Hey guys well I have just started and got some gear (after my lessons) I am about 90kg and have a Naish 12m C kite, 11m Starkites S.bow and a Naish 9m C kite got them all at a great price but I have been having some issues getting up and staying up on the board It is a delta 136cm x 40cm and I just cant hold an edge in about 20kn winds on my 12m or my 11m kite, Usually to get up on the board I bring the kite to about 1 oclock and then pull back on the bar and dive the kite hard into the power zone I then am up on the board but fall back not far after that,
I am leaning towards getting a 13-15m kite and or a larger board or is it something I am doing wrong??
Please any advice would be greatly appreciated cause it is really pissing me off ;)
Please dont flame me for being a newbie
Cheers Tim
You could probably benefit from a bigger board and kite, however riding the board a bit flatter and getting speed up before edging hard might help. Also try not to dive the kite too much as this can kill the power quicker then diving it slower and keeping it in the zenith longer.
12m C kite in 20 knots on a 136 x 40 board would tow a cruise ship out of Sydney harbour, you just need to practice your technique, don't waste more money on kites, you have too many already for a beginner.
I'm 100kg and can ride a 12m C on a 132 board in 20 knots easy.
You're probably doing one of two things
1) Not edging soon enough. Your getting up, planing, but not turning upwind/edging quickly enough against the kite so it loses power and drops you back in the drink. Think about it, as soon as you're at speed and going in the same direction of the kite, it will lose power. (same as if you run towards the kite whilst standing on the beach)
Turn the board upwind (edge against the kite)
2) Edging too quickly. You're killing the power of the kite before you get any speed.
One of the many instructors on this site could probably help more, but that's the two scenarios I can envisage and it's probably (1).
As you can see, it's a bit of a balancing act. Keep trying young grasshopper.
Given that you are based in WA I wouldn't assume you need a bigger kite.
Board size is fine as well imo.
12m C kite and 11m bow seems quite useless, I would guess the bow completely overlaps the wind range of the C.
The first power stroke can be a bit harder to get some speed going (more board speed= more apparent wind at the kite), but after that I would avoid diving the kite and rather flatten the board out a bit.
If you feel underpowered, try to keep the kite a bit higher and do short, quick strokes at the top of the wind window. Doesn't pull you downwind as much.
simple .Get an instructor to critique your riding and advise .your description makes me suspect that you have a technique problem (I am an instructor)
My mate is 85 to 90kg and he is always lit on his 9m Eclipse Nano in 15 to 25 knots. Must be your skill level.... Keep practicing.
I felt the same last season, like I needed either a bigger board or a bigger kite. I'm 60kg and have 134 Spark. 10m bandit III. problem solved this season! Srapped and unstrapped 5'10" surfboard, now some days I'm lit on a 7m core GT. still love my Bandit, so much, but have also added a wave specific BWS Noise 8m for those 15 knot days with swell (oh how we love thee).
Some good advice here, don't edge too hard before up and planing, or buy a kite/surfboard and enjoy them in their native environment, the ocean.
im 95kg and i ride a 135... so the 136 should be fine for especially in WA (****ty north QLD summer winds
)
like everyone else is saying. just get an experienced rider to take a look at ur technique and give u a few pointers.
Thanks for all the helpful info I have an IKO instructor I can get to come give me a hand to get me back on track
Another question I brought the S.Bow 11m first and then got basically given the 2 C kites and I like how they fly but what would be more powerful the 11m Bow kite or the 12 C kite??
I have used both and the 12m C kite feels way more solid and punchier but it might just be me with a lack of experience
Thanks again you guys have to great
Hi Timmy,
Think I might have seen you at the Canals on Saturday. If it's any consolation to you I'm 65kgs and had my 12m switchblade and a 130 x 40 and it was struggle town for me in those winds.
The board bit - With feet in straps - Keep front leg long and back leg short - pointing across and down wind say 45 degrees (lighter winds more off the wind - stronger winds more across)- then when you are up on the board and moving you can move more weight onto back leg and start edging. If you get pulled over your board and face plant - point more down wind.
If you get up and fall back - point more down wind - get the leg stance right and it just happens. - Good luck and have fun
Timmy, as a fellow noob I can relate to your problem, it sounds like the problem I was having- getting up on the board then not having enough power & sinking.
The problem for me was that I was oversheeting the kite; basically I was pulling in too far on the bar when board starting, but whilst I was able to get up on the plane, I was robbing the kite of it's power & hence sinking back down pretty much straight away.
I had to learn to ease up my grip on the bar & just use my finger tips to hold it in the correct position.
I'm not sure how to describe it properly, so here's a quote I nicked off the web- it's from a kite tuning instruction, but it seems to describe what was happening to me;
"Do not ‘over sheet’ the kite. The first objective is to set the kite’s maximum power while allowing it to fly efficiently across the sky. More power and quicker turning is achieved by tensioning the steering (back) lines. This is called ‘sheeting in the kite’. There is however, a point of diminishing returns. Too much back line tension will depower the kite, cause it to fly slowly across the sky and not allow it to fly to the edge of the power window. Be aware of and try to recognise these symptoms."
Hope this helps.
Yeah that was probably me. I live in Perth and come down that way every now and then, feel free to come say G'day next time you see me down that way.
Some pretty good advice here so far, not sure if it's been mentioned yet but if your using "older" gear it might be worth checking the length of your lines. Lines can stretch and when they do it can make it hard to find the sweet spot when flying in light winds. Hopefully someone who knows more about this can explain it better. Im a Noob myself.
Hey Tim,
I agree with oceanfire, you're probably 'choking' the kite (pulling the bar too much).
Try to unload your arms and let the kite pull from the harness. (Don't try to pull yourself up using the bar)
When the wind is to light you might have to keep 'sine' the kite a few times until you get enough speed. When doing that sheet in when diving the kite, sheet out to let the kite fly back up.
Cheers
download err i mean purchase Progression sessions beginner .
Invaluable dvd to use as a learning tool
The kites are a bit older but the lines are almost new, I appreciate all the help guys looks like i'm heading out today and prob the next 5-6 days wind looks good so lets see what I can do
Thanks again for all the help
Sounds like you are pulling yourself up on your bar rather than letting your kite do the work through your harness, you will choke the kite. Its all about getting the kite to fly THROUGH the air like a wing, not to catch the air like a toy kite.
Don't be afraid to allow yourself to pick up some speed! Things get easier with a bit of pace.
After you dive the kite from 1 to 9 and you get pulled up on your board you need to get the kite back up to 11 - 12 quickly. (Starting to the left) This gives you your forward speed and stops you falling back into the drink. As the speed comes on you can start to edge against the kite. and bring it smoothly to the 10 o'clock position.
If you get a week of solid practice in you will improve really quickly and one day you will wonder why you weren't able to do it in the first place!
yess yoo are
give it to me! I'll give you a cartin of beer and a handle of whisky coz I have a job coming where i get payd that
Now you guys mention it I am pulling myself up with the bar until I remember to relax (coming from a wakeboarding background I do it without knowing) I will make a better effort today when I head out after work and report back tomorrow
Now bring on the wind
If you still feel that you are pulling on the bar too much and choking the kite it might be an idea to depower the kite a bit more by pulling in the trim strap, then when you pull the bar right down you cant pull the steering lines in enough to stall the kite.Where the bar is when the kite starts to stall also depends on what knots you connect to at the kite. A good way to find where the kite starts to stall is choose a fairly light day around 13 -15 knts and set your kite up at full power, that is closest knot to kite for steering lines and furthest knot from kite for front lines( power lines ) and trim strap right out. On the beach when kite is sitting directly above you slowly pull the bar in . You will feel the power increase to a point and as you pull the bar in past this point the kite will loose power and start drifting back.Take note of where this is so you can set your kite up so this stall point isnt reached when you pull the bar in. Hope this helps and isnt too confusing.
When I'm waterstarting and underpowered I put the kite down to about 45° in the direction I want to go, then send it up past 12. This will give me some extra lift before I do the next power stroke to get me moving. Then after say the second or third stroke start edging harder and pull in the bar.
