Power Kite Forum

Peak 2 Freestyle?

rofer - 25-2-2016 at 05:42 PM

I saw when the Peak 2 was released that Flysurfer was advertising it as having more lift and some light freestyle potential, but since their initial release video I've yet to see anyone leave the ground with one.

Obviously there are tons of proper freestyle kites and the Peak 2 is never going to compete with them, but is it actually reasonable to do any freestyle with one?

PHREERIDER - 25-2-2016 at 06:13 PM

i don't see why not. as long as keep smooth to finish. running luff may be trouble. soon as get my hands on one i will let you know.

i'm sure somebody on here has boosted one.

PHREERIDER - 25-2-2016 at 06:14 PM

front range jeff, he had one , ithink? several others as well now that i think about

ssayre - 25-2-2016 at 06:18 PM

There are plenty of videos on YouTube of guys boosting with peak 1 and 2. Maybe not 20' high but plenty of videos at decent height

ssayre - 25-2-2016 at 06:19 PM

If boosting is main goal than probably better options available but you can still get air easily. I buggy and longboard but I've gotten air plenty of times static.

rofer - 25-2-2016 at 06:20 PM

Links? I searched for stuff like "peak freestyle" and couldn't find anyone doing anything more than riding back and forth.

PHREERIDER - 25-2-2016 at 06:23 PM

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre  
If boosting is main goal than probably better options available but you can still get air easily. I buggy and longboard but I've gotten air plenty of times static.


bingo , they pop.

windrider1 - 25-2-2016 at 06:26 PM

ssayre - 25-2-2016 at 06:26 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1hfhTQPyiU

I found this in 2 seconds. skip to 1:18

ssayre - 25-2-2016 at 06:29 PM

Another thing to remember is Peaks are advertised at beginners and having tons of depow on tap. People that buy Peaks are usually not looking to boost big. Doesn't mean they can't boost, but the number of people boosting on them is limited due to not being the boosting type of individual for lack of better word

ssayre - 25-2-2016 at 06:31 PM

Quote: Originally posted by windrider1  


cat got your tongue?

rofer - 25-2-2016 at 06:32 PM

Must have just had the wrong keywords, thanks!

The Peak is obviously not a freestyle kite, but if I were to get one I'd like to know it's at least possible to do more than just move along the ground. I'm still very much a beginner so the extent of any freestyle I'm likely to try soon would be small jumps and maybe some backrolls.

rofer - 25-2-2016 at 06:34 PM

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre  
Quote: Originally posted by windrider1  


cat got your tongue?

I bet he got hit by that bug that deletes your text if you use symbols like apostrophes. The post originally said something about peaks and freestyle in the same sentence.

rofer - 25-2-2016 at 06:41 PM

I'm thinking about peaks recently because of a recent landboarding session I had to end because the winds turned terrifying. Started out struggling to keep my 12m Cronix in the air, then put it away when I could tell the gusts were getting ready to carry me to someone's roof. I put up my 8m Speed 4 only to find the gusts had gotten even stronger. After testing the wind strength (read being thrown 5' sideways), I decided I call it a day since I didn't have anything I felt comfortable taking out in those conditions.

Having something that would stay in the air in the lulls and not kill me in the gusts sounds really nice. How does the Peak handle really shifty weather? I know my Speed 4 was struggling in these winds. The kite would be at the edge, then the wind would shift, kite would backstall, then suddenly open up with a lot of power.

Feyd - 25-2-2016 at 06:43 PM

The Peak 2 9m hucks nice. Especially in semi-op'd riding. Hucks like other low lift kites, kind words and with different timing it seems. It doesn't Huck easy as more freeride types would be surprisingly good IMO. Not that I'm much of a hucker.

ssayre - 25-2-2016 at 06:43 PM

Actually, the jumping peak vids do take a little more looking, but like I said, usually peak buyers aren't big boosters so you do have to look a little harder.

Have you tried out your speed?

edit: nevermind :D I posted as your were posting

rofer - 25-2-2016 at 06:49 PM

Would a 9m Peak 2 simultaneously have a better low end than my 8m Speed 4 and also be more forgiving when I'm pushing the top end?

I'm starting to think I need another kite.

windrider1 - 25-2-2016 at 07:36 PM

peak and freestyle should not be in the same sentence. :lol: peaks do not handle gusty shifty conditions well despite what others may say. expect heavy vibrating lines, lots of fluttering of the canopy and the occasional half collapse of the kite when depowered before it then up powers up and scares the crap out of ya..

ssayre - 25-2-2016 at 07:42 PM

Yeah I would definitely take the advice from the guy that briefly owned a 4 meter instead of the rest of the world.

windrider1 - 25-2-2016 at 07:47 PM

ideally when winds pick up u should step down to the smallest kite that will give u the power u need and that's your safest bet. speeds are lift monsters and scary when the wind picks up, u need a smaller low lift kite like an apex or ozone access for those type of conditions but ironically u can still jump with them when the wind picks up just not like a speed.

windrider1 - 25-2-2016 at 07:53 PM

there is no rest of the world buddy just u and may 2 or 3 people raving about peaks. most people already figured out its not that great of a kite, infact has lots of issues. .
Quote: Originally posted by ssayre  
Yeah I would definitely take the advice from the guy that briefly owned a 4 meter instead of the rest of the world.

IFlyKites - 25-2-2016 at 07:59 PM

Boosting is definitely possible, have yet to try it on mine. Found a video with someone boosting in fairly light winds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPMKmZDuFrs (Skip to 0:26).

Also, check this one out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kRbZKPPVx4

Obivously not the best for getting air but doable! :)

rofer - 25-2-2016 at 08:08 PM

The 8m Speed 4 was supposed to be my high wind kite, but these gusts were too much. I figure a Peak 2 could be a good kite for the days where I wouldn't want much lift. Ideally it would also work before my 8m Speed 4, but I'm still interested even if it doesn't so long as the bottom end is at least similar.

windrider1 - 25-2-2016 at 08:17 PM

a 9m peak would be equivalent to like an 11m speed, so good low end but top end will be a lot less than an 8m speed.

rofer - 25-2-2016 at 08:26 PM

Not surprised. I was hoping it's greater range meant it could beat my 8m Speed on the top and bottom end. It might be the 6m Peak 2 that I want then.

Windstruck - 25-2-2016 at 08:32 PM

What is it with a peak discussion? No, the Peaks aren't perfect, but what kites are? Please, can we not head down that path AGAIN. I own all four Peak-2s and absolutely love them despite their obvious flaws. I work in the medical field and wth every professional breath juxtapose risk with benefit. Same with kites, you take the good with the bad.

The thing with the Peaks is their lack of spontaneous lift is a really good thing.... If you are a buggy rider. I've been accidentally lofted by all four of my Peaks out of my buggy, at times with so pretty bashed up consequences. I've also purposely boosted myself with skis on my feet.

One of the several things I like about the Peaks is the fact that once you get half way proficient at flying kites on the move you don't need to loft if you don't intend to. It is perfectly possible to leave the ground under control with all four Peak-2s if you are sufficiently powered ( border lined over powered) and you sling the kite back across the wind window. From a seat in the buggy a boost is an OBE and I for one don't want to do it, so Peaks make for great buggy engines IMHO. Tons of DP for safety and peace of mind coupled with plenty of power if y are willing to try and take it. Often I'm not.

ssayre - 25-2-2016 at 08:46 PM

Quote: Originally posted by windrider1  
there is no rest of the world buddy just u and may 2 or 3 people raving about peaks. most people already figured out its not that great of a kite, infact has lots of issues. .
Quote: Originally posted by ssayre  
Yeah I would definitely take the advice from the guy that briefly owned a 4 meter instead of the rest of the world.


Lol :D you got me there. Their sales on the p1 were so poor they decided to make a second version with additional sizes. Make no mistake, I'm not touting this kite as a boosting type kite. It is ONE of the best back country touring kites made and coincidentally that was how it was advertised.

Steve it's ok to continue the peak discussion, we've actually used a couple sizes in their intended environment plus it's good entertainment.

Feyd - 26-2-2016 at 05:37 AM

Okay first, put your money on the opinions of people who actually own Peaks and use them regularly over a long period of time and accept the kite for what it is. We've been using them in out school quiver since the Peak 1. Our students love them, our guiding clients love them and there are a few here in the forum obviously who love them. It is one of our best sellers and not simply because of the price. The kite delivers what it advertises.

Comparing the 9m Peak to the Lotus 8 is pretty broad. Two different sizes and types. A better comparison would be the 6m Peak but...

The 9 Peak will offer better low end and may offer close to the same top end in the right hands but much of a kites perfomance relies on the pilot's abilty. "The rider makes the kite". Getting the perfomance you are looking for is possible but at the cost of flight quality. In winds where the 8m lotus would be fully depower you could very likely ride the 9m Peak. But the Lotus will ride nicely, a bit sluggish but smooth. The Peak will be flapping like mad and the bar feedback would be pretty awful. The 6m Peak on the other hand would be better. Factory wind range is 3.5- 20kts. (Experienced riders can run it to near 28kts without too much discomfort. ). Considerably broader range than the 8m Lotus.

Another difference to note is the gust handling. On the Lotus, more automatic. The kite handles gusts very well and with little input from the pilot. The Peaks, counter to Wind riders OPINION handle gusts amazingly well. It was designed to ride in Alpine conditions with unstable winds and speeds. But again it requires some active gust management from the rider via sheeting in and out as needed to dump the excess power from the gust.

The Peak is not a lazy rider's kite. It's a great kite, but if you want a wing you can just set and forget, the Peak isn't it.


rofer - 26-2-2016 at 05:49 AM

Feyd, that's about what I figured, glad to have someone confirm it. I'm interested in kites that require some active flying because I figure I'll improve faster the more active I have to be in flying my kite.

Guess I'll start watching for a 6m Peak 2 to show up. Sounds like it could cover me on the land when I see 3x gust factor.

volock - 26-2-2016 at 09:41 PM

Quote: Originally posted by rofer  
Feyd, that's about what I figured, glad to have someone confirm it. I'm interested in kites that require some active flying because I figure I'll improve faster the more active I have to be in flying my kite.

Guess I'll start watching for a 6m Peak 2 to show up. Sounds like it could cover me on the land when I see 3x gust factor.


The one downside in gusty/shifty conditions I've found in my experience with the Peak/Peak2 (which isn't a ton of flight time), is large wind shifts (90 degrees), it loses shape and collapses. I'm not going to say this is a design flaw, or a bad thing, but is something of note. At certain snowkite locations in state (and wind directions) we end up getting random gusts that are 90 degrees to prevailing wind and cause a lull after (usually these are from canyons that ended up channeling a gust into a strong burst that lasts for long enough to reach the open where we are (miles away). This can be a pain that isn't experienced with Arcs/LEIs/Closed Cell Foils as they can maintain their shape and ride it out more easily (though you can end up with a snap and jerk in turn).

I wouldn't advise against a Peak, it's a kite that flies like an LEI feel wise, will teach you a lot about bar trim/sheeting and sweet spots, and is extremely rugged. I'm also not saying they don't handle gusts well, just this particular issue (which a few of my local kite spots get) hits the Peak performance wise a lot more than some other choices. Now back to day dreaming of owning all the kites, so we didn't have to choose pro/cons with our $$$

ssayre - 27-2-2016 at 05:43 AM

Yeah volock I have experienced that too. It's extremely rare conditions for me luckily. (and i have plenty of gusty wind)

FrontRangeJeff - 27-2-2016 at 05:44 AM

Before I sold my 12 Peak2 I found I could jump with it without too much effort, but that just like it does most everything compared to other kites in my quiver it was a different animal. Not bad just different. I never got more then a few feet.

Jump, yes I could and When Yeti(Brad) was in town a few weeks ago we switched kites for a while. I was on his Speed3 15 and he my 12 Peak 2. We were both going up wind, both rocketing when we wanted but I could jump anytime my balls descended enough...Brad was also jumping with my Peak but like me when I was on it he found it difficult to get more then a few feet (no not trying to compare lift of a 12 Peak to a 15 Speed!! Just noting that I've seen Brad pull many feet of air on the Speed). This was a day where the wind was certainly up, I shortly switched to my 12 LEI for the lift. Maybe masters of the Peak kite can milk it but in my humble opinion it would never be my first choice to try any tricks with, it was my go to light wind kite at the time.

rofer - 27-2-2016 at 06:57 AM

Yeah, I'm certainly not looking to pick up a Peak 2 as a dedicated freestyle kite. I just wanted to confirm that it can still be fun and let me do more than just go from A to B to A again.

If I manage to get one it's not likely to come out when I'm comfortable riding something like my Speed 4, but hopefully it should let me get out safely on the days where I know better than to take out any of my existing kites.

FrontRangeJeff - 27-2-2016 at 11:12 AM


That was the way I used the Peak, TOTAL session saver on many occasions and often I'd use it because it packed to nothing, was easy and it was still a fun kite. As soon as it got windy enough and frankly gusty enough I liked to switch to an LEI but the peak could have filled the situation most the time fine. I'm sure it would be possible to huck it enough to do some very cool things on. Most of mine were just small little jumps; which was certainly good enough for me. To the people that do nothing but #@%$#! about the Peak...Ok, we all get it-The kite is not everyone's cup of tea sure but to bag them as crap is absurd. I had issues with mine originally but it was easy to solve...after which I had lots of good days on mine and now I hope UtahTami gets to use the heck out of it!

rofer - 27-2-2016 at 11:19 AM

My hope is that the PeaS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s enormous wind range will save sessions where my LEIs are either too heavy to stay up in the lulls or too large to handle the gusts. I also like the idea of having a safer kite for when the conditions would make me uncomfortable with something else.

volock - 27-2-2016 at 03:07 PM

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre  
Yeah volock I have experienced that too. It's extremely rare conditions for me luckily. (and i have plenty of gusty wind)


Yup, not a deal breaker in the slightest, but I felt it worth a mention. I'm not anti-peak and hope it didn't come out that way.

Roger I think for what your saying you want a Peak would be a fantastic addition. Ive debated picking one up for backcountry and throwing it in my pack. Then if the wind gets too crazy I have a crazy tiny packdown kite I can use to get back safe. And they seem to hold their value well.

FrontRangeJeff - 27-2-2016 at 03:51 PM

Hey Volock!
I was referring to windriders' comments-they didn't really seem to provide anything of substance at least in my view. Having owned a Peak for over a year I decided it fit a need more then adequately but for my plans I wanted a light wind LEI instead.

br44 - 27-2-2016 at 07:50 PM

1. As far as I'm concerned, days with strong 3X gusts are No Go. The limited fun is not worth the increased risk.
2. Buying a kite to address some peculiar conditions practically guarantees said conditions will not return anytime soon.
3. My guess is the Peak will not meet your inflated expectations on days as dangerous as the one you described. No kite can do that. Sometimes it's best to not fly.

rofer - 28-2-2016 at 08:48 AM

With the kites I currently have I agree that 3X gusts aren't safe, but I don't see why a Peak couldn't fix this.

That really gusty day was at one of my closest spots which is two hours away. I was out for about half an hour before the wind picked up and I had to pack up and leave for my own safety. Now, if I had something like a 6m Peak I think I could have still been going. Sure, it'd be less fun than a day with steady and smooth wind, but I could have still been kiting which is infinitely better than sitting home and wishing I could be out.

I get that steady wind is always safer, but I don't really see where I'd be at risk of anything more than being dragged a bit. Whenever I'm out on the landboard I have gloves, wrist guards, padded shorts, and a helmet at minimum. Usually if things aren't looking really calm I'll also throw on my knee pads and elbow pads. I make sure I have plenty of room downwind, make sure I'm not flying too close to anyone else, and always watch my speed.

I'd certainly rather be kiting where the conditions are nicer, but I think nowadays with a kite like the Peak it's not unreasonable to be out in these conditions.