Discussion
After seeing people using them on the Beaches on Holiday for a while now I've decided I want one!
I'm only small ~ 5ft8 and 9 Stone so don't want anything massive but do want It to be powerful enough to have some proper fun with!
A bit of a longshot but could anybody on here point me In the right direction?
Butch
I'm only small ~ 5ft8 and 9 Stone so don't want anything massive but do want It to be powerful enough to have some proper fun with!
A bit of a longshot but could anybody on here point me In the right direction?
Butch
If you want to use them on a beach and not progress to surfing then you need to have a look at suitable areas around you. It is a good idea as a total newbie to talk to a few people in shops that sell gear as they know their stuff and also talk to guys flying them.
We have a few at work some small 2 line kites that are good for kids and novices as they provide less traction (Don't drag you as hard) and are useful for learning the basics. For any serious fun you need a 4 line kite and as a minimum I would suggest 3 or 4 metres as the kite area. They do provide a lot of power though, I have a 4 metre flexifoil blade and that can lift/drag me in moderate winds (I am 6ft tall and over 19 stone) it also provides enough control to use a kite buggy. As far as brands go I have used a lot of flexifoil stuff and it seems to be tough and easy to use, there are more expensive and cheaper brands available but I have no suggestions regarding cheapness or quality as it is only really a side hobby that I get out 5 or 6 times a year to do.
We have a few at work some small 2 line kites that are good for kids and novices as they provide less traction (Don't drag you as hard) and are useful for learning the basics. For any serious fun you need a 4 line kite and as a minimum I would suggest 3 or 4 metres as the kite area. They do provide a lot of power though, I have a 4 metre flexifoil blade and that can lift/drag me in moderate winds (I am 6ft tall and over 19 stone) it also provides enough control to use a kite buggy. As far as brands go I have used a lot of flexifoil stuff and it seems to be tough and easy to use, there are more expensive and cheaper brands available but I have no suggestions regarding cheapness or quality as it is only really a side hobby that I get out 5 or 6 times a year to do.
A 4m blade from Flexifoil would be plenty, scare yaself silly fun!
Strongly recommend getting a bar instead of handles, one with a hole one the middle, and a decent waist harness.
Then link the two brake lines, attach to a sturdy leader line, pass that through the hole in the bar (the two steering lines attach at each end), and fit a harness loop to the leader.
Then when you fly, you attach the loop to your harness hook, that way the further away from your body the bar is, the less power the kite has.
Bear mind that the lines for a kite that size are normally 500lb breaking strain, and only a couple of mm thick. Beheadings have occured! Mostly while the flyer is on the deck in a superman position. (the above setup will prevent this!)
Everything will fit in the rucksack you get with the kite, and after a couple of weeks I could be flying within 5 minutes of getting there, packing up taking the same time.
On a buggy at Camber Sands, I hit 68mph with basically the above setup! (recorded on a calibrated bike computer)
Immense fun, cracking with mates, you'll get the bug very quick, and if you're anywhere near the sea that means a small fortune on water launchable kite, board, wetsuit and all that!
Oh, and when you get your first jump over 5m high (within a couple of flights), you'll be buzzing on adrenaline for a week.
Word of warning, don't bother with two line kites ( a lot of shops recommend them for land use) as they're very limited in use, with no progression (well, apart from stacking them 5 high, which gets expensive, and still isn't as powerful as a decent 4 line)
Strongly recommend getting a bar instead of handles, one with a hole one the middle, and a decent waist harness.
Then link the two brake lines, attach to a sturdy leader line, pass that through the hole in the bar (the two steering lines attach at each end), and fit a harness loop to the leader.
Then when you fly, you attach the loop to your harness hook, that way the further away from your body the bar is, the less power the kite has.
Bear mind that the lines for a kite that size are normally 500lb breaking strain, and only a couple of mm thick. Beheadings have occured! Mostly while the flyer is on the deck in a superman position. (the above setup will prevent this!)
Everything will fit in the rucksack you get with the kite, and after a couple of weeks I could be flying within 5 minutes of getting there, packing up taking the same time.
On a buggy at Camber Sands, I hit 68mph with basically the above setup! (recorded on a calibrated bike computer)
Immense fun, cracking with mates, you'll get the bug very quick, and if you're anywhere near the sea that means a small fortune on water launchable kite, board, wetsuit and all that!
Oh, and when you get your first jump over 5m high (within a couple of flights), you'll be buzzing on adrenaline for a week.
Word of warning, don't bother with two line kites ( a lot of shops recommend them for land use) as they're very limited in use, with no progression (well, apart from stacking them 5 high, which gets expensive, and still isn't as powerful as a decent 4 line)
d couldnt wipe his arse for weeks)Chris_w666 said:
As far as brands go I have used a lot of flexifoil stuff and it seems to be tough and easy to use, there are more expensive and cheaper brands available but I have no suggestions regarding cheapness or quality as it is only really a side hobby that I get out 5 or 6 times a year to do.
I think Flexifoil are overly expensive. The quality is good but other companys like ozone are just as good and are a little cheaperLittle Butch said:
Ok, thanks for your help guys, so a 5m jump Is possible on a 4m Kite? Sounds like fun! 
I'll get myself a Kite, Handles and a Harness..
Butch
Where are you likely to fly?I'll get myself a Kite, Handles and a Harness..
Butch
I ask because you WILL be overpowered at some point whilst you're learning about the 'window', and with handles if you lose control and end up on your face with handles the kite is very likely to be at around head height and near full power.
Fine if the ground is smooth and there's no one around, but a serious liability for anyone else in the area. Accidents can be very nasty, very quickly, and in the nanny state we live in it's the sort of event to cause headlines and bans....
A bar setup correctly removes virtually all risk.
You are better off getting a smaller kite that you can then use as a storm kite later. A 4m kite will still have a lot of pull and you should be aiming to get something that doesn't spank you while you learn how to fly it.
If you still want something that size get a low aspect ratio kite like a U-turn Helium which are really forgiving and will allow you to fly it in larger winds than say (to go the other extreme)a u-turn Nitro. It won't have much dynamic lift but it will absorb your mistakes and give you more airtime. By the way a U-turn Nitro is completely mental, I have a 2m one for static flying and it really pulls when at full tilt, it is hard to fly though in comparison.
Learn how to stake out and parapack too, or else you will spend more time undoing knots at the start.
Andy
If you still want something that size get a low aspect ratio kite like a U-turn Helium which are really forgiving and will allow you to fly it in larger winds than say (to go the other extreme)a u-turn Nitro. It won't have much dynamic lift but it will absorb your mistakes and give you more airtime. By the way a U-turn Nitro is completely mental, I have a 2m one for static flying and it really pulls when at full tilt, it is hard to fly though in comparison.
Learn how to stake out and parapack too, or else you will spend more time undoing knots at the start.
Andy
strudel said:
I knew there was a use for that pier........I have a 3.5m Peter Lynn rebble, it's a 4 line kite and cost me around £350 at the time.
I also weigh 15 1/2 stone and it will (and has) launched me 20 foot across fields and beaches. At your weight just be bloody careful about going straight for a 4m kite and don't ever underestimate just how powerful the wind/these kites can be.
As already mentioned get some kite killers and some decent handles or even a bar & harness. I have changed my handles to some decent flexifoil ones as the standards are sooo uncomfortable.
I also weigh 15 1/2 stone and it will (and has) launched me 20 foot across fields and beaches. At your weight just be bloody careful about going straight for a 4m kite and don't ever underestimate just how powerful the wind/these kites can be.
As already mentioned get some kite killers and some decent handles or even a bar & harness. I have changed my handles to some decent flexifoil ones as the standards are sooo uncomfortable.
Chris_w666 said:
A 4m kite is fun but is not the first kite I flew by a long way. Like I said I am a heavy bloke and it gives me a huge workout, try and fly a few smaller ones just to get the hang of it first.
I'm just under 14st and my 3m kite will haul me all over the place in a good wind.I've been airbourne with a 4m blade before.
My 1.2m symphony is good fun to start with - my 3 year old can fly that, and it's very quick so gives you a good feel for the controls.
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