Most all power kites designed for land use fall under the characteristics of a Foil. Foils are soft kites that have no hard frame and are controlled with two or four lines. Think if a more controllable and highly aerodynamic parachute. Foil Kites Choosing the Proper Size The most popular size for most winds and and terrain is the 5.0 square meter size. The 5.0 is ideal for the medium winds of 12-18mph. A 3.0 will work in higher winds, over 15mph and a larger 7.0-9.0 foil will be the preferred size for lighter 10-15mph winds. Static vs. De-Powering Foils - Know the Difference Recent advancements in technology have brought us foil kites that are capable of de-powering(often called "sheeting") Foils with de-powering systems are far superiour to "static" quad line kites for many reasons. Not all quad lines are capable of de-powering it requires an integrated control bar and bridle pully system to be designed into the kites. There is NO advantage to having a static quad line kite over a de-powering quad line kite other than the static kites are far more affordable in price. Our de-powering foils include the Ozone Frenzy & Apex kite and the NEW Montana II kite! Where Will You Be Sailing? The kite size you use will depend on the surface. Snowboarding on snow or ice, kite buggy on hard ground or soft sand, or kiteboarding on water. Also consider your skill and experience, wind speeds in your area, and your size & athletic ability. First, decide what you want to do. It takes less kite power for Roller Blades and Skateboards than it does to be pulled through deep powder! Landboards take the least amount of power, Kite Buggies need a little more power, and Snow Kiting can take a lot more power if you are in powder conditions. Consider Your Skill Level The next consideration is your skill level. If you are a just getting started, the best choice is the smallest kite that will produce enough power to move. It is essential not to be overpowered, not just because it's obviously safer but, less power is easier to manage. No one kite will cover the entire wind range, so start with a smaller kite and then get a larger kite later. Consider Your Weight You should also consider your size. The bigger you are, the more sail you will need to pull you around. If you are over 180 lbs, you should be looking at 5.0 sq. meter kites to start with. Under that you can go with a 3.5 to start with. Getting Started - The Beamer TSR 3.6 package below will get you started. 3.6 sq. meters of power and it's a quad line kite with a control bar, Complete with the bar, lines, and kite backpack, it's only $299.00 and we are including "The Way to Fly" instructional/action DVD with each order! If you are looking for more power and performance, check out the Apex De-powering Kite. It has a dynamic bridle system that interacts with the control bar to allow you to "de-power" the kite. This is a huge step forward in technology because you can cover an enormous wind range with a bigger kite and get much smoother rides! Be prepared to pay for all these benefits.. You have to see the full features below. |
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