Zhanna - 6-3-2008 at 04:03 PM
Hi,
I am getting a series of proper lessons and just tried body dragging the other day. No doubt getting addicted. Apparently I am taking to it quite
well, according to my instructor, but feel frustrated because I keep messing up. Main problem is that I am not quite getting how to bring the kite
back to overhead (is that zenith?) when it starts getting low. Usually ends in a sudden (to me) crash.
I don't want to waste everyone's time asking a bunch of newbie questions, so I was wondering if there is something I can read on the basics of moving
the kite. I was told to get a foil and practice a lot with that, then someone told me that there is no point, sinche the "big boy's" kite behaves
differently.
Please let me know. Web would be best - I am having another lesson in a couple of days and would love to make some progress.
wexler - 6-3-2008 at 04:06 PM
Try going to coastal wind sports it should help you out.
wexler - 6-3-2008 at 05:05 PM
coastal wind sports is acampbell,s site you should check it out.
Zhanna - 6-3-2008 at 05:15 PM
I did, thank you. Does explain the wind window very well.
Still, I can't figure out what to do (the instructor was telling me what to pull, but I think there was a miscommunication) in this case: I am in the
water, being dragged by a kiteboarding kite (the kind with one edge as a tightly inflated tube). Doing figure 8's, going pretty good, but then figure
8s start going lower and lower and it crushes. I think the wind was partially to blame, it was around 7:30 and it was dying off.
How do I bring the kite back to zenith in low winds? And thank you once again.
wexler - 6-3-2008 at 05:25 PM
I do not know much about depower kites. But when I fly my kites, I pull hard on the power lines and it goes back to the zenith. This is unless you are
in really low winds.
Zhanna - 6-3-2008 at 05:32 PM
That's another thing - which ones are brake lines and which ones are power lines? Stupid question, I know...apologize in avance
wexler - 6-3-2008 at 05:53 PM
you are flying with a bar right.
Zhanna - 6-3-2008 at 05:54 PM
Yes, yellow on the left, etc.
wexler - 6-3-2008 at 06:03 PM
Pull the bar close to you that should power it up.
Bladerunner - 6-3-2008 at 06:05 PM
Start here
http://www.kitesurfingschool.org/
Then here under downloads , trick of the week
http://kitefilm.com/eng/index.asp
`There are 2 sides to the trainer kite argument. I'll ignore the wrong one :wink2:
It is WAY easier to get fly time in with a trainer. You can fly it just about any time. Even when there isn't enough wind to get out on the water. Fly
time under your belt is KEY to handeling things well. You want to be able to fly your trainer ( and therefore your water kite ) without even looking
at it. If you can do that then dealing with everything else becomes WAY easier without worrying about the kite. That only comes with hours and hours
under a kite.
Working almost everything out on a 3m trainer has less consequences if the you screw up. I feel that at 3m foil kites start to react similar too their
big brothers. Smaller than that and they become so zippy it is less realistic. Don't be fooled a 3m foil is = to about a 5m C or hybrid and has TONS
of power !
You will want to introduce the sport to your friends and the only safe way to do that is with a proper trainer.
Trainers are just so darn FUN ! They pack up to almost nothing so are easy to haul around.
If you buy a good quality trainer and for some crazy reason want to sell it you will have no problem. Not many folks do so re-sale is easy and losses
are minimal.
You can pick up a trainer for less than one lesson. Money well spent in my books !
The Beamer TSR has just dropped in price and would be a good choice.
Stick with it and you will have the time of your life !!!! :singing:
Bladerunner - 6-3-2008 at 06:16 PM
With your water kites it may be better to think of the back ( brake ) lines as steering lines. The front lines in both cases are your flying lines. On
depower kites you can trim the front lines to adjust the kites angle of attack.
Fixed bridle kites get hooked on to a bar opposite depower kites. With a fixed bridle you fly + steer on the front lines . The brake lines only come
into play for reverse launching and and backing the kite down.