Help on choosing a winter rig
Moderator: MK
Help on choosing a winter rig
I have a 500 dollar budget for a foil kite rig. I am completely new and i'm looking to learn this winter. I am a park skier so i would be using some K2 Public Enemy's as skiis. I have been windsurfing for 8 years and i am sorta in a rut and looking for another way to enjoy the MN waters in the summer. If i get a handle on a winter rig I hope to get a inflateable for this summer.
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Boardsports USA
- Posts: 203
- Joined: Mon Oct 27, 2003 1:54 pm
- Location: Brainerd, MN
- Contact:
thewavebb,
We have some foil kites in that price range from Ozone. We are actually having an event on Mille Lacs on Jan 8th & 9th and will be demo riding everything in there line and you are more than welcome to come up and try 'em...
You can also give us shout anytime T.F. @ 1.866.502.8200
Talk to you soon...
Jason
We have some foil kites in that price range from Ozone. We are actually having an event on Mille Lacs on Jan 8th & 9th and will be demo riding everything in there line and you are more than welcome to come up and try 'em...
You can also give us shout anytime T.F. @ 1.866.502.8200
Talk to you soon...
Jason
My advice is to decide whether or not you are trying to maximize you winter kiting experience or train for the summer. If you focused on the former, then go foil - they're easier to setup, more powerful for their size, and easier to relaunch.
BUT, I have found that as a casual kiter, I'm willing to give up those advantages to spend more time with my inflatable kites: rigging, tweaking, tuning, really getting the 'feel' of them is a lot easier in the winter. Then when you finally get on the water, you have all of that a little more dialed in and can focus on the water-specific issues.
Just some thoughts...
- John Z
BUT, I have found that as a casual kiter, I'm willing to give up those advantages to spend more time with my inflatable kites: rigging, tweaking, tuning, really getting the 'feel' of them is a lot easier in the winter. Then when you finally get on the water, you have all of that a little more dialed in and can focus on the water-specific issues.
Just some thoughts...
- John Z
If i wasnt' hours and hours away from Mille Lac's I would be up there to check it out. I will check out Ozone's line and see what they have. Does anybody have any advice on what size kite I should get?
my stats are:
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 190
Ability: complete beginner to Kiting, 8 years windsurfing and 12 years skiing, (4 of 12 years has been focused on newschool skiing and Big Mtn)
This is goign to be a gift to myself once I find a job. I just graduated From Winona State with a degree in Marketing and have been sending out tons of resumes so i'm sure there will be a bite soon.
Thanks for the replys
Ben
my stats are:
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 190
Ability: complete beginner to Kiting, 8 years windsurfing and 12 years skiing, (4 of 12 years has been focused on newschool skiing and Big Mtn)
This is goign to be a gift to myself once I find a job. I just graduated From Winona State with a degree in Marketing and have been sending out tons of resumes so i'm sure there will be a bite soon.
Thanks for the replys
Ben
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Portland Pete
- Posts: 115
- Joined: Thu Feb 27, 2003 7:06 pm
- Location: pete at petegoodrich dot com
BB
Your twin tips will work fine on the snow. I run a pair of older Pow'airs.
Foils have their advantages for winter, no pumping, easier to launch,
but for the budget minded person IMHO tubes are the way to go for year round.
Tube kites, also called Leading Edge Inflatables (LEIs) work year round.
Put some of your budget into winter lessons on a lake using any kite,
you will learn faster since you don't have to worry about waterstarting.
If you can get to the Twin Cities, get out to some of the events this winter
and get on a kite and book some lessons.
Find a kite buddy to share the cost with and learning will go alot faster.
You will need help launching when learning,
and switching off when you are tired to take pictures works well.
I have since sold almost all of my windsurfing grear
and kite almost exclusively year round.
I still have small gorge windsurfing gear since a 3.7M day
at the hatchery is still one of the best things on earth.
Travel is great with kites too, I am packing for Baja right now.
Way easier than windsurfing gear.
I have been to Florida, Padre, Oregon Coast, Hood River,
Montana, and Hatteras this year and took my kites with me every time.
I run 8M - 20M tube kites with TT skis, hockey skates, and a TT kiteboard for water.
Pete
Your twin tips will work fine on the snow. I run a pair of older Pow'airs.
Foils have their advantages for winter, no pumping, easier to launch,
but for the budget minded person IMHO tubes are the way to go for year round.
Tube kites, also called Leading Edge Inflatables (LEIs) work year round.
Put some of your budget into winter lessons on a lake using any kite,
you will learn faster since you don't have to worry about waterstarting.
If you can get to the Twin Cities, get out to some of the events this winter
and get on a kite and book some lessons.
Find a kite buddy to share the cost with and learning will go alot faster.
You will need help launching when learning,
and switching off when you are tired to take pictures works well.
I have since sold almost all of my windsurfing grear
and kite almost exclusively year round.
I still have small gorge windsurfing gear since a 3.7M day
at the hatchery is still one of the best things on earth.
Travel is great with kites too, I am packing for Baja right now.
Way easier than windsurfing gear.
I have been to Florida, Padre, Oregon Coast, Hood River,
Montana, and Hatteras this year and took my kites with me every time.
I run 8M - 20M tube kites with TT skis, hockey skates, and a TT kiteboard for water.
Pete
Last edited by Portland Pete on Sat Jan 01, 2005 7:32 pm, edited 1 time in total.
http://www.kiteplace.com/kiteplace_hq_b ... erkite.htm
Good quality + no big name hype and marketing expense = affordable kite or two.
Think about it why blow your whole wad on a kite that you will use a few dozen times? They are all made out of the same material. Your friends will never know you werent bent over.
Good quality + no big name hype and marketing expense = affordable kite or two.
Think about it why blow your whole wad on a kite that you will use a few dozen times? They are all made out of the same material. Your friends will never know you werent bent over.
Jan 8 demo
Could you give me directions to the demo.
Thanks, Bryan
Thanks, Bryan