Try the Airush Halo.It has the normal bow depower but also has a saftey running from the centre line.I had a demo 10m yesterday and it seemed good.Still like c kites better with 5th line.

Sorry Paul I have to disagree,

I am flying Halos now after having flown C kites for 6 years and have found I have almost always been able to sort out and relaunch the C kites in almost any condition. The bow style kites like SB, CB, Halo and Shockwave etc, do have problems with slack line falling and inverting landing on their backs, tangling bridles around wingtips etc which all adds up to a less safe kite IMHO.

I have swum in a Switch blade, and the Halos more than 6 times when they wouldn't relaunch due to bridle tangles, and other problems. I reckon the Halo is better safety wise with the safety leash and is a better performance kite, but still doesn't have near the success rate of relaunch of a normal kite, especially when you ride them overpowered. I pretty much only ride in the ocean and trust me I get nervous being right out the back these days.

As a learner, I would recommend to do a season on a C kite first, then see how you feel about "bows". I understand why less experienced kiters like bows, but I think they are a more advanced kite or the Halo at least as it is fairly high performance and with performance comes less stability.

I dont wish to offend anyone, but these are my unbiased opinions and observations based on my experiences.

Hope this helps

Have a fly of the new Liquid Force M80's they are super stable kites which i believe offer a large wind range. These kites come on 5th line which makes relaunching really easy and very safe.. They are a 2 pump system making setting up very quick.
These kites are excellent for wave riding and wake style..

Kitehard

Have bow/flat/Lei supported LEI's been approved by IKO for use in schools .From your description it sounds like they don't fit the criteria.

regards

Lach

Hey Mr Float,

Hows it going mate? At the moment, IKO have not made any mention on the Bridled LEI kites as yet, although I might just get a response from them. They still say any "water relaunchable kite with fully functionable safety systems. I think "bow" style kites are OK so long as they are used with a full depower safety like the reride type used on the Halo, however, they should be used in their true wind range no flown over powered as most do. They are certainly not the 1 kite quiver although many are touting them as such.

Having flown my 10m Halo from 15 knots to 35knots, I would say it can be done, but it's not all that pleasant and jump height is lost through lack of edging ability from the kite being so high and so depowered. Hangtime is good but it's not about hangtime IMHO, it's height.

I've had a few nasty experiences on bow type kites and without a "let go of the bar" style sliding leash system which fully depoweres the kite when flown in overpowered conditions, I would class them as a potentially dangerous kite.

I reckon the bows are safe enough when flown within the wind ranges as suggested on their website http://www.cabrinhakites.com/crossbow&switchblade/range.php

This would be why Cabrinha, quite responsibly offer these wind ranges, because above, they are more than a handful in the wrong conditions.

As for the performance, I think it is only partly due to the anhedral of the wing and a lot more to do with the flat aerodynamic foiling coupled with the flat sectioning and relatively high A/R.

I totally agree and have always said, the best kite does not make the best rider". Buy something suitable for your skill level and you will always advance faster.

Good winds to all,

if I go for a normal C shape what size do you guys recommend. i was thinking 10-12m. Will probably only be able to afford another kite in 4-5months time.

quote:

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Originally posted by RAL INN

Prepare, take Kitehards advise.

The new 06 C kites are all worth a try and some of them have better wind range than Bows, and by that I mean useable fun windrange.

Kites that I know that exhibit this excellent wind range and depower capabilities and the proven safety of C kites are.

Naish torch, SS octane and Fuel, wipika Indy, F-one impact and Tribal.
Not giving these a good look at will be doing yourself a disservice.

There are others of course but these are the ones I know personally.

best winds
Tony L

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Dont listen to these guys !

Get the Bow kite that you REALLY want!

Dont listen to all this crap.

"Proven safety of "C" kies" Whats that ??? About 30 deaths so far !
This is what drove Bruno to develop a safer kite. In his own words,he said that the Crossbow was the closest to his design !

You will be up and running in no time.

I agree, ALL kites can be dangerous.

I just did not agree wiyh the claim of C kites "proven safety record"

It does not exist !

There is certainly a lot of Bow kite flaming around, some people are afraid of changes huh. After flying C kites for 2 years and purchasing a bow kite (9m switchblade) I have to say bow kites are miles ahead of C kites for saftey, relauch, wind range, and progression.

Just go down to you local spot and see what people are flying. Bow kites are easily out numbering C kites. C kites may be more suited to jumping and technical tricks but for general fun flying and learning Bow kits have my vote.

I jumped on an old C kite yesterday and was amazed at how much more effort was required to fly it. And relauch is a pain in the arse! I still relaunched it and had a good session but I still prefer my switchblade.

Prepare, you have to take what some people say on this forum with a grain a salt sometimes, especialy as you are just learning. The one mistake you can't afford to make since you have a few months until you buy is not trying out a few different kites including bows, 5th line c kites and especially the f-one tribal.

this junk

quote:

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I have to say bow kites are miles ahead of C kites for saftey, relauch, wind range, and progression.

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Is a flat out lie, ask any1 who has flown more than two types of kites in their lives.

The tribal's proof of huge wind range is on a clip on the www.f-onekites.com websight under integral system in the popup that loads, theres' a video of a sub 60kg chick on a 13 meter kite in 30 kts next to someone on a 7 meter kite. I'd like to see some of that stuff on the bow websights if their " wind range" is miles ahead of c shape kites, but it's not. the recommended wind range is only to 21kts for the 13 meter tribal but this kite has so much depower you really can almost ride it in anything when you get used to it. for your weight an 11 would be a good choice id say for 14+ kts It doesn't have bridals that can tangle when ou crash like the bows do, and because it has a 5th line safety every time you crash which will happen alot as a beginner, you will get more confidence knowing your kite will be waiting for you in the relaunch position and all you need to do is pull one side of the bar, rather than swim towards the kite, or worry about getting your bridle or pully system untangled.

I'm not saying that the bow kites are no good. They give great performce in depower, jumps, and offer a new feel to kiting etc... but IMO they aren't for beginners due to the bridal tangles and other problems that beginners will have difficulty if not impossible times trying to fixout on the water and if you want something that performs IMO better than the bows for safety definately, has awesome relaunch , equal or better wind range and is cheaper then you should at least try and track down a demo, i think there's one in sydney in a couple weeks. maybe as ESS? im not sure

just remember next time you go out, count how many times you have to relaunch, and think of how much happier you'd be trying to relaunch on a 5th line or on a bow, than haveing to swim towards your kite. Your choice certainly lends itself towards quick relaunch although I no what i would choose because ive allready ridden recon, bows and the 5th lines. Make sure you try them out first and deliberatly crash them a few times when you do to see how safe they really are.

thanks for the advice guys. i didnt mean to start a debate on C vs bow kites!.

basically what I was is something safe and easy to relaunch. I know there are many kites that fit this requirements but I have only had the chance to ride the Cabrinha bow and C02.

basically im skeptical to buy any kite that I havnt flown and it seems not many shops want to let a beginner try out kites because it would be practically a lesson and I dont want to pay $150 to test a kite.

at the moment it seems if i want a 05 12m C02+harness+board its going to be $2000 which is a stretch on my budget so i guess ill keep looking for 2nd hand.

thanks!