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Re: 2013 Blade Fat Lady

Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 7:45 pm
by TommyDuotone
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.

Re: 2013 Blade Fat Lady

Posted: Sat Apr 27, 2013 1:40 am
by rodeoclown
http://youtu.be/jwbFs45zXEg

-a video from a Fat session early in the week.
Powered performance on tt's or directionals, just go for it!
Makes the most out of poor wind conditions thats for sure.
I have not found the top end of this kite yet either...it rocks! :o

Re: 2013 Blade Fat Lady

Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2013 2:24 pm
by URSS
I've been riding the Fat Lady V1 last year and just got the V2 2013 last week. After 2 rides I'm stoked! Blade has made a great job again.

It' the same DNA as V1 (fast turning, plenty of pop, easy relaunch) but with a bunch of improvements :
- the bar is perfect and comes with line extensions this year
- slightly slower turning speed but accelerates faster
- low end seems to be slightly better (6-8 knots but fun starts at 8-10 knots)
- high end : not tested yet but seems slightly better (good rider can probably manage 20 knots)
- much lower bar preasure than last year
- V2 doesn't seat as deep as V1 in the window, less lateral force, better upwind, same great POP

Here is a funny video (I think), to be taken to the second degree:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=REslsxEZzEs

Tested in Cape Hatteras, April 28th, NE 8-16 knots and April 29th, NE 4-14 knots. Weight : 175 lbs. Board : F-One TX6 134x39cm and NSP surf board

Re: 2013 Blade Fat Lady

Posted: Tue Apr 30, 2013 3:29 pm
by pixelpedro
Just got mine last week, and tested in about as light as I want to go out (for a heavy guy anyways), 12-13kts with my tona and boots, in Ocean choppy stuff, and although not a whole lot of fun, at least I was able to stay upwind and mow the lawn, which beats sitting at home watching youtube videos; but I think once I introduce my SB to the FL, its gona be a match made in heaven for light winds.

Now this past Saturday I took the FL down to Key Largo (flat water) in 16-18kts then picked up a bit I'd say to 20, and holy shit (pardon my language) it felt perfect, I mean, this kite is an elevator monster, and the hangtime is fantastic, very smooth, the first boost, I about crapped my wetsuit, it completely caught me off guard how high I boosted. Relaunch very quick, but then again I was powered up, have to see in lighter conditions.

For such a big kite, it really does turn quick, had a dude ask me about the kite, when I told him was a 17 he couldn't believe it, 2 comments: one how quick it looked like it turned, and how it doesn't look that big in the sky, him and his friend though it was a 14. But I must admit the first time I pumped the kite up, I thought WTF did I do, this thing is ginormous.

Bar pressure is perfect, enough to feel the kite, but not enough to get you tired, I kited with the FL for 10 hrs (we haven't had winds these decent in a while, so I wasn't gona miss any of it) with only a 45 minute rest and my hands were torn from a switch bar a buddy let me borrow to test (55cm), but my arms/elbows were fine.
URSS wrote:After 2 rides I'm stoked! Blade has made a great job again.
As URSS pointed out, I'm sooooo stoked with this kite too! I can see the possibilities of being in the water more, I don't think my wife is gona be too happy though.

Only thing now is a bar; debating on the bar, it's not quite as quick with my wainman carrot bar (L) as it was on the switch 55cm bar (couldn't believe 5 cm's make that much difference), or at least it felt that way, so I'm debating between the blade bar, which I haven't been able to test or feel, I've seen it but not even touched it, or perhaps the mutiny bar, which looks incredible, and the grips is silky smooth. I like the switch bar, but that thing is like sand paper, tears you up quick. Any suggestions?

Re: 2013 Blade Fat Lady

Posted: Wed May 01, 2013 8:09 am
by jetboy
What knot on the rear lines is everyone using. The rear lines felt a little long to me, until the wind filled in. Did anyone have to make another knot on bridal? I just had a kite in 8-11kn flukey offshore and current working against me. No other kite I have ridden could have got me out the back and able to surf a wave. I think the kite has loads of potential but I feel I haven't got the kite tuned perfectly yet.

Re: 2013 Blade Fat Lady

Posted: Wed May 01, 2013 1:00 pm
by URSS
The longer back lines is the best setup (first knot).

With the second knot the FL has a tendency to back stall and you will only gain 1 knot on the low end. I ve been trying this setup in 5-7 knots. I didn't try this setup above 7 knots because I have enough power with the first knot. On the first knot the FL is impossible to back stall.

It was the same thing with V1.

Re: 2013 Blade Fat Lady

Posted: Wed May 01, 2013 3:17 pm
by kitesurfwarehouse
Please stop bigging up this kite.. Our shop keeps selling out so the extra one I keep adding to the Blade order for myself keeps getting sold to customers.... I blame the stoked riders telling everyone about it..

Don't buy one.. Don't believe all the reviews and riders... Its not true.. Its not actually that good..

And once I have actually secured a fat lady for myself.. You may then continue with being totally stoked..

Re: 2013 Blade Fat Lady

Posted: Wed May 01, 2013 3:25 pm
by pixelpedro
Yeah! What he ↑ said. Fat Lady rocks ... I mean ... it sucks! :lol:

Re: 2013 Blade Fat Lady

Posted: Thu May 02, 2013 2:47 am
by foxzone
What is a top end on V2 compare with V1? I have V1 and I (205lb) can hold 25mph. So range is great and needed on gusty lakes. I would like to have less bar pressure that you guys say is with V2. But I afraid that top end and overall wind range is smaller. That is my experience with kites with low bar pressure like LF Envy. Less bar pressure = smaller usable range.

Re: 2013 Blade Fat Lady

Posted: Thu May 02, 2013 2:35 pm
by URSS
V2 wind range is better than V1, no doubt about that. Both low and high end have been slightly improved.

The Fat Lady top end is much better than a lot of light wind kite I've been riding. This is essential in my aera (Montreal) where light wind sessions can start at 8 knots and ends at 20 knots.