3/22 Ft Walton Beach/Destin, GK/LF kites, LW/CF board
Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2009 11:37 pmTested out some of the new GK kites and lightwave light-wind boards today.
Lightwave Wing in a 145(i thinks?) and 161 were awesome. the 145 in super light wind was SICK, super playful and really carvy. lot of pop on that board, had an odd balance point at first but after finding the sweet spot on the board its a blast. the 161 is a light wind machine, gets on plane very easily even when underpowered. not too impressed with the boards performance in wind chop early in the AM, but i was not riding well at all, so part of it may have been me.
The GK kites
V sonic- flew in a 17- upwind machine, everyone who flew it noticed if flew very forward in the wind window, and frequently overflew and tumbled out of the sky. the owner of the local XL kites store(very very good rider) had an issue and nearly took someone out. if it was a bit steadier wind the kite probably would have performed awesome.
GK Trix 15M- this kite- flew way underpowered, wind was dying when i tried to ride it- was a BLAST. silky smooth, great handling, very solid, stable feel in the air. perfect bar pressure- the GK bar and safety set ups are awesome, the safety for the leash is run through the chicken loop so you can be attatched and still loop the kite without tangling the leash in the lines.
also flew a 14m 2008 liquid force Havoc and an 08 12m liquid force session with a crazyflyl cruiser in a 145cm. the havoc was a virgin kite and was not dialed in, even when we started trimming it in i did not like it. super unstable, very punchy, plenty of power for the kite but it just did not fly well. the session was an awesome kite, far more stable and more consistent, with plenty of punch availible even in the smaller size in the early morning.
good day of flying all told
Lightwave Wing in a 145(i thinks?) and 161 were awesome. the 145 in super light wind was SICK, super playful and really carvy. lot of pop on that board, had an odd balance point at first but after finding the sweet spot on the board its a blast. the 161 is a light wind machine, gets on plane very easily even when underpowered. not too impressed with the boards performance in wind chop early in the AM, but i was not riding well at all, so part of it may have been me.
The GK kites
V sonic- flew in a 17- upwind machine, everyone who flew it noticed if flew very forward in the wind window, and frequently overflew and tumbled out of the sky. the owner of the local XL kites store(very very good rider) had an issue and nearly took someone out. if it was a bit steadier wind the kite probably would have performed awesome.
GK Trix 15M- this kite- flew way underpowered, wind was dying when i tried to ride it- was a BLAST. silky smooth, great handling, very solid, stable feel in the air. perfect bar pressure- the GK bar and safety set ups are awesome, the safety for the leash is run through the chicken loop so you can be attatched and still loop the kite without tangling the leash in the lines.
also flew a 14m 2008 liquid force Havoc and an 08 12m liquid force session with a crazyflyl cruiser in a 145cm. the havoc was a virgin kite and was not dialed in, even when we started trimming it in i did not like it. super unstable, very punchy, plenty of power for the kite but it just did not fly well. the session was an awesome kite, far more stable and more consistent, with plenty of punch availible even in the smaller size in the early morning.
good day of flying all told