New to the sport : Ozone Imp 2.5 or Paul Lynn 3 Hornet?


Hello Everyone!

I am getting my first kite this x-mas, and I need some help choosing one.
Here is some info about myself and where I will be using the kite
I will be using it for snow-kiting with a snowboard.
I live in sub-arctic Quebec, Canada and the winds are quite powerful. We have lots of huge lakes and tundra with no treeline.
I am 210 lbs.

Which Kite is better for a beginner?
I can get an Ozone IMP sent to me for just over 300$ all in Canadian. And I can get the Paul Lynn Hornet sent to me for 340$ all in.
Should I get handles or bar? Which is better for me?

I want something I can learn on, but also that I won't grow out of or get bored with by the end of the season.

I am brand new to this sport, so please only reply if your offering support.

Any information about anything to do with this sport will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks a lot,

Fletch

Have you looked at Ozone pure as a first kite trainer or HQ Scout II ..... you will notice surfing around the net that vast majority of snowkiters using control bar and harness rather than handles. Harness to distribute kites power over your whole body otherwise you will tire out quickly ( or your knuckles will drag in the snow on the way home... LOL) .... I am sure some others will chime in .... your a pretty big boy so going too small with the kite, will limit your kite days as you will need a pretty stiff breeze just to move yourself with smaller kite .... anyhow .... i am new myself so will sit back and listen

I agree with Bear. I think that it may serve you well to learn on a bar of some sort. It may not be a depower, but you will grasp all the other aspects of learning your power window, but you will learn how to steer on the bar as well. The Scout II is good, the PL Impulse, or even a Rush Pro. The Scout will be a 4 line on a crossover bar, the other two are three line kites with reverse launch capabilities.

If you choose to learn on handles either of the kites you mention plus a couple other beginner line kites will do.

Not trying to be an ass but its Peter Lynn not Paul Lynn....just to clarify for you please don't take offense.

The Imp 2.5m was my first power kite. Great to learn on, but once I got in the buggy, I quickly realized I needed quite a bit more power than just standing and flying. I probably need 20mph to buggy with it - and I'm 180lbs. I would guess you would need a fair bit more in the snow...

I also have the 3m Hornet - very nicely made, strong and solid with a fair bit more performance than the 2.5m Imp. Out of the two, I would def go with the Hornet......but for snowkiting ???? it seems a little small and you'd wear out pretty quick without a harness.

I think a 5m Apex III would be a good first snow kite...more expensive than the others, but not overly so. Very easy to get along with and probably no harder to learn on than the Imp or Hornet. I can't really think of a valid reason why you couldn't learn with a depower/bar rather than a 3m on handles.......

On youtube, my user name is quedecree - there are videos of all three kites either being flown static or in the buggy.....

No offense taken. Thanks for the correction.

Thanks for the help guys/girls.

I agree with John, a reasonable sized depower would give you more time per session and a larger wind range. I have a Montana V 7m, which is my first depower foil and it has been very good to me.

I don't own a Hornet, but I do own a 2.5 IMP Quattro. I love the kite and it is my goto high wind kite for the buggy, but I'm only 150 lbs, so don't need as much sail as you would.

If you want to see the Imp or Montana in action I've got a few buggy vids on YouTube at:
http://www.youtube.com/user/MikeDobbs76?feature=mhee

Also, be sure to check out John's channel for "Apex II Rides again" - great vid

Anything PL on the east coast hit up Mark @ Windspeed Kites. They are located into ONT.

Welcome,

a couple of good sites to visit are www.kitesurfingschool.org and the tutorials at www.coastalwindsports.com .

There are many kite shops in Quebec. Where abouts are you ?

Since you live in Quebec one company that should be on your radar is Conceptair . They are very popular in Quebec. Local company. The Smartkite is a good choice !

I will check out those sites for sure.

I am in Northern Quebec. Schefferville to be exact. We are an isolated community just below the arctic.

Did the lake are frosted at this time?
Get a look at www.kitebroker.ca
PL and Ozone had good reputation and easy to resale.
Have fun!

Winter is late the last couple years, but the lakes are frosted over, and should be good to head out on.
It is -15-25 for the last week or so.

The wind in town is avg 20-30 all year round, and then up in the tundra hills where there are no trees, it is always windy, and at higher speed. I think I might have picked a good sport to get into. Hopefully...

And by the way...I am pretty sure I am going to go with the PL Hornet 4M. From the advice on here, and from what I read, it seems like better choice than the 3M. I can't wait to get out and try it out!

20-30 mph all year round? Wow! Be careful with that 4m then, it's gonna be a handful in those sort of winds.

My bad.

20-30 Km/hr.
With 3-4 per month at 40.

But up in the hills it's a lot windier. I will have to get a wind meter.

You need to realize a few things before buying.


#1 You are eventually going to need 3 sizes of kites. 1 for very low winds. 1 that will cover your typical winds and then a small kite for those very windy days.

Small changes in size of FB in small kites make a large difference in power.

A 4m kite is far too big to serve as your high wind kite down the road and far too small for low winds. It is not an easy size to resell.

You will be amazed at the power you will get from a good 3m FB. Looking at something like the Core will give you a kite designed to serve up when in motion. 3m is enough to get you moving in those 20+km winds. I got my snowkite 1st runs on a 3m in similar winds.

For your Go To kite you are going to want a depower. If you get something like a 10m then your 3m FB will fit in for the higher winds when a 4m won't.

You just may find you don't need a low wind kite ?

Another important thing. The KEY to learning is being the master of your kite. You only learn once you are in control. A 4m kite has so much power in moderate winds that it will toss you around and leave you reacting to it rather than controling it ! Waisting valuable learning time and making things more dangerous .

Get a good 3m and get riding. Then get a harness and get hooked in. It is the next kite that you want to purchase to fill your typical winds !

I third John H., a depower is going to give you a bigger wind range and it sounds like a 4-5m depower would get you moving nice. The learning curve is a tad higher but, IMO, the benefits out weight the costs. HQ Apex or Ozone Access are great kites.