Price : 1594.99 $ CAD
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The Venom is the latest "twin skin" kite from Peter Lynn. It builds on the success of earlier designs such as the ARC which is featured on Prokites (indeed from the ARC prototype). As the phrase "twin skin" suggests it is a closed foil type kite with an upper and lower skin and leading edge vents / valves hence NO inflatable battens as found on the LEI (leading edge inflatable) kites. The Venom is available from 8m up to 19m (and kite only or ready to fly with bar and lines). The area is based on the FLAT surface area therefore the projected area (basically what you see as a flyer) is less than this, for example the 10m kite is 7m projected. The projected area seems to reflect the true comparative "size" of the kite.
The tips contain carbon fibre battens which comprise a number of slot together sections so the kite can be packed away in a fairly small space. The bag / backpack is expandable so that the kite WILL fit in if the battens are left in the tips. The good quality flying lines attach to reinforced loops on the ends of the tips. The pictures show two internal webs which provide the kite's stength and support. The rear web can be adjusted to give the kite more "grunt" at the expense of a bit of depower range. The adjuster is accessed through a "deflation" zipper opening in the centre of the kite (at the trailing edge).
In flight, the Venom is very smooth and immediately inspires confidence. Turns are surprisingly fast for such large kites. Obviously the smaller kites turn faster but even the 16m feels fairly agile. Power is "solid" through the wind window yet perfectly controllable and the kite will sit at the zenith with little pull and no effort! The depower range is good - very effective in higher winds and much morte of a speed control in lighter winds where a touch of depower keeps the forward speed up. In lighter winds, "full power" trim and pulling the bar back stalls the kite. Pulling the bar back in the turns speeds up the response.
Setting up the kite is fairly straightforward. Each kite has a zipper opening towards each tip and one in the centre. In this shot the tip pointing into wind is being held open to inflate the kite. The other tip zipper is shut. The centre zipper is used for quick deflation so obviously its kept closed whilst the kite is set up. Inflation is quite rapid and the Venom does benefit from plenty of "pre-inflation". On the beach the tip would be held down with some sand. The kite comes with a DVD which explains the "pre-inflation" and launching technique.
This small tab at the end of the inflation zipper is called the launch assist! Basically the kite is launched at 45 degrees to the wind (NOT directly downwind) and AWAY from the centre of the wind. The lines from the downwind tip are hooked under this velcro tab to keep them on TOP of the kite. Gently pulling on these lines causes the tip to rise and the kite begins to slide up but safely AWAY from the "power zone". It takes practice but does work and its worthwhile studying the DVD. Landing - It is possible to stall the kite down or land it on one tip in which case an assistant can bring it down. Alternatively the lines to the lower tip can be grabbed and pulled in rapidly. The kite simply flattens out under reasonble control without too much pull and slides towards a downwind position.
The bar is a very high quality product. The centre adjuster strap is easy to use and effective (but a bit of a reach for those with short arms!) The larger kites (e.g. 16m) fly better with a bit of depower pulled in. This maintains forward speed and hence acceleration. The safety leash hooks onto the harness and runs up to ONE of the main flying lines. The primary safety release is on the chicken loop. Pulling that releases the bar and the kite is held on the ONE flying line. In practice it is VERY effective and the kite simply flattens out and lands with little pull. The only downside is the fact that the bar shoots up the line and the lines often get twisted so it needs sorting out before a relaunch.
A shot of a simple jump!!! This is when the Venom is superb. On this particular occasion, the 10m was flying in about 15mph. A neat "trick" is to trim the bar adjuster strap to "full" power and with the kite overhead pull down gently on the bar. This will actually stall the kite and it will begin to reverse (yes it does take a bit of strength!) Halfway down the wind window release the bar and the kite starts to accelerate up to the zenith at which time pull the bar more aggressively and "instant" lift !!! The 10m was particularly good at this! Obviously trying a pendulum jump by running away from the kite resulted in more height but thats the tough way to do it !
SPÉCIFICATIONS
Wing Span: 14 feet wide
Weight: na
Height: 5ft
Sail: ripstop allemande . german ripstop
Colors: ORANGE
Frame: NA
Lines: 100 feet
Wind: 5 a 40 km
