I haven't had the opportunity to really give my 9m peak a thorough test in my target winds for the kite. Today wind was light and fairly consistent.
We've had rain so wind was a little too light to traverse the wet ground very well. It worked but it was more work than fun. Luckily I have a paved
road I can use that borders the grass. I only had a 100 yards or so of pavement to use given the wind direction. It's too narrow to complete a turn
so I would use the grass on the upwind side of the pavement then complete the turn. Wind was very light so about the time I would get going again on
the pavement after a turn, I would have to start to turn again. I kept at it somehow knowing that I had the wind to make faster runs. I changed the
way I normally hold the bar by having one hand maintaining bar position in and out and one hand on the end that did all the steering. I figured out
that I had to plan my turns in advance and start turning the kite before leaving the asphalt, then use my momentum to make the turn in the grass and
make it back to the asphalt before or at same time as I dipped the kite back into the power zone after the transition so as to keep momentum.
Success, those little changes in kite and buggy piloting made all the difference in wanting to give up for the day and having a fun session for next
hour and half. Wind never changed, but my piloting did. It was kind of one of those aha moments that seem to come fewer and further between the
longer you've been kiting. I hadn't been in the buggy for probably a month and a half so I'm trying to capitalize on days I can make it out. Kind of
recharges the batteries when you discover something new or are able to make the most out of a spot and wind conditions. Although, I am getting a
little tired of learning about low wind.  |
