Depends on who is doing the talking.
In the marketplace, any soft foil becomes a "power kite" because it's a sexy word and helps sell kites.
In our world, the word is "traction" because that's what makes the difference.
The real difference is between "recreational" or "park" kites and power or traction kites.
Even delta-wing sport kites can pull when flown directly downwind.
Many want to call that "power kiting".
But those are recreational kites.
Power kites generate pull all the way out to the edge.
Not as much as when more downwind, of course, yet noticebly more than other kite shapes.
It's this pull out near the edge that allows us to go upwind - to Sail.
Remember there are two sciences at work:
The science of aerodynamics and the science or marketing.
They often disagree, yet both are right.
Safen Up! Buggy On!
"I am often wrong, but never in doubt."
the coreylama
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