I'm still reading and learning a lot. But, I have one quick question while I'm reading.

I'm interested in land boarding with the kite.....in time. But, where I am, inland, in MS, it's seldom we have "steady" winds. Most days, if we have winds strong enough to kite, we're gonna have gusts mixed in. Is this a real problem in this sport, or can you still have some fun dealing with changes in wind from 2 to 12 MPH during a nice afternoon, with gusts......or will it just be frustrating?

Thanks for any help before I get too far.

Lobo

Let me add something. I'm looking at the HQ Beamer III or the Flexifoil Sting as possibilities as learning kites that may be usable for future land boarding as well. I think most will agree these would be good to start and maybe take me a little further to slow/easier land boarding also???

And, is this "Nasa" thing any good at all....as advertised?? I'd be OK with short string land boarding. But, if it's good, why so inexpensive?.....less control??

http://www.coastalwindsports.com/servlet/the-356/NASA-Power-...

On a side note. I bought equipment and trained on a Powered Paraglider. After a short time, I sold the motor, but always enjoyed kiting the paraglider on the ground. I still do that, and really like it. I say that just to let you know I have some sort of idea as related to power kiting, but, I can see there would be major differences in a number of ways....so, I consider myself a beginner in power kiting, but at least understand winds and definitely know how to be dragged across a field.....the "power" aspect of it....heh heh:D

Thanks for any help!!!

Lobo

Welcome to the forum .... I think the npw might be a good way for you to go. I haven't had much time on my npw, but they are suppose to be great in crazy wind conditions compared to a foil. I do know they are a good buggy engine and the fact that you can fly them on any line length is a bonus for sure. I didn't care for my npw at first, because I was just flying static, but as a begginer buggy rider I love my npw right now. Thats just my 2 cents I know others will come along with alot more knowledge and experience to help you out.

If you want to landboard I don't know about a NPW, if you have some experience you might want to look into a small 5-6m depowerable to handle the gusts. Then that could become your high wind kite later on.

With gusty winds depower kites are the answer. Your problem there is that you talk of VERY low gusty winds. Depower foils biggest drawback ist that they need almost 10mph to start producing the power you need.

From what I find the limited range of fixed bridles can be a problem in large gusts. I also find that foils with smaller / less air inlets hold their shape better. My JoJo 3m trainer was wide open. When it lost internal pressure it would rag out and then SNAP back right on the power zone. My 3m Brooza doesn't lose or regain that pressure as fast so is far more forgiving in the gusts.

Although it is a bit more of an advanced kite something with small inlets like the Brooza may be a big benefit ?

Have Fun !

Thanks for the help so far. Additional comments appreciated.

I've done a LOT more reading and video watching. I just want to get started. Here's a little more info that might be relevant.

I'm 5'1" at 160 lbs. I would like to be able to just kite without boarding for awhile....eventually adding some sort of board/buggy....but, no rush. I also would like to be able to kite when the winds are very low (2 to 8 mph). I assume that's VERY low from comments above. Not living on the coast, there are a lot of days with very little wind. However this month should add to the wind picture in general.
I'd also like to be able to kite with stronger winds....say, up to 25 mph......eventually, with expereince. I consider myself having NO expereince in flying this sort of power kite. The paraglider that I kite is a whole different ball game.....it's about 30m2, and hooked in quite close to me compared to these power kites. If it moves at all in a fairly strong wind (6-12mph)....it moves me! So, I do not want to move into what you folks would consider a kite for someone with any expereince.

I like it that the "standard" kites look a lot like my paraglider. I also like the look of the Nasa Wings. From what I'm reading....wanting to fly/kite in low winds, I almost must have something like the NPW. I like the idea of no cells to "fill" with debris....the greater(?) ease of relauching....the ability to fly it two or quad line control(although it sounds like I should use quad)....the ability to use different length lines, etc. I know this is surely getting the cart before the horse, but I also read of the possiblity of using it for sail-powering my kayak (That's waaaaay off, and maybe never, from what I'm reading) in that it seems easy to lauch from the boat and possible to relauch from the water if dipped. It also seems that it will give plenty of "tug" when the time comes to add a board or buggy. Am I correct in these assumptions???

If so, and there's no real reason against my starting with a Nasa Wing, I'm not sure which size I really should get. I assume the NPW5, either the LK200 (3.2m2)or the LK250(4.8m2). I guess the larger 4.8 would fly easier in the lower winds, which I would like....and I know to be very careful of increasing winds until getting a more experience. And, I guess, it would have more traction for later use with a board or buggy? Does this all seem correct??

It's great to find this forum since this interest has sparked in me!! Thank you so much dlish89, NPWfever and snowbird
for all your input to help me in the decision and learning stages of this!!! I look forward to hearing from others as well!

Lobo

Just one little quick note to you is i don't think you will be able to find any other npw's than the npw5 4.8m. unless you have the npw goddess make you one or you find one used out there. From my understanding is there is no other npw still in production.

My friend has an HQ NPW9 5 meter. It points higher and is more stable than the NPW 5's shape. It is really fun to fly that thing just on handles, either on skiblades or rollerblades. I presume a big reason it turns so quick is the low aspect ratio. I do find it tiring to my hands on handles because of the increased brake pressure, as the center of pressure sits much further aft than most foils.

It is a little trickier to get "set" than my foils - if you don't keep the brakes in to keep the trailing edge presuurized, it collapses into a rag. Once you get moving, it seems a lot easier to keep it in a sweet spot.

One reason they work so well in ultralight winds is being single skin, they are really light. And simple. But that doesn't mean a 4-5 m NPW is gonna take care of you in 2-3 mph. I can move faster and point higher with my Brooza 4m than I can with my friends 5m NPW9 in equal condtions. You can sew a big NPW, maybe 16-18 m, for cheap. And a kite that big might pull you in 2-3 mph. But you may get killed when it gusts to 12 mph. There are incredible web resources for building NPW variants - software programs, step by step instructions, bridling instructions .

I haven't flown a Brooza 7 meter (I want one). But my older Quadrafoil XXL is about the same size, and a very light foil. I can get the buggy going or ski behind it in 6-7 mph. The Brooza's are the best fixed bridle gust munchers I've flown in Minnesota winds, and I love my 2,3, and 4 m. My 8 year son had no problem learning to fly the 2 and 3 m this winter.

Check in with DaVinch - he lives near Omaha, and has experience with a lot of larg foils, fixed and depower, with buggy, board, and Dirtsurfers.

krumly

i would go for an hq a great beginners kite and at a reasonable price.

Thaks for all the input! I've decided to just go with the Beamer III 3m for my first kite.....and we'll see what happens from there!

Lobo

good choice i think you will like it.

I think I said before, you never hear anyone come back on here and say "man, that Beamer was a terrible decision". Everyone always says it is a great kite, and then in a month or two, they start looking for the next kite. Just get ready for it. It's one heck of a ride. Others won't understand it till they try it either. You will say "I'm really sore" and when you say you got sore flying your kite, people will look at you like you are crazy, because they picture a diamond kite with a ribbon and bows for a tail.

Ha!! Sounds like I'm in for great fun!! Got the Beamer ordered last night! Thanks for all the help and advice!

Lobo:singing: