Power Kite Forum

New to powerkiting

screamer - 13-5-2009 at 02:22 PM

Hi i am 14 and i have just bought a flexifoil rage 2.5m it is a very stronge kite and can pull me in the air very easily and i am wondering if you know how to jump the kite safely

SCREWYFITS - 13-5-2009 at 02:57 PM

Hey screamer check out the posts here on the forum you'll find all kinds of good stuff, advice, illustration links and video links...
Here is the link to the Kite jumping section...
http://www.powerkiteforum.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=5
good luck and fly safe...:wee:
BTW, welcome to the forum...

ikemiester - 13-5-2009 at 04:19 PM

Screwy, I just have to say now, I LOVE UR NEW AVATAR/PICTURE/VID thing, I just saw it, lol

snobdr - 14-5-2009 at 08:36 AM

No comment

acampbell - 14-5-2009 at 09:33 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by screamer
how to jump the kite safely


Can't use those words in the same sentence. Jumping is done with larger kite, even for your likely size, and then is never really safe. Search this forum and you will find all the threads and links.
You can only reduce the risk.

Welcome and good luck.

screamer - 14-5-2009 at 09:48 AM

thanks for that i will have a look around
the first jump i ever did was not intended it was when a big gust of wind came and it just took me about 5 ft in the air a bit scary

acampbell - 14-5-2009 at 10:01 AM

Uh huh.
Not to discourage, but we have all been spanked, and often by the smaller kites when we let our guard down and do not pay attention.
You will figure it out, just take it easy.

screamer - 14-5-2009 at 12:17 PM

yea i know it kind of hurt but i think i m going to learn from that mistake
does anybody know the best way to skid for long distances with the kite

furbowski - 14-5-2009 at 09:27 PM

have a look here for the scudding bits, there's good stuff on both pages of the thread:

http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=3622&pa...

can fun, fly safe! be careful with that kite in high gusty winds, you'll get caught out again, altho your wind range will improve as your skills do.

If you want to jump eventually, the best thing to do with that 2.5 meter is do your best to learn how to fly it blind, by feel only -- very good to learn, although the benefits sneak up slowly...

screamer - 15-5-2009 at 12:09 AM

thanks for that i will try and learn to fly the kite properly before i try skudding
what is the best wind speed to try it out in

furbowski - 15-5-2009 at 02:17 AM

12-14 mph, for a full window and a good hard pull deep in the window.

8-12 if you're not able to control the pull above, less pull, still a fairly wind window.

below 8 it's still good to fly, but you'll notice a rapid narrowing of the wind window down to nothing as the wind drops.

the above assumes steady wind, any level of gusting will make the flying more difficult, but stick with it unless the wind is blowing randomly or the big gusts are too strong and risky, you'll get the skills to handle those winds in direct proportion to the hours you fly in them...

screamer - 15-5-2009 at 02:32 AM

thanks for this information would it be ok if i put the information you told me on my powerkiting website
thanks screamer

kitedemon - 15-5-2009 at 12:45 PM

Screamer,
I would add a small bit of advice as well wear a helmet when you try to jump! Knee pads elbow pads aren't a bad idea either. You never know what is lurking in the grass/sand!

Good Luck have fun and be safe.

screamer - 15-5-2009 at 01:00 PM

thanks for the advice i have just updated the site http://www.boystrade.com/Safety.html
if there is anything else just let me know
thanks

furbowski - 16-5-2009 at 05:28 AM

yep never leave the helmet advice out... I've never worn one, but that's personal choice, hence personal responsibility in my book.

there's lots of jumping advice on the web, deep search the forums back a few years and compile the info, you'll have more than you know what to do with, doubt anybody's done that. You can use whatever info I've posted on this forum, but I'm really a relative newbie myself when compared against many of the folks regularly posting on here.

but without your own personal experience you won't get taken too seriously... See where the kites take you, have a clear mind about safety, and you'll likely be alright.

let us know how you get on, eh?

screamer - 16-5-2009 at 06:12 AM

i took the kite out today in 15mph winds and tried scudding but i think my shoes where to grippy and would not let me slide however i done some good high jumps
thanks for the info will try scudding when the grass is damp

Bladerunner - 16-5-2009 at 06:59 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by screamer
i took the kite out today in 15mph winds and tried scudding but i think my shoes where to grippy and would not let me slide however i done some good high jumps
thanks for the info will try scudding when the grass is damp



You need at least enough power to scud before you can jump ? You NEED to know how to handle the power before you can jump ?

If you don't have enough power to get sent down wind there is no way you will have enough to sustain a jump ? :puzzled:

screamer - 16-5-2009 at 10:51 AM

i tried to scud today but i am not sure the right way to stand or lean because i tried it today and i just lost my balance
any advice?

ragden - 16-5-2009 at 12:35 PM

Lean back, keep your feet forward... crouch if you need to... :)

screamer - 16-5-2009 at 12:46 PM

thanks for that does it matter if the grass is dry and your trainers are quite grippy because when i tried i fell over

ragden - 16-5-2009 at 02:34 PM

i wouldnt think it would matter...

screamer - 16-5-2009 at 02:43 PM

what is a good first jumping kite which is not too big

snobdr - 18-5-2009 at 08:56 AM

NO comment

Tibi - 20-5-2009 at 10:33 AM

A good place to try scudding is on the sand / dirt area of a baseball field, not directly on grass. The sliding is going to happen while you are moving the kite through the power zone. In general this will give you only a few seconds of strong pull.

screamer - 20-5-2009 at 02:04 PM

okay i will try that in the summer when i go to the beach.
i also am looking to get a bigger kite for jumping
would you recommend the twister

nwsurfwakeskate - 20-5-2009 at 02:37 PM

if you can afford them you might want to have a look at flysurfer