Okay, so kite skiing day #3 for me today and a great time again but I'm left wondering if I'm missing something. When I was out the first time one of the guys helping me out watched me get going. The kite went up and he said "Okay now dive the kite to get a first burst of speed and then cut in".

So, today I found that if I pointed my skis 45 degrees downwind and just casually got myself moving and then cut in I was forever fighting the kite back away from the edge of the window. Twice though (from a standstill), I dove the kite from zenith, through the power zone with my skis more steeply angled straight down wind and then cut out and swung the kite in the direction I was heading. In these two occasions not only did I get a considerable running speed but also the kite seemed to park itself and pull like nobody's business with maybe just a little bit of me swinging it upward and downward to compensate for lulls but never advancing on the window.

The question is - can this be done on command and if so, how? Is it that first burst of speed that is really that important to get the window moving with you?

Flying the Rage in steady 18-20 km/h, perhaps underpowered but enough for my toboggan hill bruised ribcage - don't ask.

Thanks for your help figuring out the secrets to this sport ; )

Macboy -

Not quite sure what you mean by cutin vs cutout, but sounds like you are doing it right in the second half of your second paragraph. And you're talking fixed bridle right now, correct?

On skis, I generally am pointed at a beam reach or slightly downwind until I get the kite up to the zenith. That keeps me from taking off prematurely, cuz your edges are set perpendicular to downwind pull. Dive the kite to get up speed and power, and head off slightly downwind to get moving - the trick is heading downwind jus enough to get started, but not long enough and far enough to outrun the kite. Sine the kite to keep up apparent wind on the kite and start heading back upwind with the kite angled out in front of you at ~ 45 degrees to your path, and low-to medium in the window (say ~30 - 45 degrees offf the horizon). You'll hit a spot where, if there is enough wind, you can settle in and rip with the kite parked. Try to cut any further upwind with the skis and bring the kite forward, and you'll lose it. This sounds like what you've found to work.

If you actively work the kite (sine) you can get a bit further upwind, but eventually you'll still lose it. Working the kite helps if you're underpowered and want to get everything you can out of the kite before going to a bigger size, or if you're in gusty crap and want to be sure you're not overpowered (the fixed bridle rule of thumb being size for the gusts and work the kite for the lulls).

krumly

I agree with krumly. The only thing I would add is that if you are flying on handles or have some brake control with your bar, if the kite starts to fly out of the window, apply the brakes to pull it back some. Not enough to kill it, just enough to pull it back. This will allow you to catch up with it a bit by placing it further back in the window (relative to you) and as you release the brakes, depending on the kite, you may get a turbo boost of power. Repeat as needed.