macboy - 8-12-2007 at 11:27 AM
I just read a post of Pab's about taking a smaller kite out in lower winds with long lines, working it to get power out, etc. He said lengths of
25-30m, possibly 40.
I fly 22 and 25m lines on all my kites (it's what they came with) and am wondering if I'm missing out on something by not experimenting with different
lengths. What lengths do you all fly and for what benefit / discipline?
Pablo - 8-12-2007 at 11:42 AM
If you want to try an experiment, hook two of your line sets together, be careful not to loop the kite as the joints in the lines can get tangled when
they're twisted. You'll find you have a stupid large window so it's easy to keep the kite in it. You'll also have no problem keeping the kite in the
power zone, The longer power strokes will allow you enough time to get moving then carry on with apparent winds. Short lines will completely limit the
power strokes, you end up having a hard time really working the kite, but it'll be super responsive. This can be a good thing in higher winds. With a
small window the kite doesn't have time to pick up much apparent winds, it also makes the kite really quick to respond to direction changes and such.
I usually fly 20m lines on my smalles kite to survive high winds, 25m lines on most of my other kites, then 30m lines on my largest kite to get as
much low wind performance out of it.
For Racing or Jumping I think you'd probably want 25m lines or possibly shorter. With the smaller window the kite will redirect much quicker. Racers
will have an easier time changing directions, freestyle guys will have a much quicker response when sending the kite up to jump. I find jumping with
long lines the kite takes so long getting to zenith that you often get dragged long before the kite's overhead, short lines would allow it to load and
pop much quicker.
Hope that makes some sort of sense.
Pdxnebula - 8-12-2007 at 02:06 PM
What Pablo said... His old Buster 9.0mē has lots of grunt & lift Im sure but with 100' lines it has plenty of time to pickup the power
& just Scuds you before you get a chance to get any Pop out of it for lifting... Not sure what it flys like on shorter lines yet.. All I have are
100'foot so its got a BIG power zone...