Fractured Axel

Are there any Fearless users out here in EU ?

There are a few.

But I did not know that Canada is part of the EU.

I welcome Canada as part of our friends of the union

I don't think there are many - the Sea Devil I believe is considered a more capable kite, and even then the SD isn't exactly a common kite over here, possibly due to it being made over there and being a bit pricey.

Infinitive wrote:

and being a bit pricey.

Yes indeed - the sail graphic has also met with some criticism.

Infinitive wrote:

I don't think there are many - the Sea Devil I believe is considered a more capable kite.

While I too have heard this, I have to really wonder. I would certainly jump all over a chance to try one.

For me, the Sea Devil is no longer my favorite kite. However, this has more to do with feel than capability. (The XTs has turned out to be the perfect answer to all my questions at the moment.) The SD is still a great kite to fly and, as Al has said, it does most/all of the tricks pretty darn well.

What I have seen from the latest VF vids has me somewhat curious abuot the Fearless again. Somehow, the first few videos of the Fearless showed what often appeared to be a poorly balanced kite which seemed to aimed at making relatively lame tricks (insane L/R for example) 'more' accessible.

obi

[quote]The XTs has turned out to be the perfect answer to all my questions at the moment.

What is XTs mean ? Which brand and model ?[/quote]

l'Atelier Transfer XTs. The company officially went out of production a few months ago.

Caveat: I am not a good reference. My skills are minimal compared to many of the fliers dwelling here. But the feel of the kite, for how I love to fly (lines, corners, half axels, and the occasional group 1-3 trick), is just an unquestionable step up for me. I only acquired it a few weeks ago, but I haven't been this obsessed since I started with stunt kites a few years ago.

obi

Capability and price aside (no doubting ability and price is "Boutique" going rate), I think the reason why the Fearless and SDs aren't that popular here may be down to the graphic which just isn't to European tastes?

I guess Miles and others might be right. I do seem recall a time in the history books where the fighter planes of the UK had teeth and eyes though, so at one point maybe they would have done well?

obi

ObijuanKenobe wrote:

Infinitive wrote:

I don't think there are many - the Sea Devil I believe is considered a more capable kite.

While I too have heard this, I have to really wonder. I would certainly jump all over a chance to try one.

For me, the Sea Devil is no longer my favorite kite. However, this has more to do with feel than capability.
obi

I am not in the EU, but there is my take.

I think any limitation between these 2 kites is far more on the flyers end than the kites (but the FL is certainly easier to freestyle trick). The FL is very well balanced and an amazing flyer. You get hooked on it - I no longer even fly my other kites. I've flown the SD and its an amazing kite, but it never hooked me like the Fearless has.

I'm still a hack, but I keep getting better which is my main objective at the moment. Here's some vid of the kite my son and I put together last month.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPtFMHsZED8

tpatters wrote:

I think any limitation between these 2 kites is far more on the flyers end than the kites (but the FL is certainly easier to freestyle trick). The FL is very well balanced and an amazing flyer. You get hooked on it - I no longer even fly my other kites. I've flown the SD and its an amazing kite, but it never hooked me like the Fearless has.

I hope there wasn't a misunderstanding here. I am a SD junkie. I just like the XTs I recently got better at the moment. I enjoy the amount of feel and feedback it provides. The SD is several times lighter on the lines, etc. However, there is nothing the XTs does better than the SD except multilazies, which is one of the things the Fearless appears to be geared for. I think the SD is one of the best kites out there, and that's why I am curious about Lam's latest offering.

But I also know, as you seem to, that the SD is different than the Fearless. And we aren't talking about complaints about either kite. No one is disputing their capabilities. If anything, the only complaint is the sail layout.

obi

Obi,

No misunderstanding - there are an amazing variety of sweet kites out there, they all have their special "flavor". For sure, tastes vary from time to time - no one kite will satisfy everyone.

Fearless is very light on the lines like the SD, maybe even more so in that even in high wind, it will not pull too hard (and is still easy to trick).

Tattoo layout helps if you hate the sail layout - its all a solid color from 25' away!

[code]Somehow, the first few videos of the Fearless showed what often appeared to be a poorly balanced kite which seemed to aimed at making relatively lame tricks (insane L/R for example) 'more' accessible.

What do you mean by 'poorly balanced kite' ? In which way it was poorly balanced ?

I mean that it looked like it did many tricks rather poorly compared to the Sea Devil. I just didn't like what I saw.

This video for example, while it seems to be doing cool stuff, doesn't really appeal to me. The JLs seem always to cut each rotation short, and it seems to get stuck in positions rather than held there by good flying. Maybe part of this has to do with the extremely lame angles the video is shot from, but I just don't get excited by these shots. It's a kite flying on a beach, so it should look sharp, but it doesn't. The lazies look easy, but no flatter than the SD. The BS cascades look nice, and the cynique is impressive. I'll say that much.

I will also state again that making a kite that can do insane L/R is underwhelming.

Now that I know the Fearless (from other posts here) is very light on the lines, I can guess I'd be disappointed. That's not my preference. I already set me SDs far back to get as much feedback as possible.

obi

ObijuanKenobe wrote:

I do seem recall a time in the history books where the fighter planes of the UK had teeth and eyes though,
obi

The only fighter I can recall in British service that were decorated thus were Kittyhawks of the Desert Air Force and those were partof the P-40 series built by the U.S. Curtiss company.......so maybe they were delivered like that.

Personally,I have no aversion to the SD's graphics.