I've only gotten three good flying sessions in with my first kite, the Twister II 4.1m, but I have a question about jumping. I've caught on quickly and I feel that I have total control over the kite, as far as controlling its flight. But whenever I try and go for a pendulum jump, I cannot get the kite in the right position without getting overpowered. When I run to the left or right, in order to get a good jump with decent lift, I have to start the kite lower in the wind window and then shoot it in the reverse direction as well as upwards to aquire lift. However in ten mph winds, it is very difficult to run with the kite low in the wind window without getting pulled forwards. I have tried starting the kite higher up in the wind window but then when I reverse its direction, the kite cannot go upward and therefore I don't get any lift. What can I do to fix this problem?

Yeah, I'd also would like to know, btw, are there any places that have video documented tutorials on how to do jumping tricks? or just search random youtube videos for tips? :ticking:

hiya... 3 sessions in and already looking for better jumps, eh? You're not working your way up the learning curve, you're running up it!!!

more power to you, but do consider that running up the learning curve too quickly can really increase your risks! I hope you've got a safe location (soft ground, smooth winds, no people, lots of room) and have given a thought to impact protection...

flying the kite down the edge then turning across the window could fix your problem, but there is some finesse involved, you'll need to fly your down the edge of the wind window and just enough inside the window so you have a little extra speed going into the turn, otherwise you won't have as much speed through the window.

Are you redirecting at all? You don't want the kite to shoot out of the wind window while you are in the air, easy to do with this kind of jump.

Beware of feeling you have total control over your kite, you actually need to fly that twister in a full range of wind speeds and condition before that really kicks in. Can you fly without looking at the kite?

obligatory warning: kite jumping is a very good way to risk broken necks, broken legs and arms, flail chest (multiple broken ribs so your chest is no longer rigid, can make it hard to breathe), and so on...

the only way to do it at all safely is by building up your skills by pushing them a little at a time each session, and thinking good and hard about what each little extra challenge has taught you.

that said, here's an OKish video link:

http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-jump-with-a-power-kite

there's more on there, short and quick mostly, but enough to give you an idea.

here's an OKish video link:

Am I missing something, or is there no reference at all in that vid about redirecting the kite back overhead while landing? :puzzled:

Looks like a recipe to get dragged or super-maned.

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Originally posted by furbowski obligatory warning: kite jumping is a very good way to risk broken necks, broken legs and arms, flail chest (multiple broken ribs so your chest is no longer rigid, can make it hard to breathe), and so on... the only way to do it at all safely is by building up your skills by pushing them a little at a time each session, and thinking good and hard about what each little extra challenge has taught you. that said, here's an OKish video link: http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-jump-with-a-power-kite there's more on there, short and quick mostly, but enough to give you an idea.

very well said!!

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Originally posted by lad here's an OKish video link: Am I missing something, or is there no reference at all in that vid about redirecting the kite back overhead while landing? :puzzled: Looks like a recipe to get dragged or super-maned.

It's in there, step five. they spend like five seconds on it and don't ever call it a redirect.

they're barely adequate videos, so fast through the subject they leave a lot out, I gave them 2 stars.

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Originally posted by kitejumper very well said!!

thanks...

I put that up on the spur of the moment, but i'm going to do it as a habit from time to time...

A couple of times now I've been happily giving advice to some eager jumper and forgotten that they might not have heard the warning from somebody, then somebody else does and I feel bad, you know?

The good thing is it usually only takes one kitemare to get the proper respect for the wind if it isn't there already. But we all get reminders now and then...

This might help....

http://chris.m.whittaker.googlepages.com/pendulumjump

Remember that with a 4m kite, that is pretty small for floaty landings, but larger would not have been a good first kite.
...The would-be jumper's conundrum.

D$%# there it is.... I've spent hours searching for that bloody link! (just had to replace a hard drive, bad back-up)

thanks angus, to the point as always.

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Originally posted by kitejumper Quote: Originally posted by furbowski obligatory warning: kite jumping is a very good way to risk broken necks, broken legs and arms, flail chest (multiple broken ribs so your chest is no longer rigid, can make it hard to breathe), and so on... the only way to do it at all safely is by building up your skills by pushing them a little at a time each session, and thinking good and hard about what each little extra challenge has taught you. that said, here's an OKish video link: http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-jump-with-a-power-kite there's more on there, short and quick mostly, but enough to give you an idea. very well said!!

Hear Hear!

Practice makes perfect too, you wont get any decent controlled jumps on your first 3 flights, it took me a while to get my jumps half decent and fairly safe.

Seriously though Redirecting could save you from many accidents.

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Originally posted by furbowski Are you redirecting at all? You don't want the kite to shoot out of the wind window while you are in the air, easy to do with this kind of jump. Beware of feeling you have total control over your kite, you actually need to fly that twister in a full range of wind speeds and condition before that really kicks in. Can you fly without looking at the kite?

I can kind of fly without looing at the kite but I find it going beyond where I think it is. Also, when you say redirecting, are you talking about when you are running to the right and then you cut the kite back to the left to aquire lift? Or something else? I am cutting the kite back to aquire lift.

After you cut the kite to the left to acquire lift as you say, you have to cut back to the right again or you are screwed. See the Chris Whittaker link above.

What kind of wind you are flying in and how much you weigh can vary your performance. If you are getting yanked in 10 mph winds you might want to try something smaller than a 4.0m.

What kind of wind you are flying in and how much you weigh can vary your performance. If you are getting yanked in 10 mph winds you might want to try something smaller than a 4.0m.

like campbell said, as soon as youve run to the right and cut back to the left with the kite, if and when you get lifted, immediatly cut the kite back to the right whilst your in midflight, you will see how much better it is.

Quote:

Originally posted by furbowski obligatory warning: kite jumping is a very good way to risk broken necks, broken legs and arms, flail chest (multiple broken ribs so your chest is no longer rigid, can make it hard to breathe), and so on... the only way to do it at all safely is by building up your skills by pushing them a little at a time each session, and thinking good and hard about what each little extra challenge has taught you. that said, here's an OKish video link: http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-jump-with-a-power-kite there's more on there, short and quick mostly, but enough to give you an idea.

Awesome this video was shot at port solent, portsmouth, same place as mine

That video is barely sufficient to understand what he is doing, it doesn't show the kite, or how it moves.

I LOVED that flash based interactive tutorial acampbell posted in this thread, its explanation was much clearer to understand!

I don't know if this helps at all but I found that when I do a pendulum with an 8 m access it almost never works..it wants to just pull me off my feet...but a 5 m ace will launch me straight up in the same wind..you may not have a lifty kite for jumping properly...

Interesting- ive had to start using the airbrake for Jumping on my new 4 point5 ace which i didnt do on my cirrus 6 but got a nice Jump

Try using the airbrake

Is an airbrake different than just adding some input from the brake lines while your in the air?

10mph wind and a 4m kite to learn how to jump because you have mastered control of the kite in 3 outings?

Am I the only one who sees some problems here ?

No helmet ? ? ?

Blade ,I was thinkin' the same thing.
3 outings is not enough experience to be jumping. you need to learn some of the nuances of the particular kite your flyin'. I'm not tryin to down you, just don't want your next post to have X-RAY shots in it. get safety equip. if you have not already. Do you have a anemometer( wind meter)?
If not ,I'd get one. Just a little too much wind can hurt you bad.
Flying like an eagle is fun,crashing like a meteor is not.

The thing with a small lifty kite like you have is that it is lifty and SMALL !
You will go up easy enough. It is after that you are headed for trouble. You will have to get everything perfect or come down hard.
I'm not wanting to poop on your party, just suggesting you slow it down a bit. I have been flying for a good number of years and still don't feel I can jump safely with a 4.1m kite.
Please wear a helmet if you are going to go about all this the difficult way.

Try finding a friend close by who you can fly with who has a bit more experience. Also, one who has gained a respect for the wind and knows not only how much fun it can be but how hard you can slam. Please use safety gear and DO NOT even attempt anything in winds more than 10 until you have really got everything down to a science.

A couple of comments:

I fully agree with Bladerunner. A 4.1m kite dangerously small for good jumping. It will get you up there all right, but coming back down is rather abrupt.

Also, A little clarification on redirecting and use of brake lines:

You got most of first part of pendilum jumps right.
1. Turn kite to the left. (keep the kite at least 3/4 of the way up or higher so you can effectively run without getting dragged downwind. Any lower, and most of initial power will end up being directed horizontally rather than vertically i.e. "superman" You want to feel lifted up, not shot forward.)
2. Run to the left
3. Turn kite back to the right
4. Turn kite back to the left till its pointed straight up (do this before the kite crosses the centerline of your window)

That's what you've done so far, but it's only half of what you need to do.

5. As you feel the initial power-up, apply a light amount of brakes (Just like an airplane wing using "flaps", a slight amount of brakes tranfers forward momentum into additional lift. The use brakes will dramatically alter the amount of lift you get.)

Now that you're up in the air, you're still not done... you need to be able to sustain that flight, as well as make sure that you don't swing too far under the kite and have it "luff-out" on you, letting you fall.

As soon as you jump, you begin to start moving with the wind. As you start to catch up with the wind, the kite's apparent wind is reduced, this is what makes you come back down. The best way sustain that flight is redirection (and this takes some practice)

6. Once you are airborn, redirect back to the right, then back to the left, then back etc... using your power-lines to turn (as opposed to turning using brake-lines) (By constantly changing the kite's orientation with the wind, your lift is sustained for much longer than if you just keep the kite stationary over your head (watch video's of snow kiters jumping...Notice how they are constantly turning their kites in flight to get those crazy sustained jumps.))

7. Remember to keep a constant brakeline pressure. (This helps with lift, and also helps prevent kite collapse.

If done properly, the initial pull should feel almost straight up and slightly off to the side (rather than out) Contrasted to a standard compression jump, you should have a much smoother, less dramatic take-off and landing, and most of your downwind travel should happen during your float back down, not on your take-off.

Hope that helps.

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Originally posted by Jack1988 Interesting- ive had to start using the airbrake for Jumping on my new 4 point5 ace which i didnt do on my cirrus 6 but got a nice Jump Try using the airbrake

Airbrake :puzzled:

is that next to the "skyhook" ?

Seriously, I don't know what an " airbrake " is?

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Originally posted by Bucky A couple of comments: I fully agree with Bladerunner. A 4.1m kite dangerously small for good jumping. It will get you up there all right, but coming back down is rather abrupt. 5. As you feel the initial power-up, apply a light amount of brakes (Just like an airplane wing using "flaps", a slight amount of brakes tranfers forward momentum into additional lift. The use brakes will dramatically alter the amount of lift you get.) Now that you're up in the air, you're still not done... you need to be able to sustain that flight, as well as make sure that you don't swing too far under the kite and have it "luff-out" on you, letting you fall. As soon as you jump, you begin to start moving with the wind. As you start to catch up with the wind, the kite's apparent wind is reduced, this is what makes you come back down. The best way sustain that flight is redirection (and this takes some practice) 7. Remember to keep a constant brakeline pressure. (This helps with lift, and also helps prevent kite collapse. Hope that helps.

Is this what is meant by air brakes ?????????

I wont repet any of the god advice in the thread.. but if you need to put the kite so low into the window to get any power then chances are you need a really bigger kite to effictivly jump in that wind. There are very few one kite quivers that cover a wide range of conditions.

just to let you know......the other day i was buggying with a blade 10.5 and winds were about 7-10 and it started lifting me up slowly while i was out of the buggy just standing there--so i was thinking,cool--this is nothing new,i've done this a million times, no problem..........up i go, first 5 feet,then 10,now about 15 feet.......all of a sudden im going at an angle and try as i might, i cannot get my body straight to redirect.......at this height,it was not a good idea to let go.....next thing i know i'm getting violently slammed into the ground and hurt pretty bad--im still not quite sure what happened, so everyone......let this be a lesson for you--be very careful and WEAR YOUR SAFETY GEAR--IT MIGHT BE THE ONLY THING THAT SAVES YOU........