Power Kite Forum

tips on high(er) wind flying

elfasa - 18-6-2009 at 04:55 PM

so after my fall a few days back, although ive been bown to the beach every day, ive only been flying my 1.45m kite, im terrified of the same thing happening again (falling, and being dragged across the ground)

i really want to fly my 3m again, however the winds for the next few days are looking quite strong for a newbie (between 16-20 mph)

i was wondering if people had any tips for a newb flying in reasnoably high wind conditions ?
how to stay safe, controll the kite, not die... those type of things.

thanks, tim.

DAKITEZ - 18-6-2009 at 05:08 PM

practice and more practice. Aleast you know and will admit that its too much wind for you. If you were not concerned about it is when i start to get worried :)

If its too much wind stick with your smaller kite till you get more comfortable with your skills.

A few tips I have picked up is if the winds are strong drop your hands down on the handles. This gives you more leverage on the brakes. No one ever said you have to leave your hands at the top of the handles. And don't steer the kite right through the middle of the power zone. Keep the kite around the edges and slowly bring it in a little more and more with each pass till you get enough power for you to handle. Anyone can hold down the biggest of kites in very strong winds when its at the edge of the window :yes: so learn how to make the window work for you.

elfasa - 18-6-2009 at 05:15 PM

ok, thanks for the advice.

that thing about positioning your hands lower on the handles is useful, i would never have thought of that :D

kitejumper - 18-6-2009 at 05:16 PM

Dakitez has it right --its just practice--taking a bit at a time and not biting off more than you can chew--i fly in good strong winds all the time--BUT--i also average about 4-5 hours a day--so i know my limits very well and you should too--good luck

Bladerunner - 18-6-2009 at 05:23 PM

A helmet is a MUST ! Other pads are a great idea as well.

Fly in a place that has at least 100m downwind. If you don't have that space and don't have kite killers then you shouldn't go to that spot. Even with killers you need at least 60m downwinnd.
Let go of the kite BEFORE you get chucked down wind.

The kite has it's least power at the edge of the window. Launch the kite from the edge. It will sit at the edge. Keep it VERY low and decide if it is safe to SLOWLY work it up the edge of the window to about 11 or 1 O'clock. Try to avoid leaving the kite above your head for too long. If there is a wind gust you will get lofted . If you keep the kite below 11 and 1 you won't be as prone to being lifted.

Avoid flying the kite in to the power zone unless you are planning on it and the power rush that comes with it.

When it all hits the fan , just get the kite to the edge of the window and let it rest there. Add a touch of brake as it gets to the edge so it doesn't over fly.

The 3m will not fly as " buzzy " as your little kite. try and fly it as slowly as possible. Use the BRAKES !

If you decide it's too windy take the kite down the edge of the window to the ground. Have you helper grab it or let go of one handle ( or go to kite killers ) if you are alone.

Always fly with the GUSTS as your top end. If it is too gusty , put it down.

awindofchange - 18-6-2009 at 05:52 PM

After you get your helmet and pads as mentioned above....

Try flying it on 15 - 20 foot lines. :) This makes the kite super fast through the power window but sticks it out on the edge of the window even quicker. As Bladerunner said above, keeping the kite on the edge of the window is going to make it easier to fly. With super short lines you can put it on the edge of the window in a seconds notice and the power window is so small that the kite has a hard time building up to maximum velocity which is also maximum power.

Be careful as the kite will scream back and forth very quickly, if you are going to drop it in the power then you need to be really aware of it and dig in hard. If you are in the buggy or board, short lines are a blast and make higher wind flying so much easier.

As always, any of the responses above including this one should be tested with extreme care and always be on the side of safety. Flying any kite in strong winds can be dangerous as seen by so many youtube video's. If it is too much wind for the kite then nothing you will do will make it safe to fly and you should not fly it. As your skills improve you will have a much better understanding of the wind and the kite control and you will know if it is too much or not.

If you feel safe with the conditions, give short lines a try and let us know how it works for you.

lad - 18-6-2009 at 06:12 PM

Are you wearing kite killers, or have one of those trainer brake wrist straps on?

Window edge is most important. Just park the kite at zenith, or slightly to the side, and only "dip down" gradually into the lower power zones to get some pull and turn it back up when you have just enough.

Kamikuza - 18-6-2009 at 06:22 PM

Sit on the ground with your feet in front of you and ski around on your bum. Get used to being dragged across the ground. Get protection for your pointy, boney bits.
And as the Australians would say - harden the f**k up! :wee: :smilegrin:

gilligan - 18-6-2009 at 06:33 PM

Hey man... try letting go. Your kite'll fold up and drop within 10 yards. Worst case scenario you'll slingshot your handles a little bit and spend an hour untangling your lines. No roadrash!

Kamikuza - 18-6-2009 at 06:42 PM

That's assuming he has KKs on ... nothing more uncool than chasing your kite down the field as it lazily tumbles away on the wind :lol:

kitejumper - 18-6-2009 at 07:07 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by gilligan
Hey man... try letting go. Your kite'll fold up and drop within 10 yards.
had a buddy i was teaching recently--he was shown what to do-including letting go if neccesary......well, what do you know--the idiot didnt let go--just flat out refused and got himself hurt....then i ran over to him,kind of angry and very concerned and asked him why he didnt let go and he tried to tell me that he didnt think the kite was that powerful--after i spent several minutes explaining the possible dangers to him--needless to say he wont ever be flying with me again--he ruined my perfect safety record with my kiting students and is in fact the only person that has been injured--guess he had it coming for not listening--so.........LET GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kamikuza - 18-6-2009 at 09:44 PM

Quote:
he didnt think the kite was that powerful

I think that's the cause of a large % of deaths in our sport too :(

elfasa - 19-6-2009 at 02:22 AM

okay, thanks for all the great advice :)

for those thast have been asking, i done have killers at the moment, im ordering them today so should be ere for tomorrow, although im away for the weekend.

ill see what the wind is like, and if it does seem, even a little too powerful, then ill use my little kite, because i dont have any killers, i dont want to risk injury, or loosing my kite.

i wish i could have one of you guys teach me.. the 5 odd thousand kilometres difference make that a little difficult...

(oh, and sorry for putting this in the wrong forum :( )

tim

Kamikuza - 19-6-2009 at 03:20 AM

There's a ton of guys in the UK ... have a sniff around racekites.com forums, there seems to be mostly poms on there :)
You could also just let go ONE handle - would have a similar effect = you'd depower the kite but not lose it ... totally. Killers are great though, once you get used to them :)

elfasa - 19-6-2009 at 05:17 AM

just ordered the killers. got the ozone ones off powerkiteshop.com

yeah, i will check out some different forums, im on flexifoil.. but i like it here :D

BeamerBob - 19-6-2009 at 05:29 AM

I participate in 4 different forums but this one is by far the most like going to the corner store and sitting on the bench talking about kites and stuff with all the other folks sitting around. This forum just pulls us together from all over the world.

Bladerunner - 19-6-2009 at 06:41 AM

With or without kite killers you MUST have space down wind.

The short lines idea is a good investment.

Have Fun and let your accident be a wake up call ! It all comes with time!

elfasa - 19-6-2009 at 06:49 AM

yeah, thanks blade runner. the beach i fly at is quite big and open, so there will be a spot somewhere.

ill have a look for short lines aswell.

kitejumper - 19-6-2009 at 12:34 PM

high wind flying in a nutshell
1.underestimate the wind--u die
2.underestimate your kites power-u die
3.overestimate your abilities-u die
4.fly safely within your limits-u live

elfasa - 19-6-2009 at 04:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by kitejumper
high wind flying in a nutshell
1.underestimate the wind--u die
2.underestimate your kites power-u die
3.overestimate your abilities-u die
4.fly safely within your limits-u live


nice and cheerful then ehh ?

haha, no. i know what you mean. and iam very cautous, sometimes too much for my own good.

im sure many people would not have a problem flying the 3 in my wind conditions. not sure weather thats good, practise wise. or unwise..

ill have a go when i have my KS-P-A-M-L-I-N-K-s so i know i can bale out if it all goes pear shaped

Bladerunner - 19-6-2009 at 04:30 PM

Even if you are timid you will progress . Just at a different rate.
Just get out and fly as much and as safe as you can. It's all about having fun and living to do it another day.

elfasa - 19-6-2009 at 04:39 PM

yeah.

ive finished 6th form now, off to uni in september/october time (hopefuly, depending on my grades) so ive got the whole of the olidays to kite. i could be out there every day if i wanted :)

kitejumper - 19-6-2009 at 05:55 PM

LOL

elfasa - 19-6-2009 at 05:55 PM

:D

bake - 24-6-2009 at 08:14 PM

I will never forget throwing my wife's 2m out when t was raging, things were getting... ugly I pulled on the brakes hard and it was still pulling hard. I got lucky and got it to the edge of the window. Now I know my limits.

Drewculous - 25-6-2009 at 10:58 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by elfasa
i really want to fly my 3m again, however the winds for the next few days are looking quite strong for a newbie (between 16-20 mph)


.... i hope angus doesnt read this....
but ive had loads of fun with my twister in winds like that, lol
:wee:

but seriously, if you just take it slow it'll all be fun again, after a few good sessions the jitters will go away.

When i first got my kite i botched a jump and landed on my heel funny, and it took a couple weeks before i was ready to try it again, but after 1 good jump, all the jitters went away

nwsurfwakeskate - 25-6-2009 at 12:34 PM

depower kites help a lot with higher winds. I ususally ride a 15m flysurfer if its the kind of conditions you mentioned 16-20mph. it always amazes me how much power these little fixed bridles can generate.

if you're trying to decide between kiting in high winds and letting go and not going at all I would recommend waiting for a lighter wind day.

I flew my 4m Ace once in winds that were beyond my ability and decided to let got of one handle. that handle shot about 3/4's of the way to the kite and balled up in the bridle. I kept hanging on to the other handle which meant that the kite did about 20 loops before it finally hit the ground. that was the worst lines mess I have ever dealt with and if I had to do it over again I would have just waited for a day that wasn't as windy.

keep at it though, practice makes perfect and as bad as this sounds saying it to a beginner, I think we all tend to do this because its dangerous and we enjoy the rush. with that said you still need to exercise good judgment. :wink2:

some kite killers or a bar with a brakes leash will go a long ways too. oh yeah and wear a helmet!