Power Kite Forum

A few newbie questions...

XdisasterXdrewX - 7-2-2010 at 12:35 PM

So i am just starting to learn about kiting and everything but i had a few questions.

1. What should I be doing to practice?

2. What is redirecting?

3. How do you do a kitejump?

manitoulinkiter1 - 7-2-2010 at 02:18 PM

Hey

Just my opinions to your questions.

1. Buy a small kite 2,3,4 meter or a trainer kite and fly the crap out of it, until you don't have to watch the kite to know where it is in the sky. Also take some lessons.

2. Redirecting is simply sending or turning the kite to a new position in the sky. Turning it.

3. Move in one direction with the kite somewhere around 1 or 11 and redirect the kite to either 11 or 1. If there is enough wind simply redirecting the kite to 12 will do the trick.
There are lots of new posts on here about jumping.
I don't recomend jumping right away though, you will come down hard.

John

acampbell - 7-2-2010 at 02:23 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by XdisasterXdrewX
So i am just starting to learn about kiting and everything but i had a few questions.

1. What should I be doing to practice?


Flying. Honestly not trying to be smart-ass, but practice practice in different types of conditions as you feel more confident. When you can put the kite where you wand to without the kite doing the same to you, then you are getting there.

Quote:
2. What is redirecting?


Used for jumping. Redirecting the motion of the kite (turning) to keep it over your head to produce lift and to keep from being dropped like a stone.

Quote:
3. How do you do a kitejump?


Don't. At least not yet. The kite you want to start on is not big enough and the kite that is big enough is not good for starters. It's the would-be jumper's conundrum. You want 5+ meters depending on weight. When ready...

http://sites.google.com/site/chrismwhittaker/pendulumjump

Just remember that there are plenty of pictures posted here of X-rays of shattered legs & feet.

Be safe and have fun. Good for asking, though.

XdisasterXdrewX - 7-2-2010 at 03:25 PM

Thanks alot both of you!
Ive flown my Legend twice (Once with crappy wind and once with way too much wind) and I wasnt sure if there was really anything i should be doing besides just flying it. I guess ill just keep flying it whenever i get a chance.

Kamikuza - 7-2-2010 at 06:46 PM

Fly the kite - practice controlling it by "parking" it an 9 o'clock the moving it to 10 o'clock etc etc. Dive the kite, feel the power and slide with it; work the kite by doing figure eights etc; get used to the wind window by moving the kite around slowly (edges of window) or quickly (in the power zone) ...

furbowski - 7-2-2010 at 07:05 PM

Also in anticipation of future jumping you'll want to be able to fly the kite blind.

Wait till you fly a wind you're familiar and comfy with, then start flying it up near the zenith in little fig eights while looking at the ground.

Then get used to flying the kite lower and lower in the wind window ie more and more powered up.

Do it a little each session and the skill will build up.

If the sun is shining from upwind the shadow helps you cheat. :lol:

Then when you start jumping you'll be able to keep your eyes on your landing while still having some control over the kite, and as you practice jumping you'll continue to get better and better at flying blind.

lives2fly - 8-2-2010 at 09:18 AM

Yeah I would say all of the above but with some additions

static flying (ie flying a kite with no board or buggy on your feet) can get a little boring if you dont jump so i would suggest you start trying as soon as you have done a few sessions.

I would also get a landboard or buggy asap because this is where the real fun is imo. There is a lot more to learn with some kind of "vehicle" and it will keep you interested and inspired.

good starting kite size is 3 - 4 metres. good learning winds are more than 10mph and less than 20 mph

If you dont weigh much go for a smaller kite - if you are heavy get a larger one.

other than that just get out and fly and enjoy yourself