Power Kite Forum

First time on the water w/ a pumpie.....

borntofli - 2-9-2010 at 06:58 PM

Winds 13-16 kts, kite slingshot rev 13....What an easy kite to ride with.. Waterstarting in the boiling whitewater that pushes you downwind no problem.. The slack lines dont bother it like the flysurfers....

This is a fast turning kite for a 13, started out on the bottom end of the wind range and working the kite is a breeze... As the wind picked up I could park it and take hands off bar and just cruise...

No problem surfing down wave faces, kite just drifts w/you, get to the bottom power up and go..

Up wind no problem, maybe not as good as the pulse but close...

Self launched and landed a couple times no problems.....

There were 2 other kiters out one on a 10 and one on a 12.. They were underpowered, couldn't get away from the shore (winds were straight onshore).

I'm likin the rev, think I can handle it to the low 20's.....

I'll keep my speed 17, but I think the pulse needs a new home..

Will take a while to get used to it, totally different from flying foils.....

we'll see how long till my next leak....

How do you know how much to pump it up?? I pump it till I think it will burst, but I can still bend the struts... The leading edge bladder is rock hard....when you thump it its a fairly high pitched sound....

Kamikuza - 2-9-2010 at 10:01 PM

Glad you like it :) I'm still not convinced I'm a pumpy man ...

How much to pump it up ... apparently, until you can't bend the LE easily. You'll notice if it's under-inflated - when you try to relaunch from the water, it'll bend under it's own weight or when you water start, bits of it will fold ... I'm paranoid the bloody thing is going to pop eh!

Is it one pump?

lives2fly - 3-9-2010 at 07:04 AM

This site has given me exploding SLE paranoia!

I never worried about bursting kites before I read lots of posts on here.

My 2003 X3's are still going strong - though admitedly they dont see much use any more!

PHREERIDER - 3-9-2010 at 07:32 AM

couple things to look for

when handling the kite on the LE , it should be rigid, very little if any flex when you flip the kite over.

LE should feel firm not soft , have your lady come out and check if you're having trouble.

at some point the valves will start to bugle, this too much.

tight like a drum. the pump valves will start to change sounds as pressure increases listen for the difference as kite just fills out but still soft

some self judgment and discovery really is the order of the day here. LE ...if its kinking and soft to the touch grip, add a few strokes more

manitoulinkiter1 - 3-9-2010 at 06:18 PM

"LE should feel firm not soft , have your lady come out and check if you're having trouble." :yes:

Thats a good funny

John

kiterformeerlyknownas - 4-9-2010 at 10:36 AM

I told you they were sweet BTF.........................now that Lunchbox has his 19M SA2 and is pleased Im probably pulling the trigger on a 12m RPM...............................