Hi,
This will be an unusual thread, since I'm the webmaster of a general kiting site, looking for some specific info on surfing kites.
I write about all kinds of kites, and specialize in building and flying small single-liners from cheap components. Using the search engines provides me with most of the facts I need, but I'm curious as to which are the most popular kites in the following categories:
'C' or LEI (first generation)
Bow or 'Flat LEI'
Hybrid or SLE
Parafoil (designed for water)
I just want to pick *one* well-proven and popular design from each of the above categories to do a little more research on and write up. Obviously, that's going to exclude a whole bunch of great kite designs - but that will be made clear in the write up.
How can I repay you for your help? Well, on the new webpage I can mention this forum plus give credit to those who were most helpful..
If anyone's interested in my site, just ask me to post the URL. It's hosted in Canada, but I run it from Adelaide, S.A.
Thanks!
You're going to get a lot of different answers here I think but I'll put my 2c in anyway as to what I see is popular where I kite.
A C kite that has been around for ages and just gets better every year is the Slingshot Fuel.
Cabrinha bow kites are popular in a lot of places and is a company that specialise only in bow style kites for all types of riding - Crossbow or Switchblade. The BEST Waroo is possibly one of the most popular bow kites.
A standout hybrid at the moment is the Slingshot REV
The only foils that I see are the Peter Lynn Venom kites.
You're opening a can of worms with this thread. IMHO it would probably be a better bet on doing research on the advantages/features of the different kite designs and provide a few examples of each (youll certainly get many examples from this thread).
Explaining what a fifth line does, bridles, C-kite's turning ability, the depower in a Bow/hybrid, and the positive pressure obtained from a "parafoil" (most novices think they sink), may be a more informative article.....
Any help would definately be given by our well informed members on this site
Just remember he's looking for the most popular in each category - not what people think is the best kite out there. Most peoples perception of whats popular is what they see the most at their local spot.
Just remember that popularity doesn't always come down to the best kite. Price has a lot to do with what people buy as does availability (ie brands that don;t have dedicated dealers in your area)and how much the sales person pushed the buyer to buy what they had in store at the time.
For SLE(bows) definitely Cabrinha over other brand hands down on poularity and kite handling and design.
Hybrid, I'd say flexifoil in the Atom or Ion2(altho i prefer the ion2). Trouble is there's so many hybrids out there that there is no one standout as to how many people are flying it. It all comes down to personal preference in each kite.
C I'd agree with the slingshot fuel. Although the most popular kite i've seen flew around the world would be the 06 North Rhino.
And I think doonas belong on a bed.
A word on the Bests: IMHO Although a lot of people buy them due to the low price there are quite a few who are generally not overly happy with the kite once they have flewn them for a while and try something else.
Guys he just wants what you think is the best kite of each category don't blabber on about price and stuff just give a simple answer.
C kite: Naish Torch
Bow: Best Waroo
Hybrid: North Rebel
Foil: Flysurfer Pulse?
That's great so far, guys, thanks! The power kites section on my site is aimed a lot 'lower' than a forum of the super-keen and/or expert like this. It's meant to be informative and interesting to those with at least a casual interest in power kites and/or kitesurfing. I don't mind if the experienced kite surfer gets little from it. My game is pulling web traffic in an attempt to make a living, I love anything that flies. Hence my site covers a wide range of kites.
Don't be surprised if I manage to weave in just a little of the more detailed comments offered here, just to spice up the page a bit!
I might wait just another 48 hrs or so before saying 'enough thank you'. Hopefully there might be a clear favourite in most categories by then.
my 2 cents as well,
C kite-slingshot fuel for sure
Bow- Best waroo
Hybrid- just because everyone is buying them, slingshot rev(great kite though)
Foil-peter lynn venom deffo
Ok lets get completely biased.
C Kite: North Vegas 08, Slingy Fuel 07
Hybrid for waves: North Rebel 07
Hybrid for freestyle/Wakestyle: North Rhino 07
Bow: Cabrinha X-Bow1
Foil: Flysurfer pulse2 (looks good).....
Come on inverted whats wrong with the Vapour????
Alrighty then dave
12m or above:
C: 06 Rhino
Hybrid: Vapour
Bow: Ozone Instinct Sport
Below 12m
C: 06 Rhino
Hybrid: Ion 2
Bow: SB3
C KITE - Fuels
Hybrid - Flexifoil Atom 08
Foil - Flexifoil Blade III on handles
Wave - Rev
Beginner Rig - Cab Crossbow I
Most Hyped - Hadlow Pro
Worst Rep - Link
Ugly duckling - Best
Super styling - North
Beginners - Cab Switchblade
c= Fuel
Bow= T2 guessing T3 will be better still...
Hybrid= Rev
Foil= Pulse 2
the reason for my Slingy bias is not only their tried and true performance history but the fact that they back it with 12mth warranty... Flysurfer i believe have 6 mths and all the rest 3mth. Please correct me if i am wrong but as i understand it thats how they stand.
I have been demoing a pre production NOBILE 9m 555 and WOW what a kite... if you'd like to see what Mark Shinn and crew are up to in kite design come to CHOICE and check this little beauty out. Super fast and super high performance... A treat to ride and i am sure it will be No1.HYBRID in this thread next yr when they're released to the public.
At the store we stock Flexi, New, Best, flysurfer, GK, Slingy and maybe real soon NOBILE... so yes i have tried quite a few kites this season.
Out side of the shop i have tried north. I have not tried naish, Airush, Peter lynn, or Cab from this season...
If you think your opinion on the NOBILE would be worth our time, come talk to Graham @ CHOICE and try the demo model we have here.
Cheers to all
Posko @ Choice
, 1 red one , and two blue ones 
!!!! (speaking about kites, of course)
C: ?
Bow: ?
Hybrid: ?
Foil: FLYSURFER SPEED for performance (high aspect ratio kite) and possibly FLYSURFER PULSE 2 for easier flying characteristics...
Fred
What great feedback. This forum is really alive!
I'll be busy for a few days (kite festival coming up in Adelaide), but then I'll write up the page on my site and post a link here for anyone interested.
The Fuel really is a classic as well as a current favourite. I don't think there has been another single kite model that has had as many years production as the Fuel. I just relocated an old 2003 Fuel from one dead kite storage to another this weekend, and I have a sneaking suspicion there were earlier models than that, can anyone confirm? Can anyone else name any power kite model with such a long legacy?
Yeah greenpat,
2001 the fuel, amazing. Just got an 11m fuel 2007. If C kites were this good when I learnt on them, I'd have never switched to bows and hybrids.
Use a 12m Rhino 2007 for 13-25 knots, and the 11m fuel for 18-30 knots. I find the pull/grunt of the fuel comparable to a 9m SLE/hybrid, but flys so smooth.
Somehow I've ended up with 5 Waroos- 2 from 2006 and 3 from 2008, so you can figure out what my vote for best bow is. On a 30Knt+ day the 7M 2008 Warooo is just so much fun.
OK guys, closing off this thread now - as far as the poll goes anyway!
Here's my new page, take a look if you're interested...
www.my-best-kite.com/surfing-kites.html
Helpful comments are welcome, and if anything is plain wrong I'm sure you'll let me know!
Thanks again for all the input.
Tim P
