Power Kite Forum

First try with 4line, Frustration and Fail

Euromir - 30-1-2011 at 05:09 PM

So took my new secondhand Rebble out into the park today and... well if there was ever a day when i thought "whos bright idea was kites as a new hobby!" then this was it.

Firstly i unpacked the kite and when i unwound the lines it was a disaster. I purposely spent an hour the day before making sure nothing was tangled when i setup kite and packed it. But today in the park, well as i unwound the lines all 4 lines was twisted together badly from kite to handles, probably some 40+ twists. So i had the idea of walking down the lines thinking i could simply untwist them. Hmm nope ended up with huge clumps of knotted lines. Anyway long and short of it, spent over an hour sat in the park untangling lines, i was so frustrated, total embaressing as everyone around the park probably thinking "that guy unfolded a kite over an hour ago what IS he doing!". I purposely spent two hours yesterday watching youtube videos and reading guides linked from here on how best to pack lines, so this DIDNT happen, somehow i dont know, it was a total disaster. (FYI i used the sock over handles method and figure 8 the lines over it, screwed up somehow.)


Ok, so secondaly after all the line tangles mess, i then had problem two... Namely i couldnt get it to fly or even launch at all. :puzzled: Now the wind was causing all the flags around the park to flutter voilently and even the brake lines were blowing in the wind, and the local weather sites have the wind at average 15mph gusting to 25mph so i figured for a novice and a 3.5m kite it would do fine. Nope, something must be wrong the kite hardly even inflated i had the handles virtually horizontal with the brakes pointing at the kite. It kind of stood up and semi inflated a couple of times but as i tried to launch it, it just dragged itself along the grass (after 15min i ended up about 400m from my bag etc walking backwards!). I did notice the KK seemed taught, almost like they were applying the brakes? I have the KK right on the end of the leaders with the brake lines, and even with the 16in-ish KK leads (PL Killers) they seemd fairly taught? I checked the bridles, the brake lines are fixed at the very end knot, so seems no further adjustment there? What do i do? Do you think it was the brake lines causing my lack of launch, or wind, or well what else should i check? It almost seemed like the KK are too short to me? as i kept almost getting tangled holding the handles with the KK leads, i see others videos etc and there KK leads hang down low under handles, mine seemed to be dead straight almost tight between my wrists and the Lines? I in hindsight should have taken the KS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s off and tried that i suppose..

Anyway, after the tangles and 15min trying to launch i had too much frustration, i gave up :no: packed the kite up, took all 4 lines off and wound them seperaetly onto winders! (seems less hassle to re-attach all 4 rather than untangle lines to me).

After a week of excitement waiting to get out there, i now well totally fed up right now, sure it will pass....

Any ideas? Thanks guys....

g-force junkie - 30-1-2011 at 05:21 PM

Add some pigtails to your kS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s so in normal flying position you have slack in the leaders and in reality you should measure across your kite and set the kS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s to that length so you get full flag or a little more or the kite will flag violently instead of just laying down, when winding your lines only fig 8s or parapacking will ensure tangle free deployment, fig8s are hard with handles but can be done but parapacking is fast and easy with practice

Kamikuza - 30-1-2011 at 05:34 PM

We've all had the same frustrations in the beginning ... find your Zen point and develop the saintly patience we all have now ;)

KKs were too tight.

Try parapacking - I've NEVER had any luck with winding lines onto handles either ...

mdntdncr - 30-1-2011 at 06:16 PM

What's parapacking?

Kamikuza - 30-1-2011 at 06:30 PM

Oh forgot to add - do you have a stake? If not, get one ...

Parapacking - folding the kite carefully so the bridles are wrapped up, putting it in the bag, then stuffing in the lines and finally, putting the hand in on the opposite side of the kite to the lines ...

Txshooter38 - 30-1-2011 at 06:50 PM

Don't unattach the lines and use the sock technique. The day I went to this I have not had a problem since. We have all been where you were P#$#ed at the lines and swearing we put it away correctly.

KS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s on the inside of the sock around the handles holding them together....figure eight the lines on the outside. Fold the socks up in the kite keeping them separate from the bridals....

It will be better next time.

Photo 1.jpg - 88kB

Seanny - 30-1-2011 at 06:59 PM

Wow, I'm terribly sorry to hear about your bad experience :( I know how much it sucks to walk away completely disappointed. Here's a few things you can do:

Lines: I have the most success putting the lines onto winders. Front lines on one, back lines on the other. I hold the winder vertically in my left hand by the top prong with the rounded-edge side facing outward. Then, I take the lines in my right hand, and as I wrap them onto the winder, I keep one finger between them so they go on nice and evenly without twists. For this I use the figure-8; it's very fast and easy to do with some practice. Wrapping them straight around the winder without overlapping the lines is a great way to ensure a ridiculous amount of tangles, so do the figure-8 :thumbup:

KKs: Yes, your KKs were simply too tight. Contrary to popular belief, putting them on the loops at the back of the bottom of your handles will work just fine. Regardless of whether their attached to the rear line leaders or the loops, if you let go, the weight will be taken off of the front lines and the breaks will be wrenched in, flagging the kite. If it's a matter of saving your life, it doesn't matter how beautifully or perfectly or gently the kite flags, the point is it works. I prefer putting the KKs on the bottom loops because it's easy to attach there, and they're out of the way. You may get told not to detach your lines from the kite... I don't seen the point in this, I actually find it much easier to completely detach them each time. Sometimes folding the kite around a pair of handles or line winders is a pain and you can damage something. Also, depending on the wind conditions, you may need to adjust the position of your lines on your leader knots. So it's worth the extra 20 seconds to attach and detach them. :)

The main thing you want to do is keep tension on your front lines. When the kite is puffed up and filled with air, you know it's going to fly. The moment you see it deflate and look kind of flat and sucked in, you'll know that you're putting too much tension on those rear lines, and the kite will fall. Make sure you hold the handles at the top. Fly with your fingertips, don't have a death grip on them. I usually have my index finger pressed against the front line leaders and my thumb on top of the handle.

Hope that helps! Sorry for your crappy day! Things will get better :bigok:

Leojim - 30-1-2011 at 07:44 PM

I use the exact same method as Txshooter38 and it works great. Never more than a few twists. After staking the KS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s and running down the lines (one side in either hand) SHAKING the lines as you go then turning the FOLDED/BAGGED kite over to untwist its time to lay the kite out and fly!

NJLandboarder - 30-1-2011 at 09:00 PM

haha i had the same thing today with my new venom i finally just gave up

and instead of winding all of your lines seperate just seperate them by handle (right power and brake together left power and brake)

also and easy way to wind them is get some thin pvc pipe just big enough to fit over the top of the handle and stop at the leader lines but stick over about and inch or so then cut V shapes on all four of the pipes then put them on both tips of the handles and you have easy winders! :tumble:

i can post pics if necessary

and dont flame me for this but i cant stand using KKs cuz they allways tangle me up in them so i just dont use them.... except on the beach when there are people around

Euromir - 30-1-2011 at 10:48 PM

Thanks guys you put a smile on my face and I feel better, tomorrows another day!
Move or adjust the KK tomorrow and practice winding lines! Haha

Kamikuza - 30-1-2011 at 10:51 PM

woooo this is the ghost of christmas erm tomorrow woooo you should have tried parapacking :lol:

Seriously, get a tent peg and stake your lines - it's easier to work out tangles with at least one handle staked.

nocando - 31-1-2011 at 01:43 AM

Have fun soon all will be clear

go to www.coastalwindsports.com

and print off tutorials use them as your kiting bible.

It works.

John Holgate - 31-1-2011 at 03:10 AM

I feel your pain!!! I once unwound the lines on a demo kite, they had been wrapped 'round & 'round the handles. I unwound them the wrong way and put one twist in the lines for every 'un'wrap. Took me a good 40minutes to sort it out. I've never had a problem with the figure 8's so I'm not sure what went wrong there. Always unwind the exact opposite of what you wound up - usually works! When you stake the kite, don't stake the kite killers, put the stake through the brake lines. Some kite killers use shock cord - this can break. If you haven't seen this: How I launch & land video It might help. Hopefully, it wasn't what stuffed you up in the first place!!

Keep at it!

and ps: don't use a black stake like I did - you'll end up tripping over it:smilegrin:

ragden - 31-1-2011 at 05:54 AM

Lots of good advice on how to pack and unpack your lines. Sorry about the nightmare, that sucks.

A 3.5m kite in 15-25mph winds... Too much kite, imo. Unless you weigh over 250lbs. I would advise not flying that kite in more than 15mph until you are used to it. I would fly that kite in 5-10mph until you are good and comfortable with it, then look at flying 10-15mph as this will be the sweet spot for it. 15-20mph is going to be a nice amount of power but not overpowering...

Best of luck!

Feyd - 31-1-2011 at 06:24 AM

I second Ragden on this. Especially for a beginner that's some stout wind for static flying a 3.5m. Our 2m Ozone Sammy will lift me if I snap it over head in those winds and I'm over 200lbs.

A small kite in those winds moves pretty fast and things can go bad before you even realize.

If you were on a board and moving with a solid handling foundation under your belt then that kite/wind combo would be sweet but I think a bit much for a beginner trying to hold position. I think you lucked out. ;-)

kiteboyza - 31-1-2011 at 07:09 AM

Packing up

Land the kite
Take bag and bag the kite
Grab handles in left hand at the bottom of handles and roll all lines together while walking to kite
Slide handles down the side of kite, be careful not to put it through the bridles

Unpack

Pull handles from bag
Grab bottom of handles in left hand
Walk backwards while unwinding lines with right hand
Peg handles
Shake kite out of bag

I guarantee you wont have more than two twists. If you do, grab handles together and spin once or twice. This is the easiest method . If you are left handed grab handles in opposite hand. The secret is to hold the handles in the same hand on the same part of the handle. Hope this helps to add to enjoyment of kiting.

Cheers
D

acampbell - 31-1-2011 at 07:45 AM

I think you fell victim to the vicious "false twist"; a subversive plot brought to us by the same people that gave us famine, plague and Barry Manilow. Think about this for a moment: Unless you are doing cartwheels and summersaults while winding your lines, it is physically, morally, mathematically, and astronomically impossible to twist your lines when winding. What happens is that they get interwoven and interlocked along segments and they just appear to be twisted. This can happen more with new lines that are still sticky with sizing- an ironic curse for the beginner with a brand new kite. You then take the bait and start to "untwist them", introducing real twists that were never there in the first place. Then it goes downhill from there and a brain anurism or a Tea Party rally suddenly seems more appealing.

Find a method and follow it religiously, and most important, learn to do it backwards when setting up your kite, repeating every small movement and motion - but backwards - when setting up - even if means walking funny.

I use the figure-8 method but some people - and even some manufacturers suggest - winding straight around the handles. This introduces a twist for sure but it is untwisted when you set up as long as you use the same hands. With the the figure-8, you twist a little to the left then a little to the right - and on and on - but it all falls out when you set up.

The only time I have trouble unwinding lines is when a well-meaning "helper" packed a kite for me and I don't know what motions to repeat or what hands to use when un-winding.

I keep the kite folded and weighted with a water bottle to keep the wind out, unwind the lines, stake the handles at the brakes (not the "breaks" - God I hate that almost as much as "Bridals"), then go back and unfurl the kite. Usually the lines pop apart straight and true all the way to the handles - yes, even with kite killers. If the lines appear twisted (they're NOT!!!!) I pick up the handles, spread my arms and shake them out.

This works 99% of the time, and the other 1% there is usually a simple 1/2 twist in one of the line sets that is easily identified and rectified. All that means is that I got distracted and made some odd motion that I did not know to undo when setting up.

Don't worry- it gets better and the demons will recede.

Good luck

http://www.coastalwindsports.com/101FirstFlight4LineHandles....

markite - 31-1-2011 at 07:54 AM

I'm the old school handles together and wrap the top of the handles and have never had a problem myself other than a couple of twists - But unless you fasten your bridle and flying lines onto a velcro tab on the kite some lines and bridles have a greater tendency to transmit that twist up into the bridle as you wind the lines. It will come out but you could have some bridle caught on a big big knot - so one thing to watch for as you start to unwind the first few feet.

If you do use the wrap method, I have had the situation with a lot of twists when someone else has used my kite and wound the lines. If you unwind and see the zillion twists (you will know by the time you have unwound 10-15 feet) - STOP - and rewind the line back on - doing the exact same thing you were doing to unwind, but walk backwards and wind back on.
Once wound back up, switch hands and unwind - believe it or not it works. Untwisting when fully unwound does take a long time and you can keep both handles together with tension at the other end of the lines and spin the handles.

Try some of the other methods mentioned to see what works for you.
- also agree the comments on the wind conditions for the size of kite.
- also look for adjustment knots anywhere on the kite bridle leads or handle leads to move your bottom lines longer or top lines shorter.

markite - 31-1-2011 at 07:56 AM

Damn, Angus beat me too it

...me type slow...

acampbell - 31-1-2011 at 08:42 AM

I really like MarS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s idea of noting the bad twists when un-winding someone else's wind, then re-winding, swapping hands and starting over. Makes perfect sense.

Every year it happens at JIBE that I have a zillion kites laid out by the end of the day and volunteers often help me pack some kites away. Then a month or so later when I go to fly one of those kites, I bet you can hear the screams from the end of the Jekyll Island Causeway. I'm not complaining about the gracious assistance - I just need to make note about how they are wound.

When I ship a used kite to a customer, I always now include a note indicating which hands were used for winding.

Kamikuza - 31-1-2011 at 07:37 PM

:D parapack - then you don't need to know which way the lines are wound ;) just make sure the lines come out of the kite at the bottom when you put the kite in the bag ...

I reckon 90% of the reason people sell fixed bridle kites is that they can't be bothered untangling the lines :lol:

ragden - 1-2-2011 at 06:34 AM

When I used to fly fixed-bridle kites, I used to have this problem from time ot time... Though, to be honest, I usually pulled the handles (with lines figure-eighted onto them) out of the bag and proceeded to kick them across the field/beach. As you can imagine, there was normally a couple twists. Once the lines were tensioned though, it never took long to get the twists out...

Flying depower, I almost never have this problem, unless the kite spun or did something crazy when it was landed... But then its as simple as spinning the bar and voila, done...
:smilegrin:

Bladerunner - 1-2-2011 at 06:50 AM

Just because flags are flying doesn't mean there is wind on the ground.

Was you location correct. NO obstructions for 7 times the height downwind ? Houses etc will block + mess up wind down low. If you have ample room downwind there is no rule that says you must use killers. If you think they are the problem you are allowed to fly without ( with a helmet on :wink2:) . Then add them again .

If all else is failing , go to strictly 2 line . Nearly every problem has to do with the brakes . Eliminate any possible issue with them 1st. Twisted bridle is #2 most common issue.

Like Kami says. Find a kite Zen. Take time when frustarted to look back and seehow far you have actually come.

Best is having somebody there but we are here to help you along any time.

Euromir - 1-2-2011 at 12:19 PM

@john - thanks i did see your video before i had this tangle.

@nocando - Believe it or not, i was using Angus method from those tutorials, i think in my mind i have all the theory sorted, just cant seem to translate that in practice to my hands! ha

@Kamikuza - I have a couple of PL stakes that came with the kite, they seem so big for a hard ground park that i been using normal tent pegs so far....

@ragden - I am ashamed to say i am over 250pounds yes, in fact nearer 300, so hoping i can keep feet planted ok! (hence i not cut out for surfing etc hahaha)

Well thanks everyone for your tips, so many different ideas there, i will have to sort through them. As i said i read every tutorial i could before last week, and i was "trying" to use the methods on Angus's tutorial pages, but somewhere my hand movements and wrist did something to screw it all up, i have the theory spent hours reading and watching guides, i think its as someone said just finding the Zen and practice. I wait til the weekend and hope the weather plays ball for another attempt or two.

I am thinking Bladerunner above might have some points, i am starting to think its a combination of both the KK/Brakes problem AND maybe lack wind on the ground? The park is pretty big but is in a city centre so maybe its just not cut out for it... Although that will be a big blow if it is the case, as other than that park its a 2hr drive to the beach and wont get to fly very often at all.. /bugger

Heres to the weekend.....

ragden - 1-2-2011 at 12:24 PM

Only 2hrs to the beach? Most places I ride are 3+hrs to get to. Thats just the nature of the beast when you live in a big city (Washington DC?.. doh).

I personally think the drive is worth the trip 9 times out of 10.

Nothing wrong with being a big kiter. With the right gear, you could get out on the water... There is more gear being made for larger riders these days. You could definitely pull it off if you had the desire...

I certainly hope your next trip is better than your last. Best of luck!
:smilegrin:

John Holgate - 1-2-2011 at 01:43 PM

My local beach is also 2 hours drive (very nearly) but the difference in flying in gusty crud (and I'm on a farm with an unobstructed view to the horizon in a lot of wind directions) and flying in onshore winds is an absolute revelation.

You'll have all sorts of pockets of warm air rising from buildings and roads with cooler air rushing in to fill the gap creating all sorts of messed up wind plus all the physical obstructions.

If you find your kite shoots forward then folds into a shopping bag from time to time then that will most likely be the wind in your area. Check your local beach forecast for onshore winds and take advantage of them when you can.

A small wind sock or streamer or kite tail hung from a fishing rod or similar (at your local field) will tell you a lot about your wind.

Kamikuza - 1-2-2011 at 05:13 PM

Bollocks, sounds like you weigh what I do and I kitesurf just fine. With really big kites :lol: and really big boards :ticking:

Bladerunner - 1-2-2011 at 05:29 PM

Think of wind as water coming down a steam. Picture what the obstructions upwind do to water downstream of them. Try and get about 7 times the height of upwind obstructions clear. The trick is you still want double your line length downwind as well.

Often you will have good clean wind up higher while it is still junk down low.

Don't get discouraged , once you " get it " you'll be hooked!

Kiting is a beauty sport for large folks. You can enjoy any of the many ways to ride the wind. Kami is a great example of do it all In LARGE !!! All but buggy , I think ?

The people shooting for the land speed record in a kitebuggy are all big boys. Little guys like Rip' are allowed to add weight.

6 hours to the beach for us ! 2 hours to snowkiting 2.5 months a year.

Kamikuza - 1-2-2011 at 08:43 PM

Yeah, no chance yet for the buggy ... I actually found someone with the remains of a PL Big Foot but he threw a hissy fit and how we don't talk :(

Euromir - 2-2-2011 at 12:43 PM

Ok, so i may have incorrectly pictured all these kite surfers as athletic slim jim's :shocked2: my bad... Although i can assure you i still wont ever be on the water, just not a water person, hate swimming, hates boats etc.. Buggies yeah maybe... haha

I might have to make a long stick and ribbon as John suggested, i really having trouble gauging wind speed etc right now, even considering one of those hand-held wind meters maybe..?

nocando - 2-2-2011 at 03:59 PM

dont worry about wind meter go back to Coastalwind sports and print off the Beaufort Scale for dumbelina kiters

John Holgate - 2-2-2011 at 08:37 PM

I'm a reasonable judge of windspeed, but I still often check my wind meter. Probably more important - especially inland - is being able to judge the gusts and lulls. I watch the trees at home - if they are bent over in the wind with all the leaves rustling, but basically still then it's a really nice steady wind.

If the trees are waving around wildly - that means trouble. So I usually go and annoy someone on PKF instead....:smilegrin:

erratic winds - 2-2-2011 at 08:41 PM

Good tip john! trees bent by wind that aren't moving much=good, trees moving a lot=bad.

I know if my wind chimes are going on the back porch I'm missing good stuff :D

Euromir - 2-2-2011 at 09:53 PM

Yeah i had mixed luck with the Beaufort scale to be honest, maybe im a bad judge.. Good tip i will take on board by John there, to be fair the bad day i that started this thread was a "trees wildly back and forth" kind of day! oops

Still, weather for the beach looks good for the weekend! So hopefully i finally get this baby in the Air! :duh:

Kamikuza - 2-2-2011 at 11:58 PM

You'll get the hang fairly quick of whats too much and what isn't ... and when you get used to it, you'll handle lulls and gusts without thinking. In fact, you'll probably end up looking forward to the gusts :)

Don't let being solidly built put you off - there's guys bigger than us out there doing it. The guy who convinced me to get a Flydoor is 150kg :o

Euromir - 5-2-2011 at 01:36 AM

oh dear, oh dear think i must be doomed.... :no:
Kami you come back to NZ any time soon, haha? Think i need find a local to show me what i am doing wrong..

Well, went out to beach today with a new hope and confidence from all your advice and after re-reading every guide and video i can find. Alas still no joy, its beyond embarrassing now!

My packing and unpacking HAS improved, i still had a couple of weird twists somehow and had to take the leaders off to untwist but it only took 5min rather than hours in a tangle.

No, the issues today are still launching and flying this damn kite! I had it all setup, lines untangled, brakes staked, KK moved down to brake loops and hanging lose this time. I put the KK on, pointed the brakes at the kite and tried to launch. The kite didn't even seem to inflate properly, but it did turn 90deg to ground and then just do 2-3 loops on the sand! I tried to launch again with the lines still twisted, it did a few more weird twists causing more mayhem and still never leaving the sand at all.

So i staked brakes and went to untangle by hand and setup again. Pretty similar stuff all over again! I staked again and even tried to check length of lines etc, took the KK off just in case they made a difference..

This time (about 30min by now) it DID leave the sand and fly upwards but only for about 2m from the ground where it kind of stopped dead! I should add it still didn't look properly shaped or inflated? it was kind of "flat" no curves etc, just didn't look right.. anyway there it was 2m from the ground stopped, i tried to fly it higher etc but may have applied too much one way as i i got a spin and the sand again. I reset yet again and tried to launch some more, still wouldn't launch at all, did do the 90deg to ground thing again and flip over. The wind kind of caught the kite and rolled it all up in a mess. So frankly i gave up for the 2nd time with the 4line kite. /cry

The conditions were perfect, 8-10mph steady onshore wind, there was 20-30 kitesurfers out at sea and one guy going up and down the sand on a Buggy with a kite without any issues ( it looked like a 3-4m kite to me). I did try to catch the attention of the guy on the buggy to see if he could offer some advice, but either he didn't see me, or just didn't want too sadly..

So either i am doing something very wrong! Or my 2nd hand kite is faulty / setup badly? its doing my head in, really don't think i be taking it out again unless i can find someone to help me out locally.

I did have some fun with my 2m 2line after though which cheered me up, that one flew fine for an hour no probs!

Have you ever had such a crap newbie on PKF before? hahaha :no: Wish i could afford a new kite rather than my 2nd hand one, but alas no budget for that right now.

nocando - 5-2-2011 at 02:40 AM

only thing I can think of is, maybe a tangle on main bridle, line caught by a knot

and also unequal line lengths

Euromir - 5-2-2011 at 02:56 AM

Yeah thanks, one think i am going to do Monday is lay it out at home and go through it thoroughly looking for any problems, not totally sure i know what i looking for, but will look out for any rips or tears, broken or knotted bridles. Anything that looks "odd" maybe...

Looking to find a local if i can to help me out on the beach sometime, haha

acampbell - 5-2-2011 at 06:29 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Euromir
Yeah thanks, one think i am going to do Monday is lay it out at home


That is a real good idea. Lay it out and compare every line and bridle segment, left and right, one at a time. I find that setting up at the beach or field that you feel pressed for time, because time is flying and you're not, and you don't want to miss the wind or the sun or the tide in my case. Then you are much more prone to miss something.

I once spent a considerable amount of time with an oddly flying kite pouring over the bridle and line connections, scratching my head and not finding anything wrong, only to walk back to the handles and find a brake line snagged around the leader and KK knots. It was right in front of my eyes all along.

When I rig a new kite, I like to do so at home in the quiet back yard where I can take the time to lay things out neatly and look things over. Then when I go to fly, I wast no time besides a quick set-up.

Kamikuza - 5-2-2011 at 06:58 AM

No, not even for a holiday :lol: I'm happy to be away from the place :)

After following Angus' advice, try the way-out solutions ... got the lines on the handles the right way around? Holding the handles up the right way? Not giving it too much brake when flying?
When it got up to just off the ground and 'hovered', was it trying to rip your arms out?
Sounds like you can fly your 2-line fine - the 4-line needs to be launched on the power lines alone, lay off the brakes.

There's quite a learning curve in the beginning ... you just gotta suffer the tangles and what-not until it all clicks for you - chin up old bean!

Bladerunner - 5-2-2011 at 08:25 AM

2 ways to find locals. Forums and Flying.

Pretty much every person who passes who kites will take the time to say hello. We can't help it. Like flying a calling card.
Just get to the beach and fly. The rest fall in place !

Here is a short description of how I get people started

Handles, index finger above top line. At 1st DON'T apply any break at all. Pay attention to them to be sure you are not applying them. Launch the kite . Get it overhead ( zenith ) . No try hard NOT to fly the kite !!!!!!!! For a about 5 minutes just try and keep it at zenith and don't make huge hand motion. Start to rock it back and forth then settle down at zenith again. Again using small actions not big ones.

At about 10 minutes start doing that rocking a bit more and start doing figure 8's up high then settling down at zenith again.

Take the kite back to zenith. Feel how you can have it hang on the edge like that all the way down both sides . Work it down + up both sides. If things go crazy get it to the edge and calm it all down again.

Now back to figure 8's. Start taking them deeper and deeper into the power zone and get used to how the power picks up and drops off with speed + placement in the window.

Back to zenith. Now apply just a touch of brake and see how the kite will " brake turn ". Play with that rocking back and forth accreoss zenith.

Back to Zenith. Now try applying both brakes evenly to back your kite down in front of you. Launch again and do it a few times. NOTE how adding even brake slows the kite to and beyond stall. How SEED EQUALS POWER and the kite doesn't pull so much in the power zone when it's not moving / slowed down. Try this later as you fly and feel confident.

In a perfect world we would be about 1/2 hour into a lesson by now. At this point I would shut up and tell you to work on those things . Every mistake you are making will be 1 of 2 things . BRAKES or you are flying too aggresive. Find kite CHI !

Them's the basics and should set you up for a great day !

Don't be afraid to try a kite loop. Start high. Hard turn with added brake. Commit and hold on tight as you go past your comfort zone and until the kite is heading back up. Then you can straighten out just like a normal turn with a prolonged power period!

Have FUN!:wee:

John Holgate - 5-2-2011 at 04:13 PM

If all else fails and you can't get someone to run an eye over things and sort out what's going wrong - you could maybe post a few pics? Perhaps of the kite on the brakes ready for take off? Or have someone take a couple photos for you? Or vid?

It sounds like there's too much brake tension on the kite.....

I had a problem with one of my depowers and made a video showing what was wrong and sent a link the manufacturer (I set it to private on youtube). He looked at the vid, suggested a solution and we fixed it.

Euromir - 10-2-2011 at 07:41 PM

Sorry had hectic few days at work, i will try and look it over tomorrow and post some pics if i can..

Euromir - 26-2-2011 at 01:05 AM

Sorry its been so long since i started this topic, been snowed under at work for past couple of weeks sadly.

However some great news, finally got the Rebble up and flying, with some help of a fellow kiter. Spooky really i was working with the guy at work for a week or so when he suddenly mentioned he flies foils! What a chance to meet someone at work who lives down the road and flies foils! JACKPOT

Anyway he took at look and discovered the brake lines seemed too short and was still killing the kite when fully off, so he has shortened the leaders on the power lines temporarily to balance things out, and low and behold we had it flying! Awesome fun, but blimey it had me running across the field a few times, totally surprised me what a 3.5m can do to a 250lb guy!

We did notice the tips of the kite are not inflating fully still and on inspection it appears the very outer bridle lines have been shortened by the previous owner, kind of curling the tips in when it flies sometimes. We are going to try it with some of his lines soon and see how that goes, but i may need to look a good kite service or bridle fix..

So chuffed i been flying it today though, learnt lots from my new friend and got to fly his Bullet too. Damn i am hooked proper now!

John Holgate - 26-2-2011 at 02:07 AM

Excellent news!!

nocando - 26-2-2011 at 04:34 AM

Well Done is worth the anguish now:Ange09:

Kamikuza - 26-2-2011 at 05:58 AM

Jackpot!

Ah, stretched front lines ... yes my Rebble is exactly the same :D
Don't run - slide :) much less work and danger ;)