HQ Beamer II 3.6M

i just bought my first powerkite a week ago, A 3.6 Beamer II.

Before this I have flown a 2 line delta stunter for 3 years and can do all of the stunts with it it can do. So I get the Beamer out at the beach which is the only place I fly and set it up. I knew how as I had downloaded the manual 2 weeks prior and committed it to memory. I had also read every review on this site and others of every size beamer and others in the price ballpark ie. busters, firebees etc. So I unpack at the beach with a SE wind at 10-15 mph.

Launch at the edge of the window and straight up and yanks me forward barely leaving anything left in the shoulder socket. Scared and overwhelmed I throw on full brake and land. Pack up with shaky hands from adrenaline and fear cursing due to all of the reviews and forum posts racing through my head about " well I got the 7 meter blah blah out in a hurricane and scraped my knee after 4 hours of flying in the tree tops on the beach sand etc".and I flew a 12m in 20mph and it was fun....... and i'm thinking oh yeah what a load of c r a p cause this 3.6m just scared me in 30 seconds. hold on now; wait just a minute there before you get your knickers in a twist

Next day went down to the kite store and said" this scares the living sh*t out of me I want smaller something"!

to which they said "fine but you'll be better off staying with what you have and giving it another chance" ...... you'll just get bored really fast with a 1.8m or a speedfoil etc.

They were out of 2.5 beamers and I was not going to pay almost the same $ for a two line flexifoil or sting yadda yadda blah blah. so I go back to the beach with the 3.6m the next day @ 6-9 mph winds with a few tips from the fellas @ the shop and have a freakin ball. control and power tricks and reverse landings baby scuds thing looks great in the sky and even @ 3.6 m it draws some attention(probably due to not many kiters here other than kiteboarding / surf who always get attention. Then the wind picks up fast and I am scudding 10-12 ft at a pass till a gust to 16 mph and I can't hold the pull and am thrown to the ground on my back after a flip and toe stab (owww) to the sand. Pack up but a permanent grin for the rest of the day, I just keep talking about it to the wife and visitors till they finally shut me up

that was 3 weeks ago now and I have flown it lots. Back to the shop to let them say "I told you so" and "we knew it was the right size for you." I really do have some fun and workout with this kite.

It maybe my first and I may not have flown any other foils except a Wasp One trainer 2 line on a bar...but I must say for the $ spent it seems well made. the handles are not the comfyest on the hands and the leaders tore through the covering on the 3rd flight (right to the shop for a promt and happy exchange for new handles with the promise that if these were bad too another exchange would be made..... I call that service!!!!!

I fly with mountain biking fingerless gloves on as thery are well padded. I have felt the ozone and flexi handles at the shop but I don't have $50 right now to upgrade when I am still learning.

I read every single review on this site and others for any brands in a budget price range and beamers is what I kept coming back to. This will be fun for years and a great trainer for getting me ready for kiteboarding lessons and gear as soon as graduation and $$$ start rolling in. I would like to try a landboard out but the area is not the best for it. Buggying is also not really going to happen here either as the beaches are very soft and narrow.

Overall I must say to those reading everything you can before making a descision. trust in the great advice and info on this site. you are in good hands.

By : THE FIFTH