Kite Trade Show Report (Stunt Kites & Buggies)
HQBFK
Disclaimer: I fly stunt kites, I sell stunt kites... so if you detect a
stunt kite bias in this report, you have been warned. This was put
together very quickly so it will appear more like notes on a notepad
rather than a magazine article.
The annual Kite Trade Association trade show ended on a wet note Saturday
January 14 in Orlando Fl.
The rain on Saturday canceled a scheduled demo session so we were not
unable to get a chance to try out much of the new stuff. I will try to
recap as much of the new products as possible.
What's Up, a kite distributor showed off several new stunt kites. The
Ultra has a new smaller 3/4 version
UII (U 2); substantially lower cost and a bit faster - It comes bridle for
both dual and quad line flying. Also
new and smaller is the Mosquito, a 3/4 version of the Tandem .(it has a
lot of detail for a small 5-6
wingspan kite - batons, dual wings, and a line that stretches across the
bottom of the leading edge [makes
the kite easier to relaunch There was another kite in the What's Up booth
called the Aladdin sp?, shaped like a sword, it is an asymmetrical quad
line kite. A bit expensive (expected retail over $400). We got a chance
to fly it in the parking lot. - It is definitely not a beginner's kite.
It took a while to tune it and while it looks very spectacular in the sky,
it takes a lot of work to keep it up there.
Next to the What's Up booth was Skynasaur. If you have not heard, Quad
Trac (quad line foil) is now
owned and produced by Skynasaur. The Tracer will have a new XXL model
framed with 1.5 Advantage
graphite spars. They are still working on the kite - expect to see it by
February.
Skyshark is introducing a new tapered wrapped graphite spar (Response).
The spar itself is beautiful. It
starts out as a traditional wrapped graphite spar, it is sanded smooth,
and a clear coat (and possibly color
coat) is added. It has a smooth glossy finish to it. Another neat
feature is that Skyshark will also make
custom fittings for these spars so there is no need to search for vinyl
etc. to make these work. Available in
a variety of sizes and flex, these look like the hot spar for '95. It
also looks like the regular straight
Skyshark line up has been expanded to include heavier and stronger spars.
On the market is 2p, - 7p and a
"Berkeley". very high wind spar.
News in the Spectra line dept. Spiderline is no longer available.
Safariland (A very, very, large company)
bought out the rights to Spiderline. Safariland has been marketing a
spectra line called Spiderwire to the
fishing industry. What does this mean to the consumer? Plan on seeing
another brand (perhaps a no-name
plain wrap) of line on the market soon. It will be a lot less expensive
and the quality will be just as good if not better (Safariland is the
largest manufacturer of spectra line products in the world)
Shanti had a big line up of new products. Opus 8 - scaled down version of
the original 10' Magnum Opus.
Foxtrot - A carbon framed, Icarex 8' sail for around $80. Allegro - a new
high performance kite designed
by Chicago Fire with laminated Icarex sail priced around $140. Also new
was lower prices on many of
there Spectra line products.
Sky Delight expands on the Luna line up with an ultralight Luna - slightly
less weight that the standard
model. A big hit was his quadline Beautiful Evil - sells for $595 if you
can get a hold of one. He was sold
out by the first day. I got a chance to fly it in the parking lot and
true to Joel Scholz form, his kites not
only look great but they will match just about anything else in
performance.
On the subject of quad line, the Rev gang is introducing a six foot delta
complete with video tape (great for
beginners) - Plan on seeing the kite in March at a suggested retail price
of $90. The kites is available in
two color patterns and the stock frame is Advantage wrapped graphite.
More quad news from Synergy Deca. They now have 8 model. Model 1 is a
low cost entry level full size
kite. Framed with pultrude graphite and complete with lines and a wooden
handles - expect a street price
under $200. At the high end is a competition 31 panel model. Also new is
the super responsive small
Minergy in both standard and ultralight and a very trick quad handle
system made from carbon fibers spar
that have built in stops for fast and easy adjustments. Synergy has also
switched from Advantage to Avia's
new Excel straight wrapped graphite spars on several of their kites.
More quad news - Spectra Sports has a new quad line kite. A new company
Merick sp? has introduced a
quad line called the Symphony (shaped like a bow tie and framed with
Skyshark) The company claims that
the symmetrical design allows for more constant speed in both up and down
directions.
A new quad Peel (probably name Reefer) with Icarex sail and Spectra bridle
will be on sale around March.
Initially available in 3.75m and 5m sizes, It will feature new graphics
and multiple colors. The 3.75m is a
big kite (over 12' long) and will retail around $500-700. The standard
two line Peels will be available in
ultralight form with Icarex and Spectra.
Skytigers from Cobra will also be available with Icarex in Spectra bridles
in their their new HA (high
aspect) 40 and 60 form. After flying the 40, there is no question in my
mind that Icarex and Spectra bridles
is the hot setup for low wind / high power foils.
The much talked about Stranger was also on display from Cobra. I got a
chance to take home the Icarex
version framed with Skyshark. It comes packaged with a video and is also
available in a regular Nylon
version. I flew the Icarex model this weekend and was very impressed; it
is smooth, silent, and refined. I
will definitely rate this as one of the top kites for '95 (thumbs up).
My other nomination will for top kite would be Aerie Kiteworks new Air
F/X. The kite employs a "3-D"
sail design technique. While everyone is adding more stand-offs or
putting fly screen on their kites, Aerie
employed America's Cup sail design technology on his kite. The center
panels are carefully designed and
sculpted to develop a sail that really enhance the kite's performance.
This technique was also seen on
Guildworks competition Synergy Deca which sports 31 panels. Let's see
more innovation in this industry
rather than "me too" copy cats!
Also in the interesting technology department is a high wind Reactor from
Spectra Sports. They utilize
Velcro panels to open and close vents. A set of four panels are attached
with Velcro. Remove them for
high winds and pasted them back on when the winds are light.
The Speed Limit from Aerodrone sp? takes the variable venting system a bit
further with an automatic self
adjusting vent panel. It is held together with silicone tubing that acts
like rubber bands. As the winds
increase, the bands are stretched and the panel open up exposing more
vents and thus reducing the wind
resistance on the kite, as winds decrease the panels close creating more
sail area. The kite is on the heavy
side with all this hardware but it does exhibit some of the unusual and
functional ideals.
Buggy Neews - Peter Lynn has as a folding buggy that compress into a small
compact package - great for
putting the buggy into your trunk or taking it onto an airplane. They
also showed off a picture of the tandem wheel buggy with four wheels on
the rear (looks like a cross between a semi-truck and a tricycle) Look
for lower prices on the basic buggy (Expect street prices to drop $50)
The Flexifoil buggy features new changes - the latest version has a
different rear axle and has quick release connectors. MLD will be making
buggy bags and I expect them to be of very high quality and reasonably
priced. Wind Wizard Dan Rubesh sp? showed off a set of buggies wheels
with go cart wheels and high speed bearings - look for some major
innovation in buggy components in '95. Noticeably absent was the kite
weenie Steve Shapson - so no news on his buggy or the Force 10 foils.
Quick notes on new products:
8' Ultralight flexi with Icarex Sail - Ultralight flexi moves up to the 8'
model
Micron from Prism - One of several new kites framed with very thin
stand-off type spars.
Zilla from Condor / It's a Breeze - Return of the loud kites
Ultralight Sizzle from TOTL with 1/2 Icarex & Skyshark
Indoor kites: With super thin carbon spars and light weight sail
materials, several companies showed off a
variety super super ultralight indoor kites.
Skyburner has a 8' kite at about $250 retail < $200 street.
Buena Vista showed off a small UL by flying it in the lobby
Prism had an indoor micron which looked like it had a mylar sail
Guildworks had a video showing some neat indoor flying with the Synergy
series
Overheard in passing conversation but not physically at the show:
MEFM Maxi - 10' from Big Easy
Wolfe Designs, Big Brother, Little Sister et all will be distributed by
Moran Precision - look for some of
these hot but expensive designs at more shops in the future.
There is probably a lot more stuff that I failed to catch but this should
take up enough bandwidth for now.
Disclaimer #2: I own & operate BFK (stunt kites etc. by mail order). I
have purchased most of the kites
mentioned above and will be flying and photographing them for our catalog
over the next few weeks
before they are sold at or (in)famous "garage sale". If you are in the
Southern Calif. area and are interested
in flying one of the largest (if not the largest) collection of new stunt
kites, give me a call.
Hoy Quan hq...@aol.com
c/o BFK
(818) 912-1272 FAX (818) 912-2585
"You can never have too many toys."
john
Thank you for the wonderful report on the KTA.
Was the Rev gang delta a 2 or 4 liner?
Over-the-Rainbow,
John Mitchell
Munich, Germany
HQBFK
>Was the Rev gang delta a 2 or 4 liner?
Unfortunately it only had 2 lines....
Patent problems perhaps...?
Bruno.B...@icare.fdn.org
Nice job, we can have info about KTA trade show.
As soon as you finish the printing of your catalog, please send me a copy.
Best regards
---------------------------
Bruno Brottier
37 rue Chaptal
92300 LEVALLOIS PERRET - FRANCE
E-mail: Bruno.B...@icare.fdn.org -- [NeXTmail]
---------------------------
Steve Irby
going to be looking for them.
Steve Irby
Renton, Washington
(206)930-8350
stev...@aol.com
stev...@delphi.com