Hi,

I need some advice from an expert kite tuner

I have a Peter Lynn Voltage (4m), which seems happiest flying at Zenith. When at Zenith, instead of easing off, it has tonnes of lift... Which is pretty scary because it throws me in the air at Zenith, then flies beyond Zenith (due to my weight pulling it back down) and collapses.

My question is, is it possible to tune the kite to not fly so close to Zenith / Should I be somehow tuning it to have less lift at Zenith / What's the best way to deal with this issue?

I guess I tune it so the front bridles pull the kite down a little? Does that mean just putting a few knots in the top bridle?

(Novice here - appreciate any advice given, especially if it's in slow, monosyllabic words lol)

Sounds like it's performing as designed. It was advertised as a high ar high lift kite. You either need to redirect before zenith or ride the brakes to prevent over fly. Not sure I would mess with trying to fine tune at the bridles. Instead, you need to spend many hours under it in manageable wind to improve pilot skill.

Unfortunately for you the kite is performing as intended as stated above. Is this your first traction kite? If so please do yourself a favor and park it for a little bit and learn to fly a smaller less intense kite. That kite is built for speed and lift. It is a higher end, experienced pilot kite, definitely not for a novice. It will thrash you in a second without warning if you make one small mistake with the kite not knowing what you are asking it to do.

Buy a small 4 line kite made for learning to fly. Something in a 3m or so like an older hornet or Beamer and so on. HQ, PKD, PL, and several others, have plenty to choose from that are made for novice fliers, don't worry it won't be wasted money as it will become a kite you use on high wind days.

Take it from those who have had things go wrong, and those who have done the research, it's in your best interest to park it and try something a little more docile.

^^^^^what they said^^^^^
A kite won't go to zenith unless there is enough wind to bring it there
Fly it in less wind is your only other option till you get a calmer kite for these kinda days
Don't let this one be your demise

What do you mean "happiest at zenith"..? How does it fly lower in the power zone-where the power is greater?

...also curious what was the wind speed you were using this in?

Kite collapse or overflying is typically pilot error. Jumping needs to be done with the utmost of pilot controls and skills.

Any other Kiters with greater experience and expertise fly in your play area? Maybe they can give you, show you some tips and such.

Sounds like not only do you have too big a kite for the wind but the wind isn't steady. If your kite has so much pull you can't hold ground then that is time for a smaller kite.

No single kite can do it all. You seem to have skipped the low lift 3m trainer phase of your progression and gone straight to a larger high lift kite designed to perform for an experienced pilot. A common mistake. There are no real safe shortcuts in this game. Your kite doesn't need tuning. Your skill set needs tuning.

The kite will sit nicely at zenith when it is in it's operating range. Is this overflying happening without input? If so a gust is surging the kite forward. I am willing to bet the location you chose has dirty wind. The right location is as important as the right kite.

To avoid overfly when actively flying the kite add brake tension or turn the kite before it hits the edge. DON'T add brake tension if you are being lifted by a gust !!!!!!

Do you understand the wind window and how it relates to power?

Don't stand around with your kite at zenith. You will get lofted! Keep it off to one side when resting.

Are you trying to fly the kite all over and jump ? If so take a giant step back and start again. Work on CONTROLING the kite and anticipating what to do next. Learn to CONTROL the kite without looking at it. Become one with the kite. THEN fly it all over and try to jump!

looks like you've got your answer. pick anyone from the above and follow their instructions. and don't go messing with the bridal or your kite wont fly at all.

My advice - go for a depower wing. But even then - don't keep your kite at zenith - teabagging is not safe.