Just random chit chat but I thought it'd be interesting to hear if all the answers were the same or if there were other reasons. Why do I fly what I fly?

I fly foils/arcs because I want to be sure that I'm able to launch & land unassisted and was very uncomfortable with the concept of self launching an LEI.

Foils are super quick to set up and get in the air and arcs are super stable (auto zenith) and far more economical in the used market than the alternatives for water based foils.

I will make the change to the "new" market when I know what I want but for me, the used market has been a less expensive way to get my hands on a variety of kites while I'm still learning how different kites behave and what I want in a kite.

i fly what i fly because it's fun;-)
just kidd'n. i fly whatever i can get my dirty paws on:Ange09::bouncy:
right now i'm trying to acquire/borrow/steal fly as many different ' but generally more popular' makes and models as i can in order to see what i really like and need.
so far i've found:
-FS are nice because they do not fold up when i make big mistake so it's easier/quicker to get up and going again.
-PL Reactor is super crisp handling and lots of speed. wished i had more 'suitable' winds for this one.
-Flexi Blurr very stable and almost seem slow (they aren't) because they handle so easy peasy smooth and no real desire to strop (save fore arms). turn quick enough.
-HQ Beamer is a very good all-arounder, good speed and good handling. probably my most used kite last year.
-Pansh Ace really shined in low winds but stropped. no strop = too much forearm juiced out but still good exercise. turn slow but fine for parS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-n'ride stropped.
Ozone Little Devil- oldie but a goodie. because it was only kite for a while we used it in high (and, no doubt, too high) winds. in too high and it pulled very fast and super fast, sensitive, handling but hard to keep upwind line (in super high winds) as expected though so it's moot(?) point.
not enough time with other stuff (yet).

Paul

My first kites were the Pansh and the Jojo. The Jojo was almost too much to learn with. Had a great time flying it, but found that it was a little too twitchy to fly inland (where I live). On the beach, it is a lot of fun with clean winds.

The Pansh was an interested experiment for me. Not one I lasted on though. Lots of power, but too much for when I first started. Then I picked up the Beamers.

I love flying the Beamers. Great power, great stability, and perfect to fly on inland, gusty winds. Now they are my loaner kites. The kites I let friends play when while I am flying my outlaws.

I picked up the Outlaws to ride on the snow, but lately I fly them in the buggy as well. Simply amazing kites. None of my other kites compare in performance, stability, and versatility.

I fly foils because that's what I started with. I'm very comfortable with them and handles.

I like the beamer for its stability and no-nonsense flyability. It always does what you tell it to.

Crossfire II-I like because of its aggressiveness and power. It is my one kite left that I can jump with and its good at it in 15-18 mph winds. It is a beautiful kite in the sky with the colored bridles and color scheme and design.

Reactor-I like these because of their power, handling and lack of lift in winds you ought to fly them in. I need more time with these to better understand what they can offer but like them alot so far.

Blurr-this kite has the power and will go upwind like its almost unnatural. Right now it is my most grabbed for kite because of the winds I encounter most frequently. I have put a strop on it and in marginally high winds it helps me use the power with much more control.

Montana IV-this kite was mainly purchased for Wexler to ride the landboard with but it is going to see a load of time in the buggy with me in the future. This relationship has barely begun.

I fly old Flysurfers because I can't afford new Flysurfers ! :Ange09:

My first kite was the Blackhole - just a little fun stunt kite that I enjoyed flying when I had no idea what "power kiting" was.

I then made the extreme jump to the Blade III 4m after I had done some research into what you could get out of a power kite. This was the first kite to pick me up and throw me around - this was the kite that got me hooked.

Jump up to the Blade III 4.9, all I can say is that it lived up to it's legendary reputation and was my go to kite for a good year and a half.

I played with a PKD Buster 3m - but found it to be unreliable - I had to constantly keep this thing kicked sideways to keep it in the air.

I picked up a 3.4m Nasa wing after seeing a guy at Whitelake Neveda dry lake bed cruising effortlessly in gusty winds with one of these while my ram airs were scaring the crap out of me. It has served me well since.

My affair with Pansh started with a 3m Legend - a good kite but unreliable in higher winds to really keep up - has a tendency to fall back in the window too often - but is a good kite for the price to start out with - in the end, it's expendable.

Next were the 7m and 2.4m Firebee's - were great to begin with but after a few good sessions the bridles stretched heavily and they became ghosts of their former selves. The 2.4m gave me 2 of the 3 concussions that I have received doing this sport. It has not yet, but will be ultimately put down in due time - I could and may sacrifice it at NABX to the wind gods.

After hearing so much about the Pansh Aces I picked up the 8m to see if I could harness the bird farts that pass for wind most of the time in this part of Northern California. If the wind isn't over 6mph it is nothing but frustrating - once over 6 it is a solid machine - like being tied to a truck. I rarely get this one out of the bag anymore. I followed this up with the 2m ace - Screwyfits can attest to why I rarely pull this one out of the bag - it pulls literally more like my 4m Blade III - not a kite to be toyed with in higher winds.

The big step for me was the 8m Access - my first depower. All I can say as that it stole the show from all my other kites. Solid power, low wind ability, utterly stable - a beautiful kite.

The final chapter of this epic tale is left to the Peter Lynn Twinskins. First came the 13m Venom - stability to the Nth degree and power to burn. Then came the 10m Guerilla - This cannot be stated loud enough - anyone thinking about getting an arc should start with a 10m - it will fly in 6mph winds all the way up to 30+ without becoming sketchy, it is almost an entire quiver in one kite. the last entry here is the 18m guerilla - my verdict on this kite is still out - these need to be tuned just right in order to get them to perform properly - I have yet to figure this one out - but have experienced tremendous power unequaled by anything in my current quiver.

End note - the LEI's were an experiment that taught me a lot but never really went anywhere.

I fly what I fly because it was cheap/free lol >.< :D

Well I use to be a speed junkie but now its the air time that drives me crazy. Sabre and Scorpion are fulfilling that role, but still love the Reactor and Century's. Just love to fly my kites anywhere, anytime just bring on the wind. Wahooooooooooo

used junk, get a lot different stuff ...

i'm not so "rig dependent"

and for the $ of one new kite i get 3-4 kites

helps teach kite behavior, set up flexibility, range, window size
design quirks, bars / handles, on the bridles, short lines/long lines,4line 5line 3line 2line fixed bridle etc

and my faVORITE .......CUSTOM

the one kite quiver PL V13, simple, 6-46mph land & water and all the air you want

no pump or bladders no pulleys and practically flies it self

any way everybody flies used.... it is only new once.