macboy - 17-11-2007 at 11:24 PM
Might seem obvious to most all of you but I'm still not quite sure I know.....
What is it? And how does it differ from a non-race kite then?
Pablo - 18-11-2007 at 12:28 AM
Race Kite
Very high aspect, they usually trade off a great deal of stability for a large increase in speed/power/turning ability. A good one will respond nicely
to fine brake input allowing you to tune the kite's flying characteristics simply by feeding in the right amount of brake input.
Freestyle kite
Slower through the window, should turn plenty quick, more focus on raw lift instead of speed, usually more stable but still a handful in any sort of
gusty conditions. Something like the Blades pretty much define a good freestyle kite.
Beginner/Cruising/Freeride kite
More stable, moves good, but easy to handle, It'll make it easy to learn, easy and enjoyable to cruise around and in general have fun, usually they
can take a wide variety of wind/gusts.
Some kites will fit into more than one catagory, something like the blade is fast enough to race with at some levels, but not up to race kite speeds,
most race kites will lift enough to jump with, but not really stable so they'll have a tendancy to luff on the landing if you don't redirect properly.
macboy - 18-11-2007 at 12:38 AM
Thanks Pablo!
NPWfever - 18-11-2007 at 01:10 PM
Yeah I went jumping with my Ace today and it would always fall to the ground every time I landed. The Ace is hard to turn, so do I just need to turn
harder or add some more brake on that side? Sorry to hijack the thread, you can have it back, just wanted to ask a Q
Pablo - 18-11-2007 at 02:39 PM
More brake, You can keep adding in brake input until you reach the point where the brake input is starting to collapse the kite.
Timing is key, you really need to throw the kite the other way, then with a larger slower turning kite, you've got to start redirecting it early. You
may find that you're throwing the kite one way, and starting to redirect in prep for your landing just as you're leaving the ground.
macboy - 18-11-2007 at 03:06 PM
I think I understand this BUT where does one redirect to? Right back where you came from (I don't think that makes sense), back into the powerzone,
out to the edge or top of the window?...not that I need to know right now - might just get me into more trouble than I need right now......
5m1FF - 18-11-2007 at 04:25 PM
Say you're flying with the leading edge of the kite heading to your right; and you flick the kite up by pulling the left side/handle to give you the
lift. Then re-direct the kite again by pulling on the right side/handle to give you a smoother landing. It'll maintain the power without so much lift,
so you dont get dumped.
macboy - 18-11-2007 at 05:44 PM
Gotcha. Thanks for that!
Now, if I were flying as you say from the left to the right, how high (in degrees) is the kite and at what point will I flick it up to lift (left of
the middle of the window, middle of the window, just past middle)?
acampbell - 18-11-2007 at 05:51 PM
http://chris.m.whittaker.googlepages.com/pendulumjump
macboy - 18-11-2007 at 05:51 PM
One more thing.....back to the original question.......
What makes a kite a "snowkite"? I see some people selling kites as "snowkites" but the same ones also being sold as just power kites (Ozones in
particular but I've seen others). I'm hoping I'll be able to use my Rage and Ace's as "snowkites" but if I shouldn't I better find out why and get
some more suited to the purpose.
tridude - 18-11-2007 at 08:16 PM
OK BRoc this ones yours!
Bladerunner - 19-11-2007 at 09:09 AM
My 1st runs on snow were on a 3m JoJo and a 4.5 Bullet and 20mph wind. Then a 7m Bullet so similar gear to you. It worked O.K. but I found that wind
speed changes a lot as you travel and my fixed bridle kites limited the range I can handle. Depower is better and safer in the mountians but not
required.
Some companies make open cell depower kites with snowkiting as their # 1 purpose.
To me a good snowkite is depowerable, easy to set up, gust munching, total depower with easy relaunch. A nice mesh like Skycountry uses on the
openings is a nice bonus !
Flexi's mesh sucks on snow !!!