I'm looking for a new, big kite to jump with.
i'm about 11 stone, but piling on the pounds.
i want to get more lift, and less pull, if you know what i mean.
any ideas?
cheers

Read Scoop's Guide for Newbie Powerkiters in this forum. This should get you started...

Good luck :D

And here is the link:

Scoops Guide

JN

http://www.speedflyingusa.com/

Soon Ozone


http://www.thewindyplanet.com/

Looks fun. However, the site is not working so good for me. Maybe a "slow" connection?

Took scoop's advice. I got me a 11m Ozone Riot off Ebay... too powerful?

Is this the one you purchased?

Big ol' Riot

It's going to have a very small usable wind range...

Yeah that's the one.
The thing says above 10mph is silly and it'll fly in 3. is that true?

I had a 10.5m Blade III for a short time. It flew well in 7 to about 13 mph. After that, I could not stay on the ground. In really low winds (less than 6) it was really slow and you had to work the kite to get power.

Not sure about the 3mph thing - sure seems too low. And 10mph will probably be sweet. Good luck and let us know how the first flight goes!

I can believe that wind range, my 13m Century will fly in 2-3mph, pull solid by 5-6mph, and by 10-12mph it's picking my 245lb behind up and lofting me no problem, nice huge floaty jumps.

Wow - 13m. That is a big kite!

I didn't buy it to stay on the ground. i just hope it'll put me down again hehe.
handles or bar though?
i'm used to flying with handles and you can't use brake lines to turn faster with a bar, so i'd be inclined to use them.
but there must be alot less tangling with a bar.

Just curious - What other kites do you have?

Just a viper 3m
i use a friend's blade 1 4.9 quite often though
I realise it's a huge amount more power than i'm used to.

Just be careful - that's one big kite:!:

Quote:

Originally posted by MasterSimon I didn't buy it to stay on the ground. i just hope it'll put me down again hehe.

I think you are going to get hurt.

Power kites are not gliders. They are not designed to keep you in the air. As soon as you leave the ground you are at the mercy of the kite which will obviously be blown down wind. You will continue to pick up speed until you match the speed in which the kite will no longer stay in the air and you will hit the ground. The higher you go, the faster you will be traveling when you DO hit the ground. Again this is a kite, not a glider. Kites are not designed to handle the extreme amounts of force put on them for air flight - like a glider or parachute. There is a chance that in a huge gust and if the kite is under a huge load that something could snap. If that happens and you are way up there you will drop like a rock. The kite you bought is designed to be used in the sub 10mph wind range. I suggest you try flying it in 2-4 mph winds first so you will know the power it is capable of. If you want to fly, get a paraglider.

Just my two cents worth.....I have been wrong before.

I appreciate that, and i appreciate the help. i realise it's a big kite, and a dangerous one, and i'd like to think i have the intelligence to use it in winds i can't handle.

Quote:

Originally posted by MasterSimon I appreciate that, and i appreciate the help. i realise it's a big kite, and a dangerous one, and i'd like to think i have the intelligence to use it in winds i can't handle.

Master,
I'm pretty sure you mean you are smart enough NOT to fly it in winds you can't handle !
Windofchange,
How is it that you think modern kites are NOT designed to hold together + you aloft through gusts? Seems to me that's exactly what the are designed for ? Skill providing.
:bird:

Quote:

Originally posted by DaVinch Wow - 13m. That is a big kite!

Our usual summer winds are around 8-10mph and I like being powered up.


As for the losing brake control with using a bar, not true, just need the right bar setup. I've got a conversion method for using an old 4 line surf bar that automatically inputs brake for you at a rate of 2inches of brake for every 1inch of flying line. Works great on every kite we've tried.

Then there's Jellis's magic handles, worth every penny for flying large kites on handles.

I gotta take some pics of my setups so you guys will have a better idea how I've done things.

I didnt mean to forgo the notion that modern kites are made cheaply, they are indeed designed to hold together and designed to produce plenty of power. Modern kites are also designed much better than the kites of old as technology and materials have improved over the last few years. I was also referring to a standard fixed bridled power kite. They are not designed to withstand the stresses that paragliders or parachutes are designed to handle. Comparing the bridle lines and construction of a Paraglider to a power kite is like comparing a F1 formula racecar to a Daewoo. Paragliders use high strength kevlar reinforced bridle lines that are reinforced throughout the entire rib of the kite, plus the amount of bridle lines used are nearly double that of a normal power kite. The ribs themselves are cross-braced with reinforced material to help dispurse the stresses of the weight of the pilot and the suddedn wind forces that the glider will encounter. Parachutes are designed to snap open in speeds in excess of 100 mph. Some gliders are designed to snap open in speeds up to 60-75 mph. If you did this with any power kite you will surely destroy it upon opening. The overall design of a paraglider is different than the standard kite as well. Paragliders are designed to maximize lift to drag ratios which will keep them airborne longer. Power kites are more power orienated and have very minimal lift to drag ratios. A standard power kite should be able to hold a normal persons weight under normal circumstances. But add that weight with a sudden gust of wind or a sudden jolt of the lines and it is possible that a kite will break something where the same stress on a glider would not. Flying a power kite on a set of 300 lb lines is ok, getting up in the air at 180+ pounds and then adding in a sudden unexpected gust could severly push the breaking limits of the line. If the gust hits and you are 10-15 feet in the air, you may climb another 5 or so feet before the line breaks and then you could be in severe trouble. Reinforcing the kite line will only put the stress point on another part of the kite. Maybe the bridle lines....maybe the attachment points of the bridle lines...maybe even the sail itself.

All that being said, I have been airborne with several of my kites. Some on purpose, some unexpected. I just wanted to point out some of the dangers that are involved with this type of activity so the people attempting it are aware of it.

Especially when they purchase a kite such as the 11.0 meter Riot and are looking for nothing but air time. I am relieved that Simon has some background on power kites and if done safely, you should have a lot of fun (and air time) with the Riot. What worries me is that some 13-14 year old will read this thread and think to themselves that a large kite with 20 - 30 mph winds would be totally fun and wont hurt you. Maybe I am being over cautious about kite safety but I have learned many of these things from my own lack of experience and would hate for someone else to get hurt or even killed.

I am not against jumping or getting good air, it is a rush that is hard to match with any other activity. If done safely it can be awesome. If done in an unsafe way it can be very dangerous or even fatal. I did not intend to rag anyone out or to offend anyone, I was concerned with the part of the post that stated the kite was not bought to keep the pilot on the ground and felt a necessity to state some of the differences in power kites and gliders. Safety for yourself as well as others in your area should always be your primary concern. (as I am sure it is with everyone) While I am on safety issues....get a helmet and other necessary pads.

Oh, and have fun! :singing:

I'm off my soap box, someone else's turn. LOL

Very good points,

Although I'd add that an inexperienced pilot at jumping is probably more likely to panic the first time he gets huge air, pull more on one handle than the other, loop the kite and slam himself into the ground, probably with just as much force if not more than if he'd fall with a broken kite overhead. I've done it a few times in the buggy by accident, one wrong move with the kite when fully lit, next thing you know your 4-5 ft in the air, panic sets in and you do everything wrong.

These large kites are not toys, need to be dealt with using the greatest of respect for them or they will bite.

Yes,
The issue of green fliers is an problem around here. We have limited space and a growing community both on and off the water. It is tough because we are excited about all the interest. At the same time we are worried we will have problems and lose what we have got. We have set up some basic rules for our park. It's hard to tell someone else what to do ( or NOT do ). I try to get the message out that each individual represents the WHOLE community around here right now. If they are out and out of control they will KILL the future of the sport not just themselves.
Chasta and many other folks that jump for a living use climbing harnesses and other back-up safety gear . There is a good reason !
P.S. my flysurfer has " blow out valves " in the trailing edge to deal with the over-pressure thing. Smart folks !