Power Kite Forum

keeping momentum

mogsie - 22-3-2009 at 11:23 AM

can anyone tell me is there any top technique to keeping the kite pulling or in the powerzone ? i use a 4m quad line kite with handles ! i was out with the land board today in 16 mph winds ! but kept losing momentum when the kite neared the edge of the window untill i turned back across the power zone and i was off again ! is it just down to constant turning back and forth through the powerzone ? tried using brakes to drop it back down then powering up again ! that had the same effect ! help please !!!

Bladerunner - 22-3-2009 at 12:42 PM

You want to fly the kite in a sine wave ~ if there isn't enough power to park it at the edge and ride. I found myself saying Up on toes and down on butt as I was trying to figure it out. The trick is to keep tension on the lines. When the kite is heading down through the power lean back on your butt and use that power to get a bit upwind. When the kite is flying back up and not generating power you move up on your toes and possibly even run slightly down wind to keep up your speed. Don't fly the kite back past 12 o'clock when you bring the kite back up. Dive it and lean in to the power again.

More wind or a bigger kite and it will all come together. You wil be able to park and ride like you expect.

B-Roc - 22-3-2009 at 02:31 PM

In addition to what Bladerunner offered, you want to make sure that you aren't riding towards the kite which is a commone begginers mistake which kills the kite power as soon as you build momentum on your board. When you start off, point the board down wind a bit to get some speed and then lean back and start working the kite. Watch your lines and keep them always tight. If they are starting to slacken you need to lean back to take a more upwind course or redirect the kite.

macboy - 22-3-2009 at 10:10 PM

If you find that the wind is good and it's just that the kite is seemingly at the edge of the window and locked there you can try adding equal brake to slide the kite back into the power slowly. When I was just getting used to the mountain board my best luck was always to set the board about 10-20 degrees off of cross wind (towards downwind) and with the kite parked at the windows edge I'd gently apply the brakes evenly and start rolling. Seemed that the kite just slipped into a "zone" where it was happy and I could hold the position by adding or removing brake. It's VERY subtle, not a handful of brakes.

Bladerunner's method is far less taxing on your wrists.

mogsie - 23-3-2009 at 11:47 AM

thanks very much guys that info is very helpfull ! expecting 28 mph winds on wed so i will try those techniques out then !

revpaul - 23-3-2009 at 11:51 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by mogsie
can anyone tell me is there any top technique to keeping the kite pulling or in the powerzone ? i use a 4m quad line kite with handles ! i was out with the land board today in 16 mph winds ! but kept losing momentum when the kite neared the edge of the window untill i turned back across the power zone and i was off again ! is it just down to constant turning back and forth through the powerzone ? tried using brakes to drop it back down then powering up again ! that had the same effect ! help please !!!

i wonder if you are allowing kite to fly too far to the edge. like BR said, if not enough wind for "parS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-n ride" then you'll have to work the kite. "sine" the kite up and down through the main power zone and you should be able to keep moving as long as you have space.
i too wonder if you are traveling towards the kite. it happens. you get started on the right 'beam' and gradually go off course.
check your wind direction/plot your course ~90 degrees from wind direction/mentally mark a visual point of reference and head for that point.
i believe you are on the right track about flying on the brakes. some, more than others, kites will gain a slight boost of power when small amount of brakes are applied. i think this technique would be mostly used in a "parS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K- n ride" situation.
Paul

mogsie - 23-3-2009 at 01:52 PM

yes revpaul you are right i have been travelling towards the kite ! plus i didnt relise that i could park the kite at the edge n ride i was figure 8ing the kite but as i was only travelling in straight line towards the kite ! that explains why i was losing power !

f0rgiv3n - 23-3-2009 at 02:09 PM

Here's a link that has helped me!
http://www.kiteatb.co.uk/category/basics/

mogsie - 23-3-2009 at 02:20 PM

thanks for the link forgiv3n ! i will have a look through the site ! i noticed the bit about board wobble ! but as ime using a home modified board that is not a problem ! and prob will never be !

Bladerunner - 23-3-2009 at 02:51 PM

Don't fly a figure 8. Don't take the kite back up past 12 o'clock. Fly in a sine wave ~ if you have to keep it flying to create power.

The big trick is keeping tension on the lines.