Is there a problem when you are out and its overpowering for the kite size and you need to oversheet it?
I know you would be better off with the right size for the wind conditions, but if the conditions are very gusty, sometimes the smaller kite is too small in the lulls, and the bigger kite is too big in the gusts.
I have not had any backstalling, probably because it is so windy, but are there any other issues to worry about?
Select to expand quotesotired said..
Is there a problem when you are out and its overpowering for the kite size and you need to oversheet it?
I know you would be better off with the right size for the wind conditions, but if the conditions are very gusty, sometimes the smaller kite is too small in the lulls, and the bigger kite is too big in the gusts.
I have not had any backstalling, probably because it is so windy, but are there any other issues to worry about?
I think you mean trim it in a lot (or to use the common but incorrect term - depower it). Trimming in just gives more slack to the rear lines. Yep trimming is simply shortening the front lines, and the purpose is so that you can reach the bar and ride upright in a normal position, and if you shorten the front lines with the trim system, you are automatically lengthening the rear lines.
Problem is when the rear lines are lengthened steering gets a bit crappy, and on some bars the rears get so loose steering is reduced to the point that its dangerous.
If your kite is too big, trimming will only help a bit and its usually not nice to ride like that. If your kites are 2-3m between sizes then the smaller kite will be the best choice. If you have 4M gaps between sizes, yep often you have an uncomfortable gap and you have to "ride through it" but its usually not fun and its time to rethink your quiver.
I have found a bit of a difference in kite types/styles or maybe not.
I was riding a cabriha FX and trimming it a lot meant that the kite would reduce power and actually fly closer to the wind, or at least it felt like it. The wind was relatively steady. It was very controllable.
Another day I tried the same thing with a cabrinha drifter, and the kite would backstall very easily when trimmed to the same level. I would have to push out the bar to restore airflow and to stop it from falling. To be fair, it was in pretty gusty wind.
I am not sure if the apparent difference in performance was due to the style of kite, or if it was the lulls in the wind making the drifter backstall easily.If nothing else I learned how to stop the backstalling by releasing or pushing away the bar.
I have been out when far gustier than I expected and in sudden lulls steering lines go slack and kite starts dropping into power zone. being inexperienced not sure what to do except get ready with safety release and head ashore
Select to expand quotepatronus said..
I have been out when far gustier than I expected and in sudden lulls steering lines go slack and kite starts dropping into power zone. being inexperienced not sure what to do except get ready with safety release and head ashore
That's where strong edging technique comes into play. You still feel the gusts but the lines maintain tension. Ultimately gusty wind like that is not fun for anyone. Everyone's had a session where they've rigged up, managed 5 minutes on the water and come back in again because its just not fun. Its an extreme sport and you have to know your limits. Same thing with skiing and mountain biking. Just because SOME people can ride certain spots doesn't mean YOU can ride that spot in those conditions.
I had a similar session on holiday recently where I didn't even make it to the water's edge. I just packed down and found a sheltered spot to watch Andrea Principi and Jeremy Burlando send it. Watching other people doing insane tricks takes the sting out of missing a session.
Riding fully depowered in conditions that you are totally overpowered and more in the gusts, can make your kite go into an inversion. Kite inverted. ( not the same as lines inverted)
Select to expand quotepatronus said..
I have been out when far gustier than I expected and in sudden lulls steering lines go slack and kite starts dropping into power zone. being inexperienced not sure what to do except get ready with safety release and head ashore
If a kite starts to backstall, a few tugs on the steering lines can often salvage the situation by pumping the kite forward/ upward to the edge of the window. One hand grabs the trim-line and gives a few pulls while the other hand takes care of steering, using the bar or sometimes even a steering line in a serious lull.
You may also find that the kite has strayed outside the window when the wind drops, as the window gets smaller and often the wind direction may be moving around. this can make it really hard to keep the kite working! But at least while you're gripping the trim-line well above the bar, your kite can be fully depowered instantly if you let the bar out for a gust.
Select to expand quotesotired said..
I have found a bit of a difference in kite types/styles or maybe not.
I was riding a cabriha FX and trimming it a lot meant that the kite would reduce power and actually fly closer to the wind, or at least it felt like it. The wind was relatively steady. It was very controllable.
Another day I tried the same thing with a cabrinha drifter, and the kite would backstall very easily when trimmed to the same level. I would have to push out the bar to restore airflow and to stop it from falling. To be fair, it was in pretty gusty wind.
I am not sure if the apparent difference in performance was due to the style of kite, or if it was the lulls in the wind making the drifter backstall easily.If nothing else I learned how to stop the backstalling by releasing or pushing away the bar.
I believe that the tendency to "backstall" back into the window is a feature of Drifters (and other surf-oriented kites) allowing it to drift downwind with little line tension while you surf the waves?
Generally, light winds are the hardest to achieve correct trim of any kite, but different styles of kites have very different tolerance to incorrect trim, or to flying outside their ideal wind range. And all will perform at their best when in optimal wind range & with correct trim.
