HQ Montana 7 versus HQ Matrixx

One frequent comment I hear on forums is that the HQ Matrixx is a closed cell version of the Montana VII.
This idea is completely erroneous for several reasons.

The Matrixx is a closed cell foil kite and behaves differently. The Montana 7 is an open cell foil kite, so it launches more quickly than the Matrixx, but it has a less rigid structure. If you want a foil kite only for kite landboarding, kite buggying, or snowkiting, use the HQ Montana 7.

The HQ Matrixx is a very high aspect ratio kite. The only other kite that has a similar high aspect ratio is the Flysurfer Speed 3. The aspect ratio of the HQ Matrixx is 5.0, which means that it is five times as long as it is high. The Speed 3 is even higher aspect ratio. High aspect ratio kites have great upwind capability, and you can boost to the moon in them. They do not turn as fast. The Matrixx is faster turning than the Speed 3 because it has a lower aspect ratio. The Speed 3 has a higher aspect ratio, so it has a little better low end.

The HQ Montana 7 has a high aspect ratio between 4 and 5, but it is not as high aspect ratio as the Matrixx. Therefore, it turns faster than the Matrixx (but the Matrixx turns very fast for its size). The Montana 7 is almost as long as the Matrixx, but it is a little higher in the center. If you want a medium aspect ratio kite, you should get the Apex III or the Neo III. Both the Montana and the Matrixx have a higher aspect ratio.

The Matrixx has a lot of power, and I use it to head upwind and especially in thermal winds. It moves very fast in the smaller sizes, and in the larger size at 15 square meters, it is more of a park and ride kite, but you can do back rolls and big jumps with ease. This is not a kite that you have to sine wave when you are riding. Higher aspect kites are also like race kites. If speed is your thing, then get the Matrixx. If you want a lower aspect kite that is closed cell, get the Neo III.

There are disadvantages with open cell kites and with closed cell kites, as well as advantages. Closed cell kites keep their shape during gusts, while an open cell kite can collapse in very gusty wind (closed cell kites have the advantage here). Open cell kites launch quicker than closed cell kites in very light winds (advantage: open cell kites). Closed cell kites can be used on the water and all terrains (advantage: closed kites). Open cell kites can be packed up really quickly (advantage: open cell kites). Open cell and closed cell kites like the HQ Montana 7 and the Matrixx perform very well under most conditions. If you are looking for a dedicated snowkite or landboarding kite, then I would go with the Montana 7. If you are looking for a crossover kite that you can also use on the water, get the Matrixx.

Both kites are terrific and have diminished bridle lines, which make them have less drag. Also, the 14 meter Montana 7 has a lot of depower--just like the Matrixx 15 meter. I would say that the 14 meter Montana 7 and the HQ Matrixx have similar low end.

Both of the kites differ in terms of the bar. The Montana 7 is more simplified and does not have an integrated fifth line. If you are in gusty situations, you can pull the top hat release, but the kite might not fully collapse. You should simply pull one brake line in on the side about 3 feet, and you should have no problems landing the kite, even in the gustiest of conditions. There are advantages and disadvantages concerning the absence of a fifth line. When you don't have a fifth line, the kite is much easier to set up. However, for absolute beginners, the Matrixx would be safer because of the complete depower the fifth line adds to the kite. Both kites also have water repellent fabric, which makes them great in wetter conditions.
If you have gusty conditions, you might want to consider the Matrixx because closed cell kites tend to keep their shape in gusts. However, open cell kites have their advantages as well because they can pack up very quickly.
It takes only a couple minutes to inflate the Matrixx, so it is not too much of a hassle to self-inflate. The kite self-inflates better when it goes directly to the zenith.

See both of them at www.virginiapowerkites.com

The Montana 7 is pictured at the top, and the HQ Matrixx 12 meter is at the bottom. You can see that the Matrixx is even higher aspect than the Montana 7, but both are higher aspect ratio kites.

Montana 7, Neo III

Pictured above: Neo 3 Slightly higher aspect ratio (longer) than the Neo II, with lighter bridling
The new Neo III is out, and it is the lower aspect brother of the HQ Matrixx. We've discussed how the HQ Matrixx is an upwind machine that moves quickly for a high aspect ratio kite. As you can see here, the new Neo III retains its medium aspect ratio, but it has much lighter bridling, which translates into decreased drag. Drag causes you to drift downwind while you are riding and slows down the kite as it turns. By decreasing drag, the turning speed of the kite has been enhanced dramatically.

Photo on left: Neo II It might be difficult to tell here, but you can see that the Neo 2 has a lower aspect ratio than the Neo 3. Lower aspect ratio kites have excellent turning speed, but they have reduced power per square meter and do not have great upwind capability (that was one of my gripes with the Neo II because I often kitesurf in a location where upwind riding is critical). P

You can also see that the bridling looks much heavier with the Neo 2 than with the Neo 3.

So, this is a reason to try out the new Neo III. You will enjoy its performance more than ever.

Kite Buggy Landboard Jam

Here is a new video from Virginia Power Kites: kite buggy and kite landboard jam. Kite buggy/kite landboard jam
I made the video with the Go Pro video camera. There are a couple kite loops with the kite landboard and some laid back kite buggying along with instrumental music. I hope you enjoy the video!
We have some great new additions to the foil kites in our store, including the HQ Montana 7 14 meter open cell foil kite and the Ozone Frenzy Ultralite.
We also have a great lineup of travel bags, Cabrinha kites, Ozone kites, all the HQ kites, and kites by RRD and CrazyFly.
In the next post, I will list some of the new items that are available in our online shop at Virginia Power Kites

Kite Buggying During the Off Season

Kite buggying at an undisclosed location with the HQ Matrixx 9 meter and a Flexifoil kite buggy. Enjoy the video! The wind was gusty and strong, so the depowerable kites worked better in such inconsistent winds. Look forward to future videos and a post about kite buggying with inflatable kites. You might be surprised that inflatable kites also work well with the kite buggy.

We are also busy preparing for the upcoming summer season. There are already people asking for kiteboarding lessons, and it is only January. We offer very affordable prices on kiteboarding lessons, but we give 100%, and you will receive instruction from a PASA certified instructor.

You also have the opportunity to ride in flat water in the Hampton Roads area.

Kite buggying is a terrific activity to do in the off season, especially since it has been so warm this winter.

http://youtu.be/u2pcOjEVAW4

Inflatable SUP Boards

At Virginia Power Kites, we sell inflatable SUP boards as well as standard SUP boards. Some might think that inflatable SUP boards are inferior to traditional SUPs, but the latest inflatable SUP boards have become much more impressive than in the past. They are stable, fast, and efficient on the water. The C4 10'6" iSUP is one of those boards and is available at www.virginiapowerkites.com. We highly recommend this board if you want to get out on the water, but you do not want to lug around a heavy board. These boards are excellent for travel and can be pumped up in minutes. Here is a review of the iSUP: Based on our most popular River SUP board, the C-MAC ATB 10-6, the 10-6 ATB iSUP inflatable stand-up board is our largest inflatable. C-MAC stands for Charlie MacArthur, our river sup expert, and ATB stands for All-Terrain-Board. Joe asks: "Can you provide any enlightenment on how the C4 ATB iSup will handle? I'd like to get an inflatable SUP but folks I've talked to are not too keen on inflatables. I'd like something for traveling and to put on a bike track so I can ridemy bike down to the nearest river. Is there are noticeable difference in efficiency/stability?" C-Macs reply: "The ATB iSUP is the best inflatable I have used yet. It has the highest thread count (deck to hull connection points) of any of the inflatables, meaning it is 25% stiffer than the old Ulis and the new Surftech. The other key feature is it is also very light for an inflatable and has much more progressive rocker than ANY of the other available inflatables. This well thought out rocker works with the flex to keep water running under the board for better forward acceleration and surfing characteristics. It is THE choice for ease of travel. Obviously nothing is better than a composite board for performance, but you never have to worry about rocks or busting a fin. It is every bit as stable as a hard as well, just a different feel. Hope this helps! Aloha, It comes complete with unbreakable thruster fins, deck pad, pump and travel bag.

ATB iSUP is the best inflatable I have used yet. It has the highest thread count (deck to hull connection points) of any of the inflatables, meaning it is 25% stiffer than the old Ulis and the new Surftech. The other key feature is it is also very light for an inflatable and has much more progressive rocker than ANY of the other available inflatables. This well thought out rocker works with the flex to keep water running under the board for better forward acceleration and surfing characteristics. It is THE choice for ease of travel. Obviously nothing is better than a composite board for performance, but you never have to worry about rocks or busting a fin. It is every bit as stable as a hard as well, just a different feel. Hope this helps! Aloha, It comes complete with unbreakable thruster fins, deck pad, pump and travel bag.

New Jimmy Lewis SUP boards

The Jimmy Lewis Sabre race SUP is pictured above.

For 2012, the Jimmy Lewis lineup has changed. Now, you can get a Sabre 14 if you want to move really fast through the water. Displacement stand up paddleboards are much faster than planing (surfboard style) SUP paddleboards. 27" is a very narrow board, so this board is for advanced riders. 14 feet is very long for a SUP board, but there are even longer SUP boards. If you are interested in winning a flat water competition, then the Sabre is for you. In rough or choppy water, the Sabre will be more difficult to handle, and planing boards should be used then. If you are preparing for a flat water SUP race, the Sabre will get you to the front of the pack!

The new 14' x 27" SABRE is the fastest SUP in Jimmy's line. The displacement hull and pin-tail prioritize speed in flat water for the advanced rider. Includes 8" swept Tracker Weed Fin.

Here is the link to the Sabre: http://www.virginiapowerkites.com/Boards-Kiteboards-Kite-landboards-surfboards-and-SUP-Boards/Stand-Up-Paddle-Boards/Jimmy-Lewis-14-Sabre-Race-SUP-p567.html

We also sell other race SUP boards. The JP Race SUP comes in 25" widths and 28" widths (for flat water and for ocean with more stability). So, you can even get a narrower board.

The JP SUP is available in a 12'6" or 14' size depending on the race category you want to enter.

MADE TO WIN

The 12'6" and 14'0" Race are pure racing machines with only one thing in mind: winning!While the 25" wide versions are made for flatwater racing, the 28" wide boards can be used for flat water and ocean racing. They are designed for maximum speed and advanced riders. The full-on displacement hull makes the SUP Race board slice through the water like a sharp knife. With little or no resistance when paddling, the board feels effortlessly fast. The combination of rocker line and displacement bow guarantees a smooth entry, with the narrow tail ensuring minimal exit drag.Throughout the mid section the bottom radius is kept rather flat, complemented with a soft rounded rail. This guarantees stability and balance in combination with the most efficient ratio of paddle power, board glide and directional stability.The sunk-in cockpit in the standing area lowers the riders standing position, providing more stability throughout every paddle stroke, resulting in outstanding acceleration and speed with minimal effort.Openings in the cockpit ensure any water which might flow over the deck drains away immediately.All four boards are available in an advanced light weight Carbon Wood Technology. These racing machines are hard to beat!

The JP race SUP is available here:

http://www.virginiapowerkites.com/Boards-Kiteboards-Kite-landboards-surfboards-and-SUP-Boards/Stand-Up-Paddle-Boards/JP-SUP-Race-p522.html

If you want to try an open water board by Jimmy Lewis, the M-14 is your ticket. It is a little wider than the Sabre, so that makes it an open water SUP. It is also a planing board because displacement hulls do not work as well in open water.

http://www.virginiapowerkites.com/Boards-Kiteboards-Kite-landboards-surfboards-and-SUP-Boards/Stand-Up-Paddle-Boards/Jimmy-Lewis-M-14-Open-Water-Race-SUP-p546.html

SUP racing is picking up, and if you want to win, you have to have the right weapon!

HQ Toxic 8 meter Kite Review

The HQ Toxic is an intermediate fixed bridle kite that is designed to be used with handles. It is not a replacement for the Crossfire II, although it is the successor of the HQ Crossfire II. Designed as an intermediate aspect ratio open cell kite with an aspect ratio of 4.5, the Toxic in the 8 meter size is an incredible kite. Today, I tested the Toxic 8 meter in one mph winds. I took a look at the flags in the area, and they were not moving, and not even a leaf was rustling at the top of trees.

The kite flew very smoothly despite the lack of wind. It is a high aspect ratio kite, but it doesn't have that extreme lift associated with other kites that are high aspect. High aspect ratio kites are designed for racing with kite buggies, and the Toxic is the type of kite that will give you smooth sailing on the land in the lightest of the winds (in the 8 meter size). This kite can fly with little to almost no wind, and it is equivalent in power to a 16 meter hybrid kite.

Flying a kite with handles is a good workout. You are not hooked into a harness with the Toxic, but you can, and HQ has supplied an extra line for strong winds so you can hook the handles into a harness spreader bar. This kite is powerful in the 8 meter size. I would recommend anything from the 2-4 meter size for the average rider. This is not a beginner kite, and it has to be flown to stay up in the air, but it is not unstable, and you can easily carve upwind with a kite buggy (you can't do this with a beginner kite).

If you like speed and power, then fixed bridle kites are for you, especially if you use a kite buggy. Depowerable kites just don't have the same power range as a fixed bridle kite on a kite buggy.

The Toxic is made with the same water repellent fabric that the Montana VII and the Neo III are made out of, so that means you can use it in the snow. This is a terrific kite, and it is available at our website in all sizes.
If you want a real workout with a kite, then you should try the Toxic!

Speed: 4/5 Flies very fast, not as high aspect as a race kite
Stability: 5/5 very stable for an intermediate kite
Build: 5/5

This is a kite that is made for the intermediate kiter in mind. It is not designed to win races in kite buggy competitions, but it has a lot of speed and turns fast in the lightest of winds.

It is available at our store here:

http://www.virginiapowerkites.com/Foil-Kites/Power-Kites/HQ-Toxic-Kite-p21.html


We have some demo kites available. You can contact us at customersupport@virginiapowerkites.com if you are interested.