High wind kites

[SHEPPO3930]

G'day

I am lookin into upgrading my good ol' ARC460, and have been looking at foils. I have relaised that in order to get some decent PB's i need a more modern kite, so i am looking into buying 2 foils to fill the gap from my Guerilla 10m fully depowered, to the upper limit.

What kites do you foil fliers put up in say 20knots? and then at what wind strength do u put up a smaller kite? My G10 becomes a slide machine in 20knots and above its fun but not all that fast!

I have been looking at the Ozone Samurai in a 3m as it seems to be a nice kite, and would replace my ARC460 (3.3m projected),what wind would this kite become too much? Then i would drop to a 2m or so.

i have no grasp on foil sized for wind strengths, so correct me and offer advice please. oh and if you dont already know me, i like to buy 2nd hand as it saves $$$ that i can spend on other things.

Thanks for reading

Dave.

[Pete]

I use my 3m PKD Brooza up to around 25 knots (it becomes a real handful by this stage) I prefer flying it in 20 knot conditions. I have bought a PKD 2m for the higher winds now and have a 6.5m PKD race kite on order for the lighter days.

Just remember that a samurai is an intermediate kite, so if want to go fast you might have to think about the razors if you prefer ozone kites. I only fly PKD & Flexifoil, but most kites around here are ozones.

If you want to know kite size for wind range, look at either the PKD (Paracontrol Kite Division) or Flexifoil websites for a graphical representation contained within particular kites specs.

Hope this helps a bit.

cheers

Pete

[nigel]

With all the money you've saved buying secondhand, go buy a P6!!!

The're good!!!

[SHEPPO3930]

nigel dont say that, i might just have to buy one!

pitty i cant find one 2nd hand, that would be a wicked kite to own, u seem to be very happy with it, and i still havent had a fly of it yet i go like the depower of the phantom, so maybe it would be a good kite.

next day at BP i wanna fly it, even if its 10knots!! also, what windrange do you see it best works in? remember i am stepping off a depowered G10 (say 20knots) and want to put a kite up thats then in its fully powered sweet spot.

[nigel]

Bottom usable end of, 18 knots for a buggy

Top end....???? I've had it in 30-35 knots.

20+ knots is good!!

[ellery]

In regards to how you like to buy 2nd hand stuff Dave, me too, but it gets to a point where you want what you want, and if that's not out there on the second hand market, you have to buy new. Also, if you start making sacrifices by buying something second hand that isn't exactly what you want, you'll probably turn around and buy something different in the future anyway because you won't be totally happy with it. I've just bought an 8m venom and absolutely love it, i can see why nigel likes his 6m phantom.

Cheers

James

[SHEPPO3930]

i am looking at the PKD buster at the moment, looks kind of like an arc and a foil, has a nice curve so should be a little more stable (like an arc) compared to an all out race foil.

P6 is still in the back of my mind 8)

[nigel]

The PKD Buster is a beginner kite, your going to want atleast a medium aspect kite.

The Sami is one mid aspect kite. Many more to chose from.

A 3m might not have a huge range considering you are comming off the G10, I would get a 2m.

It might need to be worked a little bit but give far more usable wind range than a 3m would.

No you don't want to have a go on my P6 in 10 knots, you want it in 20!!

Trust me!!

[ellery]

I just bought a 1.4m PKD buster to teach my friends on. Definitely not a high wind kite in my opinion. I havn't flown it yet, but i can just tell by the quality of the bridle lines and the lines. I don't think these lines would be able to take too much tension before snapping. Really cheap kite though, but you get what you pay for in terms of quality, can't comment on how it flies.

cheers

James

[SHEPPO3930]

yeah read more into it, i think the PKD Century is a better option, more high performance and what nigel said about them being stable for a race kite seems to attract me.

[Lofted]

Hi Shepo

Have a look at the Cross Fire 2.4m

http://www.invento-hq.com/index_e.htm'>http://www.invento-hq.com/index_e.htm

or maybe another option to consider might be the Montana if its been released.

http://www.invento-hq.com/index_e.htm'>http://www.invento-hq.com/index_e.htm

[Mark D]

The Crossfire 2.4 would be the go, or when the new Crossfire 1.7 are here look at one of them they will be here and of july early august.

[robmueck]

How much?

[Lofted]

The Cross Fires are very well built as well!

You'd be looking around the $500 mark for a 2.4 Ready to Fly.

They come complete with a Pre-stretched dyneema lines, quad handles, back pack, ground stake & kite killers.

[SHEPPO3930]

thanks for those links, will look into them all.

i definately need 2 foils.

[Pete]

I just bought a 1.4m PKD buster to teach my friends on. Definitely not a high wind kite in my opinion. I havn't flown it yet, but i can just tell by the quality of the bridle lines and the lines. I don't think these lines would be able to take too much tension before snapping.

:shock: You must be living on another planet. My PKD 2m Buster performs perfectly well in 60 kph+ wind pulling a buggy.... & it has propelled a buggy to in excess of 70kph!!! I respect your right to an opinion, but, can you at least fly your kite before damning it to the world??!

Yes the Buster is an entry level kite but this does NOT equate to it being flimsy. If powering up in a buggy with winds well over 50 kph, propelling said buggy pilots to well in excess of 50 kph (over 70 kph actually!), is able to be construed as an inferior product (as it performs very well in these conditions), then you must be joking... surely you must.....

I own a PKD Brooza as well, so feel I can comment. And Yes, I have flown it! Many times. The Brooza is constructed with better bridles, but I expect that when paying twice the price. Considering the new Buster 2 has just been released, I recommend them to novice or experienced kiters. And no, I have not got a commercial interest in PKD kites or any other for that matter.

The PKD Buster is a suitable high wind kite and whilst there are better kites on the market, they are 2-3 times the price of the Buster. Don't be fooled, the Buster is a very capable kite, and my bridles have been under heaps of tension.... but they certainly did NOT snap. On the contrary, the Buster is very forgiving in high winds in comparison to other kites.

[ellery]

I was just commenting on the quality of the lines in my opinion (which i did state in my original post). You said yourself, that the quality of the bridles on the Brooza were better than the Buster, but you expected that because the Buster was a cheaper kite. That was the main point i was trying to get accross, that the quality of the kite wasn't as good as others.

I have since landboarded with the kite in 30 knots, great kite to fly, had a heap of fun with it.

cheers

James

[Pete]

Definitely not a high wind kite in my opinion. ... I don't think these lines would be able to take too much tension before snapping.

I gather then, that you now think the Buster is a suitable 'high wind' kite and that your bridle & lines did not snap???

As an entry level 'traction' kite, the Buster can perform the task far beyond its price tag...

I'm glad you like it. :wink:

cheers

Pete

[SHEPPO3930]

well i think i am going a Phantom 6m, the depower, wind range, etc means it will replace what 2 or 3 foils could do, 20-35+ knots is a kick arse wind range!!!

Still looking at other options at the moment, but lookin like P6! :twisted: