I've flown a 3m 4-line fb kite for a few months now and I've taken kitesurfing lessons. Now I'm looking at getting my first depower for snowkite use. I want a stable and safe kite that I wont outgrow anytime soon.
I weight 70kg/155lbs an I'll be kiting on a large frozen lake with (usually) about 30cm semifrozen snow.Wind is usually 8-16knt and some rare days with even more(I have the 3m for those days...)

I'm thinking about a 10m (8m seems a bit small) Ozone Access 2012 because the frenzy isn't exactly made for beginners.

I just noticed that there is a new 2013 access out now! Seems like the colour is the only difference to the 2012? I nearly puked when I saw it...:megan:

Sounds like you've already done all the research and have done the important step of the lesson!

This is a great kite and is exactly what you think it is, a kite you won't outgrow, but that is beginner friendly.


I personally love the new graphic, but I'm a sucker for large white canopy!

So I should go for the 10m? What would be the REAL windrange of it (after learning the basics)
btw. has the gaze changed on the 2013 model...anyways I'll go for the 2012 becourse its -20% now :wee:

Ewwww.... not a big fan of large swaths of white... as over time they become magnets for dinge and UV-yellowing.

The stepped panels, haphazard scattering of text and pixelated patterning all make for a canopy thats much less than the sum of its parts.... definitely a huge step backward aesthetically.

ATB,
Sam

Quote:

Originally posted by UnknownAX So I should go for the 10m? What would be the REAL windrange of it (after learning the basics)

Actual windrange is going to be determined by your weight and the actual terrain.

Bit older, but I don't expect the windranges have changed drastically.

http://downloads.flyozone.com/distributors/Windcharts/windch...

ATB,
Sam

Agree with the "huge step backwards", but everyone has their own taste...
However old that chart is, its comletely retarded.
4-6knt Advanced riders are WELL powered up
7-10knt Expert riders are FULLY powered up

Someone must've had a good time writing that :roll:

8-16 knots sounds right in the pocket for the 10m. One of the guys I buggy with has the 2012 model and it's perfect in that wind range. I have no idea how that relates to snowkiting though!! Once the 2013 kites are out, their should be some good deals around on the 2012 models. They're a very good kite and should suit exactly what you're doing.

One thing though.....if you are also going to be kitesurfing, why not a kite that can do both? eg: HQ Matrix or Flysurfer Unity or maybe one of the PL Arcs. There's some videos on the Flysurfer site of the Unity and it's ability to auto relaunch on the edge of the window. Could well be worth a look.

10m 2009 model for $650(free shipping?): http://www.ozonekitesusa.com.asp1-18.dfw1-1.websitetestlink....

Quote:

10m 2009 model for $650(free shipping?)

That's the XC model - much slower turning than the new XT's. The 2010's were the start of the XT's (I think) but no trimmer strap - the adjusters are on the bar ends - terrible idea, what was Ozone thinking? 2011 they brought back the trim strap. Personally, I'd stick with 2011 models or later.

This looks like an okay deal if it's got bar and lines:

http://www.kite-line.com/snowkites/2012-Ozone-Access-Snowkit...

Newer windchart:

http://downloads.flyozone.com/snowkites/downloads/2012/windc...

That windchart is a bit better...
I'm in the Europe so i won't buy overseas. I can get the 2012 RTF for 770€ here...thats cheap enough. Just need some snow but I won't wait until that, by that time all the good deals would be gone.

BTW, should I fly it unhooked with a leash first? Is it a good idea to go fly it without snow (on a field) or would that be suicide?

Thx a lot for your answers!

If you're unhooked, you'll be at full power all the time. You need a harness and to be hooked in otherwise there aint much point in having a depower. Just make sure you practice hitting the primary safety often so you react instinctively. You can download the manual from Ozone's website - flyozone.com

Put it up first in 10mph or thereabouts - with the bar out it will be quite controllable.

I did all my snowkiting on the 10m (2012) last Winter in the European Alps and Scottish Highlands. Its one of the smoothest kites I have ever flown.

You can get going in 10mph, just about park it in 12-13 and will have a massive face splitting grin 14-18. It does start to become a handfull after that. I have had a landboard session in 20 gusting to 25 and it was OK but ideally i would have changed down to an 8.

If your main winds are 8-16 you may be better off with a 12m. I'm regretting not getting the 12 as a 12 & an 8 would make a great quiver for the conditions i mostly snowkite and landboard in.

Not impressed with the new colour - though I have yet to see the whole range.

If you want a kite that you can use on water then get an LEI. They work just as well on land.

FYI here is the full coulorway though its described as "grey" rather than white. looks white to me...

http://www.powerkiteshop.com/ozone-access-xc.htm

I'd just fly unhooked at the first launch (no hot launch!). I haven't any beach near and I don't want to drive 100km and see that the wind isn't enough this time... :wow:
The 12m feels a bit too big as the lake isn't far from the coast and I don't know if the 3m fb does any good at snowkiting (Maybe hook it up on the bar).
So I'm ordering the 2012 10m now

When it arrives, should i go on a field in <8mph winds or wait for snow? :puzzled:

Learn to fly it in 6-8ish knots hooked in. The kite is tame enough to not throw you around in those winds. Unhooked you will be stalling out the kite and have a struggle. The access has lots of depower and will have easy control in that windrange. I taught my friend to kite on his 10m HQ Apex in that wind hooked in. They are essentially the same type of kite, the access just costs more and has more bling.

Quick change of plan...
I've got an awesome offer on a 10m unity.
Seems like it would stay with me longer (more performance and still eaay to fly)
Should I get the Unity instead?
Need to make a quick decision...:bigok:

if you can get a unity for under 1k, I would go for it, but my FIRST ANSWER is still BUY USED!

Well, it's a very little used unity far under 1k.

I'll propably take it because of the better depower and performance. I hope it isn't a pain in the a.. to prefill it at low winds.

it's a P.I.T.A. to fill any kite in low winds, either wind fill, pump it up, or even using the leaf blower!

Went for the access 2012 10m :singing:

Sadly, I have no possibility to try out harnesses, so I'll have to ask one thing.

As I'm riding on skis, the kite will be on my side most of the time. Isn't it hard to ride so, if the harness isn't twisting towards the kite?
I like the seat harnesses because of their lower hook position, but I'm afraid that it would be hard to snowkite with it as the hook won't slide sidewards? :puzzled:
As I looked at the Dakine Fusion, I saw that it's compatible with the "sliding bar kit". But I don't really like the idea of the whole spreader bar moving...

I use both a Dakine Speed seat and an Ozone SB base harness - both have spreader bars. Providing they're done up tight, and you have the spreader bar pad on (had to buy that separately for the Dakine), then there's not too much movement of the spreader bar - I find it quite comfortable. Without the spreader bar pad, the dakine spreader bar used to dig into my stomach and generally be a p.i.t.a. but now I've put the pad on, it's great. I like my bar to stay put. I'm not comfy with a sliding arragement - but I guess you'd get used to it. Pretty sure you won't need a sliding bar to snowkite.....

From personal experience kite skiing with an Ozone access harness with spreader bar, I find that the waist portion of the harness will tend to slide slightly toward the kite but leg straps stay put. This doesn't affect performance of the harness what-so-ever. I have a slight twist to my body anyway when I ride unless I'm using one hand to steer and the other doing something else. I gurantee that you will forget all about the small movements the harness makes once your out there having a blast. You'll love that kite, good choice.

The unity all the way !

Flysurfer do all sorts of extra little things to protect you investment like lb. rated breakaway links between each bridle and the kite, Blow outs ...


I have recently started using an open cell as low wind kite . After years with closed cell I am missing it. Each time you give the kite a tug and it gulps some air it holds it so you make progress. Let my Eskimo fall back and bye, bye any progress. It may take an extra tug or 2 to fill a Flysurefer but for me, it's better.

10m won't exactly be a low wind kite. Right sized for the winds you describe though !

At under a $1000 I would be asking questions. Almost too good to be true ?

So it is easy to snowkite with a seat harness that won't allow any movement of the spreaderbar? I've also looked at the Ozone access harness, but sadly it seems to be too big for me (30"). Would a waist harness with leg straps (mystic star) allow more movement of the lower body than a pure seat harness (dakine fusion)?

@bladerunner
I already went for the access because of easier ground handling, better agility in the low-end and lighter fabric than the standart FS Unity. Btw. the Unity was ~800€ and almost new.

I am slim. 29 - 30" waist . I started with a waist harness and it rode up. I have a Mysric seat / waist harness and it is very comfortable. I just got a spreader bar pad since it will poke at my ribs. MUCH better!

I chose the Mystic seat / waist combo because I knew it would be comfortable and if I didn't like seat could swap it up.

Acces is lighter fabric. One of the reasons I was thinking Flysurefer might be longer lasting . Along with that list of other things they do. OZ are fantastic kite makers as well. You couldn't go too wrong either way.

ENJOY !!!!

How do you pack up your snowkites? I don't think its a good idea to pack them up with snow in and on the kite??? Does the snow get inside the when relaunching? Maybe let someone catch the kite up so it doesn't touch the ground? (Will grabbing a foil kite end up in a disaster?)

How do you pack up your snowkites? I don't think its a good idea to pack them up with snow in and on the kite??? Does the snow get inside the kite when relaunching? Maybe let someone catch the kite up so it doesn't touch the ground? (Will grabbing a foil kite end up in a disaster?)

Just pack it good enough to get it home then unpack it and let it dry out.

Well, my home is 25m from where I pack it up.. :D I'll propably never even use the rucksack.