donscone - 26-10-2009 at 12:47 PM
Hi there all so where do i start.
Ok so i have always wanted to get into power kiting but just never really got a round to reserching it or finding out what it is all about.
I am one of those who didnt really put much research in and just went out and bought a kite. I one on e-bay to be shipped to me from china it was
cheap and i thought quite big (3m) when it arived i was very excited to take it out and give it a bash so found out how to set up and so and went out
on the weekend by my self. i have to say bad idea as the bloody thing just didnt seem to work properly. couldn get it up by my self at all. gave up on
that day. next time i took it out with girklfriend who help me launch. which was great had a really good time with it but also started to give me
trouble one of the tabs ripped after asking about this at a kite repair place they told that i had basicly bought crap. Which i can totaly tell now.
so i have taken it out since and had asome good times it has taught me alot. how to turn useing the brakes and so on.
So i have now been out and bought a new kite bigger as i am quite a big guy. i bought a HQ Bamer 5.0. and i have to say a really good buy. I took it
out on the weekend and OMG :shocked2: i have never felt something so powerful in my whole life. I was basicly sitting to try and keep myself in one
spot. Really was such a good rush.
I have got one problem and i know i might have gone to big to quickly but i have to stick with what i have got (very low budget) what i have found is
that when doing a right turn the kite just goes into a huge spin so i am having to brake and land and then start again the left turn is find tho and
works really well.
I know there is alot of talent and experiance.
Do any of you have any good hints and tips for me or any other newbies starting out in power kiting?
Many thanks for you time guys sorry such a long story.
:wee:
indigo_wolf - 26-10-2009 at 01:59 PM
Read:
Traction Kiting 101: First Time Out with your Four Line Traction Kite
and
Traction Kiting 102: Your Next Flights with a 4-line Kite
What kind of winds are you flying in?
You should be able to fly the Beamer with some caveats... The lower end of its wind range.
Launching at the edge of the wind window and by keeping it to the edge of the wind window until you are more comfortable with it.
If the wind is howling outside and you see cats flying by the window, trying to grab the tree branches.... Stay Home.
As to the kite veer problem, when you lay out the kite make sure there are no tangles in the bridles (the arrangement of lines directly attached to
the kite). Early in the Beamer manual there is a drawing of the kite, bridles, and lines.
Make sure all your lines are the same length before attaching them to the kite.
Make sure you don't find yourself flailing. In the heat of the moment, when you see your kite coming down, some creative arm movements suddenly come
from some dormant part of your brain. It's entertaining for onlookers, but at that point the kite already knows it's a goner and starts screaming
like a little girl.
Someone suggested using a strop (a line that attaches the pigtails at the upper back end of your handles) reduce exaggerated arm movements, that
generally hurt more than helps. When you are starting out, DO NOT use the strop to hoook into a harness or attach to anything for that matter. It's
purely for controlling arm movements, and purely optional.
I am sure others will chime in with everything I have left out 
ATB,
Sam
lynx69 - 26-10-2009 at 02:42 PM
Looks like Sam covered it all.
Maybe I missed it, but are you using handles or a control bar?
Are your brake lines attached to the same knot on the left and right braking bridle knot leader. I have found usually the third or fourth knot from
the bottom end is a good place to start.
There is no substitute for hours and hours of flying time.
Happy kiting:Ange09: