Power Kite Forum

power vs depower kites

captainbaskerville - 28-2-2012 at 10:36 AM

sorry to ask such a basic question but I am at that stage...What is the difference between a power and depower kite, and what size kites should I be looking at for 20kts on a landboard?

hickupper - 28-2-2012 at 11:37 AM

Try this for your first question.

http://www.tractionkiting.co.uk/traction-kiting-forum/31-kit...

If your asking what the difference is between power and depower, then I would suggest starting off with a trainer kite before even thinking about anything else.

hiaguy - 28-2-2012 at 12:06 PM

And even with a few years worth of flying (stunt and fb only) I still found this a good read.
Thanks hickupper.

dandre - 28-2-2012 at 12:18 PM

Quote:
Depower kites:
- Much greater wind range
- More complex to fly
- Good for boarding and buggy jumping. Not so good (generally) for static flying.
- Able to jump much higher
- Generally much more expensive
- Can be made much bigger

Fixed bridle kites:
- Not such a good wind range – you need to change kite size often as the wind speed increases.
- Much simpler to fly
- Good for static flying as well as boarding and buggy racing
- Not able to jump as high (safely)
- Generally better value for money
- Power can be difficult to control beyond 9/10m, though some racekites go larger; e.g. u-turn nitro (15.4m)

Pick a couple 3/4m kites you like then ask again on this thread and you'll get more responses
hydra, hornet, beamer, soulfly, scout, what was the peter lynn trainer guys?
I think some people like the symphony too.

Prism snapshot is ok if you're on a dime. I wouldn't spring for the tensor but some guys have em.

Post your winds/experience/weight and people will chime in with more relevant information

PHREERIDER - 28-2-2012 at 12:33 PM

read and catch up on types and categories for sure, its alot to digest even harder to answer what kite in 20 knots for land board.

u learn on a small fixed bridle for control and piloting in a static position, once competent(20-30 hours for some) then a bit larger and so on.. harnesses and type/design choices are next and most likely on to depower for landboard in 20knts after considerable experience.

20knts on a land board is giant step and can have serious punishing results without tedious solid control. get a small foil and in about 10-20 hours and wind knowledge you'll have a clearer view with experience to make some choices

captainbaskerville - 29-2-2012 at 07:08 AM

great advice everyone, I wll do some more reading... In the mean time I was given a Rush 200 trainer and I bought a Rush III pro 350. My plan was to get good with these this windy spring and then go into something more geared for jumping a landboard. It sounds like a depower kite is the way to go for that once I am ready.

kitekid21 - 29-2-2012 at 04:40 PM

This is just my experience, but I moved from speed foils to fixed bridle and then to depower. I've enjoyed the journey and have some great kites for any wind condition and activity. Each step along the way introduces another complexity to kiting so by the time you get to depower, everything is easy.

It may be a bit more expensive, but it does make you a better kiter!

hickupper - 1-3-2012 at 07:13 AM

hey kite kid,

you ever meet wayne or garth or eat at stan makita's doughnut shop??


;-)

kitekid21 - 1-3-2012 at 11:49 AM

hickupper, I'm always happy when people recognize my hometown because of that reference! The white castle is real, and I have been there!

hickupper - 1-3-2012 at 12:06 PM

I wasn't sure if it would be one of those "you know how many people ask me that", but given the age of the movie, I hoped it was a safe thing to joke about.

ironic thing is that the doughnut shop was actually a Tim Horton's (canadian hockey legend).

A few other neat things I read regarding wayne's world -

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105793/trivia

The only person to make any good reference to where I live is was an american who always chuckled and asked "is that between the queens legs?"

Man I feel like I just hijacked this thread.