I have a few wind questions...
I took my kite out today and the wind kept changing direction far more then I ever experinced before.

- My 2 line p3 kept having an edge fold in to itself. Am I right in assuming that I should turn the kite in the opposite direction of the side that is folding in? I assume it is folding in due to a lack of wind.

- My other question is wind direction. I'm having trouble knowing which direction the wind is coming from while in the air. Any tips on developing this skill.

You were just in crappy wind- not your bad.

If possible get a bigger field if you need to be away from turbulence-inducing treelines or buildings.

For wind direction, a stick in the ground with a bright streamer will do. I make a pole with 3-4 18" sections of PVC and couplers so it breaks down for the bag and tie some bright plastic construction ribbon to the top

If you are flying static, I would place the stick in your line of sight, but well out of the reach of your lines, kite or dancing feet.

Snagging the lines on the stick while doing a ground pass or tripping over it while recovering field space just amuses the locals.

ATB,
Sam

Use your ears as sensors and you can feel it at your back. Look around from time to time and notice tall grass, trees, flags, they are all good wind indicators. My P3 would fold the edge as well in light wind. Are you going to make the Wildwood Buggy Bash?

Quote:

Originally posted by Furlongs - My other question is wind direction. I'm having trouble knowing which direction the wind is coming from while in the air. Any tips on developing this skill.

Get a haircut :singing: seriously, you'll be able to hear the wind and balance the sound in each ear ... it's the only way on the water that I can figure out where the wind is actually coming from!

But longer hair is a better wind indicator....


Going :wee: also seems to improve your ability to sense wind direction and strength.

ATB,
Sam

Why do I get the feeling I'm being mocked?

Errr...ummm.... not that I am aware of. :puzzled:

ATB,
Sam

Quote:

Originally posted by Furlongs - My other question is wind direction. I'm having trouble knowing which direction the wind is coming from while in the air. Any tips on developing this skill.

Fly lots of hours! A snapshot 1.4 was my first and I probably put nearly a hundred hours on it before moving on.

I'm almost an egghead now so my long hair days are long gone... dang. But awareness of the feel of the wind on your body will get better and better over time.

Also in light winds the wind window can turn into a wind tunnel, so maybe it's only about 30 degrees wide and you have to:

a) keep the kite going in a small figure eight to keep it in the window and often also

b) take a step back during the turns to keep the kite flying.

If you get those ultra light wind conditions AND the wind is shifting more than the width of the "wind tunnel" it can be darn near impossible for anybody to keep the kite in the air. In heavier winds it gets easier to deal with rapid wind shifts because the wind doesn't shift the kite right out of the window so often.

I'm trying to visualize the tip-tuck... yes usually on the outside wing-tip or the lower one during the turns at the edge? If you're getting tip-tuck in the middle of the window, I wouldn't even be flying -- frustration factor far too high.

But to be honest tip-tuck is one of those things that goes away as your skills improve. Although bad winds will occasionally bring it on for anybody.

hope that helps...