Just got my new apex 1 flying, and have been having a little trouble with the depower. When I have the kite flying, and pull the depower bar to full deflection, the kite begins to stall and almost goes into reverse, like a reverse launch. When the bar is at minimum power, the kite pulls like a train. Any suggestions or similar problems? Am i just being a bonehead haha?

What size Apex and what speed wind?

In lighter winds (10 mph and less), depower kites will appear to behave "bass-ackwards" as you observed. you are right that the kite is stalling when you increase the AoA. The kite appears to develop more power when "depowered" (bar out) because it is actually flying instead of stalling. Pull the center trim strap all the way in (shorter) to reduce the default AoA and it should help to keep the kite moving.

Once you get the kite moving in a buggy, on a board or skiis, and it creates its own aopparent wind, it will behave "normally"

Are you flying this thing static or are you using it with a board, skis, etc? I suspect you are flying static.

Depower kites don't fly quite the way you'd expect them to from reading about them. When you pull in the bar and are flying static you do slow the kite down and stall it. Push bar out and the kite speeds up and "pulls like a train". If you were skiing and had the kite moving through the air then pulling the bar would give you more power, but would also slow the kite down. I find myself working the bar in and out continuously on the ATB or skiis. Pulling it in for power and then letting it out to accelerate the kite, especially through turns. I'm still a depower rookie so I'll let the pros explain it better.

Personally I find flying depower kites static can be pretty challenging and less enjoyable than fixed bridle kites. They are really meant to be flown while riding in my opinion. Plus mine are kind of big so if there is enough wind to fly them its tough to just stand there holding them down.

like said above, while reading your post I presumed you were static flying, so the kite does exactly what is supposed to do and seems to do it well.

get on some wheels

Im flying it statically right now, getting used to it. The winds ive used have varied. Anywhere between about 9 to 18 or 20 so far. this is my first depower kite, and i have yet to jump on a board. It sounds like some motion might help the situation?

Try adjusting the front lines sounds like they are too long. add a knots at 1 inch or less increments and move the lines one knot and try it. keep going until it feels right. Older depowers have some stretch on the front while there is little pressure on the back lines so they change the AOA just by line length and you end up over sheeting the kite and causing a backstall. They do perform differently static than dynamic but should not back stall. Hope this helps.

It seems odd but in very low wind you actaully want the depower to near total depower mode. Both on the trim strap and the bar. This speeds the kite up through the window and helps create apparent wind. Once you approach the edge pull in on the bar for better / faster turning + to avoid overshooting the window. Try this before you start adjusting with the leader knots.

I agree it sounds like the kite is O.K.. You just need some fly time to get used to it ! Once you do , there will be no looking back ! Once you get riding with depower simply flying static will lose a lot of it's thrill !

Good question !

What size do you have ? Please give us your impressions of the kite once you have a bit more time under it ! Not too many people have this kite yet. It is targeted at the beginer so your impression will be of real value to us all !!!! :wee:

Hey thanks for the info everyone, i was getting worried i was rigging my kite wrong or something. All the symptoms that you all are describing is exactly what is happening. And thanks for the tips too. Im new to the sport, and this helps alot. Its a 5m Apex 1, and im loving every second of it so far

That should be a good choice ! It will become your high wind kite as your skills grow. It is at the verry bottom of it's wind range at 12mph so it won't follow conventional thinking. Learning to ride you will want a bit more wind. Believe it or not it will perform best in winds around the 18mph you experienced. You will eventually want / need a larger kite for the winds lower than that !
Depower is the way to go if you are getting prepared to snow kite, ride ATB or kitesurf.

This sounds all to familiar to me. lol. Bladerunner had it right. Just keep the depower strap pulled all the way in. Kite will lauch, and fly fine from there. Once in the air you can play with the depower strap and fine the sweet spot for the winds you are in. Had the same trouble with my Montana III, till these kind folk educated me.

Actually trying to fly a depower static can be a lot of fun, a challange yes, but fun.