One interesting snowkite session yesterday ; the wind was lighter than expected and several riders were waiting on the spot for the next breeze to come: Single skins ( 2 gin shaman v2 9m), freeride kites (Soul 12m + Soul 10m + ozone frenzy several sizes and years), race kites ( VMG 13m + sonic2 15m).
Wind was regularly oscillating from 0 to 6 knots every half an hour ; so it was an interesting comparison test (no propaganda, please trust me);
- Pulsion was the first to fly (or the latest when wind was dropping down), and (as I suspected) even sooner than both single skins; also the earlier to enable a rider move; to me Pulsion has more grunt in loops, but it is hard to ensure here since Pulsion 12m had +3 m2 vs Shaman 9m.
- then Shaman were the second to lift-up in the air, very close to the Pulsion (difference is just noticeable, not really significant); others were locked on the ground
- then I would say Soul + ozones recent open cells + VMG in the same wind, hard to differentiate these three in this mountain wind ; Once up, Ozone was the easiest to work-out in the air (short loop) , then Soul , then VMG (was flying soon but prone to more instabilities and collapse, short lines did not help the good pilot)
- Sonic2 very close to above Flysurfers (hard to say since my friend was also helping a beginner)
- the Ozone Frenzy old generations (cloth was heavier as far as I know) which shown a real differences with more recent Ozones.
- then LEI 3 struts, with far less ability to fly ...
Then the wind blew higher (say 12-15 knots), I kept the Pulsion 12m with my original 25m lines but was not very comfortable in the gusts (but not really motivated to stop and swap with my 9m Pansh) and Shaman 9m seemed better adapted in this higher wind to climb the hills safely and closer to the ridge of the mountains