Snowkiting

Hey EK crew!
Im new to this site but its pretty rad!
I have been getting dragged around by the wind for a few years on the snow not yet the water tho... first around the tobboggan slope at perisher then Kosi/NSW main range way mostly.
Ive been using a crap cheapo quad trainer kite to get towed around so far, (apart from my home made bamboo and tent kitewing) and I own an old ADVANCE 10mtr closed cell foil kite, which i had out twice behind Thredbo then ripped on a rock :\ Its way too big for my ability level and the bar is neanderthal compared to the ones ive seen.

So time to get some proper sail in the air! Im stinging to get out there and shred this season.. I would be stoked to meet up with some crew and go out to the Main range for an expedition. Once i get a proper kite.

Im cashed up to get a rig, and i had been considering the OZONE ACCESS for a long time, but in the last minute deliberation, I thought id check out what else is out there and seen a few raves about the HQ kites. Seen the MONTANA 7 and the APEX 3, which look pretty snazzy too.
But its too tricky to decide and i thought id ask anyone here if they could give me a comparison or recommendation.
I think a medium to small kite about 5-7 mtrs range is what ill end up buying to suit the medium to stronger days I usually get amped for in Kosci Park, as once i have a decent bar i should be able to rig it up with the Advance 10 for light days.

Also if anyone is interested Eventually Im really psyched for a mainrange kite mish, im thinking from Jagungal to thredbo or viceversa?,or Eucumbeme Thredas to start off with.. maybe over three /4 days, and a with few people, might have to do a fair bit of planning for it obviously and have all the right gear so either early spring or even next winter/spring?

Its something ive been dreaming about for ages.

For now id be happy to get sliding/flying in the near backcountry and would really appreciate any advice.
cheers,
Jaben

Hey mate. Sorry for that late reply, I'm surprised that no one else has chimed in.
Personally I haven't flown an ozone Access or frenzy but I believe that they are similar to the hq apex and Montana, which I have flown.
The montana is great kite. Quick flying, fast turning and has plenty of power and float if you want to do jumps.
The apex is also a good kite however it is definatly more a beginner to intermediate kite compared to the Montana. The apex is a little slower at turning and through the air and doesn't have as much power as the Montana in similar sizes. However in the smaller sizes this is a good thing for flying on crazy windy days, when a faster kite would be harder to control.

It really depends on what kind of snow kiting you want to do. If you want to just cruise around with a nice stable kite then go the apex, but if you want speed and jumps then the Montana is the way to go.

I fly the Ozone Access and HQ Montana
The Access has the plusses of being more of a gust muncher, more stable and better built with better back up service (depending upon where you buy it)
It's minuses are it's price and it flies slower for it's size in comparison to the equivalent montana.

As for the Montana, it's cheaper, keeps pulling the faster you go and is very manoverable.
Negatives include a slightly cheaper build quality and I'm not sure what the back up service is like, having never needed it.

You might be better looking at a HQ Matrix. I don't have one of these but drool over them regularly. They are in a similar price range to the Access, but have better wind range than both the Access and the Montana and have the advantage of being closed cell. If you ever decide you want to get out on the water you won't need to buy another kite.

My two cents

Shane

I've never flown the snow, but do have a local hill I frequent for land board + kite and often the conditions can be gusty. Now I am assuming that up in the snow country with all the hills and gullies the conditions can be gusty. So having a kite that handles the gusts well and especially since this is your first "decent" depower. I would be inclined to give Spartan (on the EK) a pm and ask questions about the gust handling of the Frenzy (not the really old ones, give them a miss) versus the Access, he started out with the Access and swapped to the Frenzy. He also flies the HQ Matrix (all sizes).

Think also about the addiction level -- once you're hooked on the sport and you will get hooked, what to do when there's no snow? Personally I think you get more bang for your buck if you get a cross over kite: land (snow or land boarding) + water. That way you can almost kite all year round. Then the choice becomes much simpler. If you are after a high performance kite that launches and lands easy and at a good price, you can't go past the HQ Matrix -- does water and land. For more dollars you can go for the FlySurfers. Sure there are the Peter Lynn Arcs (Charger), but it's a black art to launch and land them, personally I prefer the HQ Matrix / FlySurfers.

Think about your total quiver, you will eventually want to get at least two kites, a light wind (larger) and high wind (small) kite, and see if that brand/make fits within your budget.

Regards,
Norman.