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Re: First foilkite

Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2019 10:33 pm
by Regis-de-giens
kitexpert wrote:
Sat Feb 09, 2019 9:23 pm
Regis-de-giens wrote:
Sat Feb 09, 2019 8:42 pm
If it is 40 sessions in snowkite, it is already a lot
:?: If it is 400 sessions it is lot. I have 40 sessions in few months, easily within normal snow kite season.
Yeah sorry i was not clear. Indeed it is not a lot with average use. But i mean it could also be a lot depending on the type of use. In high moutain if each session is close to 8-10 hours exposure to UV plus loops and loops to clim mountains, that can start altering the kite setting. It is not a guarantee in itself, it is just my point.

Speeds have (too) large profil thickness that alter their high Aspect ratio ambition . FRS and Pulsion have similar (if not better in some configurations) performance and far easier to get extra-power from working the kite (in my experience).

Re: First foilkite

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 5:27 am
by sedluk
I think it would be a good value, the older kites fly great and you will have lots of fun. Many of us can find small technical improvements and waste time and money getting the latest cool kite but once you are out using the kite you will forget all that and just smile.

Re: First foilkite

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 6:23 pm
by Adventure Logs
Everyone’s been giving good advice here. The problem will foil kites is even in storage, the bridal will still shrink and the fabric will still age(but much slower) so even an old kite with low hours may still need a lot of work.

Things to check before you buy an older foil kite:

Bridal check-fast simple way to see if the kite has maintained its tune. I would also visually lay the kite out and check each bridal line for anything unusual.

Inflate the kite-biggest killer of these foil kites is porosity. It kills your inflight performance, greatly impacts kite relaunch. Filling the kite with a leaf blower or similar allows you to check the stitching and seams and find any large leaks. Also you can see how long the kite will hold its air. Something the deflate almost immediately you’ll want to avoid.

Misc other things to look for- Check the pulley condition, check the kite buttholes - see that they fully close and seal and if it has a zipper, make sure it open closes nicely. If it comes with a bar, do a bar line test.

When you are test flying it, check for backstall and drift. Each will indicate tuning issues.

The Speed 3 DLX is a good beginner kite if you can find one in good enough condition to make it work it. Be prepared for it not to last you that long since you are learning. The older fabric will just have more tendency to tear during a crash and you will crash as you learn. The 12m size was my favorite in that line and was actually my very first foil kite long ago.

If you can afford a higher budget, I’d get a Soeed 4 Lotus in 12 or 10m. Only real reason is the fabric but it’s wirth it. You may get lucky though and find a good deal on a used one priced near the Speed 3. Personally I think the lotus fabric is worth much more and is a great fit for freeride hydrofoil.

Re: First foilkite

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 9:01 pm
by seglarn98
Thank you all for the replies! I will check what the cloth feels like, and if it feels ok I’ll get it as a learner kite. Might as well crash something older and then get something really good to replace it:)

Re: First foilkite

Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2019 10:31 pm
by twig
Sounds great. I see you like varamon beach, Im sometimes kiting there and you could try my Speed4 lotus 12m if you want to feel what its like.