Flysurfer Rookie II 4M

Flysurfer RookieII 4m

Having recently sold all my Arcs and bought a 10m Flysurfer Spirit, I was on the look out for a high wind depower kite. I wanted to stick with Flysurfer, but, as usual, budget was an issue. A 7m Spirit would have been my preferred choice, but they just weren't available for sensible money.

So I took a chance on a 4m RookieII.

I say 'a chance', because I had already owned a 6m Rookie and sold it after two weeks due to its instability and general poor handling. However, I had been assured that the 4m was a different kite altogether, so I went for it.

The kite arrived and was up to the usual Flysurfer standards. Well constructed in a sensible back pack, but this time with the pulley bar, which looked tiny.

First time out was at Shell Island in Wales. Horrible offshore winds, ranging from 20mph to a maximum recorded gust of 39mph, but proberbly averaging about 25mph. So this was the perfect wind range.

Up it went with manageable pull, but in this wind it was never going to be easy, the gusty, offshore winds made it particularly unpleasant to fly any kite, let alone one you are not used to.

This session did however, raise a few issues.

When landed on the safety, the kite landed, but pulled really strongly when sat on the ground. Not good. I also felt that the bar was too small, and that the bar pressure was too heavy, especially after flying the Spirit. So, when I returned home, I dug out a spare 55cm bar from my Spirit. (The Rookie bar is 45cm). Made up an adjuster strap, (the smaller Rookie's just have knots), and set the bar up in the usual depower configuration without the pulleys, although it didn't have the rotor kite leash, just a normal, non-spin able leash.

Next time out was on the local field (inland) with about 15 mph winds, but with higher gusts and lower lulls. After setting up and staking out, the kite sat up ready to go, but wasn't pulling nearly as hard on the safety. (Although the winds were lower).

I hooked in and launched. Nice and easy with just a hint of pull. The next bit bought a big smile to my face.

I started turning the kite at the top of the window. What a difference the pulley less setup makes. The kite turned much quicker (remember, bigger bar) and the bar pressure was much nicer. More like the Spirit, and other depower kites I've flown.

Depower range isn't as good as with larger kites, and nothing like the 6m Rookie, but then, my homemade strap is a little short, but you still get a decent boost in power.

I was starting to like this kite.

I then tried it unhooked, with the trimmer set to full depower. WOW. It flew really fast, was nice and stable, and was wrenching my arms out. I'd say flown like this it has the same sort of power as a 4m BladeIII.

I dropped it onto the safety and it just curled up and floated down with next to no pull. Perfect.

I was very impressed with the alterations I had made. It makes the kite much nicer and easier to fly, and I think it should sit nicely below my Spirit when the wind starts to pick up past the 20mph mark.

I've now flown the Rookie a few more times in low winds (5-15mph) and I am very impressed.

All this flying has been done unhooked as it seems to be a nicer way to fly in lower winds.

The kite will fly so long as you can feel a steady breeze. Above 10mph the fun starts.

Flown unhooked it starts to generate pull. I imagine that you could get going on a board or in a buggy from about 12mph. Now this is going to be one very versatile kite. It flies fast and smooth, and is very easy to manage.

This would make a great introduction to depower and maybe even as a first kite (with training) as it will fly in any wind upto and maybe over 30mph when you've got the skills (and bottle). And because of the wind range, and ease of use (with or without a harness) makes a superb recreational kite as well. You can have fun just flying it in lower winds, but make good use of the power as the wind starts to pick up.

I am so glad I went for the 4m RookieII. I had been having problems finding a kite that was fun to static fly. (I didn't want fixed bridle). I was getting to the stage of not wanting to fly inland, but this kite has sorted me out. It is just a very good, well made, well thought out kite, which can be picked up very cheaply. Just get somebody who knows what they are doing to ditch the pulleys and convert to a normal depower style bar setup and you'll have a kite that will always be fun to fly so long as there is wind in the air.

Finally flew the kite in decent on-shore winds on the Isle of Wight. Wind was about 25-28mph. Sanded the trailing edge to hold it down on the (very long) stake.

Hooked in on full depower and up it went with just a little scud. Not much in the way of turning so added a bit of power. Flew it around the top of the window for a bit then started to drop it lower for some scuds. Then POP. Looked up and the plastic buckle on my home made adjuster had snapped! but luckily just sent the kite back to full depower.

So with it still flyable, I had a blast getting 50m scuds up the beach.

I have had many kites in a short space of time, always selling one to fund the next, but I can safely say that this one will be staying with me for a very long time. It really is that versatile. Fun to fly in any wind, and suitable for any level of flyer.

By : andrewjohn