new-air - 27-6-2006 at 02:39 PM
ok i am new to this sport and dont understand how landboarding works, i take it you can only go in one direction, that is wind behind you filling the
kite and kite pulling you.
Please could somebody explain
KYTE SLINGER - 27-6-2006 at 06:08 PM
Learn kite control first, not both once you can handle kiting it's one less thing you'll have to think about when your on the board...Just because you
can move the kite around the sky does not mean you learn control....
2nd I tell people to do dry runs, by this i mean is to walk w/kite as if you were on the board to get the feeling of moving along with the kite turn
the kite then turn your body do this and you learning curve will be reduce once your on the board... once again just because you can move around does
not mean your ready just yet its called learning kite control.
Trying both w/o having any Idea will prolong your learning curve... now your trying to think about 2 things instead of one..
Panic is not an option in power kiting if you do your asking for trouble.... you'll get hurt or worst someone else will ,next thing your on the wrong
end of a law suit
awindofchange - 27-6-2006 at 06:09 PM
This is the understanding that most people have about power kite sports...and it is totally wrong. You can travel in nearly every direction if you
have the right wind, the right kite, and the right conditions. The kite is very similar to a sailboat, you tack with it the same way.
Moving on a board (or buggy) requires you to move across the wind not with the wind. If you travel in the same direction as the wind, you will
eventually catch up to the same speed as the wind - making the wind on the kite non-existant and your kite will fall to the ground like a rock. Ever
seen a young kid trying to launch a diamond kite while running in the same direction as the wind? Doesn't work very well at all.
Tacking across or 90 degrees to the wind will keep the same wind power on the kite at all times. As you have already guessed, you can travel in one
direction at 90 degrees, then turn around and head back to your starting point all the while your kite is powered up. With proper speed (and a good
quality kite) you can tack against the wind - also known as going or heading upwind. Different kites will produce different types of power while
heading upwind. Usually the higher aspect ratio kites will point into the wind further than lower aspect ratio kites (rider skills is usually the
main determining factor tho). By travelling upwind and tacking in different directions, you can go pretty much anywhere you desire - upwind,
downwind, across wind. The more skill you have, the easier it is to do.
Hope this helps.