Kite Surfing

After 5 years of having bought my kite (Slingshot Fuel 13m,2004 model) and lots of body dragging, I have finally got a board, and can happily report that I got it wet on Thurs down at Larges beach! Thanks to the little Kiting fraternity of Larges for looking out for me.
I did get a battering however, where I lost my board, (but a 20min search later and we were re united) and the kite kept pulling me even though I had let go of the bar, it kept re launching and dragged me by the leash line.

For a first time out with my board I don't think I did too bad, didn't really get a ride, but did manage to get pulled out of the water, but then ran out of power, and kept falling back into the water.

a couple of questions...

It was blowing about 17knots and is an old kite with out much de power, so should I still be setting it up with the shortest pig tails on the front and the longest on the back, so the kite has its leading edge pointing slightly down?

...and once in the water,should I sheet out, so the kite can generate more power. (I was a bit apprehensive as I was the biggest kite & oldest kite on the beach, oh I weigh 95Kg)

The couple of guys I spoke to on the beach suggested I was not being aggressive enough with dropping the kite into the power zone.

Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Fluffy fizzer
\m/

The settings you describe are for maximum de-power at the kite ..... depending on the wind strength and how the kite flies this is probably the best way to start.
When you fly the kite through the power zone does the canopy flutter and/or distort ? If it does then it is flying on the front lines too much and needs the lines / bar adjusted.

The more you practice the better you will get it together.


I DO suggest having the more experienced crew checking over your safety system. Old kites are not known for ejecting smoothly and that old bar could run you into trouble



Good to see your still at it FF

the sinking in the water after a start could be a couple of things.

1) your not wanging you kite back up an down to keep the power on.

2) your trying to go up wind too soon. aim more down wind. wang your kite keep it powered get up to speed then carve up wind. remember 70% of your weight on the back leg straight front leg.

t..... wanging .....

which definition of 'wanging' is correct in this context?

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=wanging

None

The closet urban description is number 2)
Think of your kite as the "wang" rather than slapping it side to side you need to slap it up and down as fast as you can. thus the call "wanging"

If some one takes offence to your wanging yell out to them "its my kite, i'll wang it as fast as i like!"

Then your'l be roosting! not like a hen laying an egg but like a motor crosser laying a big rooster tail behind him.

Then you can progress to boosting. Not stealing cars but getting big air!

After that yourl go looping. This is not getting sent to a mental institution but looping the kite while your in the air.

Watch out though. if you stuff your looping up yourl be rag dolling and will exit stage left in the meat wagon.

After 5 years of having bought my kite (Slingshot Fuel 13m,2004 model) and lots of body dragging, I have finally got a board, and can happily report that I got it wet on Thurs down at Larges beach! Thanks to the little Kiting fraternity of Larges for looking out for me.
I did get a battering however, where I lost my board, (but a 20min search later and we were re united) and the kite kept pulling me even though I had let go of the bar, it kept re launching and dragged me by the leash line.

For a first time out with my board I don't think I did too bad, didn't really get a ride, but did manage to get pulled out of the water, but then ran out of power, and kept falling back into the water.

a couple of questions...

It was blowing about 17knots and is an old kite with out much de power, so should I still be setting it up with the shortest pig tails on the front and the longest on the back, so the kite has its leading edge pointing slightly down?

...and once in the water,should I sheet out, so the kite can generate more power. (I was a bit apprehensive as I was the biggest kite & oldest kite on the beach, oh I weigh 95Kg)

The couple of guys I spoke to on the beach suggested I was not being aggressive enough with dropping the kite into the power zone.

Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Fluffy fizzer
\m/

Your kites is an old C kite, it has virtually no depower. It does not depower at all when you let go of the bar, it just keeps pulling and you have lost control of the kite now!!!
If you get out of control with the kite, you have no way to depower except to operate the safety system, but back in the days of 2004 its was not a brilliant system and you need to get it checked by an experienced kiter. Head over to see the crew at On Board in Glenelg, they can sort it out for you.

Also connecting your kite on those pigtail settings does not set the leading edge slightly down, that is not how kites work. All you have done is make your rear lines longer than your front lines.
The angle of attack hardly changes on a C kite by sheeting the bar in and out, you tended to connect the kite that way to help get a couple of knots extra wind range out of the kite in stronger winds.
If you connect the kite like that in light/normal winds you reduce you ability to steer the kite aggressively which observers commented on.
Connect the kite to the middle pigtails all the time, and adjust the trim of the kite using the trim system above the bar. The trim system is used to adjust the bar position so that it is at a comfortable distance from you when you are riding.
The trim straps do not depower kites, they are used to adjust the bar position.
The trim straps/system do not change the size of the kite you are using, so the power does not change.

This is not my opinion it is the real truth about how 4 or 5 line kitesurfing kites work. C kites hurt many people, make sure you really know how the safety system works, you must know how the emergency depowering system works and that it DOES work.

Many thanks for all your replies.

I've always thought the bar was a little stiff to allow it to slide up and de-power. Is it possible to buy new bar/ rigging for my kite? or am I flogging a dead horse so's to speak.

I will have to start experimenting with different settings.

I kind of got the gist that my kite is a bit long in the tooth and VERY old technology, as every bodies eye brows rise,every time I mention the year and model to anybody in kiting circles.

A friend of mine has a 07 Blade 10M(Naish I think), and doesn't have half the problems, such a passive kite in comparison. After buying my new board I am a bit skint to start thinking of buying a new kite........ even 2nd hand am I still looking at several hundreds/ a thousand to buy a "safer" newer kite? (I'm trying to think of an angle to approach towards SHE who must be obeyed, if its a health and safety issue then that's a start!)

....and then that poses the question, do the newer kites generate better power so I could get away with a smaller kite? say a 11M2 for example (I'm 95kg)
It has been suggested that any kite after '08 is the GO, as all manufactures started using similar designs.

again thanks in advance for your info!

Cheers
Ade
\m/

Many thanks for all your replies.

I've always thought the bar was a little stiff to allow it to slide up and de-power. Is it possible to buy new bar/ rigging for my kite? or am I flogging a dead horse so's to speak.

I will have to start experimenting with different settings.

I kind of got the gist that my kite is a bit long in the tooth and VERY old technology, as every bodies eye brows rise,every time I mention the year and model to anybody in kiting circles.

A friend of mine has a 07 Blade 10M(Naish I think), and doesn't have half the problems, such a passive kite in comparison. After buying my new board I am a bit skint to start thinking of buying a new kite........ even 2nd hand am I still looking at several hundreds/ a thousand to buy a "safer" newer kite? (I'm trying to think of an angle to approach towards SHE who must be obeyed, if its a health and safety issue then that's a start!)

....and then that poses the question, do the newer kites generate better power so I could get away with a smaller kite? say a 11M2 for example (I'm 95kg)
It has been suggested that any kite after '08 is the GO, as all manufactures started using similar designs.

again thanks in advance for your info!

Cheers
Ade
\m/

Yep you are flogging a dead horse, the kite does not depower much, maybe 10% and making the bar slide easier or the depower line longer will not help. Making the depower line longer will actually make the kite very dangerous and unsteerable.

KP Brisbane has a 2008 14M Ozone LIght complete for $800 (excellent safety system and relaunch), at your weight it will get you going from 14/15 knots and you should be fine on it until 24/25 knots, which is a great wind range for you, if you get hooked on this sport then you will need 2 kites and a 10M would make a good partner to this 14M.

I give another vote for axeing that old kite.

punt the $$ and get an 08 or newer kite. you wont regret it. you will progress 5 times faster and we will be able to see your grin al the way over here in nz!

Hi mate

I was out there for your first board action. I also vote for newer kite.

Maigais

All the advice given so far is spot on - an '04 Fuel is NOT a friendly beginner kite. It's not even a friendly intermediate/advanced kite!
As Steve said, that era of C-kite doesn't really depower off the bar very much at all. When you do let the bar out it will release all back line tension and fly almost entirely off the front lines, which means no steering... which is why these kites can be utterly dangerous in strong or gusty wind.

I'd keep it in the garage and bring it out again next season when you've got enough experience to be able to depower and control it using your board. Flying old kites will make you appreciate how far kite designs have progressed. I had an '05 11m Fuel that i bought second hand and absolutely loved it... but for anything other than a perfectly smooth 17kn seabreeze it was a handful and quite exhausting to fly. I still have an '05 15m Fuel that i use as my lightwind kite that i absolutely love, but it really is a dinosaur of a kite.

As has been recommended previously, if you get something 2008 or newer then you won't be disappointed by it. The depower, turning speed, relaunch and most importantly the safety systems have come a long LONG way since the dinosaurs like the '04 Fuel were made. You can pick up a second hand bow/SLE kite that would be perfect for your beginner/intermediate stage for well under $1000, but the more money you can put towards it the better quality and less worn out it will be.
These are the price ranges for a used kite in reasonable condition.
2008 = ~$600,
2009 =~$700-800
2010 =~$900-1100
Buying previous years stock at runout prices is also a great way to pick up a bargain. There's still '09/10 kites in shops that haven't been taken out of their plastics which you can often pick up for only $100-200 more than my second hand listed prices.

It's definitely worth your while to spend the money to get the right gear now as it'll speed up your learning curve and most importantly keep you safe whilst your taking your first few steps. In '07 i started out on an old dinosaur ('04 Naish Aero II) then sold it three months later, broke the budget and got a modern SLE ('06 Ozone Instinct); one of the best decisions i've ever made.

Hi mate

I was out there for your first board action. I also vote for newer kite.

Maigais

You should hook up with maigais he is a bargain hunting king.

Hi mate

I was out there for your first board action. I also vote for newer kite.

Maigais

You should hook up with maigais he is a bargain hunting king.

Yeah I burgin hunt RALKITE, each august and september and october. I think he still has some

M

Having spent some time on an 04 fuel myself when i first got into kitesurfing, i can highly recommend putting ur hard earnt towards a newer model. Once i got a new kite, everything became a whole lot easier and more enjoyable

Thats my vote

Dave

Wow guys, thanks!
that's exactly the right info I was looking for. The points you raise make a lot of sense.
Thanks for taking the time to explain it.

I am definitely wanting to retire this ere Fuel, and if I can score a newer kite for around the $600 - $800 that you speak of Koma, then that would be a bloody good excuse for a Xmas present.

Maigais, what kite do you fly so I know who to look out for next time?, always keen to meet kite minded people on the beach.

Thanks again, one and all and I'll keep you posted on my progress hunting a bargain.

Cheers
Ade
\m/

Just found on a, ah erm..another windy web site! a 2008 Nobile 555 12M with in my budget $600....any thoughts?
The one review I found said kite great bar very average????


also a BLade Trigger 2010 12M ex demo for slightly more $900

I don't want to be a fool and his money are easily parted but appreciate that if you snooze you loose!

any thoughts???

Cheers
Ade

too small
im 65kg and use 11m up to 20kn and a 7m above 20kn
been using the 7m a bit lately
the 2 kites make it safer
and easier on the old body
both kites are 08 model and were about $450 each last year

any thoughts???

For your 95kg your definitely going to be frustrated with a 12m kite.
13m minimum, 14m recommended.

any thoughts???

For your 95kg your definitely going to be frustrated with a 12m kite.
13m minimum, 14m recommended.

For conditions at largs bay 12m is a way to go. Specialy if FluffyFizzer will go out when SB kicks in.
I am about 90 - 95kg and 12m is my tool. 14m is for those sub 15 knts.

Maigais