Hi can anyone offer advice on;
A, I have a 12m Switchblade, will this be any good on the snow + any tips tricks?
B, If I manage to find the $ for 1 new foil kite what recomendations for size to suit Aus conditions and cover the greatest potential windrange?
Thanks in advance
Hey mate,
I don't use inflatables in the snow - seems like too much trouble to me.
I do fly foils though and if I were to have only one kite I would recommend an 8-10m in a flat foil (ozone/flysurfer) or larger in a c-shaped foil such as peter lynn. The smaller the kite the more you can work it = greater wind range.
I fly ozone mantas and for a one-kite quiver I would recommend an 8m Manta1 or a 10m Manta2 since the earlier ones had more power for their size.
I may have a manta1 for sale, pm me if you are interested.
Yes, any inflats with full depower will work fine, we use inflatables every year on the snow. But bear in mind:
1/. Safety and consideration for others, make sure you have permission where required and lots of clearance so you are not endangering anyone in the area of your activity nor putting yourself at risk,
2/. Practice your reverse launching before you get to the snow,
3/. Have someone at hand to help launching and landing, we always have one person rotating around the group who acts as an assistant (and cameraman!),
4/. bear in mind there is less resistance on the snow so you do not need as big a kite in the same wind strength.
Snow kiting is tons of fun, and a lot easier than most people think. Have fun and keep safe!
Inflatos work fine for the snow except-
- Rigging with cold hands can suck
- They aren't as durable as a foil when you crash them
- Not so good for back country trekking as you need to carry a pump and repair items
Foils are simpler and faster to rig and small enough to carry a spare if the conditions change.
If you can afford it look for a depower type foil. If not a fixed bridle will be fine, just look for a mid to low aspect one that will be more forgiving. Also with fixed bridle foils get one that is much smaller as they produce a LOT of power for their size compared to an inflato.
I've flown foils from 1.5m (in 40knot winds!) to 6m (Samurai) and had loads of fun
. I'll take some of them up this year but I'm going to try out a Peter Lynn twin skin Venom 14m this year to see how that feels. It can cope with a wider wind range, depowers really well and if I have a stack, hopefully it will auto zenith until I recover.....anyway here's hoping!!!
