Born-Kite RaceStar & RaceStar+

Steffen and his crew at Born-Kites continue to innovate and today made public their newest offering, the RaceStar. Like their other kites this one is SS too. I'm going to be getting one over the winter and plan to bring it to IBX2018. I'm excited and a little nervous to fly such a high (6.0) AR kite, but who knows, maybe I'll be the fastest SS guy on the playa! :D

Steffen sent me some pictures and a series of bullet points describing his new baby. I believe it will be available for purchase early next year. Gotta love that Steffen keeps innovating!!!

• RaceStar, the first serial single skin high performer
  
• AR = 6.0, very good up-wind characteristics
  
• Construction without profile ribs, thus barrier-free flow distribution on the bottom of the kite from the center to the tip
  
• Reduced bridle design offers low air resistance
  
• Start and landing stress-free without additional "staff" possible because super fast, the air flow is applied and can be eliminated
  
• Single skin construction, high light wind properties, crash unsusceptibility, very small pack size, minimal weight and unaffected by flying snow or sand
  
• Loops can be flown via tip or center rotation
  
• Very pleasant bar holding forces for long stress-free kiting
  
• Depower function like the LongStar 2 and StreetStar out of the "belly" and not on the tips
  
• The RS can be flown with any conventional control bar
  
• Considerably cheaper than a double skin high performer
  

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Quote: Originally posted by Bladerunner

Interesting that it will "belly " depower? Wonder how that works / feels? In my game I most enjoy how powering up sets the kite back by AOA . not clear how " belly " depower will accomplish that?

Steffen mentions that it does "belly" DP in a similar fashion as the LS2s. The first-look video below of the LS2 shows this action from 1:50 - 1:60. The DP on the LS2s feel to me similar to DP on the Peaks. The AOA changes and these RSs are high AR kites so if they have a belly at all it is a pretty skinny one.

Quote: Originally posted by Ed Cline

Hmmmm. Bottom Feeder alert.. Stay interested Steve, but don't do anything rash, until my kite budget recharges a little..:bigok:

Yeah..... no. Not happening. My LS2s and NS3s are going to grow right where they are planted thank you very much. :evil:

Quote: Originally posted by Bladerunner

What size do you think you are likely to get as a demo Steve? I get a strong feeling the 9 will be a great all round size but will be big for Ivanpah? That said, even the 5 may be big? I think you may already have the right kite for Ivanpah with that LS2 3.5? Once you learn to keep those crazy bridle lines under control!:P:P I wonder why Stephan didn't make a 3.5 in this model? Too fast? Too small a market?? ( in a small market ))

We will have to see what sizes he ultimately goes with in February. The pics he sent me show computer renderings of 7, 9, and 11m sizes. On the first day he showed the pics on FB there was a comment asking about a 5m so you aren't alone in that sort of thinking. My guess is that he went with a 7m on the small size as folks that race tend to go slightly overpowered (way overpowered for me, slightly for them) and that the 7m therefore seems small. I agree that a 5m would likely be right sized for Ivanpah if it gets blowing much over 20 mph. At IBX2017 I spent almost the entire time with my 3.5m LS2 in the air, certainly it was the only one in the air once the wind was 30+. Time will tell!

Quote: Originally posted by soliver

How long til you get one, Steve?

Steffen indicated that he was sending me one in January so I guess February sometime. The first time I will have a chance to actually fly it will be in he beginning of April on Ivanpah at IBX2018. Let the countdown begin! :D

Steffen provided me a more detailed explanation of how DP works for his line of DP kites (LS2, SS, and RS).

"DP works with variable AOA. The kite blows mainly in the "belly" and only minimally on the tips, this leaves the kite in depowered state with relatively quiet flight."

Below are three pictures depicting this function:


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Steffen let me know that the LS2s and RSs are comparable pull wise on a square meter per square meter basis. The LS2s come in sizes that are 0.5m larger. He noted that the RS flies faster in the air which makes sense with its increased AR and that it will therefore develop comparably more apparent wind and progressive pull force with speed. Whupp!

He also sent one more picture nicely showing the axis of rotation for the DP action:


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THIS JUST IN:

The RaceStar will also be available as a 5m. :D


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Added pic of 5m. She is a beauty,

Quote: Originally posted by B-Roc

Every kite in that second video seemed super high A/R. The times sure have changed since I entered this sport.

The high AR of the RSs has me personally a little nervous. I get that such a geometry is a positive for upwind performance among other things but it also brings with it greater lift. I use one of the BigKid AQRs in my buggy but that does not mean I want to deploy it. I have been really pleased with my low AR kites so far so we will have to see. :karate:

SO I see you are now listing the 5 and 9 RS on you kite list - do you actually have them now, or are you just being pro-active?

Quote: Originally posted by Randy

SO I see you are now listing the 5 and 9 RS on you kite list - do you actually have them now, or are you just being pro-active?

That is an aspirational listing. Steffen let me know earlier this week that these two kites will be shipped to me next week.

Steffen shared a picture with me of the soon-to-be-released RaceStars in all their natural beauty. They have done a lot of testing with them in the snow and as a result have worked with the bridle line manufacturer to make the lines silver grey. In their original white color folks could step on the lines since they blended in with the snow.

These should be available by the end of February!


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Quote: Originally posted by ssayre

That is an awesome picture. Congrats on getting some race stars soon Steve. I've long been a fan of steffen's.

They do look pretty. Steffen told me via email this morning that he would ship those two to me by the end of February. With good fortune I'll have them in time for IBX in the beginning of April. I have to say I'm a little nervous to fly such a high AR kite. Thank goodness for Jeff (BigKid's) AQR installed in my buggy. I have a feeling I may put it to good use....

Quote: Originally posted by Windstruck

Quote: Originally posted by Ed Cline   Hmmmm. Bottom Feeder alert.. Stay interested Steve, but don't do anything rash, until my kite budget recharges a little..:bigok: Yeah..... no. Not happening. My LS2s and NS3s are going to grow right where they are planted thank you very much. :evil:

Gee - I just noticed you did not mention your Streetstar.......

Quote: Originally posted by Randy

Quote: Originally posted by Windstruck   Quote: Originally posted by Ed Cline   Hmmmm. Bottom Feeder alert.. Stay interested Steve, but don't do anything rash, until my kite budget recharges a little..:bigok: Yeah..... no. Not happening. My LS2s and NS3s are going to grow right where they are planted thank you very much. :evil: Gee - I just noticed you did not mention your Streetstar.......

Aren't we perceptive Randy!

I really haven't used it yet. I got it a while back and then sent it to Sean (ssayre) to test drive as he is proficient on his landboard. Steffen then let me know that he had upgraded the line with some cross bracing in the bridles and he offered to upgrade my bridling if I were to send it back to Germany. Sean actually sent it back to Steffen. It's been sitting there quite a while and is said to make its third journey across the Atlantic with the two StreetStars later this month. I hope to try the SS with skis on a local soccer field and maybe from a board at IBX (with plenty of plastic courage!).

Are you saying you want first dibs if I do decide to move it on down the kite line? :saint:

Quote: Originally posted by Randy

Very perceptive of you.....

I do have to warn you, however, that if you are waiting for me to do this you may want to pack a lunch... :karate:

Just sayin...


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So, needless to say, at long last I got my shipment of kites from Germany today. Yes, the box was opened with extreme care. The RSs are very nicely constructed as I believe are all of Steffen's kites. I've only taken one out of their bags so far to inspect it and snap a picture. They will get a proper flying in a couple of weeks at IBX2018.

The leading edge of the RSs have a half loop of that plastic sort of wire that you use with a hedge trimmer about every six inches or so. I've got a picture below that hopefully shows that. Can't wait to get these beauties up in the air!!!


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Quote: Originally posted by Demoknight

I love the look of the new kite, but I wonder if the lack of ribs is a good or a bad thing. With ribs, sure, it creates more drag, but it also creates laminar air flow. I wonder if this kite struggles to keep a line with the nose pointed parallel to the ground, or if it is no more issue than with regular closed/open cell foils. I have noticed that sometimes a high aspect kite can slip through the window like a snake through water and just fall out of the air if it doesn't have enough forward speed to keep laminar flow across the wing.

That is a most interesting idea! I know Steffen did this on purpose and makes some noise about the lack of ribs being purpose-built. I've personally never flown a high aspect kite so this is completely virgin territory for me. Hopefully the conditions at IBX will be good for some back to back in the buggy comparisons of similarly sized (5.0 vs 5.5 and 9.0 vs 9.5m) RSs and LS2s. I'll write about what I find out.

Quote: Originally posted by Windstruck

Quote: Originally posted by Demoknight   I love the look of the new kite, but I wonder if the lack of ribs is a good or a bad thing. With ribs, sure, it creates more drag, but it also creates laminar air flow. I wonder if this kite struggles to keep a line with the nose pointed parallel to the ground, or if it is no more issue than with regular closed/open cell foils. I have noticed that sometimes a high aspect kite can slip through the window like a snake through water and just fall out of the air if it doesn't have enough forward speed to keep laminar flow across the wing. That is a most interesting idea! I know Steffen did this on purpose and makes some noise about the lack of ribs being purpose-built. I've personally never flown a high aspect kite so this is completely virgin territory for me. Hopefully the conditions at IBX will be good for some back to back in the buggy comparisons of similarly sized (5.0 vs 5.5 and 9.0 vs 9.5m) RSs and LS2s. I'll write about what I find out.

It is something I have seen with my Speed 3 in light winds. If there isn't enough air moving over it, sometimes it can slip down. It looks like if you have a tie on a hanger that isn't even and it slips off the hanger.

Quote: Originally posted by jeffnyc

Nice review - any pics of you in action? Did you compare yourself to any similar race kites? Are other folks there trying them as well? Oh yeah - sounds like you're having a good time out there!

No pics per say but I did capture some helmet cam videos that will make it into an IBX video I plan to put together.

I got my 9.0 and 11.0m RaceStars in hand! Beauties. I unpacked the 11m to check it out and snapped a quick pic. The kite is endless, measuring over 25 feet long with fully 40 ribs in the nose to form the air scoop. The ribs are supported with stout flexible nylon "wires" akin to thick material used in trimmers. The bridling is of a new and much improved material than found in the NS3s or LS2s. Should Steffen upgrade his LS2s to LS3s with this new bridle material I will likely upgrade my 3.5, 5.0, and 7.5m LongStars, so stay tuned for a fire sale when that happens!


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Do it Steve.

And not just because I am a hot coal waiting to start up your fire sale by snatching up that 3.5. I mean how on earth can you put up with those sticky old bridles knowing there is a better option.

I think windstrucks second hobby is burning $100 bills with how often he has fire sales.

You may not be the person to ask, being you primarily buggy, but are the race stars very lifty? It seems like most single skins are lacking in lift, with the exception of the peak 2 and 3, but those aren't exactly what it would call a lifty kite. You say they are highly responsive and aggressive which leads me to believe that they could take you up if you wanted.

Quote: Originally posted by Snake

... are the race stars very lifty? It seems like most single skins are lacking in lift, with the exception of the peak 2 and 3, but those aren't exactly what it would call a lifty kite. You say they are highly responsive and aggressive which leads me to believe that they could take you up if you wanted.

Snake - hard to say since I do everything I can to avoid getting lifted these days. Ever since my freak gasoline fight accident that has been Job One around here. That being said, the RaceStars have a 6:1 AR that I believe is relevant in the lift department. I suspect the RSs would be more lifty than P2s, P3s, or LS2s but that is pure speculation on my part. They can be made to move quite quickly in the sky and I bet it would be possible to slingshot fairly readily if that was your intention. The issue of course is only partly "lift". The ability to gracefully "lower" is equally (I'd argue far more) important. I simply have insufficient time under the RSs at this point to speculate on that. I'd sure hate to be up in the air and have one of these guys collapse a bit, for example, something they might be more prone to do than a double skin kite with a lot more natural structure.

Maybe you could buy a few, jump a bit, and get back with us. :evil:

Quote: Originally posted by Bladerunner

Do it Steve. And not just because I am a hot coal waiting to start up your fire sale by snatching up that 3.5. I mean how on earth can you put up with those sticky old bridles knowing there is a better option.

Ken, I know you're itchin for that 3.5. :karate:

I do so love my Born kites, but their bridling can be a pain in the seat meat at times and an upgrade in that area would be welcome. They are completely flight (read worship) worthy but I'd take bridling less prone to tangling if I could get it. :D

Backup kite.
Notable defects: Green. Left handed.

Quote: Originally posted by jeffnyc

Unacceptable, send it back. Quite a collection of SS you've amassed there. What size is the greenie?

The greenie is a 3.5m Born-Kite LongStar-2. Drool worthy.

Quote: Originally posted by dirt face

...seen a nice video with RaceStar on YouTube.

That's a nice video. The location is outstanding. I've seen that kite crop up a bit in some videos. I'm curious if it is a demo or pre-production prototype; definitely not standard colors.

Quote: Originally posted by jeffnyc

So Windstruck... on that vid I noticed the trailing edge wingtips seem to be pulled in a lot - I would imagine that helps with steering (akin to steering FB on brakes), but it looks like they're both curled for a lot of the ride. Do you notice yours riding that way? Any pros or cons to that?

I'm heading up to Fall SOBB in a couple of weeks. I'll check out what you're talking about. I just had a chance to fly lately.

Quote: Originally posted by Ed Cline

No I wouldn't think there was any strategy to it. A number of kites need pigtail adjustments to fly right, usually a few cm is enough. If the steering lines are a foot short You wonder how it would fly at all, not just choked a little. Did you put these on your kites Steve?

I have brand new Born-Kite bars as yet unflown. I believe the new bars are set up with the correct length pigtails to fly correctly without 31cm extra lines. One set of pigtails are extra long on my RS kites but I don't remember which right now (brake or power). I'm guessing the correct ones.

I'm in Bend, OR now, 3/4 of the way to SOBB holed up for the night after many hours. Should have kites up tomorrow.

THIS JUST IN

Already in production and to be commercially released in October is the RaceStar+, a matching 5.0, 7.0, 9.0, and 11.0m quiver to the original RaceStar. A forthcoming video will explain the nuances, but the principle difference as Steffen explained it to me is the addition of some flexible vertical spars in the trailing edge to keep the shape of the kite more complete during jibe turns.

Gotsta love how Steffen keeps on innovating in the SS DP world! I'm really loving the RSs and now have a complete quiver. For my needs the RS+ is overkill but I can see how this refinement could be important in racing and other maximum performance conditions. A small weight and packing penalty, but these SS DP 6:1 AR kites still come in way lighter and pack more compactly than comparable traditional race kites with their (unnecessary) extra skin.


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"For my needs" - when has this stopped any of us from buying new stuff...? Let me know when you get the new kites...

Quote: Originally posted by cheezycheese

"For my needs" - when has this stopped any of us from buying new stuff...? Let me know when you get the new kites...

N+1 in full effect! See my mood... :saint:

Steffen is quite the innovator indeed.

Yes...
He has eliminated the '(unnecessary) extra skin' in a bris of the kiting world.


If only my NPW's were of that ratio - 6:1 - on FB handles, it would be a whole different performance- upwind and racing.

N+1 x 3 =3RS+ ={ 3 RS*$)
*$ = for sale

You do the math.....

uuuumm trailing edge battens. when he connects them to the leading edge stiffeners then he will be up to racestar magnum.

Quote: Originally posted by Ed Cline

Now that's funny.

Quote: Originally posted by skimtwashington

Yes... He has eliminated the '(unnecessary) extra skin' in a bris of the kiting world.

Had to look up what bris meant. :singing::singing:

THIS JUST IN

Born-Kite is shortly coming out with a 3.0m RS+. Daddy's psyched. I sold my 3.5m LS2 to our very own MadHungarian last year in anticipation of reloading my quiver with a small SS DP and this will be my new baby! :wee:


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Quote: Originally posted by MadHungarian

Steve, I was going to ask if you are getting one of these puppies, but you beat me to it. I see now I'm just a pawn in your diabolical plan...

You betcha. Actually had some back and forth email with Steffen this morning about the 3.0m RS+ vs the forthcoming 3.5m LS3. Both would have the new BODAPRE bridle material. The "+" of the RS+ line involves some flexible stiffeners running perpendicular to the trailing edge of the kite, something that doesn't exist in the standard RSs that I have. I don't know if the fabled LS3s will have them or not.

What Steffen told me to no surprise is that the 3.0m RS+ is highly active in the sky in strong winds, turns very quickly, etc. I bet it will be a proverbial "wasp on a string". 3.0m and 6:1 AR. Whupp! He further told me that it flies best if you move the stopper balls down the trim line to somewhat shorten the range of bar travel. Again, not surprising, and this is something I found to be the case with both the 3.5m LS2 and earlier with a 4.0m Peak2 I used to have. In my clumsy hands I would sometimes over DP these small kites and collapse them in the air only to have them burst back open and nearly pull me out of my buggy. Thank goodness for that little drain hole in my buggy seat, just sayin....

So... I'm going a little back in forth in my mind with getting a tamer 3.5m LS3 when it comes out or pull the trigger now for a wildcat. No immediate need to decide as neither are currently on the market.

Super glad to see all this SS innovation lately!