Like the sound of this kite ,would this be a good high wind kite?,
80kg and starting to keep up wind on 12 atom 08
need something before winter winds arrive
Thanks for all your input
awesome kite. I have 6m, 8.5, 12.5m ion2s and 9m atom. the 8.5 is the best by far
very stable kite.
Used to own the 10.5m very nice kite. Never tried it in fifth line mode which is the way to go if you are into wakestyle.
Ive got a 12m cult but thinking of getting a 14m kite. My mates got a 9m atom which has good performance but excellent build quality. Im 95kgs and want a kite with bottom end grunt. Is anyone able to give me some feedback on an ion around this size. I was thinking of a rhino but the atom is built so well Im hoping the ion is the same.
Your right, you can't fault the Ion2 for build quality either. The 14.5m sound like a perfect light wind kite for you.
Dogbones
The 8.5 is probably the best kite in the Ion2 range. Go for it! you wont be disappointed!!
sorry anyone who buys a ion2 as a light wind kite will be really disappointed. they are heavy kites which relaunch in bridle mode poorly. The 14.5 and 16.5 are rather for heavier guys looking to get out when other people are powered on 12s.
at 70kg in light wind the 12.5,14.5 and 16.5 were all the same to me (power wise).
they are just not good light wind kites. Awesome overall but relaunch in light winds is very poor without a 5th line. Remember I said LIGHT winds not 30kts in WA.
I never had any issue relaunching the ion 2 perhaps it is the technique you where using.
my 12.5 struggles to relaunch under 15kts, if im able to stand up its a bit easier and with 5th line it pops up in 10 seconds.
they are just built well so are heavy kites.
I have not had issues with the 16.5m for relaunch in bridle mode. But I know some people have commented on the fact that they have. It does require a sightly different technique to bow kites.
You just have to pull the front lines a bit ( I normally grab by the swivel, this effectively simulates a 5th line kite) and then release quickly (sometimes a little swim towards the kite helps) and allow the kite to roll onto its back then sheet in and point the bar at the kite and up it goes. In really light wind you may have to grab a bit of leader line to get it finally off the water.
yeah your method has been mentioned to me. I need to do that AND swim to the kite to get it on its back...which I refuse to do.
like I said its in light winds. when im powered I have no issues and dont use the 5th line.
I actually use bridle mode with a 5th line just for relaunch. How does the ion3 compare?
Andrew,
I have only had a chance to ride the 12.5 Ion3 and I am amazed as to how they could have improved the kite but they definitely have. The Ion3 has a better bottom end as the kites fly through the air faster and also turn faster due to a new airfoil shape and the changes to the leading edge tip diameter and strut placement. The kite is lighter on the bar and more reactive to inputs but still really stable.
I'm not sure on relauch yet as I did not get the kite wet. I expect it to be easier to relauch as the leading edge is stiffer and the kite should keep its shape better when working to the edge of the window.
Re the Ion2 relaunch, i personally don't ever swim to put the kite on its back either. I normally use the board on my feet (if I still have it) to stop me traveling down wind and pull the swivel back past my head (holding on to the leader lines and the bar in the other hand to stop them getting caught up on me or the bar) pull the swivel back as hard and fast as you can and then release and the kite should just roll on to its back. Keeping the other hand on the bar aslo stops any chance of the kite rolling completely over as you can apply some rear line tension to stop it.
I have an Ion 2 10.5m which I really like, but it would take a bit of getting used to if you had just come off a regular SLE or bow. It has noticeably less depower on the bar and generally a much harder feeling to it. The pluses of this are that it is good unhooked (no back stall) even in four line mode (no need for 5 line for 99% of riders). If you try to relaunch it like a bow by pulling on a rear line and waiting for it to pop up, it aint gonna happen unless it’s really windy. But if you use the same technique as for a C-kite as has been described already it will role onto its back and come up fine in all but the lightest winds. I agree that they are not a light wind kite even in the bigger size but at 70kgs the 10.5 is my largest kite, and it gets me out in as light wind conditions as I want to out in (using a surfboard if necessary). Having said that these kites are unbelievable in high winds!
Why do all the lightweights say that the bigger ion2's are not lightwind kites? If you are only light then the speed of a smaller kite will give you almost the same bottom end as a bigger kite due to fact that you don't need the "grunt " to actually get you up out of the water.
I'm about 130kg so for me I need the bigger kite to kite in light winds, hence the expression a lightwind kite. I have already stated that the 14.5 and 16.5 have similar bottom ends it is just the 16.5 has a bit more grunt to get you up and planning if you are a heavier rider. Last year I pretty much only used the 16.5m and 10.5m Ion2 as my quiver. I needed a good 18 - 20 knots to really have fun on the 10.5m.
If you are lighter then I would recommend an 8.5 and 12.5 as a quiver or a 10.5 as a single kite (sacrifice a bit of top and bottom end which you can make up a bit with different boards). If you are heavier then go for the 10.5 and 14.5 or 16.5 if really heavy. or a 12.5 as a single kite.
The kites don't really do much under 10 knots so they are not an extreme lightwind kite but these conditions are not that fun anyway. For and average light day where other people are out on there average lightwind kite you will be able to kite if you had an ion2.
