Re: 2013 Blade Fat Lady
Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 7:45 pm
I've been riding the Fat Lady V1 and V2 for the last year and half. I originally replaced my 2010 16m Rebel with the Fat lady V1 after trying the Turbine, Dyno 16 & 18, Infinity V1 prototype(all 2011 models). I did not choose the Fat Lady V1 based solely on it's lowend. In fact, the Turbine, Dyno 18, and my Rebel had a touch more lowend than the Fal lady V1. I choose the Fat lady V1 because it was the most fun to fly out of the bunch. The Fat Lady felt more like a 13-14m kite with the lowend of a 16-17m kite. Just for the record, I weigh 200 lbs and ride the Fat lady with high volume surfboards(>34 lit.) in San Diego coastal conditions. For me, I don't bother riding unless it's over 9 knots since you can't really do anything with a surfboard in under 9, even 10 is a challenge with a descent size swell. Also, in light onshore wind, it's mainly upwind wave riding with some hacks and airs as you are riding out. When it jumps to 12-13 knots with more side-shore conditions, down-the-line wave riding is do-able on the Fat Lady. It turns faster than all the big kites I've tried and has good drifting abilties for such a large sail, maybe a combo of the low-aspect ratio of the kite coupled with the actual weight of the kite.
The new Fat Lady has more lowend the the V1. The turning seems a tad bit slower(still faster than your usual big kite) and a little less pivoty. . Also, the v1 had a little fluttering in the turn when you cranked it hard, where the V2 I haven't noticed. The kite also seems a little bigger than the first version and and a touch more of a higher aspect ratio. Hard to tell, but I will lay them on top of each other a snap a pic soon. All in all, I like the V2 better for overall performance. The V2 also looks a bit more durable than the v1 as evidenced in the bumbers on the leading edge and the neoprene covers over the strut clips.
I have been using a 23 inch Slingshot bar with 27m lines, the same bar that comes with the Turbine. Seems to work just fine.
The new Fat Lady has more lowend the the V1. The turning seems a tad bit slower(still faster than your usual big kite) and a little less pivoty. . Also, the v1 had a little fluttering in the turn when you cranked it hard, where the V2 I haven't noticed. The kite also seems a little bigger than the first version and and a touch more of a higher aspect ratio. Hard to tell, but I will lay them on top of each other a snap a pic soon. All in all, I like the V2 better for overall performance. The V2 also looks a bit more durable than the v1 as evidenced in the bumbers on the leading edge and the neoprene covers over the strut clips.
I have been using a 23 inch Slingshot bar with 27m lines, the same bar that comes with the Turbine. Seems to work just fine.