OK. As I'm still in my rookie year of the buggy preparing for the mad beach miles with WELDNGOD and the others this coming fall/winter, I had a little experiment today. I also know these two kites are still widely used, and are in/approaching the has been era. First, I have never went to buggy with my 3m Flow, and the 3.5 Rage at the same session. Either one or the other. Both are good IMHO. Today, I took said kites out behind my shop for a static session only. winds were about 10 mph. I was very shocked at what I found out. I have been looking into the "size overlap" many of us have or had. What I found was the Flow went about 10 feet further towards the outer edge of the window than the Rage??? However, the Rage was more responsive at the edge of the window than the Flow?? I can only assume it's the difference in wing surface area design. Both are low aspect "all purpose kites", but was very impressed in the big differences of two kites being about the same size. I have favored the Rage in my cracker box field because of it's snappy turning ability. Now I realize I might favor the Flow for more upwind once I get clean wind with open long beach runs. So, not really sure I have a size overlap with these two kites after all. Upwind is the name of the game. It can mean a good session, or the walk of shame I guess. Still so much to learn it looks like.
Thoughts from the Guru's??
Thanks.

Let me know when you'd like it and I'll let you throw my 4M Crossfire into the mix..I'd enjoy some static time with the 3M Flow..

Quote: Originally posted by riffclown

Let me know when you'd like it and I'll let you throw my 4M Crossfire into the mix..I'd enjoy some static time with the 3M Flow..

Oh it's definitely coming Riff. You can try all my wings!! First chance of flight I've had in over two months :embarrased: . A Damn shame a whole week in the OBX and not one flight. I ought to be drawn and quartered. Just too many waves that had to be ridden.
Bro, wait till you grab my 6.9 Reactor :D

I love the Ozone Flows. Graceful elegance with tons of pull:evil:
Just can't make my mind up on the new Ozone graphics /

I'm pretty sure they will both go upwind, its just a matter of how well they go upwind. I started out in the bug with an HQ Beamer which was pretty crummy upwind. I could make it work,... It was just A LOT of work resulting in some much faster downwinders... Then followed by REALLY sore arms the next day. By far your RII will have the BEST upwind capability of all your kites. From what I have learned on this forum, good upwind capability is a combination of higher AR and Angle of Attack (both of which are set by the manufacture of the kite).

There are (for lack of a better word) maneuvers to help the upwind tack that I'm sure Weldngod can teach you too. I'm sure there's something in the Coastal Windsports webpage that will help too.

Thanks Soliver. So basically I need a 3m ish RII LOL. Still have not got much wing time on my 6.9, but know its gonna be a blast. Just trying to work with what I have at the moment. I guess I need to take em both for a spin in the same session to really see. I was just pleasantly surprised at the differences side by side today.

Just FYI though, there is no magic "upwind-genie" kite,... Regardless of upwind ability being better or worse, it's still even a bit a work with a kite like the RII, just much less work than with a Beamer or other equitable kite... I think it will be good for you to work with the Flow and with the Rage and learn how to work them upwind well enough to cover some ground, then when you get a better upwind kite (or if the wind is light enough for your RII), you'll really have your chops down and can rock and roll with no trouble,... At least that's what worked for me

If its possible (though not likely) I may be able to join you in October.

Going to Jekyll next weekend though

kites play a little difference in upwind ability for sure. But the biggest problem when a person can not go up wind is too small kite. All kites can go up wind if you have enough kite out for the wind conditions. Next time a pilot has trouble going up wind size up 1m - 2m and I bet you cruise back with no problems

Do you have the AOA adjuster on your rage?

Thanks for that tip too Dino. No AOA, but its on the lust as my Rage is the most used kite at this time.