Hello,


TESTING CONDITIONS

Wind:
Sub 15 knots. Wind graph between 5:30pm and 7:00pm below, unfortunately, the graph blanked out during this period. Some occasional small white caps at the start of the session, rare caps at the end.



Rider:
80kg, 6th season. Own(ed) the Flysurfer Speed1 in 10m and 13m, and Speed2 in 10m (+ others …). I enjoy(ed) the Speed1 and 2 for their power, high jump, hangtime and speed.

Board: Nobile 666 (for the test)

Location:
Perth metro

Build Quality: 10/10
Satisfaction: 8/10. The score would have probably been greater if the 12m had been a 10m.


The Speed3 is a high aspect ratio kite. Its market target is light wind condition.

What follows is my main impressions after a first ride of the Speed3 12m yesterday:

TURNING SPEED
Very high for a high aspect ratio kite of this size. It is faster than the Speed2 10m

BAR PRESSURE
Very light bar pressure (lighter than Speed2), which makes it very comfy to fly.

JUMPS
Monumental height in winds that was probably closer to 12knots than 15knots (rare white caps). The hangtime was very impressive compared to the 10m Speed2’s hangtime. The kite lifted me up again on my descent when I was throwing the kite in front of me for the landing, thus increasing the length and duration of the jumps.

UPWIND
Extemely easy when the wind was at its lowest (around 12knots?), even compared to the 10m Speed 2 or 13m Speed1.

BAR
I think it is called “Infinity bar”. It seems to be optimized to minimise friction of the front lines through the bar. I will post some photos if some are interested. The bar is longer than the one for the 10m Speed2 (which I understand has a smaller bar than other kites).

SAFETY RELEASE: different than Speed2. Looks easy (will post photo).

One characteristic of the Speed1 and Speed2 is to significantly feel the additional traction from the apparent wind when the kite is flown fast. It feels like a “turbo”. I did not have this feeling with the 12m Speed3, however, the wind was possibly a tad light.

I did not try the safety release to check the behaviour of the kite in emergency (spaghetti ball or nice landing?).

As for all Flyrsurfer, the quality is excellent and this kite will last many years (I used a 6 year old Flysurfer to landboard last weekend).

In summary, this kite is a surprising light wind machine for cruising, with the rush of adrenaline from massive jumps in conditions that you would not imagine been able to jump in. It allows having some fun even when the wind is typically considered too low. There was no other kiter on the water when I tried the Speed3.

Oh! ... and the color fits my board color

My main negative feedback:
Why not releasing the Speed3 in 10m ???
Price: but you get what you paid for

Other comments (for Flysurfer users)
- No more green/red color code on the bar (it is a step backward)
- No more color on the powering strap, which makes it harder to find than for previous models. The depower strap is colored though and easy to spot.
- The large deflating zip, such as at the back of the Pulse2, Speed2 and Psycho4, is now replaced by velcro vents on the trailing edge.

I like it.


Happy to answer questions...

Fred