Timouthy - 13-3-2013 at 05:09 PM
Here is my question we had alot of snow this year and I have
been trying to get out when ever I can. but with the snow I have to cut my way through it and most days I get tired fast then I put my kite down and
it gets twisted and hard to get back up and I fly foil kites , would it be better to keep it up or is there a trick to keep it down and not get
tangled ?
shaggs2riches - 13-3-2013 at 05:22 PM
Usually when I want a break, I just pull the brake handle to land the kite just on top of the snow and sit down for a quick rest. If its just a real
quick rest I sometimes leave the kite hanging at zenith. The only part that I don't like about doing that is if you were fiddling with something, and
the wind shifts or gusts, you might not be prepared to control the kite through it. But I know how you feel. Nothing more painful, when you land the
kite and find your lines get snagged and your kite flips and gets tangled.
Bladerunner - 13-3-2013 at 05:26 PM
If I get what you are asking it is how to ground handle a depower foil ?
You back the kite down on the back lines. Pretty sure HQ have a strap on the back lines to accomplish this ? Other models have " OS " handles on the
rear lines.
Once you have backed your kite down you want to attach the rear lines to your Ice screw. I use a carabineer. Then I set the bar just behind the ice
screw. The kite should sit nicely but throw snow on the trailing edge if winds are shifty. If you don't have an ice screw ( you should ) then jamming
a ski or board in the snow and attaching the rear lines to it will get you through in a pinch.
Arc style kites auto zenith so taking a break and leaving them flying is possible. The foils you have need attention .
B-Roc - 14-3-2013 at 04:16 AM
If I'm flying my depowers and I want to take a break for a few minutes I always leave it in the air and just tend to the bar. If the wind is real
sketchy its safer on the ground but if real sketchy its likely to blow around and tumbe a bit which could lead to tangles and twists which is why I
would again, leave it in the air and tend to it on the bar. If I do land it I often hook the landing line around my harness hook so I don't have to
stake it out yet Its kept securely in place. If I'm taking a long brake I will stake it out.
markite - 14-3-2013 at 07:56 AM
when you bring the kite down you are probably applying a lot of brake so that when the kite is on the ground it's so loose that wind gets underneath
and tumbles the kite into a ball. If you are taking a short brake you can bring it down and then ease off a little on how much you've pulled the
brakes. The leading edge of the kite will sit up slightly giving the surface of the kite a little more cupped shape which will increase the downward
pressure on the lower part of the kite and the wind will not get under it. BUT this also means there is a little more pressure on the kite and lines
so if you are on ice be prepared so you won't slide downwind.
The best thing to do once the kite is down is stake the bar(pulling in the brake) and walk down to the kite while it's directly downwind and laying
flat on it's back and put a series of small piles of snow along the trailing edge (or sand on the beach / or a couple of small sandbags in other
places with nothing else to pile on top). This will keep the trailing edge down flat and the wind will just blow over the rest of the kite as it lays
back flat. When ready to relaunch just pick up your bar, hook in, release the brake and slowly pull on the lines as the kite sits up higher the
snow/sand falls off the trailing edge and kite launches.