SPLL Kite BB

by **ou812kris** » 29.10.2005 22:11

Can anyone give me advice on what size foil kite I would need (195 kg) for snowkiting? I have a Spitfire II 20m and a North Rhino 12m but would love to get a foil kite. Any advice as to which name brand would be nice too. I am not too interested in spending 700 euros and up for a kite I can't use on the water.

Noticed last winter that a few guys were using way smaller foil kites than the inflatables that I was using at the same time....the winds were around 5-7 m/s.

I can read Finnish/Swedish too so don't stress about having to answer in English....

Thanks a billion for any help...

by **HezzuHopo** » 29.10.2005 22:26

195 kilos, difficult situation...

by **ou812kris** » 29.10.2005 22:31

Shit....I'm sorry! I meant 95kg.....

Been reading so many other forums where they use pounds....

by **HezzuHopo** » 29.10.2005 22:37

OK, my weight is 117kg and I have FS Psycho2 21m², Mervi3 7m² and I've ordered 4m² Cool..

by **Vesku** » 29.10.2005 23:56

Yo dude!

12-14m2 is more than enough. I deep snow you might want more, but that's a different story. On snow you can gain more speed = higher jumps. And you don't sink into a snow like on water...

I ride Ozone on snow...

VESKU :ph34r:

by **ou812kris** » 30.10.2005 00:09

Thanks for the tip Hezzu.

In what wind range would you use each of those kites? 4 and 7m2 seem really small so I am guessing you're out in hurricane weather. I have realized by watching others that the wind range per m2 on foil kites is a lot different than on inflatables.

I am still pretty new at this sport so I usually go out in 4 - 10 m/s. Surface would be frozen ice with only a few centimeters of snow to half a meter (rare).

by **Guest** » 30.10.2005 01:35

I'm also about 95 kg and agree with Vesku's comment: a 12(-14) m² depowerable foil will be best for your weight and the conditions you listed. As you are not a total beginner I guess you are looking for lift & good upwind, otherwise I'd try to sell you my 15 m^2 Viokite VR.

I like the make and bought some more kites from them, but they are more for cruising with an occasional small jump and definitely not lift monsters.

12-14 m² translates (very roughly) to 15-18 m² LEI equivalent.

Brand names. Honestly, in this size class they're all good, at least all 2004-2005 designs. Nobody's ever been fired for bying Ozone

by **Kahis** » 30.10.2005 01:39

The previous message was written by me. Upgraded system, removed all cookies and totally forgot to login. Damn these all-too-convinient autologin features. :rolleyes:

by **ou812kris** » 30.10.2005 10:07

Thanx Kahis.

I am also more of a cruiser than a jumper when it comes to kiting, however I am really looking forward to getting airborne this season. Only got out a few times this summer so the ants in my pants are killing me.

I'll take a look around and see what used foil kites I can find in size 12-14m2. I was just in Outer Banks, NC a few weeks ago looking to buy a new kite but the prices in the states for are actually higher than in most of Europe.
Don't see too many used foils for sale around in the price range I am looking for. I can imagine that they have a better resale value since they don't get beat up as much when crashing them.

Kris

by **Immu** » 30.10.2005 17:45

I suggest you take a relatively large kite. For jumping on ice it's safer, easier and more comfortable, becouse it's slower and therefore easier to fly, and creates more lift at slow speeds and between gusts. I'm not so familiar with foils but i'd guess a 12 or14 would be nice. FS Speed's seem to be quite good, but maybe not in your budget... I guess it might be difficult or impossible to get a very _good_ foil for way less than 700e? In my opinion you could stay with the Spit. It works perfectly on snow when you attach a 5th line to one of the rear attachment points. I don't suggest attahing it in the middle of LE, becouse the relaunching gets much more difficult in winter.

I have spitfire 2 12 and 16, and on snow, I prefer the 16. When it get's too big, the going gets quite scary with the 12...
Next year i'm gonna take 10, 14 and 20. And I'm 85kg's

by **Mark** » 10.11.2005 16:34

Watch out for the sizes... A Flexifoil Blade3 6.6m is about the same as an Ozone Frenzy 9.5 or a Flexifoil Sabre 9.5, which is about the same as a 13 or 14m LEI.

For your weight I would suggest a Blade3 8.5 or a Sabre 11.5 for the winds that you mention - obviuosly the Sabre is depowerable so has more range - but costs more.

Blade3s 6.6 and 8.5 if bought both together, would cost about the same as a Sabre.

If you are mostly into cruising and trying jumps then I would suggest a depowerable foil (Sabre) as the Blade3s are quite a jumping machine but take some handling and getting used too.

You also mention frozen ice with little snow - then less power is better for those conditions than over power!!

by **remeres** » 11.11.2005 09:42

Hi there.
Yes, between Mark and me we have a few Blades and Sabres. You are more than welcome to give them a try in January if you want, just pop either of us an email.
I'm about your weight, so you my kite sizes should be ok for you.

by **Guest_ou812kris** » 12.11.2005 22:32

Thanx Mark and Remerez,

That was exactly what I was wondering.

regards,
Kris

SPLL Kite BB

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