i've been flying power kites for 4 years now and have just decided to combine two of my favorite sports together. i've been snowboarding for 5 years now and am looking for the perfect kite that suits me. i'm 140 lbs. and am wondering which brand and size kite i should get. i'm prepared to go for a ride and willing to go alittle over the recommended size.

thanks for all the help

Well, I'd say your best bet is either a flysurfer or Peter Lynn. The flysurfer speed3 series is stellar and so are the Peter Lynn chargers, but being the latest series they're prone to being more expensive. What kind of kites do you have experience with?? Any depowerable kites or just handles?

InvertedForce is right, those are great choices. Great, pricey choices.

Guess it depends a lot on your application, wallet, and skill level. The "perfect" kite is a hard thing to quantify.

If you don't have a need for top of the line brand new there's no lack of good kites on the used market. This is a great place to be looking. It's a little incestouous really with they way everyone here seems to be buying from each other all the time. But everyone can vouch for someone or another so you know you're not likely to get screwed.

Handles and powerbar. No depower though. I started with the 2.5 snapshot but am now flying a 5. All prism kites cuz I get them when I'm down in NC

For example last year I bought a 60cm zero7 bar from Feyd and got a killer deal on it, everything was in excellent condition and he even threw in a free Peter Lynn beanie!

Stick around here and you'll be taken care of...

Should I stick with the 5m that I have now? Or will that be crawling me around the field?

More than likely you'll want to move to depower as it allows you to fly in a bigger wind range. Also, if you plan on jumping at all, you'll get a lot more float from a depower kite, as they are generally more forgiving, especially the arcs. If your average windspeed is 12-20mph I'd suggest looking for a 12-15m depower.

Damn. That's big bucks. Where should I look for a good used kite?

You're already in the right place to find a good used kite! :bigok:

You'll haul ass if it's nukin on a 5m.

Inverted actually bought the beanie off me and I burned him so bad on the price I felt bad and threw in a bar.

5m is a good high wind rig and definately worth having around. If you're looking for foils a nice 7-8m depow is always (IMO) a good place to start then a 9-12m for lighter wind days.

For Peter Lynns a 12 or 13m is a really handy midrange size. Then 15 or16m for lighter wind days or a 19m. They have a lot of depow so there is some overlap and if you're a stout lad the 19m PLs are really nice. Not So much a light wind rig as much as a fat kids kite. I love when riding the 19's because its like the difference between a 4 banger and a V8. Lots of power if you need it.

Bear in mind that PL sizes are not like Flysurfers or other foils. Ex an 10m PL Venom is going to pull like a 7m foil. That's a rough rule of thumb. My 15m Charger is a projected 95m. The 19m PL are around a 12m depending on the model. Some non PL riders don't realize this and get on a 10m Venom and expect it to pull like a 10m foil.

I got away with a combination of 3 , 4.5 and 7m fixed bridle kites for my 1st year of snowkiting but it proved to me why almost everybody else out there was on depower. Typically the winds varie over the lake / location + are gusty. What was working one minute was a bit too much or 2 little the next.

The bad news is that NO single kite will cover all conditions. I good, cheap setup ( for me ) is a big fast open cell fixed bridle for very low winds. A 15m arc for average winds and a 2.5 low lift FB for very high winds.

GOOD news is that because you don't express a need to go on water you can buy an open cell depower kite as your average wind kite reducing costs that much more . My estimates. Large FB $200, 10 - 13m depower $400 ( used arc prices are similar ) , 2.5 ish FB $150


Be warned , we are a bit Flysurfer / Peter Lynn bias here but willgive you an honest review of any kite you inquire about.

check your U2U