Ok so the MBS Comp 90 arrived at my houst at about 930 am Saturday morning (TY DAKITEZ!!) and I was on the field by 1100 am. Had a nice clean 8-10 mph wind for about an hour before it kicked up to 14ish. Getting on the board was nice and easy, getting it rolling was no problem at all (this may have come from years of board sports) but the trouble I ran into was keeping the board rolling. I would get going at a pretty nice clip and then, like clockwork I'd lose the wind. (Pilot error I know) I seem to be having trouble keeping it in the window. I guess practice is needed badly! Lol! Any suggestions on keeping the kite powered while rolling?


Thanks!

problem no one for newbies is going downwind too much, and the kite falls out of the sky .. ride upwind - keep the tension in the lines

I'm not sure what you mean by "lose the wind", but once you get rolling you need to edge back against the kite to keep the lines tight. Were you flying down wind and luffing the kite? Or if you were overflying the window then tap the breaks to pull the kite back a little. If you need more power sine the kite in an S pattern to work it for more power once you get rolling.

I think I see one demo that isn't going to make it home. That Comp 90 is a niiiiiice board.

If your headed too much downwind you might be stalling out the kite, especially in light winds. Try turning upwind a little... If the kite is really fast inhow it flies, you can also slow it down a bit when it apporaches the edge of the window with a little brake pressure.

My experience was the reverse of another's advice in a similar topic.

If you are "sine-ing" your kite up and down for power:

- Toe-in/downwind on the down/power stroke for momentum
- Heel-back/upwind on the up stroke to keep kite and lines taunt.

I was going a bit downwind so that could be the problem. I think I was overflying the window a bit too lol. And YES, this board is niiiice!!!

Quote:

- Toe-in/downwind on the down/power stroke for momentum - Heel-back/upwind on the up stroke to keep kite and lines taunt

This is wrong this is oppisite of what should be done.

On the down(power) stroke you should go upwind as much as possible
On the up stroke, dont go downwind but dont go hard upwind either. Just let up a little. The kite is flying slower and not making as much power,

Youll find its kind of a balancing act. If you go to hard upwind the kite will get to the edge of the window and loose power.

If you go to much down wind the lines go slack and the kite falls.

Heres something u can try that may help a little. try riding 90 degrees to the wind or we will say straight across the wind. Its good to pick a point way out in front of you that you can ride towards to keep you in line.
Get the kite parked and ride to get some speed.
Now if you turn just a little towards the kite(not so much the lines go slack) you will notice the kite move back in the window.
or if you carve hard upwind the kite will move to the edge of the window.
Its just a matter of balancing kite power with what u want to do. Using brakes or depower, depending on what kind of kite your flying, will also help with it.

Wow...great info! Thanks! I can't wait to get back on the board and try this...now its a matter of getting time lol!

fly your kite in a sine-like pattern, keeping it more in the powerzone, and less at the edge of the window. there is less power in the edge of the window, this could explain why you had trouble keeping rolling. you need more power...

you will need to edge your bodyweight against the kite to keep from getting pulled over your board. it just takes practice...

you ARE wearing protection, right? if not, you will soon enough. sometimes it just takes pain to teach you (as was my case, too- dont feel bad).

This is wrong this is oppisite of what should be done.

Yep - that's why I admitted it was the reverse!

The wind was well angled toward my traveling direction ("broad reach?"), and I was using a somewhat underpowered trainer for the higher wind speed.

So, even toeing upwind just a little was much more towards the kite than a normal 90 degree arrangement and the kite and lines were sagging each time.

I certainly tried to apply "the rule" and even checked back here to see how I got it "wrong!" I guess the "balancing act" just didn't apply. Maybe a zippier, unwindy kite would have made a difference.

I think under the circumstances, I just had to let the raw kinesthetic learning take over (me...want...to...go...forward...more!) and save the rules and analysis for the post-game wrap-up! :smug:

"Me...want...to...go...forward...more!"

ROFL! Me found self saying same thing other day! *grunt*

Yep...sometimes you can learn a lot just by listening to these guys...

LOL The Three Wise Men, eh?