hey im new to this kite jumping thing, but ive got a 15m kite and i wanted to try it, but i hear people only using 4m kites. what do u think would happen if i used a 15m kite??

Let's see... depending on your kite experience, you'd either have a blast or smack the side of a building/fence/tree/car/mountain/airplane or the Stanley Cup being hoisted by a Duck... or worse, hurt yourself or someone else.

Is it a 15m depowerable or a 15m fixed bridle - big difference between the categories but either way it is a big kite and probably not the safest place to start.

Different kites have different power output. I am assuming that your 15 meter kite is one of the surf style kites, probably a "C" kite (as they are referred to). It would be better if you can give us a little more information on your kite such as brand, model, type, etc...

Surf kites/Leading Edge Inflatable kites/Peter Lynn twin skin kites all produce power differently than fixed bridle kites such as what is mostly discussed here on this forum.

****Ok, before I get flamed off the forum for the following statements, I must state that this is a HUGE generalization and put in the most simplest form for newbies to help understand the differences in power produced by different type of kites. I know and realize that there are tons and tons of technical and aeronautical designs that go into making the kites and that what I am saying is leaving most if not all of that stuff out...but I do want to keep this as simple as possible.*******

The shape of the standard LEI surf kites are such that each side (wing tips) of the kite are used primarily as "rudders" or "stabilizers" and do not contribute to the actual power output of the kite. The sides help keep the kite stable and keep the kite in the air. The center of the kite is what produces the power and lift. Because of this, most surf kites will have two measurements. One will be the "Flat Area" of the kite, one will be the "Projected Area" of the kite. Normally, the flat area is the total sail area of the kite as it is laid out flat on the ground, measured from wing tip to wing tip and back to front. This is where you will get your 15 Meters of sail area. The "Projected Area" of the kite is a calculated number that gives the amount of the kite that is used to produce lift and power. This number is usually about 30% smaller than the "Flat Area" and is usually the amount of sail minus the sides that don't produce much power. Now some have claimed that the "Projected Area" of the kite is what you would compare against fixed bridle kites....but this is not totally correct.

The bladders in an LEI kite are what give the kite its shape, the shape is important to create the right aerodynamic profile so that the kite will fly (basically the kite is not flat like a barn door, it is curved like an airplane wing). For this reason, the kite must be pumped up pretty hard or the kite will lose its shape during flight and thus lose power/control. Depending on how the bladders in the kite are formed, the kite will produce power and lift. A more aggressive curve in the kite from front to back will produce more power/lift than a more relaxed curve. This again is all done with the shape of the bladders and the sail material on the center of the kite. A "FIXED BRIDLE" kite has an extensive bridle network across the entire sail to give the kite an exact aerodynamic profile that is much more efficient than what is possible with inflatable bladders. For this reason, fixed bridle kites will always produce more efficient power than LEI type kites. This is also the reason that fixed bridle kites will max out in size around the 10 to 14 meter sizes and LEI kites usually start around 5-8 meter sizes and go up to as large as 25 meters. As a general comparison, you can usually get the same power as an LEI kite with half the size fixed bridle kite. So your 15 meter kite would be comparable to a 7 or 8 meter fixed bridle kite. ***again, read the disclaimer above***

One thing to remember is that each design of kite will produce different types of power. Even kites from the same manufacturer can have different flight characteristics and power output from the same sized kite. Example - Ozone Little Devil 2.0 meter compared to the Ozone Yakuza 2.0 meter. The Yakuza will kick butt over the Cult even though they are the same size. This is because of the sail shape of the two kites. One is more aggressive than the other. Because of the huge amount of design differences between all of the kites on the market it makes it very difficult to compare one kite to another based on power output per size alone. This makes it even more difficult to compare LEI kites, Twin skin kites, and fixed bridle kites. Not only is that difficult but now you have SLE and Bow kites thrown into the mix.

Ok, now that I have muddied up the water and confused everyone, I will try to go back to the original question. Most buggies and ground boarders will use a kite between 4 and 8 meters in size because those sizes usually produce more than enough power for their respective sports. (read the generalization again)

Depending on your current wind conditions/weight/terrain you may find that you need a larger or smaller size than the norm. Only you would be able to know that.

15 meters is a pretty big kite and like has been said, can definitely put you in the hospital or grave if you aren't careful with it. Use caution, get someone who knows what they are doing with that style kite to help you and give instruction. Be safe, fly in lighter winds first before moving up to the stronger winds. Oh yea...GET A HELMET!!!

Be safe and questions are always welcome on the forum. Remember that the only stupid questions are the ones that are not asked.

Hope this helps.

1st off, it will help if we know what make, model and year the kite is.
No matter what, if you have never flown a power kite before trying to figure things out on your own is just a bad idea all round with a 15m kite . Even a Bow kite.
If this kite is a 4 or 5 line lei and you aren't flying with a harness you will not have any real control of the power ( accept manual trimming ) You can fly it but you won't be flying it RIGHT ! Trying to learn with this kite would end up in frustration, injury or death. If you are hell bent on seeing the thing in the air do it in waist deep water at least. be sure you are familiar with the safety releases and how they work.
Wear a helmet and give a big kiss goodbye to the one you Love !

Please don't be too let down by the news. This kite will be usefull to you soon. It's just NOT the right kite to get started. You won't have fun and if you live you will probably turn away from the sport. Better to take the PROPER steps and have more fun than you ever imagined. Even if that means saving up for a more appropraite starter and having to wait.

Funny thing with LEI's, they usually don't fly that hot in wind lower than 10mph. You're better off learning how the kite flies in 10-15mph winds. If this is what you've got, track down a local, drive for an hour if you have to. With someone to help you for that first flight or two, there's no reason why you can't move on to a larger kite, but get help. They're a different beast than a 4 line foil and can make a serious amount of power.

lol hey guys thanx for the info. all i know is that the kite is a 15m Monkey kite and i got it for free. the guy sed they were #@%$#! and their newest model didnt sell too well.

what would be a good kite to get for jumping. yes i am i noob and have never used one b4 and i will probably buy it 2nd hand off ebay. i am 88kg i think thats about 190pounds and i want to get a fair bit of air maybe 10ft

if u r wondering i live in australia

thanx

You should probably check out www.seabreeze.com it is a great site for Aussies. Tons of used gear and tips.
If you have a local kite beach go down there and hang around. Often you will meet folks who want to help you out and will have gear for you. At least they can recommend the best gear to get started around your spots.
A lesson is probably the best money you can spend. If there is a shop near you go there and see who's teaching.