hi, i have been into the sport for about 8 months now (started on 3.5m beamer, now fly 7m bullet, weigh 10st). I use the kites for traction with a landboard and plan to get into buggying, altho opportunities to board are limited as I live 20 miles form the beach.

I mainly fly the bullet (quite often inland) and use it for jumping and i want to progress but im not sure what would be a good choice partly due to my technique:

I've been told the best technique is to bring the kite sideways into the middle of the window and turn up toward the zenith. This works for me with the 3.5m in very strong winds but the 7m turns too slowly so there is too much forward pull, that i have to lean against, (before the uplift) for me to jump properly.

With both kites, i prefer to bring the kite vertically down from the zenith using the brakes until i feel the uplift 'bite point' then release the brakes, jumping as the uplift comes. I also get much bigger air this way and find it easier to pull off a smooth landing.

To get the lift i want , I prefer flying the Bullet in 15-18kt winds altho in this strength wind i end up only flying near the zenith and below it as the rest of the window is too powerful. I have had some great long air in these winds, but want to buy a kite which i will be able to get this sort of lift with in lighter winds.

Would a depowerable kite like a peter lynn be a good choice or is it just bad technique?

check out this site:
http://www.powerkiteshop.com/how-to/index.htm
it has alot of good info,
the jumping section is not that big but, It explains in detail the pendulum jump and the dig a hole method.......

thanks for the link altho i couldn;t find any sections on jumping - i have read a few guides on jumping technique, but few of them sem to make sense. ONe of the guides is here:

http://surf-wax.co.uk/sports/power_kites/jumping.htm

Quote:

First things first, keep it simple, swing the kite from one side to the centre, so the kite should lift you a bit, but not off into the sunset. This is to give you an idea of how the kite will move once you are off the floor, as in the air, the kite should be as much over your head as possible. Once going off the floor is easy, try getting the kite to about 40 degrees off the floor, then swinging it up, this should give you more lift, and the 'up' motion is vital, as otherwise, you just get dragged from side to side.

In the winds i like to jump in, at 40 degrees from the floor there is no way i can hold against the forward pull enough to get the kite moving fast enough to make the turn quick enough to jump - if i skud during the sideways flight then the upward pull is not enough when i turn. The only way i can seem to get a decent (7ft+ and 7 seconds or more) jump is bring the kite backwards down the middle from the top and release in time so the kite gets some speed before hitting the uplift. I get some good airs this way but if the wind's strong enough for me to do this i cannot work backwards with the kite. Does the bullet turn too slowly to for other methods or am i doing things wrong?

(like i say it is inland flying a lot of the time and quite gusty)

the 7meter flexi bullet is actually a reduced lift kite, there is one of your problems, It also dosent turn as fast as you want it to if your using the drop down and swoop back up method.... Try a kite with more lift.....,
there are alot of good ones out there,

Get a blade, bullets arent made for lift, so if you do jump with it its gonna drop you faster than a kite designed for lift. If i were you id swap the bullet for a 6.6 blade, its a well nice kite with bags of lift and floats you down really soft

heel click jump over the line set

http://community.webshots.com/photo/2193687360072413283AQnSo...

Don 321, I envy your kite bag Dude. those are all serious kites!

Its strange i cant pull off a pendulum with my npw but i can do some fun stuff with the npw i can brace against something (hole, stake, rock, log) and rip into the air but i think the kite is too slow for a pendulum. but the sick thing about the hole method is on a 25-30mph wind day a can stand on my handles... its so sick, and really catches peoples attention. (i just rest my feet into the bend in the middle and it will take me way up (I need to tie loops 6 feet up my power lines so when i am riding it i can still power up and really get some height. The other fun thing is to walk up the backstop and "fly" down the other side. Any tips for a pendulum with my npw?:cool2:

http://chris.m.whittaker.googlepages.com/pendulumjump

First look down between your legs. Are those as big as your head? Because your going to need it! Be careful wear gear. And soon it will be how high will these winds take me. Jumping is for those serious about No Fear! If you go to high to fast remember to stay on the brakes after you top out on your jump or the kite may overfly and you will fall. At least it works for me.

Ive seen that animation before but I cant pull it off with the npw as it wont make that turn I have better luck just standing there and pulling the power lines, i can usually get about 4 feet high in 15 mph wind just doing that (i weigh 135 pounds) Can i jump with a 2 line 3 meter kite? thats my only other kite and it would be fast enough. Oh and when i climbed the backstop it was steady 20 mph wind for at least 10 minutes (no gusts or drops) so i gave it a go and i had a ski helmet on, to keep the thinker safe.