rectifier - 15-1-2014 at 12:02 AM
So I hit the lake today for a quick after work session before the sun went down. It was blowing bft 6-ish, about 30mph I suppose. I'm not sure what
the official wind range is for the Crossfires, but this is usually a fun time with my 3m and snowboard.
Unfortunately, all I had in the truck with me was my snowblades and boots. So what the hell, I've never taken them out fully powered, why not give it
a shot?
Big mistake. The temperature was +7, the snow was like glue, and it took working the kite pretty hard just to break the suction. Once up on "a plane"
the little blades had little to no edging ability, and the kite is moving pretty quick and pulling hard. Accepting that I would have to walk, it did
make for some fun drifty transitions at the start. But as the wind started to quickly increase into the overpowered range the downwind slip got worse
and worse, and my speed got well up into the range where the blades were no longer any fun at all! They chattered and shook over every tiny bump in
the snow, had little braking ability and it took all my focus just to stay on top of them.
I decided to go home after buzzing my kite too close for comfort to another kiter, as my initially far upwind line got pulled further and further
downwind no matter how hard I edged. I'll admit I was paying too much attention to trying to stay on the skis and not enough to the kite, and got
myself in a situation where I was looking at either a yard sale bail, a lofting, or pulling the kite up what felt like just enough to not clip the guy
(when I asked him later he said he was still a safe distance downwind, but it felt pretty close to him too)
Attempting to get back to my anchor I was forced to drop the kite on the killers (first time on the 3m!) as a gust nearly sent me for a superman as my
legs were too shaky to lean against it anymore. Pinned the kite down with my skis and went for the walk of shame to retrieve my bag. :sniff:
So, the silly snowblades are not coming to play in high winds anymore! Maybe I won't be quite so cavalier about flying the Crossfire near the top of
its wind range in the future, either. That little kite can get pretty mean...
abkayak - 15-1-2014 at 07:14 AM
wow...sounds like it was a fantastic night..how much for the blades?
rectifier - 15-1-2014 at 09:08 AM
Haha... I actually really like the blades in underpowered conditions where they can get a grip. I just don't think I want to go any speed considered
"fast" on them again!
snowspider - 15-1-2014 at 10:58 AM
Oh the joys of winter flying , you have to carry lots of toys to cover all the conditions you will encounter. 5 skis, 2 pair of skates , 1 buggy , 2
sleds , just for me and double it if one or two of the yahoos go with me. I leave the blades at home , nobody likes them!
rectifier - 15-1-2014 at 01:05 PM
Snowspider, I've been trying to find details or a build thread on those sleds of yours, but keep coming up short. They look like a blast.
Yep, my old snowboard is going to join the blades in my "park session" gear that's always with me in the work truck.
MeatÐriver - 15-1-2014 at 01:19 PM
Good call. That old rule of thumb....whatever piece of gear you left at home, is undoubtedly the gear you need.
snowspider - 16-1-2014 at 01:14 PM
rectifier you wont find much on my sleds because I suck at posting things! Picture three horizontal lines 12cm long 5cm between the lines (this is
your hinge) , mount the top to your seat deck and the bottom to your skis and you will have the first sled I built. The sled gets even better when
you keep the deck and the skis horizontal (top and bottom lines) but make the hinge (middle line) fit in there diagonaly (tipped forward, lower in the
front higher in the back). Mount that c0ckeyed hinge between the seat deck and each ski , this is really the key to making the skis work like a skier
on the slopes. All the rest is foot levers , cables ,and a couple of pulleys to direct the cables back to the skis. In the mean time find a thrift
store and stock up on skis.