Just a short story with a small moral.

So, for the past 9 months I've had a PL Phantom 12m. Sure I had some nice jumps here and there, and yea in very high winds you can get somewhat floaty jumps... but I just couldn't get more than 3 feet on an ATB. Could get higher jumps static (!!) For the longest time I had no clue why I had seen videos on the internet with people jumping with Phantoms on ATB over the gap.. yea.. we all saw that video before. What on earth was I doing wrong? Why couldn't I get up more than those 3-5 feet on super super windy days with the Phantom. I could jump with the 10.5 blade and the Pansh Ace 5m... but just the phantom, I couldn't do it. The trim strap on the inside of the kite was fully in, and on the bar just as much.

So, what did I do today?

I SHORTENED THE BRAKES BY TWO INCHES.

Wow so much work eh? I just move the lines one knot towards me on the bar on both ends... This made the difference in the WORLD. I mean it. Like, instantly, Standing on the ATB, not even moving, I could get 5-7 feet os air and then land and go on boarding form there. When I would jump when I was actually moving I ocould get 8-12+ foot jumps. They were awesome. Also, not only where they high, they were FLOATY. and I mean it, I would float down and at times would land SO softly. Like I said, a while back, I did get some static jumps; maybe 5-6 feet in very high winds, but they weren't that wind, rough landings putting all the force straight on my feet. But today,I could float so gently down...

Okay so thats my story, and I'm just happy because I tried to jump with the PL before and I wanted to learn some tricks, but I just couldn't get air, I progressed so much today, and now I can actually start learn things more than just a 180.

The moral? EXPERIMENT with your kite, even the most simplest things can make the BIGGEST difference.

Cheers,

Mark

EDIT: I absolutely cannot wait for snowboarding now!

Yeah, it's going to take ages for me to figure every combination of adjustment available on my PL Scorpion.

I've always been leary of ATB's prefering to keep my ass down low and snug in a bug. But then I saw HQ's Jan Hendrck jump on a board with the new Monatan 3 when he was here visiting from Germany. He made it look so easy and the air he was getting was awsome,

The other day I assembled Scrub board from stock for display at an outside fairground display. Looking at it I though, maybe, just maybe....

Hey Angus, try 3/4 tight on the wingtips, 1/2 tight on the center to start, bridal lines on the furthest knot from the kite. High winds go right off the furthest knot on the rear pigtails, lighter winds, 3-4" extention on the rear pigtails. Should be a pretty solid starting point, high winds I'll bump up the internals to full tight on the tips and 3/4 in the centre.

With the Phantom, makes sense, shortening the rear lines will basically give you move the bar travel 2". So you'll get 2" less movement for depower, 2" more travel towards full power. Huge difference on a PL by moving something 2", you may want to go for more. Set the kite up so that with the sheeting and bar fully in the kite will just stall and start to fall back, bar out and the kite should shoot forwards in the window again. If it won't stall you should adjust the rear lines tighter.

Thanks Pablo. I was more remarking about the versatility of the Scorpion than complaining about it. I've already made up the exensions for light winds and they work well. Even Blake has had to admit it's a good idea. Today we are supposed ot get 18 mph+ right off the water. Sounds like a good day for PTE (product testing and evaluation). I'll try your other suggested settings. Such is a rough day at the office...

Angus, you are to be admired for the sacrifices you are willing to make for greater kiting!

Maybe someday I can be your inland apprentice and then I would have to go out and do PTE myself.

Quote:

Originally posted by acampbell Thanks Pablo. I was more remarking about the versatility of the Scorpion than complaining about it. I've already made up the exensions for light winds and they work well. Even Blake has had to admit it's a good idea. Today we are supposed ot get 18 mph+ right off the water. Sounds like a good day for PTE (product testing and evaluation). I'll try your other suggested settings. Such is a rough day at the office...

I hear ya, I originally got the 16m Scorpion because I wanted to cover the low end of the wind range, 12-20mph or so, turns out I can hang on to it no problem in 30-35mph with the right tuning, so one kite does all for surfing and some ATB freestyle.