This is somewhat of a two part question.

1. I just bought a 3.5 meter trainer kite, Its a rush 350 pro. I'm using it to practice before getting a real kite for the water. My first time I got to fly it the other day was in about 20-30mph winds. It was alot of fun, it definetly did not lack power, I'd barely touch the power zone and it would be pulling me down the field (and I'm a 200 pound man), so I started trying to jump (having no idea really how to). The way that I had discovered would work is if I brought the kite out to the side, about 10 o clock, and then swooped it sideways to the right through the power zone, and when it is directly in front of me I would turn it a real sharp 90 degrees and shoot it straight up to 12. It would all be a quick motion and it would pull me right off the ground with ease, usually just a couple feet.

Well that is until the time I did the same thing, and it picked me up 8 feet high (I watched the video of myself, to make sure I wasn't exaggerating, it felt like more), and went about 20 foot forward in the direction of the wind, and lets just say I dropped like a rock from the 8 feet. I hit the ground so hard my legs just buckled and I slammed hard.

My question .....is this just the wrong way to jump, or did I just need to redirect the kite back forward again (I didn't know anything about redirecting at the time). Is the reason I slammed so hard because my kite shot backwards past the zenith?


2. The second part of my question. How many different types of jumping techniques are there? I've been searching all over the web, youtube, etc, without much luck. So far I've only been able to find type of technique, where say you run to the right, with the kite at 1 or 2 o clock, and then turn the kite back to 10 or 11, and then redirect it back back to 1 or 2. However, to me, it looks alot more like a "swing" than an actual "jump". And to be honest, that "swing" style jumping just doesn't look as exciting. Aren't there other techniques out there more along the lines of what I was doing (shooting the kite through the power zone and up) (minus the hard landing), that really boost you more upwards? And where can I find a good tutorial on the different types of jumps?

PS: Before any safety guys flip out, i'm not trying to be reckless and do any big huge 10 foot jumps on a trainer kite, I just want to be able to do various types of controlled jumps, probably about 5 foot max, with a nice soft landing.

Thanks.

you should research the pendulum jump. There are a few good animations on the web that describe the pendulum jump and will be very helpful. You've got the idea down but there are a couple key things that'll help you with a good controlled floaty jump.

Mistake #1. Safety gear, (helmet, hillbilly/impact shorts) no mention of what or if you had any. Safety is number one. Don't attempt any jump without having your safety gear. Protect that mellon.

Mistake #2. Kite way to small for any safe jumps. It's just like when we all were learning to drive. We didn't hit the freeway the very first day. Don't rush it get to know the kite, and yourself. Know your own comfort zone.

I'll get off the safety soap box for now. :bigok:

The Rush pro is a great beginner kite. Really not intended for jumping. Think of it as training wheels.

Now for another answer to your question. The most basic, and typically the one we all start with is just the plain old hop. Easiest to control your height, less apt to do an impersonation of superman. Besides you get a feel for the lift that the kite will produce.

I intentionally did not give you my opinion on what size kite to get to jump with. Not be snooty, it's just me.
Just remember to be safe out there. We want to hear lots of kite stories from you, not just one.

you shouldnt be taking the kite thru the power zone-it should be up high from 10 to 2 and then shot up to the zenith--you probably had it too low if youre going forward and youre using the wrong kite to jump with--should be at least 5m so you get more float-why dont you just try small hops at first and go from there--its how i got started and now im going huge--but it aint gonna happen overnight--ps. you dont want any safety guys to flip out??? no one is going to "flip out" on you, but you have to understand that jumping is dangerous period.......there really is nothing you can do to make it totally safe--if someone mentions safety--its just the voice of experience trying to help you avoid some of the same mistakes and injuries they may have made.........

safety has been hit on... you know the drill by now...
5 meter kites are recommended because they are big enough to give you a floaty landing.

And if you dont think that pendulum jump is exiting... get a bigger kite and it will be lol, you can still get good high jumps with it, and it has the best chance of giving you a softer landing




by using this tek ^^ ive busted out 10-15' (vertical) jumps and walked away just fine... the kite is high up, and sets you down softly... when you jump with the kite out in front of you you get 'superman'ed



(the first crash)

youre right drew, pendulum jumping IS exciting--especially when a big gust hits you and off you go into the wild blue yonder--see utube vid super jump for starters-there are others as well LOL