How many kites do you own?

alleycat · Since 29 Jun 2006 176 Posts Portland Stoked

My vote is for noaubac for the coolest kite award... and I feel that the award should be an automatic heavy duty kite inflation pump complete with a 240 volt industrial diesel generator to power the pump... damn that thing must take close to an hour to pump up, eh?

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

I think it's Photoshopped! Wink

There's NO wind! Laughing

Reaper356 · Since 10 Dec 2006 781 Posts Salem / LC Oregon Opinionated

Yikes that's big! Shocked

How'd you feel launching that for the first time!

Does it handle gusts Question

TWIN-FIN · Since 24 May 2006 805 Posts Portland, OR Hot Monkey

It is my understanding that your kite size (i.e. quiver) is dependent upon you weight and ability. I weigh in at 175, and consider myself as an entry level intermedate rider who likes to ride in "the SWEET spot" of the conditions.

My quiver consists of, 7m, 9m, and 12m SLE, a 5'8" surf style board and a 132 TT (that I lost and need to replace). This pretty much gets me out in all but the lightest (0 to 15 mph) and windiest (above 35 mph) conditions.

My best recomendation would be to go check out your local riding areas and see what other people are riding. You will find that thier quivers will be very similar, again dependent upon thier weight and ability/experiance.

Good Luck, and remember

Sol-flyer · Sun Jan 21, 07 5:36 pm

dam noa,
i cant belive you still have that beast. whats up with the foils? two line or four? im trying not to destroy my water kites on the snow. do you think its worth the extra kites,....aka more gear

tonyb · Sun Jan 21, 07 8:55 pm

I'm afraid to count! 7 kiters in our family, age 14 to 47, 90 lbs to 165 lbs! Shocked

We've still got an '02 7m foil, an '03 RRD, an '03 Airrush, (thank god the LiquidForce/Wipika 2 line piece of s**t died!), an '04 Fuel, an '04 Rhino II, a bunch of '05 and '06 Best Nemesis, and Yarga's, and 3 '06 Waroo's. (Of course we can't all fly the same model!)

After the 3m trainer our smallest kite is a 5m, the largest is a 20m Machine. And a few of the same sizes right in the middle because that's the sweet spot for most of the clan here in Stevenson. Besides factoring in weight, skill, and riding style take a look at where you're going to spend most of your time kiting. If I lived in south Texas I'd definitely have a couple more big kites and some bigger, wider boards like the locals down there have.

Mostly I fly my 9m and 12m Waroo's here in the gorge. If I had to get to three kites I'd go with the 2007 Waroo's in 9m, 13m, and 17m.

We've got twin tip boards from 115cm to 165cm, two 5'11" surfboards, and an 8' surfboard we picked up in Padre for those REALLY light wind days on the lagoon and for surfing in the Gulf when there's no wind.

Man, after putting this post together it makes me realize it's time to part with some of the older gear! We've been using it as spare parts, trial stuff, and decoration around the tiki bar. Too much gear, not enough time and wind to use it all!

mack · Since 08 Aug 2006 29 Posts Hood River, OR

less is more for me, i have two 12m torches for the gorge and coast (my '05 is a backup and is for sale) and a 9m for super windy easterlies at rooster.
my crazyfly twintip is a 128 and my wave board is a 150 flash austin pro.

noaubac · Since 27 Apr 2005 33 Posts

Sol-,
I definately prefer 2-line foils in the winter.
The 2001 SS B-5 is the best foil ever made!!! It boosts nice and smooth, and really handles crippling shifts better than any 4-line foil that I've ever flown. Plus, if a line breaks, it kills the kite.

NO Nonsense, User Simplicity at it's best.
I wish some company would just crank out that design and blow up the dimensions for larger sizes, keeping the same shape.

I snowkite in some pretty tight gusty areas, and foils are the only way I can feel confident that I'm not going to destroy my gear, on fences, lightpoles, backstops, bleachers, trash cans, etc.

I snagged the B8 on eBay for $250 brand spankin!

-Noah

Reaper356 · Since 10 Dec 2006 781 Posts Salem / LC Oregon Opinionated

Sol-
I have two four line HQ Beamer 2 kites that I fly for landboarding. They are inexpensive, do a descent job for the money and fly in as little as 4 mph. Kite flys w/ handles btw, though there is a more expensive verison that uses a bar.

I have a 2.5m for storms and 5.0m for lighter winds. 4 lines are nice because you can depower the kite somewhat if things get hairy. I thought I wouldn't like flying w/ handles at first, but actually it's really cool because you can fly the kite backwards and turn very tight! The foils also do a good job at handling gusts.

If it really comes down to it you can drop the controls and you're flying on the rear lines & the kite collapses. These are "Kite Killers" - there are lines attaching your wrists to the rear lines. They used to have problems w/ the killers breaking not sure if they fixed it. Hasn't happened to me yet but I've heard of it. Very Happy

The foil itself is very tough - I've taught a few people how to fly on the 2.5m and it still looks great.

Overall, I like the safety & control of 4 lines.

That being said, if you like 2 lines, the slingshot B-series are the way to go - less drag than 4 lines, and very durable. First traction kite I ever flew was a B3!

Sol-flyer · Mon Jan 22, 07 2:23 pm

when flying with handles, do you use a harness? i have a 3m with handles but after 30mins my arms get tired....and the de-power is wicked!!!! super fun to do reverse launches and flying backwards Wink

but it is a lot different then the de-power with a bar setup. that's the reason i like the L.E.I.'s....

noa- HA! HA! HA! i seen those tight spots in your pics,...bleachers, backstops, bases....oh my! Wink

you gotta come out here somtime, i found a place on top of the highest peak in the siskyou's to kite. i'm scared shitless of getting blown off the top and down the other (tree carpet'd) side....and it'll gust from 15+ to 20+. the best place ever!!! Shocked

Reaper356 · Since 10 Dec 2006 781 Posts Salem / LC Oregon Opinionated

I think you just have to be ripped! Wink

Seriously though, yeah I hear you, I've been meaning to experiment w/ a reg. bar / lines / harness. No reason I can see it won't work - and they're nicer.

noaubac · Since 27 Apr 2005 33 Posts

Sol,
Yeah, it gets pretty tight, I forgot about the "GOOOAAAALLL"s, that are out there too. What you can't see are the power lines down wind, and the trees upwind, but it is the closest reliable spot.