Hi all,

Just a quick question. The last 3 or 4 times that I have been out flying I have been having to contend with a difficult wind.

Basically what happens is that I get a decent wind coming from one direction, set the kite up (3m Beamer if it makes a difference) with the wind blowing against my back and then launch it.
After about a minute if that, the wind dies. The kite dies and then I reset for the next breeze. The problem is that the next breeze comes from a different direction. Therefore the wind is blowing towards/across me and the kite. I run 90/180 degrees around like a complete loon and by the time I get with my back to the wind it dies again. It then comes in from a different direction again so I run around again to get my back against the wind.

This carries on for about half an hour with me maybe getting 5 mins max flying time. I get bored and worn out from all the running about. Pack the kite up and go home very dissapointed.

Don't get me wrong the kite is great in the right wind it's just that the wind is constantly changing direction.

My question is do any of you have any suggestions??

Sounds like you are flying at an inland field right? I am even to go as far as to guess it is within 5 miles of a large body of water or the ocean?
I have these same conditions in fields near me and the only way to avoid the quirky winds are to go to a more open field or the beach.

Yup, sounds like my situation as well, I'm sitting here now watching the trees blow around, but I know the local park will just get me mad. If I have 2-3hrs to go kiting, I'll now travel 1 hr one way to kite for an hour, then spend the final hour driving home. I've got a solid hour in with good conditions and I go home happy and tired. If I try to kite locally I spend 3 hrs getting mad at the kite and go home choked.

About the only kites I've tried that can handle gusty wind with rotors are the PL Arcs. The Brooza's are also designed for really poor wind, but with the total direction changes nothing will help.

I have the same problem near my house.

The parking area where I ride is almost always empty, so I'll pull in... throw up a flowform for five minutes... if it stays up, I'm good to go... if it keeps dropping, I know that I'll end up wasting my time with a foil and the board. With a 30 foot tail... I can judge by how active it is wether to break out the biggest kite I have... or something more manageable.

Now if I get in my truck and drive 1.5 hours to the beach... the flowform serves as a visual marker to how far I've ridden... loose sight of it, and it's finally time to turn around... or make a bigger sky marker so I can ride farther

He's in High Wycombe, which is a tad unfortunate! Just to the left of london and the sea is nowhere to be seen around there!

However, i believe there is a place called the Rye very near you which is over 50 acres of decent grass which you might wanna try, otherwise checkout racekites.com for other recommendations...

Trouble with high wicombe is that it's in a valley isn't it? So... this will obviously cause a lot of turbulance! I know how you feel though, theres nothing worse than a bad session... you should get to the beach like everyone says, it's amazing how much better/how fast you learn when you're exposed to some nice clean wind!

Hi all,

Thanks for the help and suggestions.
Domdino- the Rye is exactly where I have been flying the kite and having these annoying problems with the wind.
You are right, High Wycombe is in a valley and I guess that makes some issues with the wind.

I will check out that website and see what I can find.

Dude - I just been down the Rye myself - its #@%$#! and cos we are in a vally - I hear they do lots up at Pinkneys Green but never been - you know anything ??? Let me know ?!?!?!?!

Jon

I know that the Rye is awful for flying.

I keep meaning to go to Pinkneys Green sometime soon. Am waiting for the right weather and the right wind.

Let me know if you come up with any more info.