Just wanted to post some more impressions on the Speed 3 12m.

Had a great session about a week ago.

We had been getting loads of rain, but there was a clearing after a cold front came through, just infront of the next front.

The ocean conditions were extrordinary.
Big monster chop and big surf.
While the chop was a real rodeo it was big enough for it to be "motocross" type of fun.
The surf was big with the occasional double overhead, but regular head high to just above.
Best of all the surf was comming in from SSE so it was slightly against the wind.

The wind was on the light side, but with a favorable current in the whitewater... however as soon as you got out of the whitewater and into the big surf you would lose that favorable current.

Another guy ... an advanced rider...about 35 lbs lighter than me was out on a 9m bow/sle kite, but could not get past the surf. I had no problem.

I the surf the Speed 3 12m was so user friendly it was rediculous.
At one point I got tumbles very severely by a pretty big wave and despite the fact that the lines went slack enough for the chicken loop line to get wrapped around the bar tha kite did not fall out of the sky. When I saw what had happened I depowered the kite all th way with the adjustment strap and the depower was enough for me to pull in on the front lines with one finger and free up the bar.

In the waves the Speed 3 is a different ride to the psycho 4.
Down the line I prefer the faster turning speed of the psycho, but the ease of use of the Speed 3 was just a dream in these nutty conditions. Where the Speed 3 12m was amazing in the surf was when riding the wav upwind. With the Psycho it would tend to pull you off the wave a bit the Speed just comes along for the ride and you can practically forget it's there.

Similar down the line. Even fast down the line the kite drifts very nicely. More of a park and drift kite down the line than a kite to chase throwing it from side to side.

The Kite has great jumping and landing preformance.
The water surface was so much fun I was not doing classic send the kite and boost jumps, but was finding my self flying through the air just by charging over the big waves. It was so easy to control my landing and keep horizontal speed while landing controlled on the monster chop.

The icing on the cake of the session was when I was about 1/2 of a mile out I saw a huge Dophin migration. Literally hundreds of samllish Dolphins moving up the coast with groups of 20 at a time jumping out of the water. Priceless. I spoke to a lifeguard and they told me they had watched them for hours that day with binoculars from their main post.

Fred

What were the wind speeds out there? Thanks.

Thanks for the post!

I was wondering...


I ahve a 15m speed 3 regular now and I want a kite for higher wind, but I want it to turn fast.

Im thinking of the psycho iv 12, speed3 12, or pulse 2 12m.

What one is the fasted turning and most powerful. I want to do wake, freeride, big air, and also unhooked?

What one is the msot stable also?

What do you guys think?

Good review Fred.... sounds like a good time...
On turning the Speed 12m is much faster than the SP2 12m but not as fast as a Psycho 4 12m....

Turning the 12m pretty fast on some loops here to see what it's like...
Couldn't hold the camera in the waves, but it sure was fun...
Like Video review...
Some good fun with it....

My Customers are having a ton of fun on their Speed 3's. It's a good thing to see. Lots of Smiles!

First of all take the Speed 3 12m off your list. Too close to the Speed 3 15m that you already have.
Also the Speed 3 12m does turn pretty fast, but doesn't do the tight pivot that the Psycho 4 does.

The Psycho 4 12m or Pulse 2 12m would be the best fit power/size wise.

The Psycho 4 12m will be the fastest turning of the two especially when depowered.

The Pulse 2 12m will be easier to fly and have the easiest relaunch... I mean really really easy.

The low end on the Psycho and the low end upwind on the Psycho takes a bit of mastering, but once you get the hang of it it's great.

I would say that you should go with the Psycho if you are prepared to put in some extra effort to
gain the benefits of the kite.

Go with the Pulse 2 if you want an easier kite to use, but not quite the adrenalin of the psycho.

Cheers

Fred

Make sure you go over all the details...before buying your kite....
Even between these 3 Flysurfer kites, they are very different from each other and not everything
is listed on forums... Pros and Cons...

hey Fred
head high to double over head? I am so jealous!! sounds like a epic session. We are having no wind and no waves here on the EC. Whats your water temp out there?

PBK nice Video man. The warm water looks so nice. I am getting ready for some snow kiting but the warm tropics is on my mind. I gotta get some waves!!! you guys keep having a great time!!!! later Ted B

Interesting that you dont recommend having a S3 12 and 15. I use the 15m (deluxe) as my light wind kite, and up to 20mph kite. Works great in that wind range. I was considering picking up a S3 12m (regular) for winds up to 30mph... You think their wind ranges are too close? Its not something I can afford right at the moment, but something I've been considering... Your thoughts?

Hey RAG
is your speed 15 deluxe a 2 or 3
If it is a 2 you will benefit from the speed 3 12m for sure.

I have a 15m S3 Deluxe.