Postby gobigkahuna » Sat Jun 14, 2008 4:13 pm
It depends on what you're flying now and what you're used to. I started with C kites, then Peter Lynns, then last summer I bought a Speed 2 19, then a North Rhino 06 20m, and finally an 07 Best Waroo 20m. I read all the same reports and reviews that everyone else here probably read and spent the "big bucks" for the S2-19, but to be honest was extremely disappointed and sold it. Maybe it's because of my background with inflatos and Peter Lynns that "I just don't get" the whole Flysurfer thing, or maybe it's because Flysurfers just plain suck in gusty, light winds. All I can say is I had a hard time keeping the thing in the air much less getting enough power from it to go on the water. There will be others here who will swear to the contrary, I'm just saying that that wasn't my experience.
I then bought a Rhino 06 20m and although it flew OK, it was also a major disappointment. Really poor range, poor turning and a mis-designed safety system (one bar size for all kite sizes was a big mistake by North IMHO). A couple months later I got an 07 Waroo 20m on sale for $550 and it is the best 20m I've ever flown. I weigh 245-250 and am able to fly it in winds I would never have thought possible. 10-13 mph is going to be tough, but with a big, flat board and good flying skills it will be possible. I fly mine in 15 mph all the time, no problems, staying upwind and having fun.
I've had a brief go on a Cab Contra 14 (not the 17 and not the Contra 3) and wasn't impressed. I'm just not a fan of bars with pulleys on it. But that's just me, I know lots of other guys swear by them.