Set your brake lines at the farthest knot from the handle then move them closer as needed. Having them hang a bit loose at 1st won't be a bad thing.
It will help you avoid unwanted brake input. Once you are comfortable 2 line set the brakes so they have a slight arc when not in play but are tight
enough to back the kite down.
Went out again tonight and she well and truly kicked my butt! Dragged me all over the place before I could get up to the zenith! Landed me literally
on my face, soon learned that adrenaline does not agree with common sense, I knew to let the kite killers do the work but my brain wouldn't let go of
the handles! Steep learning curve today and possibly a black eye! But I did carry on flying and gor her up above and flying well eventually!
Rich
Welcome to powerkiting! The 3m vs 4m advice has a slightly different ring to it now, doesn't it? I'm not poking fun at you; Lord knows I was there
as were doubtlessly so many of us.
Somebody needs to do this, so l'll step up on behalf of the PKF family and post one of our all time classic short videos:
This acrobatic "Superman" start (and rapid conclusion) to a powerkiting session is referred to as a "hot launch". By now I'm sure you can appreciate
the vernacular of that expression. Bladerunner is providing you great advice and I won't attempt to encroach on his superb coaching, not to mention
that he has FAR more experience than me. What I will say is you could do well to learn how to launch a kite from more of the side of the wind window
than directly downwind which will rocket the kite vertically right through the meat of the window under brisk conditions, aka hot launching. Next up
is the helmet advice.
This is making me warm all over...it was great right?...Nothing like this sport
I really hope it's blowing tomorrow...take a breath and realize your gonna dominate that kite
Ohhh coastalwindsports.com and read up...watch utube launch and land vids..it all helps a lot
I'm so excited right now
The first time that I attempted to fly my Rage 2.5 (which was my first time flying a Power Kite), the winds were in the realm of 15-20 KTS. I knew
better from advice that I had gained by reading and watching videos, but I just had to fly it.
So up it went directly downwind, and then a right turn resulted in me being dragged to the right while not squarely facing the kite. This caused my
right ankle to twist resulting in a moderate sprain. At no point during this brief session did I have any control over the kite whatsoever.
Still undaunted, I decided to relaunch, and up the kite went again. I think it was a bit confounded as to why I had not learned my lesson the first
flight, and this time, the kite decided to pull me right over onto my face.
In a way, I am glad for having experienced the above foibles with the kite. I was not hurt beyond a couple of days with a sore ankle, and I learned a
very valuable, 'hands on' lesson. Also, as I have introduced others to the sport since then, my first experience has caused me to be very
conservative in this regard. It is one thing to use bad judgement yourself, as I did the first time, and quite another to use bad judgement when the
handles are in someone else's hands for the first time...
my 2nd kite was the 4.9 blade...promised the guy that sold me it i wouldn't put it up that day cause it was blowing 20 and id be smarter than
that...had 2 8sec sessions but lived
you must have total respect for the kite because they never respect you...btw pretty shore i have a torn bicep from 6 weeks ago from that blade...that
beating was insane but
still flying right thru it...cant bring myself to miss a decent blow, i hope you have a great time today, waiting for your next post is killing me
r1ch, we want to fly w/ you or at least watch...where are you at?
Thanks for the advice guys! Yeah the confidence has taken a battering but like I said I knew I needed to get the kite up again straight away! I could
really use someone to fly with me but unfortunately I'm in the uk! Gonna hit YouTube and try to work out where I went wrong apart from not letting the
killers do the work! All advice will be received and listened to I really appreciate the help! And yes feel free to take the mickey too! I can take it
I promise
You understand that the kite produces minimal power at the edges of the window ? If not search wind window.
Re-read my previous points. Avoid brake input at 1st etc..
Try and AVOID the power zone at 1st. CONTROL the kite at the edges of the window until you are responding by reflex memory. Then start flying it
through the power zone. Once you are doing that without thinking too much you can start to play with brake input.
Speed = Power. Don't fly the kite fast at 1st. The kite sees apparent winds when you do that.
Search " side launch " as a method of launching in strong winds with minimal pull. Hot launching ( straight down wind ) in high winds isn't a good
idea at 1st.
You are in a bigger kiting community than he US. There
has to be someone within 50Km of you,and a great spot to fly. This sport is way bigger across the pond. Glad only your pride got hurt,it's just like
we try to tell people.It's alot more power than you think. Wind and kites power is quantitive not linear. I bet you get tired of just static flying
and buy/build a buggy/board within a year .
Today's update, the 4m arrived the other day, opened the bag and the handles had been left attached and the line wound around them which I know is ok,
but they were tangled in the bridle, so I had to wait until I could lay everything out and untangle it! Took us about an hour but got it sorted and
had a damn good maiden flight! In fact my daughter flew her for longer than I did, very stable and a little bit slower than the 3m one! Overall very
happy with both kites if still a little bit scared!
It certainly is! And I can't thank you all enough for the advice! Every time I come on here I read something else that I need to know! Like today the
kite flew over and behind me, obviously then collapsing and coming down (which just happened to be the only flying my daughter filmed) now I know I
should have used the brakes and pulled it back a bit, so glad I joined, there doesn't seem to be a decent active forum over here unfortunately!
Overall very happy with both kites if still a little bit scared!
And there you have it! In my opinion, this is what sets that hook.
I think when many people imagine the idea of kiting, it conjures up the image of a young child standing in front of that colorful, cardboard display
in 7-Eleven during a brief soda and sunscreen stop while headed for a nice family beach day.
"Daddy, can we get a kite?"
"Sure", says Daddy, "That will be fun."
But it isn't fun...well, maybe a little fun - if they are able to get the cheaply made thing to even fly - and soon the kite finds it way back into
the beach bag never to be flown again.
Power Kiting however - at first - seems to be like 'breaking' a wild stallion. It is unpredictable, dangerous, and as such, it can hurt you very
badly. Once the wild stallion is 'broken' though, one begins to realize that there are many things that can be done with it. It still needs to be
respected for its strength, but it's the control of this strength that makes it very useful and interesting.
I say, cherish that "scared" feeling, even if it's only just a little bit there in the background. If it totally goes away, many of us would probably
loose our strong interest in this hobby...
Power Kiting however - at first - seems to be like 'breaking' a wild stallion. It is unpredictable, dangerous, and as such, it can hurt you very
badly. Once the wild stallion is 'broken' though, one begins to realize that there are many things that can be done with it. It still needs to be
respected for its strength, but it's the control of this strength that makes it very useful and interesting.
I say, cherish that "scared" feeling, even if it's only just a little bit there in the background. If it totally goes away, many of us would probably
loose our strong interest in this hobby...
Flash Austin used this same analogy in the 1st Red Bull King of the Air video. He does so holding down a wild old early generation inflato. It really
drives the point home. It played a HOOJ part in turning me on to the sport.
I miss the good old days when I would be driving to a session and the hair was standing up on my arms. I wasn't sure if I was scared or excited but I
KNEW I was living! I don't get that rush on my way out very often anymore.
Another option to avoid over fly is to turn the kite a bit before it overshoots the edge.
Well apparently I damaged my shoulder rotator cuff in the fall so don't think I will be flying this week so lots of YouTube research going to be done!
Although the doctor did say no lifting! Is flying lifting
Overall very happy with both kites if still a little bit scared!
Power Kiting however - at first - seems to be like 'breaking' a wild stallion. It is unpredictable, dangerous, and as such, it can hurt you very
badly. Once the wild stallion is 'broken' though, one begins to realize that there are many things that can be done with it. It still needs to be
respected for its strength, but it's the control of this strength that makes it very useful and interesting.
The "stallion " is you Grasshopper... You must not fight yourself. Finesse is your key to success. When you learn to drive ,is when the kite will
become alive. WG
Well apparently I damaged my shoulder rotator cuff in the fall so don't think I will be flying this week so lots of YouTube research going to be done!
Although the doctor did say no lifting! Is flying lifting
Rich
maybe a good time to try a depower. you don't need your shoulder for that :eureka:
So for the record, do you understand why we recommend a 2-3M fixed bridle as a first true power kite?? What would you recommend now that you've flown
a bit??
Yeah the advice was bang on! I think my problem was letting go of the handles and letting the killers do the work! Everything in your brain screams
not to let go! It's not natural, until you have done it! The first thing I made my daughter do when she flew the other day is let the handles go and
learn how it acts! I'm just glad I asked for the advice! Things could have been way worse!
Oh and I have found a local flying group who meet on a Thursday! So going up this week hopefully to watch and learn
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