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Originally posted by dgkid78 . But I don't think i could see myself with a fixed bridle in 15mph winds on a board. I know it's done, i see videos all the time, and it's personal preference. but I enjoy cruising and spilling some power to rest my abs and ribs every now and then. Don't think that can be done with a fixed bridle even with a harness, power is raw constantly. I think i would stop more often to rest. I dunno if it's just cause i am excited to be out flying cause i am a noob but i am rarely stopping to rest. the way i rest is just by cruising back and forth without attempting any jumps LOL....Personally sold on Depowers here....I havn't touched my Crossfire 2.4 in 6 months. I am thinking about getting rid of it. But it needs a test fly before i sell her off.

Just a note about choosing your power level with a FB kite. You can affect the power level by tapping the brakes, or stop sining the kite, or pull it up a little higher in the window. These techniques have limitations but all work in a buggy. I'm not quite a novice yet on the board.

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Originally posted by flexiblade Result - High wind + Fixed Bridle = Fear of Death

no way .. ;-)

high wind + fixed bridle 3 to 4m on 15m lines + dry lake = 60+mph FUN FUN FUN!!!

speed freak

The reason I have my 2.5 is that it is a good high wind kite.
The reason I have the 9 is that it is a good low wind kite.

For me and my style this is when the fixed bridles are useful. I LOVE my depower for everything in between.

SO many times I have been in a great location but the wind would change as you traveled any distance. With the fixed bridle I would start out fine but often would hit a wall when the wind picked up or dropped off farther away. With a depower kite you can adjust on the fly as you pass those pockets. On those days it makes or breaks your day.

There is a reason I was just about the only one flying fixed bridle at the Snow kite Rodeos I used to attend :duh:

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Originally posted by ripsessionkites Quote: Originally posted by flexiblade Result - High wind + Fixed Bridle = Fear of Death no way .. ;-) high wind + fixed bridle 3 to 4m on 15m lines + dry lake = 60+mph FUN FUN FUN!!!

i've modded ALL my foil kites, even the 2.5 Profoils to DEPOWER.... i'm just too lazy to fly any other way...

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i've modded ALL my foil kites, even the 2.5 Profoils to DEPOWER.

Hey PZ,

Are these mods extensive or simplistic (i.e. Are there mod kits that will work on most kites or is each customized)?

What kind of depower range are you getting on these mods?

to buggy. need/prefer the better control handles give and easier for my brain to simply let go of handles when $#it hits the fan.
in lighter(not scary) winds i have used my 7.5 Frenzy w/buggy and it was real nice too. i will definitely buggy with depower a lot more when winds are closer to ideal and after i have become a better buggy-er.
i really like flying nephew's FS 13m Pulse and my Frenzy 7.5m.
still going to get a 5-ishm Haka, Cult, or Blurr soon as I can figure out which one I want.
Paul

oops. i forgot, scrap the Haka. i'm not into freestyle big air stuff.

Depower=pain in the rear.

Depower gives you a sense of confidence in your ability to sheet out so you can stay out in more wind than you should=bad

Depower=mushy feel i.e. not instant power

Fixed is my choice. I have a couple sort of depower and have flown a fair number of depower and I guess I'm not cut out for it or I'm to old sckool.
My friend and I found some pictures from 2002 last weekend. This one shows me with a 4 line handle setup doing a deep carving gybe. Gotta love fixed on handles.

Scott

another pic of fixed with handles. Check out the size of the waves breaking out on the outer reef about 2 miles out.

FB vs. Depower! We all have a type we prefer, and another we will avoid like the plague. I imagine that others like me have a personal preference. I am just now learning the little quirks of depower kiting, and I must say I love it. That is not to say that I will not fly a FB kite. The kite that gets flown more then any other in my quiver is my 3.6 Titian. There is a time and a place for FB, and a time and place for DP. This doesn’t mean that one is better then the other in any and all wind conditions. Any kiter should know their own limitations. We all know when the wind is starting to nuke beyound our comformt level. The ability to sheet a kite or not does not make a bad kite. Not knowing your ability level makes for bad kiting.

(steps down off of soap box) :D

I love to fly de-power kites static and being hooked in makes it easier to fly to me but they are also fun on wheels

I'm not big on digging up old threads, but I must say that after several sessions with depower kites, I agree with Dino. The power available is much smoother than any fixed bridle I've flown. I also enjoy the fact that I can fly in a multitude of wind speeds without having to approach the kite to change an AAA.

I still enjoy the FB kites, but I think I may be on the DP bandwagon now.

Ok, saw this old thread and NOW I want a depower!!!

I think this is exactly what I need in my wind conditions. Somedays it is lower wind and then I can break out my fixed Bridle kites, but on the high wind days - it is really gusty here - I think a good depower would be perfect!!!

So what is the Depower to Fixed Bridle size ratio? If I have a high aspect ratio 5 meter fixed bridle what size would that be in depower?

somebody told me a 12m de power is about like a 9m fb--i'm just getting into de powers,so i cant comment on them yet,but i like the huge fb kites,because they are a great workout,and i like to stay in shape

I assume this thread is for foil depowers vs foil on handles

bummer about the hand nerve damange, but unfortunately you can get nerve damage from a seat and waist harnesses too

I like bars simply because I can use one hand to hold on the buggy so I don't get pulled out weeee! I can do this with a strop but I feel like I have better one had control on a bar then on stropped handles.

My blaze 7m range is 8mph to 22mph; I would agree that a 8m-ish kite really can be a one kite quiver for the non-extreme riders. You just have to settle for going the speed that the wind wants you to go. I've actually been thinking of selling my smaller kites and getting a larger 12/14 depower to cover 6-25mph for land, and when it gets solidly over 20 I like to pull out the LEIs. I'll leave handles in 25+ for the pro's... I need to go to work the next day :flaming: I haven't experimented with really short lines on my fixed for higher winds, could be an option, but flying a gnat gets it's as much fun as Cadillac.

I've got an AAA on my rages also, and while I love it; it's so much easier to perfectly dial in a depower so that you can just park the kite and ride. I can also dial in my depowers to get much better upwind performance, even with the AAA.

I don't buy the low wind performance either, but low wind price / performance I could see

Can't be bothered with a harness and I think it would be overkill in my little landboarding spot. When I get out to the beach, I'll want to let the Vortex or the Phanny loose, I think ... hmm I need a waist harness cos I'll look a right #@%$#! in the Fusion on land :ticking:

Right tool for the job ... I've been in areas with another kiting fighting to deal with his larger de-power while I've been riding circles around him with my little Bullet - having unpacked it and got it in the air before he could untangle his lines

Recently I have found I'm flying my 15m Syn when others are tearing it up on 2 or 3 m Fixed bridles.
The other day I started off on a friends 2m Ace. That is one quirky little beast ! I have never liked the way kites under 3m create power being more of a park and ride style. I think I will be buying a smaller arc for the high winds now?

I was shocked at just how comfortable I was with that big beast once I got my skirt off ! My 2.5 has not seen wind since I returned from NABX and became a practicing archaholic! :D