Hi guys, I've just got into the world of power kiting and could really do with a bit of advice, i've bought a Flexifoil Rage 3.5 and have take it out twice so far, but i'm wondering if i'm just useless or if i'm taking it out in far too strong winds.

The wind i have taken it out in both times has been enough to move small branches on trees and enough to warrant me wearing a hat to keep my medium length hair out of my face... At a guess, I would say 13-18mph, and i'm 5'9'' weighing in at around 160lbs...

First time I got a bit apprehensive and packed up, however today I carried on and ended up being dragged along face first by the kite (Which was actually quite fun!), but still, i'd like to be able to fly without constantly worrying about taking off. I would be genuinely grateful for any advice.

Matt

Those winds are about middle of the power curve for that kite - depending of course on your experience with kiting in general.

I would suggest taking the kite out in a bit less winds, somewhere around the 5-12 mph range so you can spend more time getting familiar with the kite and the controls. As your skills build and your familiarity with the kite grows, you will be able to control the kite easier in the stronger wind conditions.

Another thing to remember is that when you are riding a buggy or board, you can handle much more wind / power than flying static. For example, for me, the 3.5 Rage would be around the minimum wind range for a buggy at 15 mph and probably start to be powered up nicely around 18-20 mph but flying static...well, you know how that is already.

Start in light winds first and build your skills and knowledge. As a fellow flyer in our group always says, strong winds build muscle - light winds build skill.

Hope that helps.

It's great fun, but it annoyed me because a)it took me ages to untangle my lines in the first place, b)I had a bunch of kids watching me wrestle with the kite and c) I had the embarrassment of the same kids watch me soar (dis)gracefully through the air and then watch me spend another 30 minutes untangling my lines (Again!)

I absolutely can't wait to get it out in lesser winds so I can actually control the thing, it's funny, because all day at work the wind was calm, up until I was setting up. I probably shouldn't have risked it, but at least I've learned a lesson... Kite Killers are your friend!

Yeah. What awoc said. Less winds will be easier to learn in. Or get a smaller kite if those winds are the average for your area...

Quote:

Originally posted by awindofchange As a fellow flyer in our group always says, strong winds build muscle - light winds build skill.

This is soooo true .... very well said!

check out www.kitesurfingschool.org

It will explain a lot of what you need to know.

Make sure you are holding the handles correct and not applying brake.

blade 10.5 will really build those back muscles!!!

setting up and packing up in high winds has its own learning curve. You'll do better next time, just think it though before you do it. No fun tangling lines, but the same applies there.

check out parapacking.

do you have a kite stake?

I don't like people around when I'm pushing myself with kites, if I'm flying in my comfort zone then it's OK. bystanders can be cool and and a good ego boost, but yes they can get in the way!!!!

Thanks for all the replies and advice, to be honest, as steep as I'm finding the learning curve at the moment, the only thing I'm finding to be a bit of chore is packing and setting up - especially in higher winds, but I'm a reasonably quick learner, so hopefully I'll nail it sooner rather than later. ( and have more time to fly!)

get yourself a wind meter so you will KNOW what the conditions are-- i always laugh when people that watch me try to guess the wind speed--almost always they are WAY off.....lol---example--flying my blade one day,wind was avg 12mph--3 people guessed 30 to 35 and an "experienced kiter" i met that day guessed 27--guess he needs a wind meter as well...........

however you pack the kite and wind the lines, you have to do the exact same thing in reverse to avoid tangles... it took me about 3 good tangles to get it, but now i maybe get a single twist in my lines... and as far as the wind meter goes (im not tryin to dog ya jumper) but youll get a feel for what wind is too much, or to little.... become one with the wind, and you wont need an anemometer to read the wind...

I gave up on wind speeds... its either crappy, gravy, epic, or stupid... in that order lol

no problem drew, but being that he's a noob-i say get the wind meter and then later you can use it when you want to----i dont use mine all the time,but its still great to have.......

Try sitting back and bend your knees letting the kite take some of your weight. Keep your weight on your heels. Lulls may drop you on your ass, but gusts will give you a scud. A lot of beginners will stand up straight and try resist the kite digging in with their toes; that way is a sure fire method of landing on your face.
S

I do lean back and bend at the knees, but I tend to run with the power rather than scud... Letting the kite drag me along seems pretty intimidating at the moment, I think i need to learn to 'feel' the wind window a bit more as I find it a bit confusing in practice... I understand the theory behind it though. Also, out of interest, does anyone know if rage 3.5 Is a particularly powerful kite, probably my inexperience, but I'm finding it pulls a hell of a lot.

The Rage's power will depend on the wind speed you fly it in.

If you want to get the feel of a scud while feeling a little safer, put on some rugged jeans and just sit on your butt with your feet in front of you. Fly the kite across the powerzone and when you feel the pull, lean back and you will slide forward. If you feel overpowered, release to your killers, reset, then try again. Eventually you'll get comfy with the sliding and you will be able to slide while standing up, or slide to a standing position, or slide to a standing position and keep sliding.

I have never heard of this being given as advice. But it's close to what Scudley is saying.

don't resist too much, always be ready to let the power pull you into a few steps, not running but kind of quick steps as you get it back out of the power zone then regain your ground.

If your ready and quick step it forward it won't yank you off your feet and takes some of the wind from it. If you try and hold your ground, it will win.

Don't start running forward, you'll eat dirt, better to let go than run.

So be ready to scud as Scudley said, or chopchop with your feet as you send it to the windows edge.

Start off trying NOT to fly the kite ! Just try and keep it sitting calmly above your head. Once you are good at correcting and keeping it all calm try just dipping down a tiny bit along each side. Feel how the edge of the window extends down each side. Whenever things go bad take the kite back up or over to the edge of the window calm it all down and start again. Avoid the power zone as much as possible until you are ready to deal with it. Notice how other kiters fly the edge of the window and only dive in to the power one when they want power.

Beginers often make too large and jerky motions. Try to be gentle and fluid with your moves.

You have too little wind if the kite doesn't sit at the edge. Too much wind if you can't walk upwind easy with the kite at 10 or 2.

I've bought a windmeter now, so hopefully it will help me fly in winds where the kite doesn't feel as wild. Hopefully i'll feel more in control the next time I go out. Wind was great today, very calm, but I worked late, so didn't get to try.
I'm trying to find local kiters too so i can learn from them.