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JUST THE FACTS
I am happy to report that the water kite purchased from you guys flies great.
It is no trouble to get a
little air in and then launch. The one kiter
who's seen it can't
believe the quality/value you offer. Although there
aren't a lot of
kitesurfers near Delaware USA. I feel confident in
recommending your kites.
Thanks,
Chris
I read some guys writing propoganda about Ram air type kites and just wanted to give my 2 cents .I have been flying 3 kites for THREE years now , purchased from SFS - a South African kite maker.. I have a 6m 12 m 18m from them. I purchased one bar and lines and 3 kites, and can say that I paid less for all three than practically one inflatable kite. So while others who want to look like they have all the right gear are sitting on the beach with their ONE expensive inflatable kite waiting for more wind- I am pretty much ALWAYS on the water with my wide kite quiver. I mean from 7- knots upwards. My kites are all still going well and am stoked that I made the decission to get 3 kites for the price of 1 inflatable. They have full depowering systems and keep on going.
Here comes another year...
Ricardo Oro... L.A. USA 2002
.From:.
rfroberton@annd.... The S.F.S 7.8 m and 12 meter are
the only kites I need in my collection . Especially when flying with the aoa
system and line variation combinations (40m 25m 15 m) High aspect ratio
with great upwind and edge holding. Also lets not talk about the
price...OK!
I purchased a kite from S.F.S a month ago and couldn't be happier. Firstly it came with top quality 100kg rigging lines and great construction. The zipped air/sand release area on the trailing edge is useful. The kite locks in on the window edge and pulls without having to work the puppy too much. Great buy.
The kites are made by a South African company SFS.
Firstly, because of the quality. The
kites
are
made
of 45 and 55 gram ripstop nylon, coated with
silicon coating, one
of
the
most durable fabrics for sun
and wind in the world. A little
heavier
than
other kites,
but with a longer life-span. Unlike almost all other
kites,
these
kites are not stiched in China, but in South Africa.
Secondly, the kites
are the most stable, lifty kite I have flown. I
teach
students on
the kite yet it is the kite I prefer when I am
out.
This
is
because of the thickness and camber which
create max lift at low
airspeeds
we are talking relative to aviation
here). The kites are very
difficult to
luff so that it can be used
for newbies. They are easilly water
relaunchable, the silcon coating makeing
them just float about
until the brake line is pulled.
The best
thing though is the price. Because the kites are made by a
South
African company, and the SA Rand currency has become so devalued, the
kites
are the least expensive kites on the market. We also keep
margins a lot
smaller. If you want a 9 metre kite that is powered up in
10 knots then take a look.
++++I have been kite-surfing for about 6
weeks in Perth with a 6 m
kite. The kite has been
excellent on the water-im
powering upwind earlier than i thought i
would, no luffing or water
relaunching problems ever and i am very
happy with the kite overall.
Ill be getting a 9 m when the wind
drops.
I was out on the beach yesterday afternoon when the wind dropped, and
the Naish
11.5s were being packed away. One chap, using
a 6m kite, was still
giving things a good run.
Clearly they've got something there.
Performance. - The first competition
the in which the kite was
entered was held in Western Australia. The 6
metre
was flown
with a breeze just under 15 knots. Other entrants kites
included
15.5 inflatables, 9.5 inflatables, Concept Air, Windtools,
Mosquito
pro. The 6m Air came 3rd outright despite being
3rd
last off the beach. The retail price of this kite was half many
of
the others. Great upwind performance and floatier jumps.
Been
trying a bunch of the South African kites alongside the Arcs with
students
and myself. Figured there were other retailers or individuals
who
understandibly didn't want to drop the clams on a kite not tested
in
their area or inflated with a pump. I was very impressed with
the
build quality/range is good by just adjusting the aoa with
different
main line attachment points,quick filling (air intakes are
the size of
a frigin jet fighters with screens),water relaunch is very
good.
Depower option similar to the Mossi gull wing center pull
concept.
Reduced bridling is noticeable and in gusty conditions my
student
loved it's phenomenal stability. A closed cell ram air foil
that
doesn't want to overfly without a ton of brake? Yeah that's what
made
my head spin. Kind of just sits up there like an open celled
Blade
does. Price is low. My student smacked his new new 7 meter into
the
water in front of a wave and had it waterstarted in about two
seconds
on his first time in the ocean. He's a happy camper. Haven't
gotten
the nine meter yet to test the power. The kite incorporates
three
huge velcroe air dumps which also work very well if you decide to
put
your kite down in the wave zone to drain any fluid that may
have
entered the kite quickly while in the air. Used the seven meter on
a
thirty six inch bar and rigged the depower line taught and only
hooked
in for gust control alla an inflatable or Arc set up. A line
from the
depower hoop to the harness was the safety system we had
used
succesfully. A system like the Fl brake line is also
available.
Recently
I got a chance to try these kites which are
made in South Africa.
The South African Rand has been hit harder than
the aussie dollar so
the price was right.
Appearance-wise the kite looked great. I have some
photos on my web-
page ( temporary). The kites are stitched in South Africa (
not
China) and so the quality of build seems to be very good. They are
a
foil design kite with fewer bridling lines than i am used to,
which
is great for fewer tangles.
The new design has 3 lines so
that the kite can be reversed off the
water. The kites have extra long
valves so that they float for a long
time and can be easily water
re-launched. The angle of attack of the
kite can be adjusted on the
ground. This gives it quite a big wind
range.
On the water
the kite feels nimble- especially for a 6 metre. With
the angle of
attack set high I was able to stay upwind on the 6 metre
in about 13
knots with a directional board. It is stable and I had no
occasions
where it luffed, although it may be possible I am not sure.
It did seem
very luff-resistant.
I tried the 9 metre only once and stayed
upwind on a directional
board in what I am estimating was safely under
10 knots. In fact,
when i stood on the beach there was so little wind I
had to keep
working the kite to keep it aloft. But once on the water I
had
sufficient power as i built up relative airflow. The faster i
went,
the more power i got.
The most noticeable thing about the
kite seemed to be its efficiency
as an airfoil. It charged upwind even
when not especially powered up,
and jumping it seemed to glide down a
lot more slowly than what I am
used to. Possibly these characteristics
arise from the kites
relatively high camber - which with aircraft
airfoils gives a lot of
lift at low airspeed.
The end result is
I was very impressed with the kite and the value it
offered to us here
in Australia. So much so that I got some in stock
and am promoting them
for sale as I honestly cant see a product that
gives as good a value
for money. The savings come in the fact that
the kites are made in
South Africa, not North America or Europe. One
could even argue that
the quality would be superior to many other
brands that are stitched in
China - however I have never had a
problem with build quality on any of
my kites so far and am not being
negative on the build of any other
brand of kite. MArgins are also
smaller.
Message
I held on to
the kite till a probable average wind of 15mph
or more, at which point
I put up my nine meter. Testing
different kites back
to back is fun but obviously a 12 meter can't be
compared to a wickedly
fast turning nine meter in the waves. The
turns like a
fighter plane in a comic strip. Unbelievable.
The 12
meter gets surprisingly good turning out of one
common
brake line and two main lines as other foils.
I had
the hooked up on
the fold in half type of safety and
like that as well. The
nine probably has the power of a
11.5 Arc which is considerably more
than a 7.2 Blade and turns
considerably better.