I sold two "C" kites to a beginner a month or two ago. This included a 2006 13m Fuel with 5th line bar.
I only sold them on the basis of his assurances he would have lessons before he tried to fly the kite. Given he would be learning on the instructor's kites, I also offered to spend an hour or so with him to help set up the kite and go through safety/relaunch. (I have seen enough idiots end up in trees trying to fly kites with no idea).
Anyway, he has now completed the lessons and rang me to arrange my time to help set-up, etc. However, apparently he says an instructor told him that the kite is "unsafe"!
Now this has already been commented in:
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.aspTOPIC_ID=31714&whichpage=1&replies=45&PageSize=30&mxPages=2
but how on earth is a 2006 Fuel unsafe???? !!!!
Was it unsafe when released in 2006?
Does this mean the 2008 Fuel is unsafe?
Does this mean all 5th line C kites are unsafe?
Sounds like the instructor didn't like it when he couldn't make a sale of his brand after the lesson.
I don't care what my kite is I just want to know how to use it properly so that I don't hurt myself or even worse, someone else. I guess it is like I was told on the topic, ALL kites are dangerous, you just need proper instructions on how to use them. Hee hee, I can't believe how quick ppl were to judge my choice of kite and "how much I spent" on the thing. Pretty funny 
I learnt on an 06 fuel and i would have to say that with the fith line i recon that are definately just as safe if not better is some cases than my new 08 hybrid kite as well as my 07 bow!!
I only found the high depower kites easier and safer to ride in gusty overpowered conditions but learners should stay clear of these conditions anyway!
Being able to flag completely down to one line at the simple pull of the saftey has saved me many times through my learning experience...
Its not the C kite thats unsafe, its the person using it.
I still think there is too much emphasis and general promotional bullsh!t by manufacturers, shops etc that the new(est) kites are SUPERSAFE. Look at this wind range, how safe it this kite yadda yadda.
A C kite in the hands of a well trained learner is MUCH safer than a talked up Bow kite in the hands of a donkey.
So the bow kite has more depower? ok, this puts in the mind of many people that you can use it in any situation. Like the guy i saw on the weekend kiting in offshore winds. I mention to him that maybe he should think twice about where he uses his kite. "oh its ok" he says, its a 2008 <brand> which is super safe, the shop told me that this years model was the safest so far. Bollocks buddy. All kites are equally dangerous.
It some ways the C kite "might" be safer, because after you get spanked a few times you realise what dangers you are putting yourself in, unlike newer kites where you can "get" away with bad decisions, keep taking more and more risks becuase its been fine in the past and hey presto, offshore wind kiting claims another donkey!
good call meerkat!
After a beating or two you quickly learn what you should not do!!!!
I remember learning on a peter lynn waterfoil, that was a dangerous kite.
I think sometimes that kiting has become tooo easy. i think more accidents will happen because with new kites nothing can ever go wrong!!!!!!
Sorry all this talk of C kites being unsafe is rubbish.
Accidents happen for alot of reasons, but the most common that I see are people going out when they are overpowered for the conditions.
Saw a newbie out the other day on a 9m sle, I was on a 7m sle, but he must have had the fact drummed into his head that bow type kites have massive wind ranges so should be fine in strong winds.
Sorry but when newbie get overpowered there first natural reaction is to pull harder on the bar, which as we all know powers up any kite, bows even more so.
He did and only after he had taken a beating realised that letting go of the par is what makes an sle safe. Granted that this action is safer on sle than C, but pulling safety does same thing.
The other major problem people have is setting up their lines wrong, back lines on front of kite and so on.
Both of these common problems can be solved by good instruction.
The reasons that most instructor push sle is that students do progress faster on them, fact.
its more the person and the conditions that make C kites less forgiving rather than unsafe.
never had any probs learning on 05 fuels with 4 lines.. quick release got used a few times, but that's what it's for..
Similar thing happened to me on the weekend. I was going for kite at a secret/safety spot
, as I'm putting my wetty on a guy pulls up next to me.
Mr. X say's. You going kiting?
Yep. I says.
Mr. X. What kite you putting up?
9mtr. I said.
Mr. X What type?
Slingshot.
Not a C kite I hope! It's too windy for a C.
No it's a new Rev.
Do they have a bridle? (its hobbits land down here, unless you ride a Airrush the locals don't want to know you)
Yep.
That’s good; you could only ride a bridled kite today. Too windy for a C "again"
He was being good about it (I think maybe just feeing me out to see if I was kook) but he was serious about it being to windy for a C kite? I have just gotten new kites 7,9 &13 Rev's but I know I would have fine on my old 06 C kite.
Admittedly it was 25 to 30knots so quite strong, but I think people are so quick to get on this 100% depower thing and they think they are safe in anything.
Gerard.
I usually ride SLE kites. But I have a 9m Fuel especially for when the wind is nuking.
How did we all survive before SLE/Bows?
I agree that bridles make learning easier and people progress faster on them but the negative press on C kites is unfounded.
I stil love 'em.
Harden up.
C kites arent any more dangerous than Bow kites. Especiallywhen learners get a false sense of security and put up way to much kite for the conditions. I went out City Beach last night and there were a heap of learners with 12m Bows up. That is dangerous. It was 7-9m weather and learners should always err on the side of caution.
i'm with the pornstar. I have been spanked more in nuking conditions on a hybrid than a c. I always feel like i have more control on my 5 line c, and i know that if i pull the safety, the c kite is straight on its back and powerless, where as the hybrid would flag, and spin around and rip you downwind. I've snapped the flaging line a couple of times on the hybrid as well. I think the hybrids are overated. I learnt on the c, then gave the hybrid a go because of all the hype. I'm back to using a c full time now. Just my 5 cents worth.
