choice? Thats the only other kite that seems like something I might want to buy. But kites that require pumping up seem like a pain. Btw I started out with a 5m beamer and moved up to a 10.5 blade.everyone said it wasnt reccomended that I get it but I didnt have any problems learning on it. Thats why I think the speed 3 might be the same learning curvewise.

Any other floaty/lifty depower kites anyone can suggest? Also is the 15m speed 3 as bad of a choice for a first depower as the 21 ?

I think it depends on what your goals are. Are you looking to snowkite, kitesurf, landboard, buggie or all of the above? Your weapon of choice can greatly depend on what you choose. I kitesurf and snowkite primarily and dabble in bugging from time to time. My speed 3's and psycho 4 are a great quiver for this, but if I only buggied I probably would stay with handles. I always seem to get myself in trouble with a depower in my buggy but that is just me. The speed 3 15m deluxe is a great kite but I started on a Neo2 11m which is a much more forgiving kite. It's slow and mostly safe (i'm not a fan of the HQ release it jammed with sand and snow) and has plenty of power for snowkiting in moderately strong winds(depending on body weight).

If I was starting out I think I would probably recommend finding a used flysurfer pulse2 kite in the 10m size or 15m size (if you need the extra power). I flew both of my friends and really liked the 10m (the 15m was a bit of a dog to me) and yet its plenty safe and not nearly as much of a handful as the speed3's. If you want a new kite I'm sure the flysurfer unity kites are just as good as the pulse 2 if not better but I haven't flown one. The psycho 4 line up is also very good but only in the 8m and 10m sizes the 15m and up sizes have some nasty tip tuck tendencies. I wouldn't normal recommend the psycho 4 line to a beginner but they aren't that bad if equipped with fds and your smart enough to pop the safety as soon as you feel the need.

just my 2 cents see what that buys you.

Depends on the state of tune, Frathouse - my Speed2 (soon to be for sale :D ) used to over-fly a lot but since John at powerzonekitesports.com set the mixer, it's the most stable kite I have.
It's also my opinion that you need to add about an inch to the front lines to get just a touch of backstall at the bar ... that's the thing isn't it, with the FSers, you have to be on top of what the kite's doing - especially if you're doing something silly. The extra attention needed at those times is where the experience comes in ...

That's some good info Kami. I will have to let my friend know and have him send his kite in because in it's current state that kite is no fun to fly. All it does is overfly constantly if your not watching it religiously.

I got the pleasure of flying thanson's psycho3 13m today in 15mph dirty winds and it was a dream. It was the most stable kite I've flown to date. I could literally keep the kite at zenith and sheet in the bar, the kite would pick me up a foot off the ground, sheeting out the kite would set me back down just as gentle. Took it for a ride in the buggy and felt overpowered. I'd highly recommend a psycho or pulse over a speed.

Flysurfers are over-rated................................:duh::duh:

Yeah, getting my 300lb-ass out on the water riding while 120lb guys are walking is over-rated

I thought you were 270..................I couldnt agree more on the Pulse 2 as a first Flysurfer....................not only nice on water but great buggy motors as well. Mixer adjustments on the Speed 2 made them rock solid in my past experiences. The overfly experiences I never had a problem with but I had a few years under my belt when I purchased the Speed 2s...................Kami a 21m S3 and raceboard/directional will have you going in 6kts Im guessing:dunno:

... 270 and falling :D

Yeah a tune on the S2 produced wonders ...!

S3 21 in the works ... raceboard not so much tried one once, will try again but so far I don't see any more bottom end than on the Flydoor - and I can jump the 'door

Am trying to get a 2011 Mako 150 ... shipping to Japan might be an issue though

keep me posted on the 150 shipping................If you know any US service members I could send it to their APO address....................basically thats paid to San Fran, CA the rest of the way its free..........................

Bunch of bikers here who are US military (navy) ... but are slackers :D easier just to get it sent here.
I've emailed the online stores I've found that have stock and do international shipping ... one replied so far, but says it'll be really expensive. Kind of a moot point if I can't buy in Japan :D

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Originally posted by tridude keep me posted on the 150 shipping................If you know any US service members I could send it to their APO address....................basically thats paid to San Fran, CA the rest of the way its free..........................

There is an OR dealer I know here in SF - Windy Devil - that have 2011 Mako's for sale. I can PM you contact info.

It's me that wants the Mako I can only see 2010 boards on his page which is why I haven't emailed them ... it has to be the 2011 cos that's when they started putting in the wood core - I won't take chances with a foam core any more

I know you want a 150, but there's a 130x35 @ nwkite. http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-23733.html&sid=8c6b8f3a65...

I think he is sorted with a deal. The guys at windy devil do have the 2011 but they don't update their website.