Hi all!
I;m a beginner... and I have a question.
Now I'm practicing only with the kite while I wait for my board... the thing I usualy do is to do the usual "figure eight" in the sky.
My problem is that I always end up doing the "eights" very low, close to the ground, like 1 m, this generate a great power but I guess I would get
more if I manage to fly the kite higher... correct?
When I fly it a bit higher it looks to me that I get more constant power... is that right?
stupid questions I know! but I have to start somewhere!
Thank you!Kamikuza - 9-9-2009 at 04:24 PM
Welcome!
What kind of kite do you have?Bladerunner - 9-9-2009 at 04:45 PM
High or to the side should generate less power than down in front. The power zone.B-Roc - 9-9-2009 at 04:58 PM
I fly an Ozone IMP quattro 3.5m.
Ok... so you mean that low and just in front of me generates the maximum power... but than why the hell they told me that the power zone is in front
of me but 45degrees from the ground, much higher than where I feel the maximum power now????
P.S.
In the mean time I keep falling on my as* when I reach the edge...soooo funnyy :D :D !!!furbowski - 10-9-2009 at 02:21 AM
The area of maximum power is directly downwind , also yes in front of you if you are facing downwind and looking at your kite on the ground ready for
a launch.
the faster the kite moves through that area, the more pull it will produce.
the 45 degree thing is a misunderstanding, that's not the area of maximum power, but rather the area in which you want to learn to make power with the
kite. using the maximum power right low to the ground is likely to pull you off your board. Later on, you'll use the maximum power close to the
ground, but at the sides of the window, not low down in the middle. However, you'll need a bigger kite or bigger winds to produce pull at the side of
the window. If you get decent pull on a board at the side of the window, then you'll be so overpowered low and in the middle of the window you'll
find it very difficult to use that power, you'll be better off keeping the kite up around 45 degrees.
In other words, the bigger the kite, the more you avoid the power and use the edges of the wind window. (But most of that is for later...)
The figure eights -- you want to be able to make small ones, big ones, ones up higher in the window, down lower, with as much variety you can handle
given what the winds give you. What you're looking for is smooth power delivery through the entire fig eight.
I can't tell you how to transfer that skill to the board, but for now that's a good way to go for flying static.
Also spend a bit of time each session learning to fly without looking at the kite. The line tension coming into the handles will tell you where the
kite is, but you need to learn to read that with your fingers and touch, not with your eyes and sight. Start up top, when you get better bring the
kite lower and start dealing with a bit of power without looking at the kite. practice a little every session. I can just about do a jump blind now,
but it took about a year.
What got me started trying to fly blind was a couple of brief rides in a buggy -- it is very hard to look at where you're going and at the kite at the
same time! get that skill down as well as you can, it will be a big help once you get on a board.
(disclosure, I'm a static jumper, a boarding wannabee, been doing the research for awhile now, but any boarders please correct or clarify if you have
a moment :thumbup)
Quote:
Originally posted by uince81
P.S.
In the mean time I keep falling on my as* when I reach the edge...soooo funnyy :D :D !!!
its funny now, but later it will hurt. learn to keep the kite moving, turn it before it gets to the edge, don't let it collapse. You can get away
with a lot on the smaller kites, but try the same on big ones and it can go beyond frustrating into dangerous. learn to fly the kite up and down the
sides of the wind window, keeping it a little inside the edge can help in wiggly winds, but not if they're super wiggly.
learn to do loops near the edge. when you can do downloops just off the ground in each of the corners of the window, repeatedly, without crashing,
your static skills are no longer in the beginner category! (for that kite and those winds...)
hopes this helps, sorry for the long post, i was in the mood to write a bit:tumble:Kamikuza - 10-9-2009 at 03:31 AM
Imp is a 4-line kite yeah? When you push or pull to turn, give it a bit of tweak on the brake line too snap it round ...
Say you're turning right - pull the right handle and at the same time, pull the brake. It should turn around the wing tip, like it's nailed in the
sky. Do the opposite to turn the other way and you should be figure of eighting within 2 kite lengths.
The smaller the kite though, the faster the wee bugger moves so you have to be on the ball. Also with the bigger kites or lighter winds, you can stall
the kite being too aggressive on the lines.
... don't forget, you can turn by pulling a hand, pushing a hand, tweaking a brake line or doing all three at once
)