Thanks for the suggestions. I called their customer service number (stated to be good for US and Canada) but kept getting a message saying it wasn't
available in my area. (Do you suppose they didn't think there would be many snow kiters in Georgia?) but I will take another look at their web page.
The kite was set up with only two knot for the A line and the one in use was the closest to the bar. It would seem to me moving the a line to the
upper knot makes sense to try.
The most useful thing would be to get info on how to keep the bridle lines from tangling when folding the kite up into the bag. I've decided to
remove the lines from the bar completely and partially wrap the power lines on a little winder. The steering lines tend to get tangled in the power
lines and the bar seems to get wrapped around everything. This should make it easier.
I did try one handed a bit - seemed pretty easy. Using the harness does make it a lot easier to fly. Biggest problem I have is that the normal way
one uses a bar - pull in the direction the kite is supposed to go is just wrong - it is more like "steer the steering wheel" (which we are taught is
the wrong was to use a kite bar) but I was getting used to it. I'm going to practice a bit more with the longer lines and then give it a go on the
buggy.
Sounds like you made no knot adjustment between flying zipped and unzipped...and sounds like your models a bit different w/ just 2 knots. Try it on
each position to see which works best.
Quote:
I've decided to remove the lines from the bar completely and partially wrap the power lines on a little winder
Uh.ohhh...:o
I would never do that...undo any lines. Why?
Because I hope you remember which end of bar had bridal 'bunch'("Here's the story of a kite named Brady..Oops wrong bunch!)... and which had directional lines..because it matters.
Should be like mine so , the directional lines (they connect to tips)- go on bar end farthest from hanging ring. Bridal buch on other end nearest
ring. If you don't undo it you'll never have to remember.
***remember... Never move cord w/ metal clip in ring on it. it's on the balance point of bar.
I was removing at least 2 of them every time to untangle anyway. They just connect to the bar with larks head and are color coded. (Of course none of
this means I can't get it wrong.) Agree on the harness line/ring.
I have looked more closely at the kite I have and the diagrams in the manual. The differences I have noticed are mainly in the bridle attachment. In
the 2009 manual there are 4 extension lines of 7, 15, or 30 feet discussed and a diagram showing how to install. Mine came with only 3 lines. The
bridle connection point has two lines with two knots each for the A lines (one on each side) and then there is a loop for the rest of the bridles.
It does not appear that it was intended to split up the B and C lines between right and left (as shown for storm mode in the manual). So what I think
is that in my kite they intended for the longer lines are to be attached to the bar and connected to the steering lines and the power line on the kite
(they even have the same color coding - 2 orange,1 blue.) I suspect they changed the line setup at some point from the model I have. (Perhaps when
they also eliminated the zipper.)
I found another phone number for them and I'll see what they can tell me.
I'm going to stick with the current lines and setup and with full or zipper mode for now. Full storm mode does look more complicated than one would
want to try in the field. (And I have plenty of kites for higher winds anyway.) But half storm seems pretty simple. Looking at the 2009 manual it
seems the measurement are in feet. So I can easily make the required cord. I have plenty of lines so making a 4th line would not be a problem if it
is needed. I do have the directional cords.
I do have the directional cords (Semi-storm and Storm mode directional line attachment cord)
:D
..Not really named cord in diagram, just that you attach directional line there for Storm or Semi/Half Storm mode...on my guidebook anyway.
If you have that on yours I think it's for the same storm and half-storm mode for your model.
** When you set up kite in Half/Semi-Storm( and also Storm) mode, the zipper should be open...or again... is on
mine. Definitely try this mode.
I am assuming with zipper you have 4 modes.
You'll have to learn wind range of each mode by trial... but using at least 3 modes, you should have an overall good range.
The 2009 guide says 9-31mph total wind range(15-50kph), but that includes storm mode. You might comfortably max out at anywhere between 21-25mph in
half storm..?
The (Full) Storm Mode is just a pain. I failed trying to do it once. Little too involved and confusing. Better labeled and explained in guidebook
might have helped. Thought I had it right but wouldn't fly.
Called Paraski Flex today and they said they think there is some form of instruction for my kite - but the gentleman wasn't sure which one. So when
their vintage Paraski Flexpert gets in on Monday they will find out and email it to me if possible, or call back and let me know what they have.
Cleaning up around the house today and look what I found. I got this from Ross who ran Newwindsports.com in NH back in the day when he imported for
MAC Para, ParaskiFlex and DirtSurfer. DVD is mostly skiing but also has some water riding. Pretty good considering it was produced over a decade
ago. Maybe its on Youtube?
Depower Quiver: 14m Gin Eskimo, 10m Gin Eskimo III, 6m Gin Yeti, 4.5m Gin Yeti (custom bridle and mixer)
Fixed Bridle Quiver: MAC Bego 400, JOJO ET Instinct 2.5 & 5.5, Lil Devil 1.5, Sting 1.2
Rides: Ground Industries
I've heard about the DVD, but haven't been able to locate one. I have found a lot of video on youtube, mostly snow, but I have found water, buggy and
ATB riding. Haven't really found much that is instructional though. I really doesn't look like the basic kite has changed much but some of the
features (such as the zipper, spars, and bridle changes for storm mode) have changed some. Hopefully whatever documentation I get will answer my
remaining questions.
First buggy rides today. I have a ways to go, but starting to get it. I have trouble with turns, but this kite is quite a bit different from
anything else I've used. Closest thing to it would be flying the NPW and my single skin foil (g-kites) on a one handed bar and short lines. Tried it
with the "half storm mode" which flew but was clearly not enough. Then went to zipper mode and finally unzipped. I was surprised how much of a
difference the zipper makes. (Or did the wind just pick up?) Not a great day for wind. When flying the P-flex the reported winds were 9 mph (but
obviously not so steady where I was.) Flew my 3.75 M NPW 21 after the Parasksi - and while it was fine in the gusts, rest of the time it preferred
sitting on the ground.
Good on you Randy!... I've been pining to get out to the Fairgrounds but been too busy... Its been nice and blustery 'round these N. Atlanta parts
hasn't it!
First buggy rides today. I have a ways to go, but starting to get it. I have trouble with turns, but this kite is quite a bit different from
anything else I've used. Closest thing to it would be flying the NPW and my single skin foil (g-kites) on a one handed bar and short lines. Tried it
with the "half storm mode" which flew but was clearly not enough. Then went to zipper mode and finally unzipped. I was surprised how much of a
difference the zipper makes. (Or did the wind just pick up?) Not a great day for wind. When flying the P-flex the reported winds were 9 mph (but
obviously not so steady where I was.) Flew my 3.75 M NPW 21 after the Parasksi - and while it was fine in the gusts, rest of the time it preferred
sitting on the ground.
Nicely played sir, nicely played. At the 1:15 mark it is possible to clearly see how this kite is strung and it's pretty wild. The whole nose coming
off the left side of the bar and the two trailing edge lines coming off the right side. Must be funky to fly compared to other more traditional
bridling.
One other (off the mark) question. It is possible to see carabiners on your foot peg bar ends. What are they for? I had three possible ideas: 1)
walk of shame strap attachment points; 2) points of attachment for a rack or storage device of some sort; or, 3) attachment point for a tandem buggy
setup. Maybe something entirely other than any of those. Enquiring minds want to know!
Spencer - if you look close you can see some changes at the fairgrounds. The "road" has been repaved so it is smoother, wider and a bit faster. We
lost a little space as they put in a new booth, and some parking spaces closing off our old parking spaces on the bridge over WIndy Hill Rd. On the
other side of Windy Hill Rd. they built a new building but it is about the same height and behind the building already there so I don't think it
hurts the wind much.
Steve - The 1:15 mark is also when I started riding with the zipper unzipped. You can see the zipper in the sail.
Those carabiners are for towing the buggy out of the car to the launching pad (or for the highly unlikely event of a walk of shame. :D ) Those were
on the buggy when I bought it so they must be a good idea.One problem with this field is that it slopes downward from North to South so going upwind
with the prevailing NW wind is fairly hard and slow, while riding downwind is fast and easy. The P-flex seems to handle that better than any kite
I've used so far.
Yes - I did remember to make the bridle adjustments. The half storm mode was interesting. It did fly pretty much the same, but needed more wind to
keep going. The adjustments are pretty simple - only two possible knot positions for the A-lines. hoping a suitable day will appear by middle of
next week. Until then - rain.
Local kite buddy used them for years on the water with strapless surfboards 7 to 10 feet. In deep water and waves having fun like everyone else. These
kites worked well for him.
Heres a tutorial for making small, light weight high pressure bladders that might improve this type of kites (Paraski Flex, C-quads or other single
skins, maybe even open face ram airs too?? ) sea worthiness.
2016 CORE Section wave 6m and 9m
CORE Sensor2 controlbar
2016 5'2" North WHIP surfboard
Zeeko Spitfire XLW foil and 5'0 custom foilboard
Electric Outback MountainBoard
Any old $100 snowboard
Another day for riding the Flex. I'm getting better with completing turns but still miss more than I make. I do fly it one handed a lot with the
harness providing the grunt. Once I bailed on the kite but forgot to let go with the hand holding the bar. Thought about reattaching but decided
that would be stupid.
I'm learning the problem is you can get it to fly and even pull you without much wind, but directional control requires a certain amount of wind.
Below that, once you jibe and apparent wind drops steering control is just not there. So - got to keep it rolling to make a turn.
I've gotten so interested in the flex concept that I started building a some kites inspired by the Paraskit Flex concept. This kite is only about 1.7
meters, and uses a flexible spar in the leading edge, but is much simpler than the Paraski Flex. First, the shape is simple semi-circle rather than
(what appears to be) an elliptical shape in the original. I also used Ian's trick of using a tension line instead of darts to put some shape into the
leading edge. Finally, the bridles are completely different. Instead of several cascade bridles (about 24 in total) I used 8 single bridles each at
equal angles from the center. The plan is shown in the fist slide in the video, and the bridles all converge to the point on the line below the kite.
(Which magically seems to be about right.)
It's very stable, has a nice wind window and flies well either on a 4 line bar or on a simple bar following the original steering method.
Now I think I will build a bigger version of this prototype.
![[*]](images/perspective/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
) but I will take another look at their web page.
..Oops wrong bunch!)... and which had directional lines..because it matters.
