Power Kite Forum

just starting

joe - 5-3-2010 at 09:32 PM

I am buying a Hq beamer III 3.0 and I was wondering if that was a reliable kite, and if it would lift my 155 pounds up off the ground just wondering if you had any tips,:wee: thanks.

joe - 5-3-2010 at 09:37 PM

how are the lines and the durability for a normal kite and do they last long.

just starting

joe - 5-3-2010 at 10:41 PM

I am buying a Hq beamer III 3.0 and i was just wondering if this kite could pick my155 pounds high off the ground, and do power kites and lines last long, thanks:wee:

ps, my budget is about 200 dollars if you recomend another kite better for jumping please tell me. I just want to say i am sorry that i offended anyone, all i wanted to know is if a 3.3m power kite could at least lift me 5+ ft off the ground.
I know the risks and i am willing to suffer the consequences of dangerous flying, but I am a very fit athlete, and do tons of things that can possibly get me hurt and have gotten hurt, so I know my limits and whats safe and whats not. So if you have any kite recomendations or tips please comment.
Ps: I am not a baby like some of you so i don't care if i float slowly to the ground. If you want i will get you a pillow to put under your feet every time you land .

indigo_wolf - 5-3-2010 at 10:50 PM

indigo_wolf - 5-3-2010 at 10:52 PM

Already responded to here.

Did you mean to double-post in different sections (generally frowned upon).

All the best,
Sam

lad - 5-3-2010 at 10:54 PM

Though the Beamer is not designed as a jumping kite, the 3m could certainly pick you up in some conditions.

But, landing could be another matter...:singing:

(IOW, a larger sail can give more float and safer landings. But it won't be as easy to handle in higher winds - winds which a beginner shouldn't want to go out in anyway.)

Learn the basics first before you try any (deliberate) jumping and don't start with anything much bigger than your 3m.

Their longevity depends on how you treat them (sun, abrasion, crashes, salt water, etc). You should at least get a few seasons with the lines, and years with the kite.

joe - 5-3-2010 at 10:58 PM

sorry about the double post i did not see the jumping section until after i posted.......
and what do you think of a HQ rush III 3.0 for jumping?

joe - 5-3-2010 at 11:03 PM

yes i have safety gear, and will the lines hold my weight, how fast do you think i will drop

joe - 5-3-2010 at 11:11 PM

basicaly i want to get high in the air i dont care about risks

dylanj423 - 5-3-2010 at 11:32 PM

joe, you are going to get hurt with that attittude, please see to it that you dont hurt anybody else. our sport has lost enough credibility because of certain people who dont care about the risks.

there are reasonable safe ways to practice this stuff, but it seems you dont care. like i said, just try not to hurt anybody else.

by the way, both kites you mention suck for jumping for what its worth, but i wont be giving you any more advice on the matter.

InvertedForce - 6-3-2010 at 01:12 AM

A 3m kite will get you in the air a bit in high enough winds, but it won't sustain you and keep you floating. It'll be pretty violently up and then down. The bigger the sail area, usually, the more float and lift you have. Get used to controlling your kite, and knowing how it responds to your input.

Control and redirection are PARAMOUNT. I cannot stress that enough. Knowing how to keep the kite in the air and with sufficient power will help you keep as much float as a 3m kite can give. When you jump, the redirect DURING the jump is important, as it keeps power in the kite, and gives you the maximum amount of float. Without it, the kite will most likely fold up or shoot out of the wind window and you'll drop faster than you'd like.

Be prepared to get jerked around at first as you'll not know what you're doing until you get some time in and experience the dynamics of flying a powerful kite. As a general rule, don't go out for big air right away. Get to know your kite so you can feel it and almost know where it is in the sky without even looking at it. Once you have that kind of control, you can safely jump and setup your jumps to get maximum air, float, travel distance, whatever you're hoping to achieve.

Hope that helps.
Like others have said, I will reiterate. Keep safe, don't hurt anybody else, and HAVE FUN!

InvertedForce - 6-3-2010 at 01:14 AM

And by the way, most of those dyneema lines can hold upwards of 400lbs a piece. If you have 2-4 lines, thats PLENTY of strength.

I cannot recall the source where I originally saw that... perhaps somebody else can correct or confirm that figure. Either way, the lines are plenty strong.

bobalooie57 - 6-3-2010 at 06:23 AM

Hey joe, lots of good advice to be had here, you only have to think about it. You say you want to get high in the air, not worried about the risks. What happens when you land badly, (it happens) and break a bone? No more kiting or jumping for 6-8 weeks, usually at a minimum! Just ask around to any of us wind-addicted fools, how long is 6-8 WEEKS without flying?

lad - 6-3-2010 at 06:56 AM

"basicaly i want to get high in the air i dont care about risks "

Dude, if that's really your attitude, then you probably don't need to ask us any more questions.

There's enough videos around showing people getting severely injured. And keep in mind Youtube doesn't seem to allow videos of people actually dying - that happens in this sport, too.

If you're still not convinced, just scan through some posts from experienced kiters here about serious injuries. These were guys (and gals) who generally knew what they were doing, but still got caught off guard.

If you still don't think injury, pain or being laid off from school or work is serious, then think of how much good weather and fun you're missing out on while you're still laid up.

Plus, foolishness like this gets our sport BANNED in more and more places. So you can't even find a place to do it in.

It's just not worth it.

Bladerunner - 6-3-2010 at 07:15 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by joe
basicaly i want to get high in the air i dont care about risks



WRONG attitude !!!!! We all enjoy this sport because we DO care about the risks and want to manage them to our best advantage. So do you !


You won't get anyplace but the E.R. with that approach. Most of us want big air and nice smooth landings . You aren't alone there.Work with us and we can help you learn how to go big and live !

If you simply want big air go jump off of a bridge! :moon:

lad - 6-3-2010 at 07:43 AM

"Most of us want big air and nice smooth landings . You aren't alone there.Work with us and we can help you learn how to go big and live !"

RIGHT ON!!!!
Can I get a big AMEN from the choir! :yes:

canuck - 6-3-2010 at 08:34 AM

AMEN

Power kiting is called an extreme sport for good reasons. Your life, and the lives of downwind bystanders, are literally in your hands every time your launch your kite. Winds can be very unpredictable and a big gust will eventually catch up with you.

Enjoy the sport, be responsible.

BigMikesKites - 6-3-2010 at 10:26 AM

As you have already noted, most of the people on this forum are looking out for one another in more ways than one. We are a community seperated only by distance.

To answer your questions, a 3m isn't something you should try to jump with. Jumping should be only done with caution, with safety gear, and with someone else nearby watching you so they can dial 911 when you can't.

The problem with a 3m is if you do get airborne, there isn't enough fabric to keep you there, so the landing is rough. I am not a jumper, but A 5m would probably be on the lower end of safer jumping, but that would be only if you are a pretty experienced flyer already.

Learn to fly, if you know how to fly, find someone who is close to you who knows how to jump safely, learn from them. They will be able to help you out. At that point you will know what type of kite you need to do what you are trying to do.


Good luck, be safe.

joe - 6-3-2010 at 10:46 PM

I just want to say i am sorry that i offended anyone, all i wanted to know is if a 3.3m power kite could at least lift me 5+ ft off the ground.
I know the risks and i am willing to suffer the consequences of dangerous flying, but I am a very fit athlete, and do tons of things that can possibly get me hurt and have gotten hurt, so I know my limits and whats safe and whats not. So if you have any kite recomendations or tips please comment.
Ps: I am not a baby like some of you so i don't care if i float slowly to the ground. If you want i will get you a pillow to put under your feet every time you land :(.

WIllardTheGrey - 6-3-2010 at 11:13 PM

Good luck, have fun, don't post the video, we don't need any more bans, thank you.

Hope you have health and liability insurance.

InvertedForce - 6-3-2010 at 11:17 PM

Thats a pretty douche-bag attitude, man. People are just trying to be helpful and cautious, you don't have to call them babies. But don't get angry at us when after you hurt yourself we say "Told ya so."

joe - 6-3-2010 at 11:24 PM

ok fine but can some one answer my question will it pick me up off the ground and about how high.

InvertedForce - 6-3-2010 at 11:31 PM

No, a 3 meter kite will not pick you up off the ground over 1 foot. You need at least 5m to get some DECENT air. With a 5 meter kite, in 12-16 mph winds you can probably get 6-8 foot jumps consistently.

Here's the problem:
Since you are new to the sport, you more than likely WONT get air. Instead, due to lack of experience, your kite will probably sit lower in the window and when you go to jump, it will yank you FORWARD, instead of up. This causes the ever-familiar superman feeling, until you go face-scudding on the dirt for a few feet. Don't hot launch directly downwind, otherwise as soon as the kite gets ~20-30 feet up, you'll go flying forward.

Thats why everyone suggests learning kite control before you attempt to jump. Not just for the sheer safety factor, but because learning to position the kite for optimal jumping performance isn't inherent. It's a learned and acquired skill.

Best of luck.

WIllardTheGrey - 6-3-2010 at 11:31 PM

Any power kite can pick you up. How high depends on wind and your skill.
what's the smallest kite you've ever jumped on?
Quote:
Originally posted by beachrights
The 1st kite I ALWAYS take out of my bag to "warm up" with is my 2.5 Bullet. I have jumped with this kite many times. Yes- its not made for jumping but any kite will lift if the conditions are right!

As for the smallest- Are you ready?....1.8 Beamer II. In extreme high winds I can get 3-4 feet up with this. Fast and hard but its still a flight!


Note beachrights has YEARS of experience, truly understands the risks involved, and DOESN'T! want his "beachrights" revoked.

highazakite - 6-3-2010 at 11:46 PM

hey joe you are looking for the same kite this guy is using
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLFk1HZCoiY&feature=relat...

joe - 6-3-2010 at 11:48 PM

what kite would you suggest i get for jumping my price range is 250 dollars (or should i save up more money) i just dont want to spend alot of money on something i dont know if i like or not.

WIllardTheGrey - 7-3-2010 at 12:09 AM

Should we mention the outdated "C" word?:ticking::dunno:

Its a quick end to macho attitudes, usually in the ER.

Kamikuza - 7-3-2010 at 12:46 AM

Should've bought my 4.5m Bullet for just over $200 - that'll yank me off the ground in good wind - and I weigh almost twice what you do :D Of course, knowing how to fly it properly helps!


... C word? C-Quad? Oh wait what ... wow I just clicked C-Quad = C4 ... them Kiwis are pretty witty :lol:

WIllardTheGrey - 7-3-2010 at 01:49 AM

The C you have to pump.:evil: Got mine for 90 bucks, it even came with the words "Great kite to learn on";-) I should-of sued.

"C4":lol: now I have to get my hands on one of those 8.5s that -mj- was talking about. (looks for thread)

Maven454 - 7-3-2010 at 06:24 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by joe
Ps: I am not a baby like some of you so i don't care if i float slowly to the ground. If you want i will get you a pillow to put under your feet every time you land :(.


If you don't care about floating safely to the ground, I've got a much better way for you to get air than kiting. It's called jumping off of a building. Easier to choose how much air you get, just pick the correct height building. Although you'll still have to put up with a bunch of whiny babies trying to tell you that it isn't safe, you shouldn't listen to them, they're obviously sissies.

The major difference between most other sports and kiting (and the reason that being a fit athlete won't help much) is that kiting isn't powered by your muscles, it's powered by the wind. And you have no control over what the wind decides to do to you other than by using the knowledge gained from your previous kiting experiences.

Bladerunner - 7-3-2010 at 10:11 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by joe
I just want to say i am sorry that i offended anyone,
Ps: I am not a baby like some of you so i don't care if i float slowly to the ground. If you want i will get you a pillow to put under your feet every time you land :(.


A baby is born with common sense. You have clearly suffered damage since then !

Stick with the 3m . YES you can jump with a 3m . It's the best kite for those landing you are looking for. To be sure you get tons of air do it off of something real high ! It's easy !
:rolleyes:

Txshooter38 - 7-3-2010 at 11:00 AM

Before you fly make sure the hospital near you has internet so you or your family can keep us posted.

Drewculous - 7-3-2010 at 03:08 PM

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man... i'm off the boards for a day and i miss all this :o wow

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good starter kite... bad jumper kite