Power Kite Forum

how short is too short?

dylanj423 - 20-6-2011 at 03:15 PM

i just redid one of my bars with some short lines... theyre prob about 11m long...

is that too short to kitesurf or board with??

Drewculous - 20-6-2011 at 04:19 PM

which kite?

will it fly, prolly yeah... but they'll be really twitchy, and you'll have a tiny window, which means some power lost

PHREERIDER - 21-6-2011 at 01:23 PM

if you got the breeze no. slams will come if you don't pay attention.

will be stupid quick and powered strangely with a small window ...and will zoom across really fast. 16m kite? def no. 8-12m kite will have fun in about 15+ . board action will need to be a little quicker as well. really fun if you get it wired! kool loopy stuff for sure. super quick and hard redirects. remember very sensitive... so its almost over before you start!.

12m in 15-20. start lower to get use to it

arkay - 22-6-2011 at 10:08 AM

Yeah, talk about twitchy :) In gusty conditions you don't have much time to react if the kite starts to fall. So plenty of steady wind works well. I prefer a large window and long lines for most of my flying because I enjoy moving the kite around. However, a big kite on short lines will get you moving fast and you can just park it and ride.

Houston AirHead - 22-6-2011 at 10:19 AM

i did this once, its pretty fun.

theres actually a tube kite out there thats sold with really short lines. like 11 or 12 m lines.

good for launching in tight spots

Bladerunner - 22-6-2011 at 04:31 PM

Lou Wainman likes 10m lines but that is Lou. :Ange09:

I like 15m lines on small kites but find 10 is a bit short?

rtz - 22-6-2011 at 04:54 PM

Fast forward this to 4:18; is that info correct?

Bladerunner - 22-6-2011 at 05:09 PM

If you are asking: do 22m line mean more power than 15? Yes. Bigger window / power stroke.
: are 15m lines not recommended for lower wind ? Yes. Unless you are Rip' !

I like what he says about 15m lines feeling odd at 1st but it is worth the change up.

ripsessionkites - 22-6-2011 at 05:50 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bladerunner
are 15m lines not recommended for lower wind ? Yes. Unless you are Rip' !


:thumbup::wee:

short lines big kite will make up the difference for long lines small kite.

kitesurfing is different than buggying. in the buggy you want to be closer for comfort.

cheezycheese - 22-6-2011 at 11:22 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by ripsessionkites
in the buggy you want to be closer for comfort.


Please explain... Start splainin Ricky...

rtz - 23-6-2011 at 12:29 AM

I was just confused by high winds / short lines; then having to deal with a fast, darty, twitchy kite. Versus lighter wind, longer lines for more power(bigger window?).

So the short lines in high wind are trying to trim some of the window or what? Is that the main purpose of shorter lines or done for a more direct feel?

PHREERIDER - 23-6-2011 at 05:29 AM

having a smaller window and line length doesn't allow the kite to accelerate as much so its a kite handling type thing ..like a short lever v. a long lever. takes more work and movement to get the job done , but apparent wind is the same and stable power is the same but rapid big window speed(the "send" is a shorted distance) is blunted by the confinement. everything is smaller, volume of the window and the kites interaction with that volume.

dylanj423 - 23-6-2011 at 08:04 AM

as soon as i get some wind down here ill try to let yall know... in the meantime, i wait :/

wouldve gone last weekend, but stuff happened