I have tried a couple methods of jumping, not sure if I'm doing it right. Three things I have tried...

1. Spring loaded jump with the kite at zenith seems to work well in decent winds. Sometimes I'll bring the kite across the window, then straight up to get a bit more lift.

2.Bring the kite from about 1 o'clock to about 11 o'clock (or vice versa) while running back and opposite. This seems to generate too much lateral pull for a good flight.

3.Running cross wind with the kite at 2 o'clock (or 10 oclock), then pulling the kite up to zenith. This also seems to work quite well with decent winds, but I get nothing in lighter winds.

Do I just need a bigger kite, or is there something that I am doing wrong? I weigh 190, by the way.

What kite? Size? Your blade?

What is a spring loaded jump?

Method #3 sounds like a pendulum jump. That's the only jump that I've attempted. I can't say that I've had much success (possibly due overly conservative kite/wind combinations) so hopefully the more accomplished jumpers can help you out. It sounds like the pendulum jump is working out for you so maybe you just don't have enough kite in the lighter winds.

Sounds like too little wind. BUT- Be cautious in your next attempt in stronger winds. You might bite off more then you can chew! Building skills in a certain wind range is essential to progress to the next increased wind speed. Put it this way... if that little voice says "Don't"
THEN LISTEN TO IT!!! Or you will look like this::o

yeah, it's hard to give feedback on jumps without knowing wind, kite, and weight... We have only one.

Guessing that it's the blade as you seem really confident about where you are placing the kite...

I'm just starting out with kites and jumping, but I'm finding so far that pendulums are the way to go. I try both ways (left and right runs).

One key for me so far has been the angle which I run away from the kite, about half-way between directly cross wind (0 degrees) and directly downwind (90 degrees) is the most angle that works, usually about 30 degrees or so, though.

Another has been the timing -- but this is really hard to describe, I don't understand it well enough yet to put it into words. (30 mins later, and many deletes, so not there yet, still can't put it into words.)

It is true that at first I was too scared to fly in the winds that could jump me. If I can hold the kite deep in power (deep sand beach) I'm not jumping. If I can scud when the kite is only half-way down from zenith, then I can sometimes jump (hop) without running, just by flying hard near the top of the window. But in those conditions I'm usually to nervous to send it hard. My normal flying area gives me about 50 m by 50 m to play in, 100 by 50 at low tide, and there's often lots of people around.

I'm trying my jumps on Pansh Ace 5 in 8-12 mph. 15 is when I begin to get nervous. I weigh 155 lbs.

A vid of low wind pansh flying, with a couple small jumps in the middle, is on my youtube channel (not the low to no wind kite vid): http://www.youtube.com/user/furbowski, but don't know if that will help.

keep trying... I plan to.

good luck

furbo

All I can say is make sure you have "constant" winds with the 5M Ace. Lumpy winds will pick and drop you hard! See, I did not listen to the little voice on that one!

Also, the effort that got you 2 feet off the ground yesterday in 9 mph winds will get you 10 feet today in 14 mph winds. Just a little more wind will magnify your jump height. I'm sure someone has a real mathematical formula but I'm just talking from the seat of my pants. Hope it doesn't sound like it. :duh: Also, the motions that have little effect with a 5m kite, will easily pick you up with a 6.5 Blade.

Edit: At 190, you will need those winds at your limit with a 4.9 to really pick you up and float you down.

Here is my formula for You: Take blade 4.9 in 12+ wind, preform pendulum jump with sending Your kite little over zenith and than redirect(don't forget that one) You will have nice floats once You'll find right timing with this. If You still R not happy with hight take it to few more mph or send kite little more pass zenith (like 2 o'clock) or help Your kite by jumping when You start to feel some lift. Make sure You play it safe with good padding and a helmet.

My spring loaded version consists of flying the kite high across the window from 1 oclock (or 11 oclock), and when the kite gets to the center, steer sharply up to zenith with knees bent, ready to jump, when I feel a lot of tension, I jump. Have gotten some decent height, but I want more.

It seems by the posts that I just dont have enough wind when I am trying... I will try to grow a pair next time the wind is above 14 or so. My new impact shorts will probably help my confidence out a bit.

As to the kite, I actually feel the most comfortable jumping with the Rage, even though it is supposed to have less lift. It picks me up quite easily in the right winds. I learned that the Blade is quite an animal in the right winds. I love it and fear it at the same time.

It yanked me about 8 feet up with no effort not too long ago, so I have a tendency to try something else first, I dont really know how far I will go, and while I generally have some room to play with, my park is lined with trees, and last time something bad happened, it was my Crossfire that parted ways with me. I might cry about the Blade. So I usually only pull her out in sub 10 mph winds. Maybe next time... I'll keep you posted.

Thanks guys.

I love to jump! I think you may need a bigger kite. I think that is why you getting lifted with the rage and not the blade The 4.9 will lift you but you need more wind and if your not careful it is fast it will snatch you and if you dont redirect quick you wil drop. I use my 6.4 for jumping I am 210lb. It gets pretty off the hook in about 15-17 mph But I am use to that. Try from 2 oclock to 10 While running in the oppisite direction til you feel like it is pulling then redirect up you should get some air. It takes lots of practice and some big gonuts to jump. Because to get the air you want you have to push it a little it gets scary not knowing how high you'll really go I had to learn the hard way so be careful jumping. wear saftey gear! A time or two of being scared Will go a long way in the learning process.Imo bigger kite will get you up and float you down. What I had to get use to was the pop off the ground thats the fast scary part but if you have the right kite size the float down is the real high! nice and soft. once that happens the fear of the snatch fades away. Good luck.

Isn't it amazing how FAST it yanks you up? That is the scary part for me wondering how high before it quits lifting me. You can tell when you are getting hooked up for the jump when its going to all come together.

I don't do any jumping yet...not a lot of desire to do it...but, I did find this on YouTube the other day and might give it a try sometime:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCWbIesHAnQ

Lobo :singing:

This video along with getting to use a blade got me started with jumping. Really explains how it works.

115lbs person + 4m Ace + 10-13mph = 6 foot air

what video Bob?

i also jump primarily with 4.9 Blade...i weigh 180 you def need more air than what you've tried in so far to really jump. try playing with the lift settings on your bridle. i get the best results on the 2nd knot down "normal blade" setting...but putting it on the higher lift setting slows down the kite and makes much more upward pull, really can help during the learning stages to get your timing right on smaller pendulum jumps. it will however wear out your arms in stronger winds.

As shown above my prior post.