Power Kite Forum

Kitesurfer to ATB kiting info please

divingdingo - 23-7-2008 at 06:23 AM

Hi all

I've many questions, i wonder if anyone could be so kind as to spend the time to answer some of them.

I'm a regular kitesurfer having done that for about 1 year now. but am thinking of taking up a little ATB kiting action aswell, as i travel to windy land locked areas so often that i want to harness my kiting skills in another direction.


I'm used to flying a 5th line kitesurfing kite (e.g Naish boxer 8m and torch 12m) how similiar are the kites that i would need to fly for ATBing? i've read of the four line systems with bar. do these have a chicken loop system too in order to attach to a harness? can i use the same harness? i want something as close to what i'm already used to but then i don't want to compromise on usibility too much.

what about wind speeds? usually i wont get a surfing session in any winds lighter than 12mph with my 12m kite, I know it's all dependant on kite size, but if i'm keen to get into Jumping and freestyle on the ATB's and go for a 5m or 6m kite what sort of wind speeds do you need to get a session in? (i'm average build) I'm just wondering if when i'm home i'll get to ATB, as I'm a kitesurfer at heart and when possible am at the beach!! but if i can get some good ATBing in lighter winds then mores the better!!

anyone want to give their 2 pence's worth on suitable kit?

board
harness (if i can't use my other one)
Kites (it seems like the blade has good reviews)
lines/bar setup

huge thanks

dingo

kiteNH - 23-7-2008 at 07:07 AM

board........I love my MBS Pro 6 but I'm sure you could find a plenty suitable model for a little less $.

harness.....should be able to use your kitesurf one

kites.........Since you're used to flying a depower LEI's I'd recommend a depower open cell foil for landboarding as well. An Ozone Frenzy would probably be a great choice although I have only flown the Access. I'm not clear on what winds you want to be using this in so I don't know what size you want. The HQ Montana III's have a good reputation as well and are a bit more affordable but I think its safe to say that Ozone is king in the open cell depower market if you can afford it.

Also, I think you could fly your LEI's with the ATB as long as you don't mind pumping and are willing to risk crashing them into the ground. I'd probably opt for the open cell foil if you have the $.

PHREERIDER - 23-7-2008 at 07:13 AM

welcome dingo
you can use the same harness. but you will need some hill billy pants and knee pads/gloves. use the kites you have gonna need about 10mph to make the lei work the 8m a little more. lots of great foils to choose from. pansh is a great inexpensive way to start. The ace is the lifty one. quad handles are easy to useand you can use a strop line to harness in

you don't NEED a harness to start but you will want one.

a low wind kite 5-6mph is the reactor PL, amazing, no lift though 6-8m is good

blade is a lifty kite, might be what you need, keep looking and reading alot of help at PKF

divingdingo - 23-7-2008 at 07:31 AM

May thanks for the help guys... that's definately a good start. didn't think about using my current kites, although i guess why not.

right... more research necessary.... cheers for the help

think i might get the board first just so i can get out there oh yeah and some hilly billy pants!!

can't wait to get grass stained!!

dingo

PHREERIDER - 23-7-2008 at 07:50 AM

i have used all my lei with my atb. you really have to keep the kite busy and keep it higher in lighter winds. once your rolling keep the tension and work the kite. grass will require more wind.

i picked up the atb to fill the lightwind when i could not hit the water. and it lead me here just like you.


Ground industries makes good boards,

remember water = splash
land = crack
you need much tighter kite skills to trick out on land. it is a little slower than water so balance is more critical. lots of sliding. it has refined my water skills.

divingdingo - 23-7-2008 at 08:27 AM

"you need much tighter kite skills to trick out on land. it is a little slower than water so balance is more critical. lots of sliding. it has refined my water skills"


that's exactly what i was hoping for.

BTW WTF does LEI mean?

I'm ot into three letter accronyms to much, neither kiting terminology as i just pick up and go!!
I presume you are talking about my bladder kites yeah?!

I'm hoping that i can refine my skill on land in lighter winds, in a park across the way from me which gets good wind when bigbury doesn't work for my water kiting.

so maybe i just pick up a board and mess with my 8m.

sounds like a good plan, and cheap cross over too!

PHREERIDER - 23-7-2008 at 09:24 AM

same here, i am a techno cripple, type and spell like a monkey

this is a foil crowd (open cell and closed cell kites, that means no bladders to pump)
LEI =inflatable leading edge (like your c-kites)
a bow with a small bridle SLE=supported leading edge

great info on threads here

i have been on here about 6 months and learned much about the huge choices in gear

i am self taught completely on water and land so i don't use the proper terms either but there is good friendly help here.

should be able to get into good board $200-300 easy.

ATB can hit 40-50 mph ..........so if your gonna be dumb you gotta be tuff. or pad up!

Bladerunner - 23-7-2008 at 01:41 PM

YUP,

Go with the kites you have to get started. If you find you enjoy it ( and you will !) You may want to purchase a big open cell foil for those almost no wind days.
Poaching a good low wind day when there is no way you can get on the water is Sweeeet!
You can also pick up a small kite like say a 2.5 profoil cheap for those ultra high wind days. The kites you have should cover the middle ground + give you more reason to think about the kite 1st.

Your harness should work fine.

ikemiester - 23-7-2008 at 09:36 PM

Welcome
A board you may want to consider is the mbs core 90 $250. I ride one and it is great for beginner to advanced, not a ton of pop but hey it works.
Kites- go ozone. it sounds like you want a bar so I would go with a frenzy or manta. They are depowerable and are the bomb for land. If you ever want a monster of a light wind kite look to the manta 15m an absolute beast.
once again your harness should be fine.

divingdingo - 24-7-2008 at 08:20 AM

cheers lads.

just what i was looking for...

looking on fleebay now to see what i can pick up. just sold loadsa diving equipment so will be glad to invest in a new boadsport piece of hardware.

laters..... gotta go it's windy enough for the water tonight (just!)

ding

divingdingo - 25-7-2008 at 04:28 AM

right guys, just got myself a 2nd hand mbs board from fleebay (£40!) sweeeet!

had a well gusty session on the water last night but the winds forecast to be poo sticks for the next week for water fun, so can't wait to get the new board and have a play!

just picked up some padding for my delicate bones.

ikemiester - why ozone? any lift in these for when i want (and am able to) put a bit of air into my riding? although i love the four line set up with bar and loop as i'm very used to that.

does anyone know of any online mags for powerkiting?

IKSURF (a kitesurfing one) used to have sister mags but i can't find their links now.

just thought i'd have a read and get mega excited about it all.

i'm heading to Chile for business in a weeks time. gonna take all my kit as usual and maybe get time to play in the deserts out there!! woop woop.

ikemiester - 25-7-2008 at 10:54 AM

If you want a fast set up great pop and lift kite Ozone is the way to go. Also, they are nearly indistructable.:o :singing: