Hey, I was thinking, I have Blade4.9 and Imp2 (great kites) but I wanted to get me one with more power. So I was thinking about buying me a Sabre9.5 to use on land boarding and snowkiteing, but I also want to try kitesurf. So do you have any idea how a foil kite works on water? Is it relaunchable or am I just in deep problem if I crash the kite in to the water??

Jafet (from Iceland

jafet,
I wouldn't recommend trying the foil kite in the water unless you're a good swimmer. People have used the ozone frenzy's on the water from what I've heard on other forums and also have seen in videos. I'm sure that a lot of them have boats or friends with boats that are willing to help them out in a bind if they should crash. Otherwise you're gonna have to swim it back which wouldn't be fun with a large foil like the size you're talking.

I was looking for something that was good for everything as well.. land/snow/water. It's not out there from what I've come to realize. So I bought a slingshot fuel for the water and snow, and am getting a larger static foil for landboarding and such. Downside to getting a LEI is having to pump it up in the snow, but if you crash it in the water atleast you'll be able to relaunch it. As for flying it on land...you can, but if you crash you have to worry about the bladders. I would imagine that replacing a busted bladder would be less effort though then swimming a large foil in from where ever you may crash in the water.

Just my .02 from what I've read and heard. Hope it helps some.
~Joe

Fazmo -
There are a foil kites with valves that can be used on water as well as land. Relaunch like on land. You can get fixed bridle foil kites with valves or depowerable foil kites with valves.

Skiite Convertible and Vector by BOOM Kites - available as fixed bridle and depower.

Rage by JoJo - fixed bridle

Neptune by MacPara - fixed bridle, valved version of their Bego

Viokites - the VR, Proteus, and Protean 2 are all valved, depower foils. I bought a used Proteus 7/8 and it rocks, especially after adding a UDS type pulley system.

Flysurfer - top of line valved depower foils with price to match. I've never flown one, but I like my VioKite just fine for way less $$$.

Chris Krumm

That's a fairly solid list of water relaunchable kites that also are well suited for land use, but I think you missed possibly the best all round cross over kite.

The Peter Lynn Arcs are amazing kites for surf and land, super stable, gust absorbing for inland flying, good range of depower, super freindly, auto zenith makes learning easy. I've actually let go of the kite, sat down, had a cup of coffee and a sandwich while the kite sat happily overhead. No other kite on the market will do this.

You'll want to look at the newer ones, bomba's are ok, but look for the Venom's or Phantoms if possible.

One word of warning, Although there is some major perks to using the Arcs, there is a couple down sides, they can be a bit interesting to learn how to self launch properly, once you get it fitured out though it's really easy, just not like any other kite out there. The other down side is they love to be powered up. If you go out in low wind for the kite size, you'll have a rough go at it. To give you an example, I'm 240lbs, I fly my 13m Venom on land in 12mph+, anything lower simply isn't fun with this kite, but I've managed to be in good control in 30+mph winds with the same kite.

Rule of thumb for an Arc, to with one size larger arc than you would with an LEI. So if you need a 12-13m lei, go with a 15-16m Arc.

ill second that, the arc has to be the best option if looking for a kite for both land and water, the phantom is not as good on the water because the high AR makes it harder to relaunch, but arcs like guerillas venoms and vortexs are all good for both

Faz,
Apparently I was wrong..figured others would chime in as well though. Sorry about that.
If you live in the US check out ebay.com and Item number: 330004449448
or just type in a search on the ebay site for skite. They've got a 11.5m on there that has a day and a half left on it. When I last checked it was going for $202.00
So it seems like a pretty good deal for a kite that's only been used a handful of times.
Thought I'd let ya know bout the find since I was wrong.

Thanks for the answers, really helpful and thanks, Code, for the information about why not use bladder kite on land. I was wondering why not use bladder kite on land because many Icelanders do that and I never see kiteers use them in videos.
So anyway, thanks.

i tryed it in wales tha current pulled me out lol me mate hat 2 help
crazy davey