At the last second while on the phone to order the 4m I asked for the 5m instead. So the Beamer came and so did great shock. I have never seen anything larger than the 2.5 in person and laying it out in the floor left me thinking, what have I done now.

But this should be ok with lots of care and light winds, however, along with the kite came big wind. Friday we had strong gust so I didn't get the 5m out of the bag and flew the P3. Even if I had the 4m, some of the gust would have been too much for me. Saturday looks more of the same and possibly Sunday, 10 to 20mph. No Beamer days for me again. At home I did get to practice laying the kite out, staking the handles and parapacking a few times.

I need some 4 line time and was wondering if it would work to put the heavier beamer line set on the P3 until the wind lays down a little. Are there any major problems that will come with this? The P3 can be used with a four line set up but I haven't seen where anybody does it.

I know it will create more drag (with heavier lines) but would it change the flying abilities of the P3 to the point I wouldn’t benefit from it? Can break line length be adjusted by making knots on the back bridal like the Beamer?

Reading post of the experienced here has at least taught me to respect these kites. Even tho I went 1m larger than recommended I know those days of light wind will return.

Any suggestions on this line change?

IMO you should be fine, if the P3 is 4 line capable...
You'll have to use the HQ handles also... just try and keep the break lines slightly slack when your holding the handles in your natural position... the only changes in characteristics that should be noticed is the ability to break turn (while turning tap the break on the handle you are pulling) and reverse launch... Good luck...

A newbie would be pushing it to take a 3m out in those winds. So you would be grounded regardless of size chosen till you get some experience.

The important thing is to have all line lengths equal. If you can't use the knots available you can add extension lines to even things out. Q-line or Spectra would be best but you can use a short peice of good quality line that isn't for kites if that is all that's available.

Your beamer lines and handles will work perfectly for your P3. Make sure to use your kite killers as well for the stronger winds.
Just unhook the bottom bridles from the top bridles of your P3 and you should be good. You will probably need to adjust your brake lines but do that by adding a couple knots on the leaders of your handles, don't change the length of your flying lines, keep them all perfectly equal in length (which they should be now). Tie a couple of knots and attach your lines to the different knots to adjust the overall length to tune the P3 in for you.

If you need more help on this let us know.

The wind didn't get as bad today. Had a blast with the beamer.

I still want to try the lines with the P3 because some days are rough. The field is 20 miles away so changing the lines to the P3 will be for rough days in a smaller field close by. I might try it tomorrow.
Thanks guys.

Hey BeamerBob, don't ground me just yet.

I tried working with breaks today but I found it hard to back down the kite when it got over head. Although it seemed to break good in the power zone. Maybe I was just worn out. So here is a vid.

I don't know the wind speed but it felt strong at times. Maybe someone can judge it. My goal is to keep under 10mph until I learn. But like today, there will be gust and thats where I need the most experience to fly safe. The gust are terrible but a fact of wind. Knowing the best ways to deal with them would go a long way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFXROkxnSU

I think you are wanting your brakes to work like depower :?:
That's not exactly how it goes with a fixed bridle kite.
You almost never apply both brakes at the same time while flying. You use them more to turn by tweeking one side or the other.

The most common times to apply both brakes are bringing the kite down and dropping it back in the window when in motion. Applying them both while static flying just stalls the kite out :?:
Learn to do EVERYTHING with smooth subtle motions. With a larger kite, the best advice I got was to make every movement very small and slow. If I didn't get the result then try it just a little bigger / faster. Making big movements just results in big changes fast and you won't learn near as fast !

Your video is a good demonstration of why a 3m is so much better for 1st timers. A 3m still has LOTS of that pull but everything is just that much more tame. You and everyone you teach will have had a lot more fun on a 3 ! You usually walk away from the 1st good day on a 3 feeling as though you have now got more control of the kite than it does you. I would be willing to bet that the 5 will be controlling you for a while ! :smug:

That said ....... A 5m kite will allow you to ride in the widest range of wind IMHO. Around here at least, you will get the most possible days riding a single kite at 5m. If you are stuck with only one kite, it's a good size.

Bladerunner I guess you are right. Break and depower would be two different things and I was taking the term to be close to the same. I'll keep it in mind from here on out.

You won that bet about the 5m controling me. It will be a fight for awhile. Left me pretty sore from yesterday and was hard to control today. To many gust again. But it's a hoot to fly.

Keeping with the topic, the beamer lines worked pretty good on the P3 today. But after the change I see no reason to do it again. I'll be leaving them on the beamer. The P3 is fun with the straps and I'll just get my four line experience with the beamer.
Thanks all.

Hello all I'm new to this site but I do have a few questions about what size kite to get. I have a P3 and have been flying that in some strong winds but I am looking at getting a bigger kite and get somthing that has a little more pull. I want to start jumping and skudding in winds about 10 mph. I was looking at getting a crossfire 7.7 and I am 6'6" and 280 lbs so is this going to be a good size for me? thanks

HOLY CRAP! NO. That Crossfire will chew you up and spit you out. That would have to be maybe the worst size and kite to get for your first open cell foil. That kite will have you off the ground before you know it and you won't know what to do when it happens. Just like the advice above says, you should start with a docile 3m 4 line kite. Then maybe after many months of practice and learning you would want a 5m Crossfire. You don't want a kite that lifts you to be learning about 4 line flying. Even at 280 that 7.7 would be the wrong kite AND twice as big as the high end size for your first kite. The Beamer is fine for a first kite and you could probably hold back a 4m but the 3m is more versatile and just as much fun.

Quote:

Originally posted by Hardrock Hey BeamerBob, don't ground me just yet. I tried working with breaks today but I found it hard to back down the kite when it got over head. Although it seemed to break good in the power zone. Maybe I was just worn out. So here is a vid. I don't know the wind speed but it felt strong at times. Maybe someone can judge it. My goal is to keep under 10mph until I learn. But like today, there will be gust and thats where I need the most experience to fly safe. The gust are terrible but a fact of wind. Knowing the best ways to deal with them would go a long way. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFXROkxnSU

No insult intended. Someone learning 4 line flying would be over their head in 20 mph with a 3 meter beamer. You were flying a 5 which just makes it that much worse for you. You will learn to handle that someday in those winds but not your first day.

Hey BeamerBob, I didn't take it as an insult. I know you know what you are talking about as well as most flyers in here. I went over my head with the 5m. Scary and it will put you to bed when you get home. I bought full pads and a helmet yesterday.

Twinfore, Their advice is good. Don’t worry about buying too small. You can probably sell it when you need to.

My learning curve will include bad nerves, sore body, less flying time and the seat of my pants will be worn out. They told me this but I had to see it for myself. At 45 yrs old, that sudden jerk from 0 to what seems 60mph is impossible to keep up with.

Kite killers? I think they just save the kite after you get busted up. Who would have thought letting go would be a skill you have to learn.
Breaks? For turning and landing and not to save you after trouble strikes.