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I don't post very often but just had to say something about my new Flite. I have been kiting since 2000 and mostly kite waves in San Diego (when there is wind) and travel to Oahu 4 times a year. I am 6'1" and weigh in at 215 so a bit more size than your average kiter. Yesterday we had a little breeze going in our local spot averaging 11-16 when I got there at 1:30 pm and so I launched my 14.5 Flite. I was absolutely caught off guard by the incredible performance of this new design! It turns like a 12 meter, feels very light and smooth turning in the air and had tons of power. There is just no comparison to the previous model, the new Flite is just so much better in every way! This feels like a totally different kite, wow what an significant improvement and hats off to the design team. I had an excellent session, super fun with easy floaty jumps, clean wave riding and massive, up wind, effortless tacks. The kite looks great on the air has really zippy turns. I am so stoked I pulled the trigger for this new kite, totally worth it!

weston wrote:...so I launched my 14.5 Flite. I was absolutely caught off guard by the incredible performance of this new design! It turns like a 12 meter, feels very light and smooth turning in the air and had tons of power. There is just no comparison to the previous model, the new Flite is just so much better in every way! This feels like a totally different kite... hats off to the design team. I had an excellent session, super fun with easy floaty jumps, clean wave riding and massive, up wind, effortless tacks. The kite looks great on the air has really zippy turns. I am so stoked

Nice one Weston! The new Flite is doing really well for us so this doesn't surprise me but we are always happy to see another stoked customer on the water.

These reviews really help too, so thank-you. We try hard to present a balanced view here on the forums and to avoid overly heavy marketing hype, preferring to focus on making high performance, top quality, innovative equipment - reviews like this help justify that approach!

(That being said, here are some images of the Flite to help drive interest!)

I am in process of getting a 14.5 demo and very much hoping that I will like it as much as yourself.
Its the worst feeling ever when your friends are having fun and you are watching from the shore.
I know our weight is waaaay different but could you give opinion if I'd be able to go upwind in 9knots on north nugget with some good lw techique. I weight around 150-155lbs or 70-75kg,

This is my break down on the 14.5m flite. For a 70kg rider. On a inland fresh water lake.
5knts........will stay aloft at 12
8knts........can relaunch from the water
9knts........I start riding on my shinn king gee 146cm just mowing though.
10-12knts...starts becoming more fun, can do back roll kite loops.
12-16knts...good fun boosting. After switching to a smaller board.
16-20knts...top end of range. Still awesome fun with huge lofty jumps.

Yeah - I'm a big fan of the Flite, I ended up selling mine, but only because where we live, we don't really have a lot of sub-12 knot days, it's either above 12 or nothing. I always thought it would be perfect for San Diego and other areas that hover in that 10-12 knot range, especially with a surfboard.

SamPolish wrote: ↑

Sun May 28, 2017 9:55 am

Its the worst feeling ever when your friends are having fun and you are watching from the shore.

We seriously considered including a Frisbee with the Flites and a note encouraging Flite owners to lend it to their friends stranded on the beach... it's still an idea I wish we were able to make happen!

I'm in San Diego and always going in marginal conditions. When I was TTing I was usually the last one on the water at our beginner beach as the wind fell. I'm learning to foil this season.

If I could rebuild my quiver from scratch it would be with a 14.5m flite and 32m racing lines.

gbrungra wrote: ↑

Tue May 30, 2017 7:02 am

I'm in San Diego and always going in marginal conditions. When I was TTing I was usually the last one on the water at our beginner beach as the wind fell. I'm learning to foil this season.

If I could rebuild my quiver from scratch it would be with a 14.5m flite and 32m racing lines.

Has anyone used the 14.5 or 12 for foiling? What's the low range?

pikovsg wrote: ↑

Tue May 30, 2017 7:17 pm

Has anyone used the 14.5 or 12 for foiling? What's the low range?

Not sure about the 14.5, but I've foiled with the 12m Flite in about 12 mph and I'm 230 pies. I tried in 10 mph, but I couldn't QUITE get up out of the water with it. In 12 mph I was having to push out on the bar b/c I had PLENTY of power. Of course, I'm still in the early stages of foiling, so you might do better.