Power Kite Forum - Rugged expedition snowkite

vnomad

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Registered: 7-2-2011
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posted on 11-2-2011 at 04:22 PM

Rugged expedition snowkite

Greetings, new here ;-)

We have no trees in arctic Norway, but plenty wind. I have practiced a bit with HQ trainer kites (Rush III 250, and 350 pro) and getting ready to head out on the tundra with a pulk on telemark skis to drill down through the ice to get the trouts :smilegrin:

The landscape is not too hilly, so I thought a moderately sized depower outfit (maybe 6 to 8 meters?) would do the trick- especially for someone still green. In fact, with the winds we get here I think the HQ 350 would be enough half the time.

These HQ trainers have been a lot of fun, but I feel they tend to pop cells too easily, since the venting holes in the profiles are not reinforced, causing them to shred on impact. The idea of being stranded on a remote lake with a busted wing is not very inspiring, so i thought I'd ask here for suggestions for a kite that will take a few dives but still stay in one piece.

Anyone?

By the way, the infamous VAKE, The world's longest, hardest, most extreme snowkite challenge takes place here in these parts:
http://vimeo.com/18082074

But me, I just want to kite out there to fish those tasty fat trouts.

Bladerunner

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Registered: 17-10-2006
Location: Vancouver
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posted on 11-2-2011 at 05:42 PM

Welcome!

Flysurfers are pretty hard to damage ?

Twin skin arcs are simple and easy to repare on the spot with some tape usually? With auto zenith they don't crash that often .

Ozone is always a good option . Beware the original Access is made just a bit lighter than the Frenzy or Manta so isn't as strong.

Only way to be SURE you won't get stuck is to pack a spare kite.

Your 350 can probably handle the real high winds so a 10m may be better than an 8 for you ? That would be about 13 - 16m in Twin skin.

Kites: 2.5m Profoil , Quadrifoil XL kitesurfer, NPW 5 Danger.
Flexifoil: 1.7m Sting, 4.9m Blade 3, 9m Blade 2.
Flysurfer : 19m Speed 2 SA, 7m Pulse
Peter Lynn :18m Phantom, 15m Synergy, 10m Synergy, 1200 Farc, 460 Sarc, 130 Tarc, 5m Peel, 4.2m , 6.4, 8.5 C-Quads, 3.5 LS2 single skin.

Rides: Flexi / P.L. Frankin'Buggy , Shaped + straight skiis, sand skis, Coyote blades. Core 95 ATB. RKB R2 ATB .

Ken (K2)

kiteetik

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Mood: apogee reached

posted on 11-2-2011 at 06:04 PM

cant go wrong with an arc......

vnomad

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Registered: 7-2-2011
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posted on 12-2-2011 at 10:31 AM

Thanks for the feedback!

Yes, it might be time for a 10m Frenzy then- they seem to get nods all around. I'll be watching the ads here on the forum :wink2:

Looking at the shredded guts in the Rush 250's profile cells, it is hard to imagine how that could be fixed with tape at all. I imagine it would have to be taken apart at the skin seam for the profiles to be resown- most likely costing close to the price of a new kite?

BTW- is there any book or other reference for DIY powerkite repair/maintenance? We are literally at the end of the world here where I live, with shipping slow and expensive.