hello all. I just bought a 3m kite that is a dual string with 200ib string. I went out today and just messed around with it and it was awesome! I would like to start jumping. I have briefly read a tutorial, but I don't know that my kite can pull me up. I weight about 160ibs so any input on this would be great. There is a place out where I live where its nothing but flat grass so I have a decent place to fly. Eventually I may move up as far as kite size but I don't want to kill myself yet. Any help, tips are appreciated.

I would recommend not jumping with a 3 meter. The smaller kites pull you up fast, but drop you as well. Get used to the 3m, get something in the 5-6m range then (quad line) Then learn to jump. Whats the namebrand on the kite?

Scoop

Scoopy.
I have 3.6 and 5. I've been noticing the 3.6 is just more abrupt. The 5 is so much smoother, even though it has way more power it just seems more controllable. I have jumped a bit with the 3.6 in strong winds, but the 5 is way more to my liking.
Dave

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Originally posted by kalel hello all. I just bought a 3m kite that is a dual string with 200ib string. I went out today and just messed around with it and it was awesome! I would like to start jumping. I have briefly read a tutorial, but I don't know that my kite can pull me up. I weight about 160ibs so any input on this would be great. There is a place out where I live where its nothing but flat grass so I have a decent place to fly. Eventually I may move up as far as kite size but I don't want to kill myself yet. Any help, tips are appreciated.

I'm not sure about the name brand. I don't think its anything worth mentioning though considering I only paid about 100 bucks for it. What would be good for my weight? 5 to 10 ft jumps(max) would probably be good enough for me. The winds are generally between 5 and 15 miles where I live I have plenty of room to fly. The kite I have now hasn't gotten even close to pulling me off the ground.

Hey kalel,

First of all, welcome to power kiting. You have chosen a sport unlike any other. This sport can be enjoyed in many ways.

In your first post you indicated that you just bought a dual line 3-meter kite. I take this to mean that this is your first multi-line kite. By dual line do you mean a total of two or four lines? If it is the latter then you have a great kite to learn on. I think that most experienced fliers on this forum would agree that you should become proficient before you try tricks like jumping. If you can fly a quad-line foil with your eyes closed without crashing then you are getting close.

An analogy might be learning to swim. There are few who can jump into deep water and swim away having never been in the water before. Power kiting is similar. Learn your skills with a smallish quad-line foil before jumping. These kites can develop lots of power and can send you to the hospital. Start out in the shallow end before leaping off the high dive! Like Scoopy said, "Get used to the 3m, get something in the 5-6m range then (quad line) Then learn to jump."

We want you to have fun with power kiting. We'd hate for you to go out and get yourself or someone else hurt and never try it again.

---Always fly so you can fly another day.---

CrashLama

At your weight, I would recommend (when your ready) The Flexifoil Blade 3, 4.9 meter. I know this doesnt seem much bigger than what you have, but I can promise there will be a huge difference in power.

Scoop

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Originally posted by CrashLama Hey kalel, First of all, welcome to power kiting. You have chosen a sport unlike any other. This sport can be enjoyed in many ways. In your first post you indicated that you just bought a dual line 3-meter kite. I take this to mean that this is your first multi-line kite. By dual line do you mean a total of two or four lines? If it is the latter then you have a great kite to learn on. I think that most experienced fliers on this forum would agree that you should become proficient before you try tricks like jumping. If you can fly a quad-line foil with your eyes closed without crashing then you are getting close. An analogy might be learning to swim. There are few who can jump into deep water and swim away having never been in the water before. Power kiting is similar. Learn your skills with a smallish quad-line foil before jumping. These kites can develop lots of power and can send you to the hospital. Start out in the shallow end before leaping off the high dive! Like Scoopy said, "Get used to the 3m, get something in the 5-6m range then (quad line) Then learn to jump." We want you to have fun with power kiting. We'd hate for you to go out and get yourself or someone else hurt and never try it again. ---Always fly so you can fly another day.--- CrashLama

Thanks for the welcome. I definitely agree. Is there somewhere where I can "learn" how to fly? I've been doing a few stunts with the kite but nothing amazing. I'm going to need to know what type of maneuvers I can do with the kite, more specifically the type that will eventually allow me to jump, etc.

Scoopy - the kite you recommended, what is the range as far as jumping with that kite(min, max) that I should expect to see? where is the best place to get one also? It will be some time before I get one, which works out since I need some practice. Also I did some research and a few posts I have come across suggest a blade II for static flying and that they can provide more lift in this type of situation. I'm not sure how accurate this statement so I figured I'd mention it.

Hey kalel,

Since I don't know where you live I can't recommend a specific location for learning to fly. I suggest posting a "Where can I fly near___?" type question in "Locations and Conditions" in this forum and see if anyone "bites". If you can find a place where there are people flying power kites, one or more of them may help you learn what you need. If you live in/near southern California go to El Mirage dry lake June 4-5. There will be a group there.

As far as the type of kite to use, I agree with Scoopy. I have a Blade III 4.9 and it's a great kite. I use mine mainly for buggying and sometimes a little jumping. See the review in "Kite Reviews (land)" in this forum. For your weight, this kite will provide the 'thrill factor'. If you want more thrill later, fly it in more wind! I doubt you'll regret owning/flying a Blade.

dude, i started with a 3m and weighed the same as you at the time. The only way ur gonna get decent air with that is if u fly/jump when the wind is blowing 12-16knots true.

WELL I CAN TELL YOU FROM PERSONAL EXP YOU CAN CATCH AIR WITH A 3M BUT ITS NO FUN COMING DOWN.....HAHAHA..........SO LIKE THE CRASHLAMA SAID GET ALOT MORE COMFORTABLE WITH YOUR 3M AND THEN STEP UP TO THE BIGGER KITES.......BUT WELCOME BUT BE WARNED FLYING IS A PASSION AND ITS HARD TO STOP ONCE YOU START........
SHANNON

can you buggy or moantain board with a 3m? or jump (70kg)
quadline

make: 'eolo radsails 3.0m' anyone familiar with this kite?

Most definitely, depending upon some other factors of course. Surface windspeed and size of pilot. With enough wind, one can use just about any kite to do just about anything. But to give you some idea, and I am familiar with the 3m radsail, somebody in the neighborhood of 150 lbs will need winds of at least 10 mph to buggy on packed sand. That is to be able to get back to where you started anyway and not just a roll down wind. And probably 12-15 mph winds to landboard in.

Also consider that when first starting out, you can do a little bit in even lesser than these winds to help get a feel for things. And that as one gets more experienced, the winds mentioned may not be enough :evil:

For an experienced pilot that 3m radsail can easily be used for up ta 25 mph winds on hardpack, so it does have a pretty good range to fly in.

Good luck and happy flying.

3 Meter is pretty small :wow:, but could be a great high wind kite, for riding on a really compact (pavement, frozen ground) surface.

IMHO, you really need at least a 5 for landboarding on short grass.

I have a 3.6, a couple 5 and an 8.4. The 3.6 rarely comes out anymore...

Most important, have a couple kites with you when you go out. Start smaller then go bigger with conditions permitting. The 3 can be fun to fly in high winds while everyone else is packing in their 10s and 12s.

Good luck, fly safely

i have a 3.6 and ive had no problems trying out new teqniques i suppose its the weather that matters :bisou: try keeping a snesible sense of safety about you if the wind is way too strong or is pulling a bit too hard for your liking pack up or wait till it calms dows it may seem boring at first but it will save you from a potential hazard.

here is my plan im 100lbs and i have a 3.0 kite and it has handles so if i come down too fast i will do a somersault or however you spell itbut its fool proof i hope

erm... the smaller the kite the greater the risk when jump, take care there man...

http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=6467

You clearly had to look WAY BACK to read what you wanted to read.

Did you skip over all the other posts that point out that this is the WRONG WAY to go about jumping ?

Kiters have been getting a lot of bad press due to people making bad choices. Please don't add to the list.

I'll mention that people who know what they are doing wear safety gear when jumping for all the good I expect it to do !

Follow NPWfever's posts, He was just like you! At least until the concussion that put His lights out + took him out of the game for 6 months !

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Originally posted by logantheninja here is my plan im 100lbs and i have a 3.0 kite and it has handles so if i come down too fast i will do a somersault or however you spell itbut its fool proof i hope