The wind was blowing pretty hard, probably 20+. I started out with a 2 line slingshot trainer 2m on a bar. It would pull me across the dirt if I
worked it. It would fly right up to the zenith and I could walk upwind without fighting the kite at all. I almost didn't fly my 'new' beamer iii 3m
I picked up on here, but I'm glad I did! It was a blast and was pulling me across a baseball diamond very easily. I could have gone as far as I
wanted but the grip on the grass made it more difficult to get dragged around. The problem was that it would never fly straight up to the zenith, it
would stay at about a 70° angle and it was a lot of work to drag it upwind. It was easier to fly it to the edge of the window and then walk upwind,
but even that took a bit of force. I also don't know how long the lines are, but they seem pretty short compared to the lines on the trainer. I love
how the trainer zips around the sky and will hover over head, but the pull on the beamer is far more steady. I guess my questions are
Is this old beamer just a low performance kite that has a small wind window?
If I picked up a new 3m with a higher aspect ration would I be able to fly it over head and walk upwind?
Would the power of a higher aspect kite be more twitchy with the pulling like the trainer kite?
Is something wrong with this beamer that would not allow it to fly overhead? I have the brakes real loose with lots of slack.
Here is a crappy video from yesterday. youtube asked if I wanted to take out the shakes, and I said yes, but it made the edges of the video jump
around instead! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TviKCSZsiI&feature=youtu... Bladerunner - 5-5-2013 at 08:49 AM
You need more brake line and more pads .
You are going to get hurt flying the kite like that and not really having control over it. It is just a matter of time. cheezycheese - 5-5-2013 at 09:00 AM
Walking upwind with a kite directly overhead is a prime way to get yarded. If a gust hits you you will get lofted and your 3m kite will drop you. Be
careful. jgorm - 5-5-2013 at 09:15 AM
Educate me please, I came here to learn.
More brake line? As in shorten the lines? use more brakes on the turns? lengthen the lines? I could pretty much drop the kite out of the sky with the
brakes at any time.
Pads? Not even sure what that is.
I felt in total control at least 95% of the time, and the other 5% I didn't feel out of control, maybe off balance going from the dirt to the grass.
Do you have tips to stay in more control? I could take off sliding on command and stand still whenever I wanted.
How should I get back upwind if I shouldn't fly the kite at the zenith? Gusty winds are pretty rare due to being ~2-300m from the beach and one of
the most popular kite surfing areas in san diego. If flying on the edge of the window is the only way to safely walk upwind, I can do that.pongnut - 5-5-2013 at 11:15 AM
It looked to me like you were controlling the kite and scuds just fine. I think pads (elbow and/or knee) came to mind when we see you flying on a
baseball field with no shirt in 20mph wind.
My first thought about the Beamer not making it to the zenith is that the brake lines may be too short... or, maybe the bridle lines have stretched a
little bit affecting the angle of attack? I have the 3m Beamer IV and it has no problem sitting at zenith. Have you tried flying the Beamer any
place else, perhaps there is some wind shadow going on in that park?
Walking back upwind with the kite at either side of the wind window is always safer than overhead at the zenith. DAKITEZ - 5-5-2013 at 11:26 AM
Make sure the brake adjustment at the kite bridles is all the way to the end .. furthest from the kite. This will allow the longest brake line
setting. If you are there already tie a knot on your power leader line of the handle. Try about 2" from the factory knot. Make sure the knot is equal
length from the hanlde on both the left and right side handle. Connect your flying lines to the new knot and try again. What this does is shorten your
power lines .. thus in effect lengthening your brake lines.
Also have you checked your line lengths to make sure they are all equal? The power lines may have gotten stretched. To correct for line stretch is
just as I described above. You just might need to add another knot or make that knot 3"-4" instead.
Like others have said ... Please dont walk back with the kite at zenith. Put it off to either side and walk back. Better yet get a landboard or buggy
and ride back I love to see your excitement while flying!jgorm - 5-5-2013 at 11:51 AM
I'll try to shorten the power lines again. I already have the brake lines as long as they can get, and took about 4" off the power lines at the
handles because the kite was pulling the brakes even with the handles pointed as far as I could to put slack on the brakes. There is a noticeable dip
in the brake lines from the slack (maybe a 1-2' sag), but maybe I need even more. safety pads would not be a bad idea.
There is a small wind shadow from a 4 to 8' wall, but it seems
to go away about 10-15' off the ground. It was a rare south wind and that should have nearly eliminated the wind shadow. The little trainer kite
flew just fine at the zenith.
I thought is was funny that there were to guys (gay?) flying 4 line stunt kites to classical music in a synchronized fashion pretty close by. It
looked like they were trying to make the kites kiss. I thought, my kite must look like loads more fun!
Thanks for the tips! Bladerunner - 5-5-2013 at 01:19 PM
For pads I suggest a helmet ( at least ).
Your feet can go out under you and you will slam your back of your head real easy. Walking upwind with the kite overhead is a big No No . If wind is
real strong real low is best / easiest.
As others have described I meant add more brake line. The kite should have a slight arc in the back lines when it is sitting at the edge and no brake
input from the handles. Also confirm all lines + knots are even. Too much brake line and you won't be able to back the kite down by applying even
brake pressure or influence turns. Too little and the kite won't climb to zenith + will act all squirrely.
Try and slow everything down a bit.
Like others suggested . The REAL fun is when you get a ride and start moving !
You found the right place to ask and learn ! Have fun and be safe ! MDK - 5-5-2013 at 05:08 PM
My first thought was brake lines too (let out more brake line), also check your bridal for line snags when it is doing strange things. when you get
your kite working you might want to head down to the beach, you might piss off some baseball players for messing up their field. if scudding is your
thing, the best surface is medium to full wet sand when the tide is out. also practice downturns in your figure 8's you will get smoother more
consistent power. also keep in mind you will need to give a little more brake input in a downturn. this might help
SFKITER - 7-5-2013 at 01:59 AM
lol I got a good chuckle out of your video. I dunno I fly my Beamer IV all the time and love it, but break lines are all the way at the lowest point
for me. I rarely ever walk up wind with it at full zenith though its always at the edge.Turtlejon - 13-5-2013 at 01:30 PM
So you guys always wear pads and helmets for short scuds like those? abkayak - 13-5-2013 at 01:48 PM
its the conditions (surface and wind) and possibilities that would get my helmet on...their are no do overs once you open that doorMDK - 13-5-2013 at 01:49 PM
I guarantee you not all of us here on this forum wear PPE's in certain conditions and with certain skill levels but it will always be recommended
here. Ultimately it is up to you. some choose to wear PPE's before the concussion some after. Bladerunner - 13-5-2013 at 05:16 PM
I try and wear my helmet every time I have a kite up. That way I don't have to decide if this is the right day or forget it.
The 2 times I have fallen backward and knocked my head I was not really moving. One time was with rollerblades on though. Scudding sets you up for the
potential of your feet coming out and you slamming the back of your head.
I add Knee, butt and elbow pads if I am pushing it.
So you guys always wear pads and helmets for short scuds like those?
i was buggying with a 1.8 meter kite (PKD Century).
an old, old timer was walking around and around and finally stopped to chat.
i parked the kite and chatted with him.
as i launched the kite and started back to the buggy the little bugger lofted me.
not high but completely over head and feet off the ground.
shiite happens even to the best of them...wear the gear unless you like pain and gimped up)... lives2fly - 14-5-2013 at 06:40 AM
I wear a helmet all the time having cracked the back of my head off the sand a few times and been hugely glad i had one on!
Knee pads and crash shorts get added for landboarding and a full upper body suit for when I'm learning something new or trying to push something i
can do already.
Everything but the body armour is comfortable and i don't notice it once its on - can't think of a good reason not to wear it.
"If you're not crashing, you're not trying" is true In kiting more than anything else I have learned. - not to say I don't enjoy sessions cruising
inside my comfort zone.
Purely Luck - 14-5-2013 at 06:45 AM
I try to only put the kite overhead when I am comfortable with the possibility of being suddenly and unexpectantly lifted 30 feet or so.
Which isn't very often at all. lolMichael Gaylan - 14-5-2013 at 08:04 AM
Looks like you were having a good time in the video, but fighting it pretty hard. I agree, might better get some pads. (I speak from experience) My
elbows got skinned up pretty bad this week. lol
I just got back from JYBE and had a blast. I flew a Beamer for the first time, and found it to be very smooth. I don't remember which one it was but
it was great. Best thing is you don't need a lot of wind. Nice lift and control, and it wasn't jerky at all. The lines were set up "perfect" and I was
able to lift the kite off the ground in reverse by using the brakes when it took a nose dive on me. Flipped it around and I was off!
When the kite does set into the wind just right, you can sail like a bird.
I still love the Zebra though.jgorm - 3-6-2013 at 07:07 AM
I shortened the power lines about 4" and it's better for sure. I tried doing down turns but with a little brake input it would cut the power more
than if I did up turns with no brakes. It was not near as windy that day, so I probably need a bigger kite!MDK - 3-6-2013 at 07:12 AM
still sounds like too much brake then.doneski - 3-6-2013 at 12:40 PM
One test for brake lines is to make sure you can stall the kite. If you can't stall the kite, lengthen or shorten lines until you can. Most kites
will fly fine off the power lines so you might not realize you can't stall the kite until its too late. I'd have my 1.8 Beamer in those winds.jgorm - 4-6-2013 at 07:12 AM
The brake lines probably sag down at least 2'. I can drop the kite out of the sky with the brakes. There was no change to how it flew when I pointed
the bottom of the handles towards the kite. I was thinking about getting different handles. It was uncomfortable to put a lot of brakes in when I
was flying in the high wind. I think a handle that stuck up over the power line about 4" might make it better so I could put my thumbs up there to
get more leverage. Mine stick up about 1' past the power lines.propylene22 - 18-6-2013 at 08:45 PM
I have a Beamer V 2Meter and it will not sit a zenith either. The 2 meter will not really pull me unless its super windy. I few a 5 meter Tensor the
other day and whacked my head pretty decently when it tossed me. SO yeah helmets are a really good idea.
I love to see your excitement while flying!