Power Kite Forum

SUK in OBX

grigorib - 4-8-2015 at 01:03 PM

Stand Up Kiting. Sounds shameful but imagine being in Hatteras at the knee-deep sound side and there was no wind for day and a half, it's noon time and it blows buttersmooth 4 knots. Well, I was tempted and SUK didn't suck! 19m Speed3 Deluxe on top of ULI inflatable SUP lasted me good hour or so before wind picked up.
However the 19m seems too massive for that game and Peak2 is said to stay in the air at 3.5 knots. Being in knee deep water an occasional kite relaunch shouldn't be a big challenge for a Peak. However the Lotus is only 30% heavier but the low end is claimed much higher, at 9 knots for 10m.

I'd compare SUK to street kiting - might even get by without a harness, might be sufficient with a dual liner too. The only requirements I see are ultimate low end, a bar setup (to be able to use one hand to grab the board) and somewhat water-relaunchability, but the last one is not a must.
Has anyone here tried that, any suggestions on a kite that wouldn't suck in 3+ knots?

Windstruck - 4-8-2015 at 01:29 PM

I've successfully flown my 12m Peak 2 in winds that low, but they better be steady. I don't care how light a wind range the kite has, it needs steady wind to stay up in the air. I bring this point up because the Peak series is a single skin with nothing inflated in it. I haven't had any experience flying it over water (of any depth) but have gotten caught in a rain storm with it and it not surprisingly became a sodden mess in moments. You mentioned "...being in knee deep water an occasional kite relaunch shouldn't be a big challenge for a Peak...". If I'm understanding you properly that would involve the Peak landing in the water.... I must be missing something but I just don't see that turning out well.

ssayre - 4-8-2015 at 01:29 PM

You should know what I'm going to say before I say it. 12.5 nasa star 3:D

grigorib - 4-8-2015 at 01:33 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Windstruck  
...If I'm understanding you properly that would involve the Peak landing in the water.... I must be missing something but I just don't see that turning out well.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6jT3k__T84

grigorib - 4-8-2015 at 01:37 PM

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre  
You should know what I'm going to say before I say it. 12.5 nasa star 3:D


How much low end does it have? Does it have to be so big?

Randy - 4-8-2015 at 01:39 PM

As for the Peak relaunch - lot of things work at OBX that don't work anywhere else, though. In this case being in knee deep water probably makes a very big difference. No drifting downwind, causing the lines to slack.

You might check out the F-One Source kite - 18 m designed for SUK. Also the Hydra HQ series are a lot smaller but water relaunchable (at OBX at least).


ssayre - 4-8-2015 at 02:17 PM

Quote: Originally posted by grigorib  
Quote: Originally posted by ssayre  
You should know what I'm going to say before I say it. 12.5 nasa star 3:D


How much low end does it have? Does it have to be so big?


The largest I've flown is my 7 meter. They are available in 8.5, 10, 12.5

Not sure what the range is, but John Holgate has said he buggies in 3-7 knots with his 10 meter

grigorib - 4-8-2015 at 02:37 PM

A question to Peak folks:
Flysurfer specifies 3.5 knots low end for either 6m, 9m and 12m versions. Is it really so? Does canopy weight and drag increase for each step eat away all the additional low end it gains with area increase?

What about practical low end of 6m Lotus? Did anyone had a chance to measure that?

ssayre - 4-8-2015 at 03:01 PM

6m peak flies in a whisper but won't deliver any appreciable power until 10+

John Holgate - 4-8-2015 at 03:41 PM

For the 10m NS2, I probably need 6 knots to be able to park 'n ride in the buggy. You could static fly it in 3 knots but it would be a bit of work. I've seen video of Steffen using the 7m on a SUP pretty successfully by the look. Don't think you could water relaunch it though. The Hydra II might be more the ticket - there's a 4.5m now available in them. A little info here: http://www.extremekites.com.au/topic/15447-hq-hydra-ii/

Windstruck - 4-8-2015 at 04:03 PM

Great seeing the Peak aquatic relaunch video! I didn't know they could do that, regardless of how ideal the conditions were. Thanks for that.

My early impression of flying multiple sizes of single skin kite quivers is that they all will launch in very little wind, but as folks are saying, the larger the kite is the earlier in the wind range is the point where the kite will have enough grunt to actually use it as a motor. I would think that the resistance of a SUP in water might be sort of comparable to a buggy on a field of grass that could use a good mowing or a sandy beach that isn't overly hard packed. That's just theory on my part, no actual SUP experience. With that in mind I am speculating the need to size up one kite to keep things all square. Again, just speculation on my part.

About the Nasa Stars (at least the ones I have experience with, Born-Kite NS3s) these kites can have a tendency to stall or fly backwards when getting quite low in their wind range. I can get my 8.5m NS3 up in the air in light wind but sooner or later I'm stalling out and the kite backs down to the ground. Surely pilot error is involved here. I suspect therefore that even in the larger 10.0 and 12.5m sizes that this backing-up issue will still be present. I've got a 10.0m NS3 on order and am anxious to see just how light a wind I can use this kite effectively as a buggy engine.

3shot - 4-8-2015 at 04:58 PM

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre  
You should know what I'm going to say before I say it. 12.5 nasa star 3:D


How did I know you were going to say that! :thumbup:

grigorib - 4-8-2015 at 07:08 PM

Any comments on 6m Lotus please?
It weighs 2.64 lbs compared to 2.07 lbs of Peak2 and I'm sure it can fly in low wind. How low though?

volock - 4-8-2015 at 08:21 PM

I've used my small LEIs and SUP board when there's not enough wind to get up with the equipment I have, or to get upriver for the ride down (did this with my venom more than I should admit, especially with the swerving it to get low for overpasses.

Randy - 5-8-2015 at 04:41 AM

Quote: Originally posted by volock  
I've used my small LEIs and SUP board when there's not enough wind to get up with the equipment I have, or to get upriver for the ride down (did this with my venom more than I should admit, especially with the swerving it to get low for overpasses.


What size LEI's were they?

volock - 5-8-2015 at 05:11 PM

5m and 9m, maybe my 7m one day, I don't remember. Especially on the SUP Board I have (Boardworks Badfisher 11' Inflatable) you really can't hold much of an edge. So while fun to mess around with when I first started in the water or waiting for wind to come up enough my 14 or 16m can pull my fat ass out of the water and get up (I'm still very new and learning the water side of things, as I can't get out much for it, and have sucky inland wind), it was a way to be entertained, and get a small workout in. I also took some friends kids around that way on my SUP board which they were all thrilled by.

ssayre - 5-8-2015 at 05:20 PM

Wow, just looked up one of those inflato sup boards. Those things are expensive!

Randy - 6-8-2015 at 08:10 AM

What's worse is the used market for all things SUP is very pricey too.

grigorib - 6-8-2015 at 08:58 AM

I bought a Slingshot iSUP before the June OBX trip with my family who aren't kiteboarders (yet). They loved the SUP, they loved the sound side and partially so because of the SUP. Pricey or not that was a great investment. And for inflatable - it's just easier to transport and store it and we go places every year where we can use it.

kitemaker4 - 6-8-2015 at 08:59 AM

I have flown and buggyed with a 15 meter npw9 in less then 5 mph winds.

Susan (npw goddess)

volock - 6-8-2015 at 10:40 AM

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre  
Wow, just looked up one of those inflato sup boards. Those things are expensive!


Yup, far more so than you'd expect. I got lucky and got a factory blemish (color slightly off) one through Sierra Trading Post for about 50% of what they run new. Inflatable is nice with my tiny car, and taking it backpacking to some lakes in the national forest for fishing, doubles as a fantastic sleeping pad.

PHREERIDER - 7-8-2015 at 07:00 AM

i have dabbled in the SUK on a borrowed board , certainly opens the sessions up. the inflatables are the way to go. hauling the regular ones around on a vehicle or just carrying to the beach is a load and an instant turn off, but the inflatables definitely better!

i think NPW would make it an easy package.

friend of mine (and RANDY's! ) scores a ton of fun rides with SUP + windsurf sail in light wind.

the streetkite / SUK very close for sure. the longboard comes around much quicker though and flow seems a little faster

Windstruck - 7-8-2015 at 07:43 AM

I'm going to San Diego for a family vacation next week and hope to do some SUP in the bay (not open ocean). Winds forecast is for 10 mph, but who knows what that really means?

I have a number of NS3s in smaller sizes (2.5, 3.2, and 4.0m) that I could run straight off of a bar. Any thoughts on what size or sizes might be right for giving this a whirl?

Thanks!! :D

smiler8401 - 7-8-2015 at 07:59 AM

probably this video could give some idea ..






https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ekn6tNhEq9w

Windstruck - 7-8-2015 at 08:10 AM

Thanks Smiler! I'd seen that video before and liked it. I have some 7m lines on order from Steffen that would let me set up similar to how he is rigged in the video. Don't have those line yet unfortunately. I've only got his full length 20m lines or running straight off of handles as my two options at this point. I think I'll bring a bar and a couple of smaller kites and just see what happens. I see he was using a NS2 5.5m in that video.

Should be fun!

smiler8401 - 7-8-2015 at 09:34 AM

oooh...i had download and keep watching this video ever seen i start kiting some year back ...hoping one day i can try it ..
so it just a spot-on ...

as every one say ...the price and transportation is a turn off..
I can make nasa but not the sup , it were to much for my skill level .

so you almost there .....hope it work and posting some action ..

below sporting sail . it look more simple in case those option fail ... lol.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AG5WrVSm4yM

grigorib - 7-8-2015 at 02:25 PM

Well, hold on here guys. Let's start with "upwind is not negotiable".
I can go straight downwind using a plastic bag anytime :)

ssayre - 7-8-2015 at 02:45 PM

Quote: Originally posted by PHREERIDER  
i have dabbled in the SUK on a borrowed board , certainly opens the sessions up. the inflatables are the way to go. hauling the regular ones around on a vehicle or just carrying to the beach is a load and an instant turn off, but the inflatables definitely better!

i think NPW would make it an easy package.

friend of mine (and RANDY's! ) scores a ton of fun rides with SUP + windsurf sail in light wind.

the streetkite / SUK very close for sure. the longboard comes around much quicker though and flow seems a little faster


I agree there could be some similarities but longboard seems much faster than the SUK videos I've seen.

And yes grigorib, I do make it upwind. That would be a deal breaker for me as well



Randy - 7-8-2015 at 06:47 PM

Quote: Originally posted by smiler8401  
probably this video could give some idea ..






https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ekn6tNhEq9w


I bought my NS2 5.5 because of that video. It looks like he is pretty much going downwind though, but a bit hard to tell. Having rudder makes it much easier (possible?) to go across the wind with an SUP.