Back in 2002 and 03 when flysurfer was getting huge depower out of their psycho etc it was said that the lift is more in using the sheeting as opposed to sending the kite. 3 years later the bow kite appeared and basically delivered the same style of jumping.

So that explains why the debate has moved from "LEI vs Ram Air" to "C's vs Bows" ?

If an old design makes a kite (or kiter) more hardcore than people on C kites are pu55ies too. Let's all get back onto fixed bridle two liners like the blade 1 and really BIG delta kites.

Mind you.... Blown Away raises an interesting point. Will FS foils and bows meet up in the end? The design goals of both kites are very similar and now the shape of both designs are quite similar.

mike

Certainly the design goal of both is: faster turining, more pop yada yada yada yada.

Just look at them in the air........ LEI kites are getting flatter and flatter all the time. They are now nearly as flat as foils (maybe the ultra flat thingamagigs are just as flat).
The outline (or shape of the kite flat) is getting very similar too.
The FS foils are getting less bridles and the bows are getting more bridles.
They both use pullies.

mike

schmik said...

Mind you.... Blown Away raises an interesting point. Will FS foils and bows meet up in the end? The design goals of both kites are very similar and now the shape of both designs are quite similar.

Not while you need a pump for one and not the other, how do you mean 'meet up'?

From 500m I can't recognize the difference between my girlfriend and the Devil.
Neither from 500mm.

I think they've met each other before the end

But seriously I think this is the best place for me to ask my question;
I want to but an 8m or 7m FS for my girl friend (and my winter heavy wind kite and my snow kite [}:)] )

Which FS you guys recommend?

Cheers Alex

schmik said...

Pulse 2.

It is the lowest AR which makes it very stable. Your GF will appreciate it and so will you in 35kn ;)

mike

How about speed2?

Mike,

Cheers for the responses.

Kadkhah,

I d recommend the Pulse 2 rather than Speed 2: the pulse 2 will provide an easy kite for g/f and stable kite for you in high wind.

I tried the Speed1 5m in relatively strong wind, and it was flying very very very fast... Faster than an old FS Extasy 4.5 m that I still use when it is very very windy...

The Speed 2 for yourself, if you are intermediate or better, will give a superb, high performance, but technical, kite for 'normal' wind.

Enjoy.

Fred

interesting opinion...."Bow kites are pump up flysurfers"

My opinion is this is too black and white.
I like to ride any kite I can get my hands on and get feedback on it's design characteristics. Demoed foils that feel like a bow(floaty) and C-kite ( except for that insane jerky lift when you send it) as some have nice direct feel.
Flown Bows that are super stable and excellent for freestyle and bows that are fast whippy but have constant pull almost lkie a C-kite.
Flown some bigger C-kites that would bore your grandmother, and some smaller ones that would kill your grandaughter.
Every kite I've flown has some fantastic characteristics that will due to aerodynamic principles detract from other desirable characteristics.
People need to realise that kites are starting to become need specific and brands are now making beginner/wave/freestyle/wakestyle specific kites.
IMO specific KITES will be better suited for beginners (Airush: DNA over flow/halo, Cabrinha: Convert over switchblade, Slinghot: Rev over fuel etc)...

Kite brands are now trying to make the same make of kite very similar in all sizes to limited success. 09 kites will change their AR and their arc to try and achieve this..
Why is it that locals generally ride one type of kite and size over another in different locations...... Bang for your buck in different prevalent wind.

Here's my ultimate quiver for Perth.....
85-90 kgs.
17m foil for light winds
12-14m grunty bow/hybrid
12-9 C
9-7 bow/hybrid

"Back in 2002 and 03 when flysurfer was getting huge depower out of their psycho etc it was said that the lift is more in using the sheeting as opposed to sending the kite. 3 years later the bow kite appeared and basically delivered the same style of jumping."

hmmmm...LEI's have become flatter and foils have progressively got more curve/arc..... a little biased I'd say

G´day..
I don´t wanna make this advert yada yada. that´s why I just wanna offer everybody who´s interested in FS (how it works, some tricks etc) to give a kind of clinic.
I have made the experience, that there are many guys out there still don´t know how that system works but are very interested. So just write an mail or if there are enough people, who are interested start a new topic.
I can offer it arround Perth. So just let me know. If you´ve been riding on FS you are invited as well. Probably, I have two or three tips and tricks..
See ya
Mathias

info <eeetttt> mathiaswichmann.com

you couldn't see til woodies..
I was there alone as well on my 10m. nice evening..
cya

hirschausen said...

Well! I had a nice session at Exmouth...or was it two?. maybe three...what day is it now?

You must be in another Exmouth to me cos yesterday was glassy all day and it hasn't blown sw
for months and today,s ****ty 15-20 se hasn,t come either

The nearest thing to an inflatable foil I have experienced was back in 2000/2001 when Flexifoil launched the Nexus. It was designed by Andy Preston and was a flop at the time but way ahead of its time. Very flat wing shaped kite with inflatable leading and trailing edge, massively powerful but very rigid, obviously, so very unforgiving. Relaunch was also interesting. At the time I was riding flexifoil blades for kitesurfing and this kite appeared to be more powerful. Just wish I'd kept my demo kite just for historical value. www.backcountrygear.com/kites.html