Power Kite Forum

PL Arc instructors in OBX?

elnica - 28-3-2012 at 12:18 PM

Are there any instructors in OBX that teach with PL Arcs?

Feyd - 28-3-2012 at 12:34 PM

Hmmm that's a good question.

chris - 28-3-2012 at 12:37 PM

To my knowledge, no one lives here now riding Arcs on a regular basis.

bigkahuna - 28-3-2012 at 12:47 PM

Nobody at this end of the Banks either. Where are you located and where on the Banks are you planning on going? If you're going to be in my area I might be able to help you get started.

BeamerBob - 28-3-2012 at 02:34 PM

Yeah, not any more. :(

bigkahuna - 28-3-2012 at 03:31 PM

Hey Elnica,

If you can't hook up with a PL instructor I wouldn't worry about it too much. You can just learn on an inflato and then transition to a PL later. The big differences are launching, relaunching and landing. But while in the air PL's and an SLE (for example) are pretty similar. I started with inflatos then switched to PL's then back to inflatos 4 years ago. The transition is pretty darn easy IMO.

PHREERIDER - 28-3-2012 at 04:59 PM

+1 easy transition tube /arc.

elnica - 29-3-2012 at 08:13 AM

Thanks for your input guys!

BeamerBob - Are you talking about AJ? I actually thought of him when I asked the question. I didn't know him personally but I did read some of his posts so when he was lost at sea I followed up on the news here pretty frequently and was sad when the final news came.

bigkahuna - I'm planning to be there the week of April 21-28, not 100% sure yet though. I've taken classes with inflatos but have had trouble with the PL's I have, it might just be a matter of getting enough practice though. I can go months without flying sometimes due to work/wind schedule conflicts. Some of the issues I have:

Inverts (maybe need to shorten the lines)
overflying (maybe need to shorten the lines)
keeping the kite on the ground to self launch (I'm going to try Fyed's clam launch next, I just got a leaf blower yesterday)
loosing pressure if the kite is down for just a few minutes (no holes, not sure where the air is going though). I thought about re-gluing the seams on the trailing edge.

Bowties are no longer an issue.

chris - 29-3-2012 at 10:16 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by elnica
Are you talking about AJ? I actually thought of him when I asked the question. I didn't know him personally but I did read some of his posts so when he was lost at sea I followed up on the news here pretty frequently and was sad when the final news came.


For whatever it's worth, AJ had actually abandoned his Arcs for Ocean Rodeos about year before his passing.

Flyfish - 29-3-2012 at 10:41 AM

Hey, elnica,
Here's a link to arc users that discusses testing pressure using a shop vac in reverse mode.
http://arcusers.net/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=693
I did it, you can really see where the kite is loseing air.
Hope it helps.

zero gee - 29-3-2012 at 03:28 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by elnica
Thanks for your input guys!

bigkahuna - I'm planning to be there the week of April 21-28, not 100% sure yet though. I've taken classes with inflatos but have had trouble with the PL's I have, it might just be a matter of getting enough practice though. I can go months without flying sometimes due to work/wind schedule conflicts. Some of the issues I have:

Inverts (maybe need to shorten the lines)
overflying (maybe need to shorten the lines)
keeping the kite on the ground to self launch (I'm going to try Fyed's clam launch next, I just got a leaf blower yesterday)
loosing pressure if the kite is down for just a few minutes (no holes, not sure where the air is going though). I thought about re-gluing the seams on the trailing edge.

Bowties are no longer an issue.


I will be on Hatteras from April 14-29.

Big gaps in sessions can make it like you have to relearn everything every time you get out. That sucks!

In my experience with the 15/10 Syns, inverts, overflying, bowties, unusual ground handling behaviour are likely signs of turbulent winds and made worse with poor inflation. Do you experience any of this at launch or during your ride, both?

The 10 often hunts for zenith (can be aggressive at times) but this is pretty normal behaviour for smaller twinskins. flapping on the ground in higher winds is normal and I usually get someone to make like a stick behind the downwind tip to stop that prior to launch.

Here is my setup (and I don't tinker with it at all)...
I fly mine on a single large zero7 bar with 27m lines (all lines equal). Added 8" (for 15m) /4" (for 10m) pigtail extension to steering lines (early batch of Syns needed this). All strap adjustments set to the middle for both kites. VPC on the 15 set to the middle. VPC on the 10 set to one knot toward slower steering (tame it a bit for the longer bar). Launch with max fill.

bigkahuna - 29-3-2012 at 04:19 PM

If you can hook up with zero gee, that would be your best option I think. I'm down at the southern end of the OBX. Most people don't come down here, it's quite a bit off the beaten path.

PHREERIDER - 30-3-2012 at 06:10 AM

if you make to HHI, glad to help you sort out things.

elnica - 30-3-2012 at 07:01 AM

Thanks guys!

Flyfish - I'm definitely trying that now that I have a leaf blower! Will probably end up taping the sand outs shut. From examining the trailing edge though there are a lot of areas where the glue is no longer holding the two skins together, just the threads holding them, although they are in good condition. Will find out if that is an issue with the pressure test.

Zero Gee - Yeah, gusty winds and somewhat rapid deflation when down or inverted so not as full as it could be. The rear lines are longer than the front ones by a few inches, I'm using a navigator bar with the Y split. but the lines seem sagging too much even at full power (no trim) so maybe that's the issue. If the syns are a later model it might not need longer rear lines. It would be great to meet up in OBX if I end up going on those dates! Still trying to sort of the details of the trip, but I should know in the next few days.

Phreerider - Thanks! I'll keep HHI in mind for the future, I've heard good things about it but haven't been there yet. Seems to be a favorite vacation spot for a good number of people around here.

elnica - 30-3-2012 at 08:55 AM

Trip confirmed.

Bigkahuna, I like off the beaten path. It's actually my favorite. Since we'll be there the whole week, I'm definitely venturing up and down as far as plausible. Maybe not take the ferry across to that one area I'm seeing on the map but who knows, I'm pretty impulsive.

Is most of the cape pretty shallow for a good ways off the coast or are there specific places that are best for learning? I don't like the idea of self rescuing with a wet arc. I've already had to drag it out of the water in the shallows before due to water intake. I'll be near salvo, NC.

bigkahuna - 30-3-2012 at 09:05 AM

> Maybe not take the ferry across to that one area I'm seeing on the map but who knows, I'm pretty impulsive.

The first ferry is to Ocracoke Island. I'm another 4 hours South of there. I'm -really- off the beaten path. Look for Atlantic Beach, NC on google maps.

chris - 30-3-2012 at 09:18 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by elnica
Is most of the cape pretty shallow for a good ways off the coast or are there specific places that are best for learning? I don't like the idea of self rescuing with a wet arc. I've already had to drag it out of the water in the shallows before due to water intake. I'll be near salvo, NC.


Salvo Day Use or the Kitty Hawk Kites Kiteboarding Resort will be your best, local spots for soundside riding in the tri-village area. The ocean is not really for beginners. The Sound is shallow enough in most places to walk 150+ yards offshore and still touch. But it really depends on your exact location. Some areas the shallows extend much further.

Kite Point at Canadian Hole is further south, just north of Buxton and is a popular destination spot for many. But it can get a bit crowded and there are power lines nearby that can be unnerving.

This link should be helpful: SBC Kiteboarding downwinder guide

Enjoy!

elnica - 4-4-2012 at 01:43 PM

Thanks for the info Chris!

One question... is it possible to landboard at OBX? I read in another post somewhere that they banned ORVs for now but are appealing in court. Does that include all terrain rollerblades and landboards pulled by a kite or just buggies?

If those are also banned it will sure reduce the amount of gear I'm taking and make room for other things... like food. hahaha.

ah here it is:

http://islandfreepress.org/2012Archives/02.28.2012-JonesIntr...