This was my first winter seriously going for speed and thought that I did ok considering what I had to work with. Now that I think back, I wonder what things are the most important to focus on for next year when wanting to go fast. A few are very obvious, like wind, but some probably not so obvious. What makes that one person stand above the rest when others are back in the weeds? Probably not a simple answer but you get the drift. For example, wind speed? surface conditions? kite type? riding equipment? athletic ability? skill? luck? Body weight? Big Kahoona's? What's more important than the other? I see a massive difference in kite types and AR's yet some are going faster than others. What makes the magic happen? Perhaps I'm analyzing too much but it all brings lots of questions to my mind when the wind isn't blowing.

Keep it Low and Go !

I've been over 73mph a few times....every time is in during high pressured west winds on very hard surfaces flying very over powered and using skis that can hold an edge hard.

Speed building happens carefully with downwind/upwind edging....

Yes a faster kite allows for faster "pumping" as in power stroking the kite but also has literally less drag.... Check out the high aspect race kites
I used a 4 m Razor (ozone) years ago at NABX and made speeds well over 65 sustained.

So really?
Strong winds
Open hard surface
Ability to edge hard
Fast kite
Willing to fight the kite and push comfort levels


All basically not hard. Just timing with storms ability level gear available

Quote:

Originally posted by crabnebula I've been over 73mph a few times....every time is in during high pressured west winds on very hard surfaces flying very over powered and using skis that can hold an edge hard. Speed building happens carefully with downwind/upwind edging.... Yes a faster kite allows for faster "pumping" as in power stroking the kite but also has literally less drag.... Check out the high aspect race kites I used a 4 m Razor (ozone) years ago at NABX and made speeds well over 65 sustained. So really? Strong winds Open hard surface Ability to edge hard Fast kite Willing to fight the kite and push comfort levels All basically not hard. Just timing with storms ability level gear available

73mph!! Damn that's quick.

Hi Crabnebula,

Could you please explain power-stroking and it's effect.

I think I know what you mean, is it where you pump the bar to move the kite further forward in the window ???

Thanks.

Sorry for hijack Chedderhead

No sorries needed Redsky, I was about to ask the same question. You guys have some good insite there. I used to try and never let myself go down wind but only cross wind and continually fought the kite for speed. Not until late in the season did I figure out that when letting myself go down wind some that my speed improved lots. Overpowered and fighting the kite just pulled me off my edges, particularily on bare ice. I know that I don't have leg strength like bode miller or anything but that is improving the more I do this. Frenzies don't seem to be as frendly a kite for this type of thing, but I figured if an HQ apex can do it, so can a Frenzy. I'm just always careful about kite placement as not to get lofted unexpectedly.

Just wanted to share some really good info I got the other day about speed on skis. Perhaps it would help others venturing into this aspect of skiing. It could very well be applied to buggying as well.

The "basics" for snowkite speed.

1) Long radius ski. You have that Volkl 210 so you have that covered. A ski tuned well for speed on a kite will ski like poo on the ski slope.

2) Kite size. Obviously depends on wind conditions. Too big and you immediately get pulled off edge, to small and no power. Funny thing, I can go out on a 12m Phantom2 and an 8m Charger and get nearly identical speeds. The Phantom will need to be depowed at times and the Charger sined to get moving. But in the middle of a run, they are very close. What does this mean? I dunno but it means something. =)

3) Smaller kites=less drag but raw power on a held edge=forward motion. Some of the fastest kites I've ridden are the 5m '05 Frenzy and the 5m HQ Apex. I've had the 7m HQ Apex up to 67mph but it wasn't something I'd want to spend all day on.

4) You are correct, across the wind start and slight downwind arc with the kite low in the window. Balance of the angle of attack is key. Just as you feel you've maxed out across the window, sheet in slightly and get the surge. Don't hold position too hard, you'll semi-stall the wing and lose power. It's a balancing act.

5) Surface, like taco shells sometimes it comes down to preference. I like hard ice. Instant speed with minimal wind, smooth and consistent. That said almost all my top speeds have been in wet snow/slush conditions. We have some theories as to why this is but we aren't exactly sure. It may be a function of late season leg strength. When conditions are firm in the early season we may not have the leg strength to hold a solid edge.

6) Tuning and waxing, we could spend hours on this but in reality since you are on edge 99% of the time, your edge is more important than you wax choice. A hard cold temp wax will protect the base from errosion but you want a softer warmer wax on top of that if you start getting higher speeds. A warm wax seemed counter to speed in cold conditions but at 60-70mph the friction generated produces a good water layer and warm wax helps. Coarse structure helps as well. But, all this is dependendent on the day's conditions.

7) Wind. From what I understand, the goal is to be able to double the windspeed for some people. On the kite with skis that isn't a problem and in moderate or light winds we can triple the windspeed. My best speeds have been in winds ranging from 25-45mph. You can nearly triple the windspeed at 25mph, in the 45mph range, I've been unable to double the windspeed but it makes it easy to get in the high 60-low 70mph range.

8) Luck. Skill is important for safety and making the best use of you session but being in the right place and the right time and grabbing the right gust is the deal maker. Luck is 90% of it.

^^^^^^^^^^^^

That is what I meant by keep it low and go in full !

If you are out there with the kite nice and low with the " right sized " kite and that perfect gust comes on you are all set up to go with it .

Better to get sent downwind than be lofted there !

:bigok:

I’m pretty sure you guys aren’t giving proper respect to that kahoonas factor......or maybe thats just me