Power Kite Forum

Superman

povlhp - 14-6-2015 at 01:22 PM

Was out scudding today. 8 kts gusting to 25 kts.
Worked out ok, scary at some points even with my hornet 3m2.
Stopped after I did a superman from sitting position, hitting shoulder and head into ground. Happy I wore a helmet. Things just went so quickly. Video just looks fine then all grass. Good I wore helmet.
But now I am scared.
What is best kites for gusty wind ?

RedSky - 14-6-2015 at 02:15 PM

Where is the Superman video ? I need to see it.

8kts - 25kts, that range is too large for a fixed bridled kite to cover and even a depower kite would struggle.

You can cushion the effect of gusts if you are moving fast enough in a buggy or board.
The slower you are moving the stronger the gust effect. You will feel the full force of gusts flying static in one spot. If you are standing up and you are ready for the gust then you can allow the kite to pull your arms forward while you also make a step downwind, this helps soak up the energy.

If you are sat on the ground then it is far more difficult for the kite to pull you. Your resistance while sat on the ground will load up the kite and all this energy is momentarily stored then suddenly released. This is how jumping is performed.

Don't be scared. Next time offer less resistance to the kite. How you do that is up to you.




Bladerunner - 14-6-2015 at 04:49 PM

If you are asking what would work for just flying / scudding in those conditions you may want to look at the NASA wing and Nasa Star reviews?

As far as flying technique goes, size your kite for the gusts NOT the average wind, avoid the power zone until you are sure you are prepared for a gust, keep the kite off to one side when not actively flying. Sitting puts you in a compromised position?

HUGE prop's for wearing your helmet!
Most of us have had that post-superman apprehension. The more worried I am about injury, the more padding I where.

If I went to a place and the wind was 8 - 25 I would hunt for a better place! :)

Cheddarhead - 14-6-2015 at 07:17 PM

Quote: Originally posted by RedSky  
Where is the Superman video ? I need to see it.

8kts - 25kts, that range is too large for a fixed bridled kite to cover and even a depower kite would struggle.

You can cushion the effect of gusts if you are moving fast enough in a buggy or board.
The slower you are moving the stronger the gust effect. You will feel the full force of gusts flying static in one spot. If you are standing up and you are ready for the gust then you can allow the kite to pull your arms forward while you also make a step downwind, this helps soak up the energy.


Well said! Snow skis work wonders with this same philosophy. In over powered gusts you can simply slide down wind a little to ease the blow. Depowers work even better when you can let the bar out during a gust. Arcs better yet since they deform when a gust hits. Kuddos for wearing a helmet:thumbup:

povlhp - 15-6-2015 at 02:47 AM

Here is the video. Helmet mounted, so not much to see.
https://youtu.be/GWw8TwVWTbk

All stupidity on my part. Very little soreness today, so did not go as bad as it could.

Since 8 kts avg (means lower in periods) gusting to 16 kts is normal wind, I was hoping there was something like vented Rev kites, which handles gusts very well. But I guess this does not exists in power kiting. Only the depower, allowing you to power down when you feel the gust.

The PL Hornet 3.0m2 should be sized for wind up to 25 kts. Maybe I should supplement with a Uniq Quad 1.5m2 for now. Has the same range, but should generate less pull. And useable in lower wind.

1oldkid - 15-6-2015 at 06:16 AM

Multiple kite loops like that would certainly create some pull...

Glad you weren't hurt!

ssayre - 15-6-2015 at 06:34 AM

It looks like the only thing that went wrong was you tried to untwist on of the handles mid flight. That happens often when trying to do a mid flight untwist on just one handle. That kite should be great. Just try and anticipate the pull based on where the kite is

RedSky - 15-6-2015 at 06:56 AM

Ouch, glad you avoided stabbing yourself in the chest or face with the handles. In the video it looks like you tried to unspin the left hand line set and lost control of the kite soon after. The kite generated enough power in the down loop combined with the resistance of the long grass to bring you down.

I noticed that your index fingers are not placed over the lines. I suspect you did this to give yourself more brake leverage in the gusty wind. I sometimes do this too, but may also contribute to slightly less stability and a faster turn rate.

Windstruck - 15-6-2015 at 08:47 AM

I certainly agree with the esteemed gentleman that have commented before me. I'm no "expert" (far from it), but when flying a FB kite in strong enough winds to pull fancy superman maneuvers such as you so spectacularly captured on film (and were gratuitous enough to share with us) I've learned a couple of tricks. Related to what seemed to have happened here, when I want to untwist my lines I take my kite to the side of the wind window and spin the kite using only a single brake pull, not a whole handle pull. This considerably depowers the kite and you won't get yanked out of your socks. If you need to spin the kite clockwise to untwist the lines (undoing a previous counterclockwise spin) take the kite to the RIGHT side of the wind window and when you are ready flex your right hand such that you pull back the right brake line. this will cause the kite to spin clockwise under a lot less power than if you pull in both the brake line and main line, particularly if by doing so you move the kite through the power section of the wind window (as you so spontaneously figured out on your own).

We've all been there many, many times!

smoo - 15-6-2015 at 12:44 PM

A couple more tips;
Keep a loose grip and practice letting go of the handles before its too late.
You can undo kite loops by spinning yourself round instead of the kite.

Wish I had learnt the first sooner:rolleyes:

povlhp - 15-6-2015 at 11:12 PM

I know it was my own stupidity. But with 2-line kites, I always untwist lines at zenith. There you have the least pull. Also did that on the Hornet with left/right set twisted. The problem here is, that I though I could turn one handle only (had done it before), som some circumstances made the kite go down and spin in the power zone.

Before this try, I had untwisted most with the kite on the ground.

I wear kite-killers, and since I was already trying to use full brakes, I did not let go of the handles, thinking the kite killers would not be much more efficient. See some recommends to drop those as well. I did consider different kite killer. A line connected to the 2 brake lines, and then tied to my belt or a handstrap or something like that. Could be a simple 100 lbs line, that might break, but it would help to bring a drifting kite down faster.

With my Revs i fly with the thumb on top of the handles, but with the power kite, I feel I need the tighter grip. Maybe I should move the thumbs, and just adjust the brakes a knot more. Or maybe I am already flying it too braked.

I think that the Hornet III deforms in a "almost collapses part of the wing" way - too easily, when turning. I know my 2 lines are different. And my parachute has more cell pressure. But I still think it would be possible to create the wing such that pulling the brakes/steeering lines would twist the wing more rather than collapse part of it.

ssayre - 16-6-2015 at 03:55 AM

If it's collapsing on turns, it could be that your on the brakes too much. It will probably fly smoother without constant pressure on the brakes. At some point you will learn how to dissipate the stored energy in the lines in the form of sliding, either on your feet or butt. I've flown the newest Hornet in the 4 meter size and IMO I think it's a great flying kite and very stable. Here is a video that Spencer made that illustrates that you can really let the kite rip around in strong wind as long as your putting that energy to work.

https://vimeo.com/85508225