Hey everyone
Ok, took my new blade 4.9m out for its first flight and got lift every time no problem.
Now Ive gone out 4 or 5 more times same settings same wind speed, No lift or at least no jumps....
Difference is I now have a waist harness on... is that whats wrong?
Should I be unhooked for the jump?
Thanks Everyone

Speaking of jumping. Can I ask you a question. Once you are airborne in the type of wind you were flying in, how do you know you will be coming down and not going up for ever?

Do you use the brakes on the handels to get down? I took my Blade 6.4m out and got airborne and it freaked me out so I let go. I was fine no problem. I just wonder how you determine where your going when in the air??

P.S. That dog pic freaks me out

Thanks,

Chad

hahahahaha... thats funny about the pic
Im not an expert.. I have yet to get the height stated by others here..
It did lift me with no problem without the harness, now with it I cant get it to lift me..I agree its a weird sensation to be hoisted off the ground the first time.

ok ,not for the week hearted... .. Jumping is an Extreme sport.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3527580255723030876&...

p.s.
Do I Unhook from my Harness before I do my Jumps?????
Original Question

Holy crap :O maybe i should start studying clouds. Does anyone know which weather conditions to avoid and what the clouds can tell you? He said something about a black cloud above the white cloud..what would that do?

Looks Like he got pulled up by a thermal and perhaps some ridge lift judging by the terrain. I used to be a glider pilot and would look for such conditions then, but would avoid them now with my kites.
The darker cloud is simply more developed and often indicates thermal activity, as that is how such clouds form in the firtst place. Sun heats the gound on shore - and he mentioned a parking lot, which would really do it- and the warm ground warms the air, which then rises. As it rises the temperature drops - I think like 2 degrees F per 1000' and as the air cools, any water condenses, forming the cloud. The rising air leaves a low pressure zone on the seasore, and the air ovver the water rushes on shore to fill the void -hence the on-shore breeze that strenghtens in the afternoon sun.

Kiting over the water is relatively safe as thermal activity is rare, but once on land you have to be careful. Darker clouds and strong on-shore breezes indicate thermal activity. Also look for soaring birds staying aloft without flapping thier wings.

In the case of dunes, bluffs or other ridges, you have to be weary of ridge lift, as the on-shore breeze flows over the rise in a laminar fasion, with the effect of rising air many feet above the ground feature.

Thanks Angus.

I live out on the coast and we have BIG Dunes( Florence,Oregon). I try and stay away,or slow wind days i get down in the middle of a long channel to get more wind running down it.. I use the motto,if the birds wont fly in this wind then I shouldnt either..lol.. Lots of times I head out and flocks are grounded,so am I..

parking lots have tons of thermal lift compared to the sand..always be careful..

Good reply Angus.
Thanks
P.S.
Do I Unhook from my Harness before I do my Jump??
original question

Others here have more experience than I with jumping and so may have more to say. Is the manner in which your harness is connected (to handles, right?) affecting your brake lines and keeping them under some added tension?

I just came back from the beach flying my new Quad-Trac Pro Foil 4.5 m in winds 7-10 mph building to a little over 10 later.
It pulls more than lifts, but I might be flying it with too much tension on the brake lines. I notice the deformation on the trailing edge unless I really pushed the bottoms of the handles out I need to change that set up anyway because....

As I first powered up, a front line parted and dumped the kite and almost me on my arse. The pig-tails are connected to the handles by threading them through a single hole in the handle then tying a not inside and using vinyl tubing aroung the spectra to provide chafe protection. Turns out the knot that secures them inside the handle pulled through the hole. If I had been jumping it would have beena most unceremonious return to earth. I think I will change the attachement method by drilling another hole in the back of the handle, passing the pig-tail through and then around the handle. This will also give me a place to attach a harness to the back of the power lines.

About that harness I would only attach if I had a reliable chicken strap that would release under load and quickly in a panic. The video you posted is a good enough reason why, I think. On my handles I now use Ozone kite killers and they are effective if attached correctly - at the end of the brake pig-tails and not at the bottom of the handle.

After Watching Jumping Videos I now see they are not harnessed in when they are Jumping..

Thanks for all the help and advice

Answering several questions:

1. Yes - Most people jump unharnessed when flying fixed bridle foils. Its more dynamic, and you get way better air. However, most people using an L.E.I. or a depowerable foil will jump harnessed so that they can take advantage of the depower/power-up feature. (swing across and up while half-powered, then after your airborne, slowly power-up to full to extend your hangtime!!)

2. No - You won't just keep going up. As soon as you get airborne, you begin moving with the wind. This lowers the apparent windspeed to the kite and you float back down. There have been cases of kiters caught in a major updraft (there's a video somewhere on this site) and held aloft for a while (less than a minute), but generally your flight will last no more than a few seconds before gravity takes over. You are, after all, a heavier-than-air aircraft. This is not to say that you shouldn't be extremely cautious in higher winds! You may get launched 30 ft in the air, when your kite balls up on you!! You'll definately come back down......FAST!

Oh and by the way, BigSiler. Drive on up the Sunset Beach (just north of Seaside) sometime. Lots of kiters, even more space, and great beach!!

Concerning the brake-lines question posed by "acampbell":

He was wondering if your jumps were not as good because the harness might somehow be applying unwanted brakes.

Actually, what makes jumping unharnessed so much more dynamic, is the ability to add varying amounts of brakes while airborne. A slight amount of brakes acts like flaps on an airplane wing - slowing the speed, but increasing the LIFT. Plus, it keeps your wing in the power zone longer, and prevents it from overshooting you and luffing out.

I've found that most people naturally put on some brakes while jumping in the air unharnessed. Those same people don't apply brakes when jumping hooked in.

Check out the difference yourself. In a decently strong wind, hold your kite at it's apex (12 o'clock) with no brakes applied. Now add a slight amount of brakes (not enough to bring the kite down though). Notice the added upward pull? THAT'S what gives you that POP when jumping.

Thanks, Bucky for the comments.

I noticed that effect yesterday, flying my ProFoil 2.5 in 12 mph winds gusting to 16-18. A flick of the writst would give a pop to the pull before the kite slowed. Ted tells me the ProFoils like flying with a bit of tension on the brakes but I fine that the weight and drag of the brake lines provide some constant tension, as indicated by the near constant deformation of the trailing edge.

As the kite came rigged out of the bag I found my hands inching up the handles with the lnes between my fingers just to keep the kite moving well. I've shortened the flying lines once and will do so again I think.

I see a ProFoil in your quiver and was curious what you thought of them and where it fits in your line-up.

In buggying, I use the pro-foil as my higher wind kite it handles gusts quite well, and is a zippy, yet predictable kite. Great for winter-time riding here on the coast. Cosmetically, mine is not the prettiest (its old and has countless stains on it), but functionally, it still kick ***. Ted knew/knows what he was/is doing.