Brian - 24-3-2013 at 03:14 PM
I was recently looking at getting the Unity 10m to help expand my snow kiting outings. I do want to however eventually start to go on the water in the
summers. I know the Unity is a land and water kite but I was wondering if anyone could tell me if this is a good kite for the starting out in the
water? I don't want it to be a difficult kite on the water when I will be starting that learning curve is all. I have been told the Unity is a great
kite on land but unfortunately that's all I have been told.
joedy - 24-3-2013 at 03:23 PM
It depends on your weight, your board and the wind.
It's considered a 20+ knot kite on the water (meaning, a high wind kite.)
You generally don't want to be learning on the water in those kinds of winds.
-joedy
Bladerunner - 24-3-2013 at 07:13 PM
joedy drives home my 1st thought.
My second thought was that being intimate with your kite is a huge advantage. Allowing you to think more about the board. Getting a large board will
help compensate for the small kite + make learning a little easier ?
My 3rd thought is that if a 10m Unity is going to round out your quiver you must have other kites? It might help to know what you have to work with at
the moment ?
10m is a nice size on land . It can be the right size for some locations on water. What is the typical wind where you will learn on water ?
Lessons are always your best money spent !
Brian - 25-3-2013 at 10:52 AM
I'm sorry It didn't even cross my mind to list the usual stuff like my kite sizes and general wind speed ect. I have a 3m pansh legend that I first
bought to learn on and crash quite a few times and an 8m Access that I use with a board on the snow. I am slowly progressing to larger kites. I live
out in the prairies so our wind speed ranges from 0-60 KPH winds but normally 20-30 KPH. My weight is approx 200lbs. I was mistaken on the kite size
it's actually the Unity 12m I was looking at. I still would like a larger kite for the snow so I might still get a 12m kite but if I need something
else for the water I might get the Access 12m and Mabie a LEI for the water in the future.
macboy - 25-3-2013 at 03:20 PM
You'd like the Unity 12m I'm sure but I found that learning H2O with a foil wasn't the best plan (for me). I needed something that a) would float and
b) would give me all the time I need while floating without fear of water sogging. I do still hope and believe that once I'm ridiculously proficient
on the water I'll be kiteboarding with foils but I'm a long way from that point. I picked up two LEIs likely for what you're possibly gonna pay for
the Unity if not less.
joedy - 25-3-2013 at 05:23 PM
With respects to MacBoy's concerns about novice learning on foils in the water, it really depends on the location and the conditions. In the shallow
waters of the Outer Banks Sound, for example, acquiring immediate footing is never really a concern (except for the occasional oyster shell or crab),
so learning to kite with foil there is easier.
In the surf or deeper water, a tube kite does offer some peace of mind. Of course, used tube kites are pretty reasonable if you're able to live with a
patch or a professional repair. A complete LEI kite from two years ago in a 12m size should only run about 500 dollars or less, so it's a much cheaper
alternative to a new Flysurfer (or heck, even a USED Flysurfer!)
-joedy
Bladerunner - 25-3-2013 at 05:52 PM
You can certainly use an LEI on snow. The majority of people do. They match well with a board to. Added incentive not to crash !
Many of the LEI's are good for prairie winds . They handle gusts well.
Brian - 25-3-2013 at 08:51 PM
Don't really know much about LEI's would I be looking for the same size range as I would be with a foil? And can they take quite abit of abuse?
Wouldn't want to blow up the leading edge ha ha.
macboy - 25-3-2013 at 10:48 PM
From what I've seen on snow with LEIs aside from forceful leading edge crashes being bad is the way the bow kites relaunch. If they drop downwind they
like to slide over to the edge of the window, turn up onto a wingtip and relaunch. It's the sliding on what can at times be a pretty abrasive surface
that will wear them pretty good. Not enough to not do it mind you but it is something I've seen. One snowkite season on a new Cabrinha Switchblade was
enough to wear the LE on a friends' rig. Not to the point of failure or "Oh man, I better replace this thing" but wear nonetheless. Of course,
mishandled, a foil can wear the same (or worse) but foils usually are easy enough to pop off the snow by reverse launching so minimal dragging
required.
Brian - 26-3-2013 at 04:11 PM
Mabie I should do some more research into LEI's before I come to a conclusion.
Bladerunner - 26-3-2013 at 04:36 PM
Probably the thing to consider most is what you will be flying on when going ATB . Sharp rocks etc. are hard on LEI. LOTS of folks use LEI in parks
etc. with a board. Search " push kiting " to see some amazing stuff along that line. Those guys have mad skillz! On water and snow LEI should not
pose any major issues now you are past the beginner phase.
powerzone - 27-3-2013 at 09:46 AM
FYI we have a used 10m unity for $750