Got a bit of a teaser this afternoon with the new kite. It wasn't anything spectacular as the wind completely died 20 minutes into the session. But what I did get out of it was nice. I setup and launched in 12km/h winds. I could just barely feel the breeze to tell wind direction. First thing I was in awe with how different it felt to be under such a large wing. Almost like a big shadow hanging over me. I was wondering how I would like a big white kite, but the almost see through fabric with red intakes was actually quite nice. I could have used maybe three or four more km/h of wind and everything would have been perfect. Almost like 14-18km/h will be the sweet spot for great riding. I had a checked however, and the wind had read 10km/h at one point and I was still moving. I am gonna do a mixer check once the snow has finished melting as per powerzone's suggestion. It was flying good, but with maybe a slight backstall. My session ended when I tested a reverse launch and instead it flopped over and inverted causing half the bridle to get tangled. Once fixed up I packed up as usual and called it a day. All in all I am very pleased with the results from this kite, and can't wait to have many more sessions than I have been getting in the past. I just wish the snow wasn't melting so I could enjoy more of this snowkite season.

Shaggs

I miss the red intakes :D sexy beast!

On the water or land? Make sure you tune your front'n'rear lines too - massively important on FSers, should be the first thing you ever do!

I got to sneak in a two hour session after work this evening. This time it was in about 13-15km/h winds. I wish I had bought one a long time ago. I was powered well for the entire session.. I got some great long runs across the field and back running parallel to the road upwind of me. Upwind is amazing, just like my 12m, only with what seems like more of a consistent pull.

It could have been a bit more fun if there were a couple more km's of wind for smooth jumping. I did manage a few 3-5 foot bunny hops. I hope that the added sessions are gonna increase my jumping skill, cause my timing and landing are pretty terrible. The more or less session killer was on my highest jump, when I tossed the kite too far past 12 O'clock not being able to bring it back around, and turning backwards mid air. The botched landing tossed me on my back, with the lines going slack. The entire kite inverted , and somehow the left side bridle got crossed with the right side bridle, and my lines were even worse.

After trying to make sense of it for half hour, I unhooked one line at a time from the bar and slowly straightened the mess ( a big no no as I figure I should have be able to fix it without unhooking lines). To make sure it was all straight, I relaunched and went for a few more passes across the field. It all seemed to fly well, in the dying light nothing looked crossed. Once I was sure of it, I called it a day and headed back upwind to the car, taking my time getting packed up. I can honestly say that I am very impressed with how well this kite performs. I believed all the time what people said about these kites having great low wind capabilities, pulling like a freight train, but seeing is truly believing. This would have saved my entire winter season, if I had it at the beginning of November. I only hope next winter is as white as this one was. Can't wait to get it out with atb, and learn the water with it this summer.:wee:

many a session saved by my 19m

I hate it when people buy huge flysurfers and report having fun sessions in F all wind! It really endangers my bank balance.

I have fun sessions on my Blade in 8-10mph but i still feel like i want a big depower foil.

Nice collection of boards you have there by the way Shaggs... :D

Quote:

Originally posted by shaggs2riches I got to sneak in a two hour session after work this evening. This time it was in about 13-15km/h winds. I wish I had bought one a long time ago. I was powered well for the entire session.. I got some great long runs across the field and back running parallel to the road upwind of me. Upwind is amazing, just like my 12m, only with what seems like more of a consistent pull. It could have been a bit more fun if there were a couple more km's of wind for smooth jumping. I did manage a few 3-5 foot bunny hops. I hope that the added sessions are gonna increase my jumping skill, cause my timing and landing are pretty terrible. The more or less session killer was on my highest jump, when I tossed the kite too far past 12 O'clock not being able to bring it back around, and turning backwards mid air. The botched landing tossed me on my back, with the lines going slack. The entire kite inverted , and somehow the left side bridle got crossed with the right side bridle, and my lines were even worse. After trying to make sense of it for half hour, I unhooked one line at a time from the bar and slowly straightened the mess ( a big no no as I figure I should have be able to fix it without unhooking lines). To make sure it was all straight, I relaunched and went for a few more passes across the field. It all seemed to fly well, in the dying light nothing looked crossed. Once I was sure of it, I called it a day and headed back upwind to the car, taking my time getting packed up. I can honestly say that I am very impressed with how well this kite performs. I believed all the time what people said about these kites having great low wind capabilities, pulling like a freight train, but seeing is truly believing. This would have saved my entire winter season, if I had it at the beginning of November. I only hope next winter is as white as this one was. Can't wait to get it out with atb, and learn the water with it this summer.:wee:

Yeah all that sounds familiar I found the S2 19 SA particularly bad at what I called "front stalls"... the result being what you describe as the kite floats downwind.

When you feel tension going, pull a rear line - whichever one will make it turn down into the power zone. So long as you can keep one tip flying, the kite will recover.

May need a tune too - mine was bad at front stalls then I got it tuned by John at powerzonekitesports.com and it was much less prone to stalling.

The other problem may be that you're probably not jumping with the right technique for the kite... gotta stop yourself swinging under the kite with it above your head and I think you gotta send it back to 1 or 11 more than you are... maybe!!! I might be trying to teach you to suck eggs, eh

Timing... big fat foils are good practice IMO - send the kite, sheet out, wait some then edge when you feel the pull up. Cos you've got the time, you can really think about sorting it out

Found that most of the time, just a quick flick upwind with the tail was enough for big air - too much edge would kill the foil.

Then, as you're swinging around under it, get ready for the redirect and keep it moving when you land...

... have some footage from my last great session on the S2-19 - should finish the edit! :o

Quote:

Originally posted by lives2fly I hate it when people buy huge flysurfers and report having fun sessions in F all wind! It really endangers my bank balance. I have fun sessions on my Blade in 8-10mph but i still feel like i want a big depower foil. Nice collection of boards you have there by the way Shaggs... :D

I know how you feel. For who knows how long, I've wanted a big flysurfer and couldn't afford the bill on a new one, or missed deals on others. Passed on a deal a couple years ago and was kicking myself till now for not jumping on it. Thanks for the boards comment. I could never convince the wife that a sled, bike or quad is worth the money, but $700 for a new board once a year seems to sneak by ok. lol

Kami I pondered all day on your suggestions. I think it was a huge mix of getting over zealous when I passed the kite and completely poor timing. Tugging the rear lines came through my head, but it was a bit too late to get it straight. I think I might have swung the kite to almost 10, and it was too low and slow to make it back round. You're right, the smoothest jumps I've ever, had were when I've only swung the kite to 11 at most. I think I'll get it down good eventually here. Like you said it gives you time to think what you are doing throughout the entire process. I have to wait till the snow has melted and ground dried now. But I am giving it a tuning to see how I might be able to change its characteristics. I got to talk with powerzone a couple weeks ago. What an excellent guy to deal with. He suggested a tuning around -5/-2.5 I believe. I also remember reading a thread long ago that some had success with a -4/-2 tuning. Its flying all right as it is, but if I can make it better why not.

Another lesson I learned yesterday,and completely forgot. I traded in my K2 Cinch rear entry bindings, for some GNU Agro rear entry bindings in the beginning of the year. Getting into the board is quite easy with them, flip up back and lock it, then lock down the top strap. I was sinking a bit in the snow, so I would have been just as fast with standard bindings. Also the toughest part to eat, was when I bailed on that jump; I had a tough time getting the back flipped down to get the board off my feet. My old K2 bindings had a one click to lock in, and I could easily get them on and off like a traditional binding. I think I'm either saving these bindings for downhill only, or ditching them next season for a traditional set.

Just one rear line... whichever one is closer to the ground...

You on a snowboard? Ah, ignore my advice then :D I have no idea how well you can edge and how much power you can hold... you might just be over-powered and getting dragged downwind and not even knowing it :o

And don't go randomly hauling on lines when you're over hard ground either

GNU can be a bit tough to get open when you're on your ass in the snow, that's for sure. This is outweighed by the fact that I can get in them so fast.

I agree, they are a very nice light binding. I haven't got the flexibility and balance to get into them on a slope, or while moving. But I haven't ridden them too much either. I haven't mastered the get up and go on water yet either. Every time I go to the lake it seemed that the winds weren't there or not quite enough to pull me out of the water. Sold my 12m inflato in hopes to replace it with a 14m, but I think in the chest deep for 300yards ish lake will be good for me to learn with this kite. Rode once with my 12m flysurfer last year, but I botched a transition bad. By the time I got back set to go a big storm came in. I had to pack everything in a panic. :shocked2: