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Blade 17m Fat Lady

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rodeoclown
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Posts: 397
Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2008 6:32 am
Local Beach: Carkeek Park, Seattle
Style: Freeride
Gear: Naish, Blade, Ocean Rodeo
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Blade 17m Fat Lady

Postby rodeoclown » Mon Apr 16, 2012 6:52 pm

I just gotta gush about what this kite is doing for my chances of getting some at the beach,
This big beautiful kite making me sore all over man! This last sesh at my local spot was a great case in point.
I was hitting it with Blades 12m trigger when some other riders showed up and rigged 14's.
The wind dropped off and they could just barely stay upwind and they were bummin big time.
I came in and said I was underpowerd too, then pumped the Fat Lady up.
You know the feeling, maybe.
Other kiters are looking at your kite and thinking "this guy is gonna get some"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY95YumD ... Qew59AKPrA

What I look forward to every time is the quickness and power this kite has over every other light wind kite I've ever tried...I give up nothing when I go to the Fat Lady!
Its the perfect compliment to a fantastic all around design like the Triggers.

Relaunch is easy...just let the bar out and pull one outside line to make it go where you want it to.
Self launch and landing is easy...tethering the kite is simple and it behaves well off the front lines.
Rotation launches are very smooth as well, it likes to flip around deep in the pocket.
Self landing with the tether is easy, as is just bringing it down until its about 3-4 feet above the ground and just giving the front lines a hard pull above the bar. Sets it down on the ground leading edge 1st every time.
The one pump and the build quality is right up the with the OR gear I was using last year...this is a tough kite for being so light.
I've flown it with an under the bar sheeter and the stock Blade bar with a strap above the bar and it works very well with both, but I have come to really appreciate the way the Blade bar brings out the best in these kites and prefer this bar. That mini 5th and rotating CL are plush options to have.
Check out one of these kites if you get a chance...they totally rock man!

http://youtu.be/-osWfOvEct0

http://youtu.be/AtD7b8TbPJQ
Last edited by rodeoclown on Mon Sep 10, 2012 12:25 am, edited 1 time in total.

locofighter
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Joined: Fri Jul 16, 2010 1:58 pm
Local Beach: Vrouwenpolder, Neeltje Jans, both in the Netherlands
Favorite Beaches: Bloubergh, South-Africa. Lots of stuff to do, and so much kiting
Style: freeriding
Gear: Naish Torch '12/13 7/9/14
Slingshot Vision 140/43 2015 with RAD boots
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Re: Blade 17m Fat Lady

Postby locofighter » Sat May 26, 2012 2:32 pm

I have it and I agree one what your saying here :D Just an awesome kite. It can pop too. And the power you get from apparent wind is amazing!
Relaunch was waay easier than expected. Just like any other kite.

14ToeSide
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Favorite Beaches: Sandy Spit
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Re: Blade 17m Fat Lady

Postby 14ToeSide » Mon May 28, 2012 3:44 pm

Anyone flown it side by side w 18 Dyno?

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rodeoclown
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Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2008 6:32 am
Local Beach: Carkeek Park, Seattle
Style: Freeride
Gear: Naish, Blade, Ocean Rodeo
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Re: Blade 17m Fat Lady

Postby rodeoclown » Sat Sep 08, 2012 6:16 pm

Just have to say that it has been an awesome having the fat lady in my quiver this year.
We get a lot of days here in Seattle when the wind is 10-15 and being able ride with power, jump big and makes turns with speed in these conditions has been a real game changer for me.
Not only that, when you are in a launch zone with crap wind and no one else is getting out to the caps this lady will take you there and make everyone on the beach green with envy.

Construction is excellent, this kite can take a beating and hard use and show no signs of wear and tear. The one pump 3 strut design is so sweet, fast to inflate and packs down small...if you travel this can allow you to take an extra kite or other gear with you.

I gave up nothing when I switched to Blade.
I gained a kite with more kick ass performance than an OG like me should have maybe,
but this is what keeps us young and and filled with passion for life and this awesome sport!

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kite_crazy66
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Posts: 92
Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2010 6:09 pm
Local Beach: Since I started kiting I have been travelling... so you could say my local beaches are: Big Bay (Cape Town), Woody's (Perth), Lancelin, Geraldton (WA), Crissy, 3rd Ave, Sherman Island, Da'hab (Egypt)
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Re: Blade 17m Fat Lady

Postby kite_crazy66 » Mon Oct 08, 2012 8:07 pm


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Vikb
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Local Beach: Lake Nihtnat, Vancouver Island, BC Canada
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Re: Blade 17m Fat Lady

Postby Vikb » Sat Nov 10, 2012 4:01 am

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Ya the Fat Lady is my session saver. Great kite to have in the quiver!... :jump:

http://thelazyrando.wordpress.com/?s=fat+lady

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rodeoclown
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Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2008 6:32 am
Local Beach: Carkeek Park, Seattle
Style: Freeride
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Re: Blade 17m Fat Lady

Postby rodeoclown » Wed Sep 04, 2013 7:15 am

I've had the v1 and now the v2 Fat Lady.
12kts gets my blood racing, these kites can be incredibly fun in 10-15!

http://vimeo.com/73742222

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murph68
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Re: Blade 17m Fat Lady

Postby murph68 » Wed Sep 04, 2013 7:32 am

Wow self launching with all those people down wind of you! Not the smartest thing to be doing! :nono:

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rodeoclown
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Posts: 397
Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2008 6:32 am
Local Beach: Carkeek Park, Seattle
Style: Freeride
Gear: Naish, Blade, Ocean Rodeo
Brand Affiliation: Shop ambassador for Urban Surf in Seattle
Location: http://www.urbansurf.com/
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Re: Blade 17m Fat Lady

Postby rodeoclown » Wed Sep 04, 2013 4:37 pm

It looks worse than it was :o .
This is a tricky spot notorious for 5kts of wind on the surface near the shoreline,
and tons of power aloft.
I was stoked that I could get it to rotate on the sand in such light winds.
I paid the price for dropping it later and had to swim in,
but once again the fat lady surprised me by popping out of the water
once I had my feet on the ground.
A sweet 4 hour session! 8)


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