I need a kite for my 12 yr old, I am thinking of bringing him to nabx this year. I have a 2m samurai, but that is too powerfull for him in strong winds, the 1m profoil is very quick and spinny. i was thinking of a nice stable kite in the 1.5 range maybe an imp 4line or a crossfire 1.7

What do you all think?

I have an ozone IMP 1.0 m on 2 lines with a bar that I fly with my 5yo kid.

I find it quite stable, and not too fast. It is a low aspect

Never flown the crossfire but I think it is high aspect.

crossfire is quite a lifty kite.

The small Crossfires are finicky in less than perfect winds. The small ones don't like puffy, swirling winds. And yes even that small one might lift a light weight flier.

At the HQ demo last September, they had a small kite, a Beamer 1.4. My 12 year old flew it in about 14 knots if I remember and it was no problem for him to hold his ground at all. It flies like a small Profoil but is more beginner friendly, comes with all the new redesigned HQ handles and lines, kite killers, stake, and set up cd. It is agile enough to do quick spins, stops from speed, and will zip all over the window very quickly. It was a fun kite to fly and would be great for a lighter weight flier even in higher winds. It is rated for up to 38 mph. Maybe with wheels under you.

Haven't flown the Imp 4 lines, but my son started on an Imp 1 meter 2 line when he was 5. Well made small kite. But 4 line is where it's at so he can reverse launch, and he now usually flies a 1.5 m Ozone LD Stunt 4 line or PKD Brooza 2 m. He's 8, and a lightweight. The LD Stunt as been replaced by the 4 line Imps, I believe, but it is a quick AND very stable kite. Both mostly flown on handles for us, BTW.

krumly