Gusts

Well, Ive had this kite for about 6 months now and thought that as Ive had so much help from this site it was time to give something back. As a starting kite for someone on a budget, or someone who is unsure as to whether powerkiting is for them or not this kite is ideal, ready to fly it only set me back £130. Having decided on a day that was blowing 27mph and gusting up to 35 that powerkiting was the way forward i made my way to the local kiteshop. The bloke who sold me the kite recommended it to me as a starter kite in front of the beamer and the buster (both of similar size and within budget) even though it was the cheaper out of the three. This immediately made me think that i was being pointed in the right direction. So after having been kitted out with some kite killers and the kite (in what can only be described as a carrier bag with a drawstring) along with a giant corkscrew which i later found out was to anchor the kite, we made our way to the field. We laid the lines out attached them to the handles and then attached them to the kite brake lines first - very important. Once all four lines were attached and the kite anchored to the floor by way of the stake the kite sat up immediately and then proceeded to bounce around the field. Cue masssssive adrenalin rush and a quick bought of cold sweats. Due to the wind strength and having never flown a powerkite the expert said he would show me how to get it up in the air without killing myself. he hooked himself in with the killers and walked around from in front of the kite so when launched it wouldnt go straight up through the window. Releasing the tension on the brake lines and a quick pull on the powerlines and the kite shot up round the edge of the window straight to the zenith and sat there like it was being held up two rigid white poles rather than pulling on the powerlines and trying to escape. He then proceeded to move it back down towards the edge and then whip it across the window resulting in him flying down the field leaving me with my jaw on the floor. After returning to the stake, grinning with the kite at the zenith he landed it.....my turn. More sweats and adrenalin - what a buzz - and ive not even touched the handles yet! I launched the kite in the edge of the window and the power built slowly, up round the window to the zenith. I couldnt get over how awsome the power was even though i wasnt in the power zone, I wasn't able to do much apart from flying round the edge of the window on this maiden flight due to the wind stength (and the self preservation instinct overriding all irrational thought) but I knew that power kiting was gonna become an obsession :s Ive been flying the kite loads since that first time in winds from 3-20mph. It is a really responsive kite when flown using the brake lines to aid turning and uses all of the window especially in higher winds. Ive never had it overfly on me and it rarely luffs, when it does i think this might be down to me rather than the kite. this results in the kites movements being really predictable. The kite deosn't generate much lift at all and is all abotu power in the middle of the window, however if you fly it straight up the middle of the window it turns the power on again just before the zenith and generates a small amount of lift but to get anything out of this you would need some pretty strong winds. Ive used this kite successfully for boarding in winds of 15mph+ wihtout having to work it to much. Ive also been able to use it to get some good pendulum jumps and have had some good size scuds with 7mph+. I weigh about 13stone if thats an indication of its power. Having only had it for about 6 months ive realised that its a gerat kite to learn on as it has survived all the crashes and bangs ive put it though.....but its left me wanting more!! I guess its time to upgrade!! All in all its a good all round kite and will fly in most winds without killing you once you understand how it works....and I still get the adrenalin rushes every time i fly it! By : Gusts