Peak-on snow


Not any independent reviews yet, but this is still interesting look see..

Have to take exception to them claiming 'amazing depowerable single skin kite - first one in the world'. NOT!! Steffen has been making them commercially for a while, Herc's made one, BigE's made one and what about the C-Quad? and REV? and probably a few others I don't know about. Sorry for sounding like Mr Grumpy, but I get cheezed off by grandiose claims like that.

So... why is one skin better?

Brain Cramp!

I thought the same thing as Mr. Holgate. Pretty bold statment but I'm sure that's more a product of the marketing geeks, not to be taken too seriously IMO.

It is a very intersting design. For backcountry/alpine kiting it make a lot of sense. However, if you find yourself on an a frozen lake with snaggy shards, or sastrugi that has been hit by rain and candy coated, there is a whole lot of stuff to get snagged with that kite. It would not survive long in our neck of the woods unless we have perfect conditions.

I really like the way that it completely collapses. Must like a Paraski. I've always loved how the Parakis can just be laid down like that. Nice to see a kite that does the same.

The fact that the 9m can be packed down to nearly the size of a folded up t-shirt is awesome. For extended outings and tours this is amazing. So much less bulk on your back in regards to back up kites. An HQ Apex weighs in at about 5lbs and takes up probably 3X the space as a FS Peak. Leaves more room for provisions and gear.

I applaud FS for taking the intiative and making a kite like this. It illustrates that they recognize, even though it's a niche in a niche sport, the value in snowkite. For people who operate in enviroments where being able to carry a spare kite and gear plus absolute depower and survivability in a crash is important, this kite is damn cool. And even though I have concern about the snaggy bridle bits and it's one the the key reasosn many of us like arc here, it's really not that big a deal in the big picture.

Quote: Originally posted by Chrisz

So... why is one skin better?

Light weight. Good power . Low wind potential. Packs small.
Back country kiters and those wanting to carry extra kites on their buggies are potential market.

I am not certain that single skin is going to be better all round but it is exciting to see the concept being explored.

John, are you saying that Born or somebody else was 1st to the market with a single skin depower ? It is a large claim but so is " total depower " etc. !

Quote:

I really like the way that it completely collapses. Must like a Paraski. I've always loved how the Parakis can just be laid down like that. Nice to see a kite that does the same.

Are you referring to the Parasi Flex? Paraski Flex does just lay down without need for any stake(drop and walk away)... but it is not compact with its carbon fiber rods of it's leading edge. The rods help keep it planted and not blow away--that and it's design.

So can you just drop the Peak and not stake it.. ? I was not sure based on both videos I've seen.

Quote:

John, are you saying that Born or somebody else was 1st to the market with a single skin depower ? It is a large claim but so is " total depower " etc. !

I'm saying that it's not the 'first single skin depower in the world' - that's FS's claim on the video which I believe is simply incorrect. There's no mention of 'framed or unframed' or 'first in the marketplace' or anything. Just 'first single skin depower in the world'. Which I find a little disrespectful to other people who have made them - market or not, framed or unframed.

Like Feyd said, probably just over zealous marketing. Which is usually Ozone's forte!!

I'm wondering if this would be a good depower for someone in my position that doesn't have a harness or a depower kite. I'm a little confused how the kite connects to the backpack / harness since it doesn't look like it has a spreader bar.

I watched the video again and saw how it connects to the back pack harness, but is there any disadvantages to that type of harness versus a seat or waist harness with a standard spreader bar?

Rather than getting into the disadvantages, it would be far easier to go into its advantages...errr advantage, as there is only one really. Travel pack size, not having to pack you're "real" harness. It is even mentioned in the literature that it is not meant for serious use(not verbatim of course.) Imo... I'd just go buy a legitimate harness with spreader. Buy a used one on here and even save money, the kite already comes in a rucksack anyways.

I think that the backpack harness is an extra cost ? It may do the job but I like the back support that my Mystic offers.

Thanks for clearing that up John. I agree that it is a bold statement. 1st to be commercially available might have been more accurate ?

I have never seen any of these other depower single skins . Anybody got any pictures of one that isn't a Peak ? ( or that mod'ed Fabio )

Bladerunner, I'm working on what is going to be a depower single skin right now! I guess I didn't get to beat Flysurfer to it unlike a few others 7.4m NPW21E1. Getting it tuned to fly as a regular NPW and then I am adding a depower setup.
This will be my first depower NPW, BigE is kind of a pioneer in this area.
He's been flying his "NASA" NPW for quite awhile if you have seen the pics in his sig. Looks like the regular thing but has extra pulleys to provide depower.

There's also this video of someone who added depower to their Nasa Star http://youtu.be/8VKKKYeHCZk

They claim first "production" depower singleskin in the comment, which may be legit... I don't think the C-quad is a true "depower" as it is brake controlled, not AoA controlled.

I like this Video

https://vimeo.com/78772663

the peak is a nice concept for sure. I would still haul my ozones though :D. I'm not allowed any more kites except maybe a 5 or 6m LEI

I think there's a lot of coolness factor with this kite. And I like the backpack/harness concept but as Meat pointed out it's not a system where you're going to have a lot of support for agressive riding. Blade's right, "First Commercially available" would have been a better choice.

To Ssayre, there are a lot of options out there for a first depower. This kite is a little on the exotic side and as a first release it may not be as refined as it could be. An expirienced depower pilot will figure out the issues (if any) where a newbie may just find it all frustrating. I'm alway apprehensive about buying the first run on anything personally. I would lean toward more traditional set ups with more straight forward common operation. There are a lot of options out there that are more straight forward and more affordable for a first time buyer IMO.

Feyd is right.

I would look at something tried and true ( + cheaper ) as a 1st depower. I have a strong feeling this design will become more refined. If it finds a market?

It'd be interesting to know how much depower this has and how well it goes upwind...:bisou: The Peak remindes me of those "touring kites" that people make out of old parachutes and stuff...

Oh, and something well known like the Ozone Access or HQ Apex would be a great 1st depower. And they don't even cost more than the Peak...

So I spoke with Ted yesterday. He say's that power wise the Peak works out to be about this...

6m Peak pulls like a 10m

9m Peak pulls like a 15m

And apparently you can relauch the Peak from water. I suppose there's nothing to hold water so why not? I'd like to see it.

A 9m that pulls like a 15m would be handy on long rides where you might get stranded. Packs dow small enough to fit in a pack with another kite. You could have a whole quiver on you. One in the air, 2 on your back.

a different on snow promo featuring same guy:




.... and WATER LAUNCH one:

Hardwater Kiting is bringing the Peak in for demo. We've had some queries on it we're interested to see how it works when the ice gets snaggy or how it handles the local "double the base speed" gust factor we usually get here. If it handles gusts half as well as an Arc it will be awesome.

Design and concept wise it's very cool from a snowkiter's perspective. I think there's a lot of potential here.

Feyd,
Don't expect it to be fast though. I think it's a bit of a cruiser kite?

Water! So how does it float? Big bubble of air trapped there in the vid obviously, but what happens if you crash it instead of laying it out nicely?
Didn't see any form of floatation in any of these vids.
If there is some form of tiny floats to keep it out of Davy Jones' kite locker, they are going on my NPWs this summer and out on the lake!

I don't know....I winder if this will really catch on. From Peter Lynn's newsletter today (yes, I read them ; )

And when he says "quite the opposite of the Skin" he means in terms of complexity - he's designed the skin to be a simple single skin kite - this mystery one is anything but simple.

"I flew a prototype single skin traction kite that is quite the opposite of the Skin. It has 25 cells, more than 200 bridles and very high aspect ratio, and its performance is truly astonishing, unbelievable even. Un-collapsible, with more pull for it's size than comparable ram air 'foils and needing much less wind (all typical single skin characteristics), it also has L/D that's 'foil equivalent (better than most I'd say), excellent handling and instant power.

Wow! - really WOW! A glimpse of the future; conventional 'foils will become forgotten museum pieces. LEI's need to watch their backs also.

But your next questions will remain unanswered; except that I didn't make it, and it's not from either Ozone or Flysurfer. For now, I'm not letting on who did- or when/if it and derivatives will become available."

Flyfish, I know it's not fast that's okay with me. My understanding is that its been a little challenging to convey that the Peak is not a high performance machine like the other kites in the FS stable. It's a touring kite. Sort of in the same genre as an HQ Apex or Ozone Access. Not a hucking machine, not a racing maching but a cruiser. And more of a pure bred tour specific system. Sort of the "Dynafit" of snowkites. Where as the HQ and Ozones are more in the "Fritsche" end of the spectrum. :D

For speed, an Arc is the choice for me. The conditions that we need for speed are also the conditions where Arcs are at thier best.

For people who want to cruise long distance in light winds while carrying multiple kites the Peak is an attractive option.

Quote: Originally posted by Feyd

So I spoke with Ted yesterday. He say's that power wise the Peak works out to be about this... 6m Peak pulls like a 10m 9m Peak pulls like a 15m

I wonder why that's the case though? How would a single-skin kite generate over 60% more power than a foil? Is it a matter of resistance (i.e. a foil kite is thicker), or something to do with weight-to-size ratios?

Part of the reason(I'm assuming) is a pretty damn high PA ratio.

Not sure. Well know more when we get it. If you look at the thing in the air it flies crazy flat. More sail doing the work than a lot of other kites. But the AR on them seems pretty normal???

I hope that we cross paths this winter as I would really like to see one on the fly.
The video makes it look very tasty.

Hardwater Kiting will have the Peaks , both 9 and 6m, in by Monday or Tuesday. Ted, you're not too far from us if you want to come demo or just check it out.:D

Peaks landed yesterday. Craziest kites I've ever seen.

We'll be sending some local riders out today to get their take on 'em. If anyone is looking to demo a Peak or any other kites that we have in our hot little hands please let us know.

http://www.hardwaterkiter.com/demo-snowkite-program.html

Stay tuned