Power Kite Forum

I need some help picking my first Power Kite.

Big D - 14-11-2011 at 07:23 PM

Hi All,

It looks you all are more than willing to get someone hooked up with this drug we call wind and I need some words of wisdom in choosing my next kite. I started this search about three years ago but life got in the way … long story short I am ready to start the search again.

I have flown single line and stunt kites off and on for over ten years and I would like to get into the bigger and more power sport of power kites and landboards and/or buggies.

I have been looking at the Ozone Flow and the HQ Scout 2 both in 3 – 4 meter² size for my trainer kite and get my feet wet in the sport. Any info on these or any other appropriate kites would be appreciated. I weigh close to 280 pounds and the avg. wind speed where I will do most of my flying (The Oregon Coast) is between 5 & 15 mph and I would like to train on the same kite that I would use for the landboard or buggy.


Thank you,

Big D

tridude - 14-11-2011 at 07:34 PM

welcome big D....................you have a great network of pilots in your area that frequent this forum..............Ill default to pilots in your area with knowledge of your conditions but a 4 or 5 meter four liner would be a great place to start as long as your not 110 lbs soaking wet....................I can recommend the Ozone Method..................stable, forgiving, and a sweet buggy kite...............again welcome to the madness

stetson05 - 14-11-2011 at 08:18 PM

Welcome, the three mentioned kites would be great. Peter lynn is another great brand. Things to look for are stable design, 3 or 4 lines, and for the beach I would say dirt outs on the trailing edge tips. I think the method has a mesh covering over the inlets which will help keep some stuff out too. Stay safe and have fun.

wheresthewind? - 14-11-2011 at 08:24 PM

ive flown the ozone flow 5m and its a nice, stable kite-- we flew it in 25 mph winds(not recommended).....but if u fly it in 5 to 15 you should be fine.....

pyro22487 - 15-11-2011 at 12:04 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by wheresthewind?
ive flown the ozone flow 5m and its a nice, stable kite-- we flew it in 25 mph winds(not recommended).....but if u fly it in 5 to 15 you should be fine.....

Same for me and I agree totally not recommended but doable. I definitely recommend 5 to 10 on the wind. 15 might be pushing it. I can easily buggy in that wind.

Big D - 22-11-2011 at 05:19 PM

Well, I think I will want to go with a three line kite as a trainer but I still don’t know what size to get and I do not know anyone else that fly’s that I could go try one out and I think most of the shops within 150 miles of here are into kite boarding in the Columbia gorge or up in the mountains. I am a big boy and I don’t want to be underpowered and bored with high-priced toy but I also don’t want to let my ego talk me into a kite that is too big and dangerous train on. The HQ Scout II looks like it has more adjustments to it but I am still drawn to the Ozone Flow as my first kite.

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Bladerunner - 22-11-2011 at 06:00 PM

The Scout II is designed as a kiteboard trainer. It will be nice and stable but is designed with static flying as the goal.

The Flow and Method are designed as engines and will probably serve you better in motion.

To get the most out of fixed bridle kites flying them on handles is the way to go ! The Method and Flow will allow you to go to handles once you crave the added control. The Scout isn't designed with handles in mind. I would suggest sticking with a 3m kite. Oregon gets everything from low to high winds. A good 3m will become your high wind kite as you grow but give you lots of power right off.

I'm not sure how far you are from Newport- Csa ? , Portland - Archkiter or VWbrian, Manzo'- Arkay, or Seaside- SunsetJim + Jellis - Jon? Some of the finest people I know in the sport live in these towns !

You may also be close to Jellis's winter home ? Willardthe grey - Sky is also in Oregon and pimping for Pansh? Stetson ( gabe ) may also be a neighbor Inland? Oregon is home to the nicest bunch of kiters around !!!!!

Jon / Jellis ( kitebuggyspeedshop ) + Eli are your Oregon Ozone dealers.

chicagokitelandboarding - 22-11-2011 at 06:11 PM

hi big D welcome well i will say the wind is a big part of the game if the wind is strong then you need a small kite but if the wind is mild then you need a large kite and the second question is do you want only land o water o both!!! i personal like ozone and flysurfer i am 6.1 weigh 210 and high wind i fly 7mm and low wind 12 mm :cool:

Houston AirHead - 22-11-2011 at 06:20 PM

i think you should go for a HQ Apex, a small one. or a 5 or 6 meter LEi.

John Holgate - 23-11-2011 at 04:09 AM

I have the 3m Flow which I really like. It's good for the buggy in say, 13/14mph upwards....?? really good in 16-20 but you wouldn't want to start off in that much. If you have 5-15 I'd be inclined to go for the 4m and keep to the lighter winds for a start.

I think you'd be best starting off with handles - ozone stuff works really well with the turbo bar too. Some vid of the 3m Flow and buggy in the paddock (on a turbo bar)


bigkid - 23-11-2011 at 06:08 AM

Welcome Big D,
You live in one of the great places in the western US for buggying/boarding at the beach. All the suggestions above are great one, but I would like to invite you to the beach to try out a few kites and boards and buggyies.

Nothing beats seeing and touching with the ability to ask and receive your thought all in the same breath.
Most of the guys in OR. would jump at the chance to go PLAY and show there stuff. Answer all your new questions and let you try out most of all the brands of kites and buggies, etc.
If any of the locals don't chime in, let me know and I would be happy to hook you up with a few of them.

ragden - 23-11-2011 at 06:09 AM

Greetings. I just want to re-iterate something here. You mentioned specifically a 3-line kite. I do not think you are going to get out of it what you are looking for. You also mentioned kiteboarding off-handedly. What is your ultimate goal? The landboard, the buggy, or getting out on the water? This does kind of change what you might be looking at.

If you are even considering going out on the water someday you might do better to get one of the full depower trainer kites. Like the 3m Ocean Rodeo Rize (or whatever it is called). If you are planning on staying in the buggy, then definitely give any of the four-line fixed-bridle kites a shot (Method, Flow, Hornet, Beamer, etc).

Hope this helps...
:)

BigMikesKites - 23-11-2011 at 06:57 AM

The Scout is a nice kite, but won't get you where you are trying to go. The Flow is definitely a step up, and may be your best bet for what you are wanting to do...learn and buggy.

Following that, the Peter Lynn Viper is where I start future buggyists at. Its a great buggy kite, but a little strong for a beginner flyer. I would suggest the 3.9m and nothing larger to start with while learning.

Take BigKid up on his offer if you are close to him.

Big D - 1-12-2011 at 01:15 PM

Thank you guys for your help. No locals chimed in bigkid but my wife took me to Cleanline Surf Shop in Seaside, OR for my birthday and Josh set me up with a Ozone Flow 5m and a Core 95 ATB to get started. The only bad part was he did not have the bar in stock ( but he did offer to loan me one until mine got here but I decided to wait for the new one, Bad move because the weather was great at the coast when we were there) but he is shipping to me for free. I don't know if any of you have dealt with him but I feel he treated me right, he had the answers I was looking for, no pressure to buy and a great deal.

bigkid, if you could still hook me up with some of the locals I am still looking for places to fly and ride with a little advise on what not to do would be great.

Windstar - 1-12-2011 at 02:48 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Big D
I need some help picking my first Power Kite.


I have been looking at the Ozone Flow and the HQ Scout 2 both in 3 – 4 meter² size for my trainer kite and get my feet wet in the sport. Any info on these or any other appropriate kites would be appreciated. I weigh close to 280 pounds and the avg. wind speed where I will do most of my flying (The Oregon Coast) is between 5 & 15 mph and I would like to train on the same kite that I would use for the landboard or buggy.

Big D


Hey Big D,

All advice is good, but decide performance verses price point.

Best to start out with intermediate/beginner. IMO, one of the best beginner power kites out there for the price, is the PKD Buster Soulfly.

As Jeff at BigKid Kites mentioned, if you can get you hands on some kites to try out that would be the way to go. A very good beginner to intermediate kite that should not be underestimated is the PKD Buster Soufly, which is ready to fly with lines and quad hanldes, but PKD also now offers a x-over bar for the Buster Soulfly. Very reasonably priced. Don't knock the Buster 'til you fly one. We have local expert and experienced fliers who usually fly race kites (Blades, & Ozones) BUT when the wind is too gusty they go to the Buster. I personally fly Flexifoils & PKD Busters.

See if you can make it out to an event to try out some kites.

Good Luck