Power Kite Forum

Can I jump with a 4m exit kite???

RussianGrizzly - 20-6-2009 at 02:53 AM

Hello folks. :spin:

Im a total noob in kiting and only been doing it for about a week. Lovin' it already... Anyhow, I got myself a 4m EXIT kite, pulls well enough to drag you along the ground a bit in stronger winds, and it lifted me about 3 feet once. :yawn::yawn::yawn:

But looking at all the other posts, you guys always fly stuff like Radsails, Flexifoils and the such, so I just wondered if I'd be ever able to jump properly with my humble Exit... Or should I swap it for a better kite?

BeamerBob - 20-6-2009 at 05:03 AM

I've never heard of that brand. Can you show us some pictures?

RussianGrizzly - 20-6-2009 at 05:10 AM

Here it is.... https://www.hive4business.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Prod...

kite.jpg - 2kB

Kamikuza - 20-6-2009 at 05:35 AM

You can jump on anything IMO if the wind is right ... the problem is the landing, although any landing you can walk away from is a good one :D

RussianGrizzly - 20-6-2009 at 06:37 AM

OK thanks a lot. :thumbup:

mougl - 20-6-2009 at 07:55 AM

Hi Grizzly!

Jumping can be a rush like no other! Like Kam said, you can jump with pretty much any kite. Is it a good idea to do so? Not always. If you would like to get into jumping the best advice I can offer is to get some quality time in with your 4m and lots of it! Get your kite control to the point where you can fly blind (eyes closed) before making the leap into jumping. (Pun intended) again, jumping can be an amazing rush, but bare in mind it can be painfully dangerous as well. (This is advice I was given and chose not to follow and I wish I had listened)
Once your kite skills are up to speed, look into a kite that is designed for jumping. A lot of people go with the blade, and though the blade is an awesome jump kite, it can be a violent kite too. I went with the Twister II in the 5.6m size. Why 5.6? Well quite simply anything less than 5m is not recommended for jumping. Kites under 5m will take u up, but you still have to come down and it takes at least a 5m kite to give you the "float" for a softer landing. No float = you come down as fast as you go up = PAIN!

Hope this helps :D

Bladerunner - 20-6-2009 at 07:56 AM

I'm not familiar with that kite ?

It doesn't look awfull ! Are the lines and handles well enough made to put your life on ?????????

The problem with doing a PROPER jump is that you need a paraglider for the float and soft landing part. 4m is about the smallest size that will provide float naturally.

You can get lifted by your 4m but it will be very hard to fly it out to a proper landing.

You can still go through the motions and get a feel for how to fly / redirect the kite properly for a good jump. It will just
drop you so be prepared.

See the what makes a " widow maker " kite thread !

RussianGrizzly - 20-6-2009 at 08:54 AM

Thanks for the advice guys. Really appreciate it and it really helped. Im going to try it out with this one (once I get the proper hang of it) and gonna be careful. :wee:

Ill try to get a 5m one though.

Thanks again. :bouncing:

Bladerunner - 20-6-2009 at 11:41 AM

I expect this kite will do what it was designed to do. Introduce you the flying.

While gaining skills on this one you want to think about your goals. Jumping is just a small part of the sport. It is when you get riding that things get REAL fun !

Don't rush in to buying that second kite ! Decide what you want / need out of it while learning on this one.

RussianGrizzly - 20-6-2009 at 12:02 PM

Nahh, I was thinking of swapping the one I have for the 5m one.... Might do it dunno. Would that be advisable btw?

mougl - 20-6-2009 at 12:15 PM

I agree 100% with Blade on that! Jumping, scudding, and just plain static flying are fun but since I added wheels...WOW!!

Bladerunner - 20-6-2009 at 01:09 PM

NO NO NO NO NO

Quote:
Originally posted by RussianGrizzly
Nahh, I was thinking of swapping the one I have for the 5m one.... Might do it dunno. Would that be advisable btw?



The LAST thing you want is too much kite when learning.

I doubt this model comes with lines and handles that are worthy of anything but learning ?

RussianGrizzly - 20-6-2009 at 01:38 PM

Umm. The lines on this one are OK. But the handles are not too good. Imma just kinda scared (well, Im not, my old folks are), that the one that I have now will drop me if i fly. Not that I mind... They do. Would a 5m be safer for landing or would it be too much for me right now? How hard will it pull me? (usual winds where I live are about 5-20mph) I wont have a chance to swap them later tho cos the warranty on this one is gonna run out and I wont have the money to buy a second kite. :dunno:

mougl - 20-6-2009 at 01:53 PM

5m is a bit much to learn on, especially when those winds kick up to 12+ mph. My 5.6 pulls like a mack truck with NOS in 12+ mph. When the wind hits 18ish, I pack mine up. Still wayyy to dangerous for my skill level. I'd say stick with the 4m for a good while and save up for your next kite in the meantime :)

kitejumper - 20-6-2009 at 06:44 PM

i understand your excitement about jumping,but people that try jumping after a week of flying dont last very long......they usually get hurt-sometimes pretty bad and then they decide that jumping was too dangerous for them,when, if they had waited a few months and worked on their kiting skills they would have had a much better shot at jumping success......so get your 4m and fly it,let it drag u around a bit and have some fun--the jumping will come with time........

Bladerunner - 21-6-2009 at 08:21 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by kitejumper
i understand your excitement about jumping,but people that try jumping after a week of flying dont last very long......they usually get hurt-sometimes pretty bad and then they decide that jumping was too dangerous for them,when, if they had waited a few months and worked on their kiting skills they would have had a much better shot at jumping success......so get your 4m and fly it,let it drag u around a bit and have some fun--the jumping will come with time........


:thumbup::thumbup:

Skint - 22-6-2009 at 03:16 AM

They sell those EXIT kites in Argos here in the UK. From what i can see in the catalogue the lines and handles look very basic and cheap so i would recommend an upgrade. the last thing you want is a handle/line giving way.

RussianGrizzly - 22-6-2009 at 05:03 AM

Yeah I got the kite from Argos. :D The lines are pretty good actually. The handles are rubbish tho. Might just buy better handles. :dunno:

Bladerunner - 22-6-2009 at 04:35 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by RussianGrizzly
Yeah I got the kite from Argos. :D The lines are pretty good actually. The handles are rubbish tho. Might just buy better handles. :dunno:



How do you KNOW that the lines are good ? What are they rated at ? Are they sleeved and sewn ?


Good lines cost A LOT and I seriously doubt they came with that kite. Why would they include Quality lines with poor handles and a low cost kite ?

You typically get what you pay for when buying new in this sport ! By the time you have bought proper handles and lines you may as well have bought a quality kite right off.

Jack1988 - 27-8-2009 at 10:39 AM

Me and my bro have a 5m exit but it sadly got killed by a noob around a lamp post, The exit kites do jump well if you know what your doing, You need to go out in very low winds and learn how to jump properly then you can get big jumps with this kite im sure.
The Exit 5 was actually a very good kite for jumping and scudding, im sure that it will be the same with the 4.