beara1600949555

Well, this should be the 1000th review on the site. I just logged on and it said 999, so here goes: After working my way through the HQ ranks with Symphony 2.2 and 1.4, followed by a beamer 3.6, then added beamer 2.5 and 1.8, I found that in the winter ballistic winds on Westward Ho! and Black Rock Sands I was struggling upwind and losing confidence in my kites, and I had too many low end and the 2.5 wasn't getting used. Now, in hindsight, it was my ability at the time rather than the kites as the 1.8 beamer took some brutal punishment from me, but did break a few lines... Anyway, at the end of frustrating session on the Ho! and speaking to a couple of the regulars (Thanks craig W) and trundled over to On-Shore at Woolacombe. Gareth there gave me some excellent advice and after a productive discussion I opted for a Orange, Blue and Yellow retro Ozone Fury. Gareth unfurled it in the shop and I was immediately impressed by the build quality. Mylar reinforced leading edge, stitched bridle lines and sewn sleeved power and brake lines. The handles are neoprene covered and all of it is packed into a red bag in a duffle bag style. It comes with some ozone stickers and a keyring as well as a comprehensive instruction manual. I'm not sure if it also came with kite killers though, if it did then great, as this is an excellent beginners kite. Well, off I went home with it, and the next day decided to fly it in around 20mph winds on my In-law's hill farm in north Devon. This was my first mistake. Sheep are naturally curious when a man with a bag walks into their field, and with 200 of them it was inevitable that something would go wrong! I should have learnt when flying the symphony in that field and a bullock took a fancy to the kite line as I launched, and got a good flossing! So, in between shooing them away and trying to put the lines on (should have been easy as the handles, lines and bridle all have numbered tags so you don't get it wrong!) I got it wrong and as I launched the kite went into a terrible spin and I couldn't stop it. With totally tangled lines I ended up using myself as a winder and wound the lines all around me. not a good start. 2 hours of line untangling later I put it together the right way and went off down to Woolacombe beach. I parapack my kites and after pegging out the handles I walked downwind letting the lines slide out of the bag. At the end I took out the kite, shook it out, and the kite just sat up itching to fly. First tug on the lines and up it went, and along the beach I went doing giant steps....must lean back next time! I've really enjoyed flying it since and the build quality is excellent. The lines are so strong, and are showing no signs of fraying. I've ditched the handles as I prefer the flexi handles and killers, but that's personal choice - there is nothing wrong with the ozone ones. So, what's it good for? Well, it is an awesome traction kite. Its got great pull and turns on a sixpence. For buggying it became my first choice kite for the higher winter winds, and earlier in the year I had a couple of great days at Westward Ho! with it. The first day I had it up in 18 to 20mph and did 7 miles with it with speeds up to 20mph in the buggy, but it was probably too small as sometimes I struggled when I hit a soft patch of sand, but I'm a bit of a chicken... ...but the next day saw 30mph plus onshore and the fury was my smallest kite! I was aprehensive and first launch got faceplanted and dragged down the beach... so it couldn't get any worse could it? Anyway, got it up to the zenith, got in my flexi-buggy, and dropped the kite into the powerzone and we were off. This kite likes to be locked in at a low height to get max power, and does fly best using the brakes. Once it was locked it on a run it was brake trimming that gets the best out of it. That day the kite took amazing punishment. I crashed a couple of times and took a huge OBE by the rocks, and a couple of times I got confused and dived it at speed into the sand. On one of these I did burst a cell - putting a small 2cm tear into it, but considering the speed it hit the ground I'm amazed it didn't do more damage. But, it gave me a top speed of 32mph over a 20 mile run. I love this kite. I love the colour and its flying characteristics suit me. Since then I've got a 4.5 fury in the same colours, a 6m samurai which I then quickly sold on and got a 7.5 frenzy which will soon make way for a 6m access. I'm converted to ozone now and can't fault them. A great beginner to intermediate kite, super strong, great lines, and great fun. By : beara

I'd just bought my Beamer II 3.6 and was out on our local rugby field to try it out, but found that ther were two buggiers already there. I went to give them plenty of space but they called me over to join them. One of tham was Dave (DLangers on here) and the other, Andy. Both gave me excellent advice and by the end of the day their buggy demos had me hooked.... So, I managed to pick up a Peter Lynn Standard Comp buggy locally, and started using it. It had a couple of mods - footstraps, and a padded backrest, along with pipe lagging padding all over. I added buckles on the footpegs to take a pulling strap and modified the axle bolts with a helf nut inside to retain the bolt on the wheel when you take it off the buggy for getting in the car. Anyway, first trip out was back at the rugby fields with Dave and Andy, hopelessly overpowered with my Beamer 3.6 which I frequently managed to get flying behind me. Only a couple of slow OBEs though, but I did need to use the kite killers once. I also managed to spend more time concentrating on the kite in the air brather than where I was going and found the one tree in the whole place!!! Did manage to get it out without any damage though My next outing was again at the rugby club, this time on my own, and in very gusting light winds. Not a good time and left me a bit demoralised, so it was off to Black Rock Sands for three days. I had tried to book a lesson prior to going on the beach so I wouldn't look like a total beginner but it had to be cancelled due to strong winds, so I got up really early to beat the crowds. On the beach by 9 am, with a force 4-6 blowing straight onshore. I had bought by now a 1.8 and 2.5 beamer as well and decided to go with the 1.8. It was awesome!! The buggy was stable and flew on a beam reach up the beach, then a gybe back and I flew back down to the car. Hadn't twigged at that point that there is no protection from the horsetails of wet sand coming from all three wheels and that wet patches were to be avoided, and came back totally covered with sand but with a big grin. Had a slight buggy issue with the buckles loosening on the seat so I went from three inches off the ground to about 1, but after a bit of rejigging I was off again. The next day saw a slight wind shift and I found I was having to go out towards the sea to make upwind headway, and consequently got covered in wet sand again. Oh how I'd like mudguards all round All in all I've had greast fun with this buggy. However, I have just sold it on as I have been afte a front mudguard and belly pan for it (I hit a rock on my bum the other day) and the availablility wasn't there so I've gone for a flexi one now. Overall, a great beginner's intro to buggying, stable and forgiving, but let down by lack of third party mod availablility which has moved me over to a Flexifoil version (complete with mugguard and belly pan!!) By : beara

The symphony 1.4 was my second kite and second symphony after I'd been playing with my 2.2 for a few months. I bought it second hand for £15 after getting pestered by my young daughters who were finding the 2.2 too powerful (they were only 8 and 10 years old!) It packs down almost to pocket size in it's own pouch complete with belt loop. It's a two line kite with an attractive rainbow pattern. Being second hand, the ripstop nylon had lost it's crispness but the construction was still sound. The supplied lines were pretty naff and had several knots so I flew it on the 2.2's lines and handles. I first put it up in about 30 mph winds at Pembrey on 30m lines. It was totally controllable and blisteringly fast. Since then, noth girls have found it great fun to use in mild winds and I tend to put it up in heavier winds when the pull on the 2.2 gets too much. All in all a great fun kite to have for really windy days - the speed is great fun and now I'm moving on to slowing it down and practising fine control. I'm having so much fun with it that I'm looking for another so there's always one in each car! The only downside recently was buying another off ebay recently. The trader was fine, I paid £18 in all, but the lines were very thick heavy nylon on individual winders. After the sleek smooth dyneema lines of the 2.2 these would have weighted the kite down too much in lighter airs so I sold it on... (but now regret it as, since then I've got more line sets so wuld have had a set to use... Conclusion A great fun fast foil kite. It isn't suitable for traction or lift, but for sheer fun and speed through the air it's hard to beat for the money! By : beara