looking for serious info on flysurfer kites...

i am about to change to a foil ..one of my aims since starting.. and i am looking for good knowledgeable info on the differences between the pulse 2 speed 2 and psycho 4...
thanks ...

There as gay as aids

is that serious enough???

you spend enough time on a doona at home.

Hi Wylee,

I own and have tried several kites of that brand: Psycho3 13m, 8m and 6m, Pulse2 10m and 6m, Psycho4 15 and 10m, Speed2 10,15 and 19 Silverarrow.

http://www.foilzone.com/ is a good forum to have a look at. (Ian Young's site and the manufacturer's site are helpfull for technical info too.)

The Pulse2 is the most easy to use kite of the range: stable, average turning speed, average lift. Marketed as being their entry level kite. It has short bridle lenght and incredibly easy relaunch ability. It has roughly the same wind range and power as a bow kite of the same size. I have owned a 6m and have tried a 10: it is not my personal favorite.

The Speed2 is the high perf kite of the range: huge power per square meter, best upwind ability of the range, quite slow turning, excellent boost and unreasonable hangtime. Great for oldschool addicts, and ideal for real light wind riding in big size (under 15 knots). I own a 15m. It has about the same power as a bow kite 2 meters bigger. The usable wind range is large but the depower is not as direct as on a bow kite. When depowered, it flies far towards the edge of the window due to its high aspect ratio, which can make it unstable inland or in gusty conditions. Not recommended for wave riding. On the 15 and 19m it has long bridle lenght which can be a bit of a pain. According to Flysurfer, 90% of the Speed2 they sold were in big sizes (12m, 15m, 19m): this definetly is a lightwind killer, especially in the Silverarrow version which is exactly the same kite but just with a lighter fabric. Note that the Speed3 should be released in August this year, and from experience, each new version of a Flysurfer kite is a completly new model (each model is only renewed once every three years), so it might be worth it waiting a bit for it.

The Psycho4 is the freestyle kite of the range. Perfect for all around use (I own a 10m). Great upwind, fast truning speed (even while fully depowered!), good float, good stability, short bridles, fast flying. It has a much more direct depower feel than any other Flysurfer kite to date, but it is not at all on/off as on bow kites, so that makes it comfortable to ride, and motivates you to try new tricks. It is my favorite kite ever!

hope that's of help!
cheers
Jacques

I bought a flysurfer psycho 4 a couple of months ago and really enjoy it (2009 Cult for sale if anyone wants it )

The bar pressure is almost non-existant (which says a lot as the Cult is very light to steer), the turning is quick and the hangtime is great.

I have had it down in the water for 15 minutes when I demo'd it (still sorry about that Ian!) and wasn't at any point concerned that it would sink. They are just as easy to self rescue as a LEI due to the way the lines are configured - even if you snapped a line you could wind most of the lines up and hold the bridle near the kite to drag back to shore.

Fooosh, have a talk with Ian Young - he is the Australian distributer and is easy to get along with, not pushy. Alternatively I kite at Leighton mainly so give me a hoy if you are down that way.

Cheers,

Ben.

FS kites I think arent an immediate wow kite - although Im sure this isnt always the case. They do need to be ridden a little different. But once you have that sorted they are just as good as any kite out there Im sure, plus they have many added bonus's - setup and pack up time, no bladders to go wrong, no pumping, efficiency...

my first couple of flights on FS kites - although they had some positive points - werent blowing doors down - which I have had with some other kites.

I also like the fact that I can fit 3 kites into my kite bag when I go travelling in what used to be 1 LEI and that didnt include the pump.

Hi Darren,
... in Margaret River, @ the Drug Aware Pro...
Fred

I just finished 3 hours in 17-22kts at Hearsons Cove in Karratha - the wind is warmer here so not as punchy as I would expect the same speed down south.

The kite continues to impress - its really hard to describe - its so constant and smooth in its pull and flight, even kite loops, it never feels like its yanking you out of your harness, but take a look at your height or length of travel and that brings it into perspective.

LEI are very dramatic, certainly the Airush Vapor is and I do like that - put it in the powerzone and you knew all about it, loop it and wait for the pull etc, these kites and especially the pulse, just a totally different smoothness across all parts of the wind window.

This to me is what makes it a really good park and ride, unhook and down the line kite for surfing, it drifts back really quickly too, downlooping is no big drama and when it hits the water it doesnt dig in - it floats on top and if you have to water launch its really quite quick - either at the edge of the window or reverse launch.

I like both types of kites - inflatable and foil - for different reasons, the FS suit where I live at present (cant wait to get them on snow too) and I think are making it easier to progress some new tricks as Im no where near waves anymore. Im no pro and never will be - just enjoy the buzz that is kiting and these kites - once you have dialled into them to me are as good as any other kites I have tried.