Discussion
Ben
Powerkiting can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. Best to start off with a small kite (say less than 3mtr) then work up when you get used to the handling. If I was you I'd find the nearest group of kiters and introduce yourself. They are normally quite a friendly lot.
Check out flexifoil.com forums. Wales has a huge kiting faternaty.
Don't even think about boarding/buggying until you can fully control a power kite.
hope this helps
Shady
>> Edited by shadytree on Monday 10th October 22:37
Powerkiting can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing. Best to start off with a small kite (say less than 3mtr) then work up when you get used to the handling. If I was you I'd find the nearest group of kiters and introduce yourself. They are normally quite a friendly lot.
Check out flexifoil.com forums. Wales has a huge kiting faternaty.
Don't even think about boarding/buggying until you can fully control a power kite.
hope this helps
Shady
>> Edited by shadytree on Monday 10th October 22:37
Try this site www.corvetteclips.co.uk/ and follow "My interests" into "power Kites".
He's a mate that uses Piston Heads and posts mainly in the corvette forum,by the way how did you get on with the music i noticed no replies on the MOS site.
He's a mate that uses Piston Heads and posts mainly in the corvette forum,by the way how did you get on with the music i noticed no replies on the MOS site.
I fly power kites and kitesurf (badly)..
get yourself to www.flexifoil.com..they're a friendly bunch...
Then learn to fly power kites.. given winter (and stronger wind) is coming do not buy anything bigger than 3m2...
Get someone who is experienced to go with the first couple of times.. always fly with other fliers and check what sizes they're flying first and how gusty/turbulent/dirty the wind is...
Always make sure there's AT LEAST double your line length clear space downwind and in a 90 degree arc each way.. and remeber the wind (and wind window) can shift quickly...
If someone (ie public)walks into 'your' down wind space..down the kite and wait till they are gone.. those kite lines become v.v.sharp under tension and can can cause serious damage...
Where are you based?..if you are anywhere near me your welcome to have try out on mine (3m Firebee, 4.9 Blade, 7.8 Blade, 15.5 Psycho)
get yourself to www.flexifoil.com..they're a friendly bunch...
Then learn to fly power kites.. given winter (and stronger wind) is coming do not buy anything bigger than 3m2...
Get someone who is experienced to go with the first couple of times.. always fly with other fliers and check what sizes they're flying first and how gusty/turbulent/dirty the wind is...
Always make sure there's AT LEAST double your line length clear space downwind and in a 90 degree arc each way.. and remeber the wind (and wind window) can shift quickly...
If someone (ie public)walks into 'your' down wind space..down the kite and wait till they are gone.. those kite lines become v.v.sharp under tension and can can cause serious damage...
Where are you based?..if you are anywhere near me your welcome to have try out on mine (3m Firebee, 4.9 Blade, 7.8 Blade, 15.5 Psycho)
shadytree said:
Ben
Powerkiting can be dangerous if you don't know what
But I wanna jump high! :tantrum:!
Lol, yeah I was looking just now on t'internet at a 2.1m kite, probably about right I guess. Really its gonna be my budget rather than saftey concerns that stop me getting a big'un! So I take it you're harnessed to the kite, it must have a quick release or something then?
@Cliff, no luck so far, I have been listening to it on the Radio One Listen again feature but can't even find it listed anywhere on the net!
@hiasakite, I'm in Aberystwyth, there is a extreme sports shop round the corner but they're not open now so I thought I'd ask you lot. Looks like a really fun sport, would a 2.1m kite offer much power and flexibility in terms of using it to learn and then progress to a board?
Ben
Ben
2.1 would allow you to learn to control a kite..(4 line if you can get it).. ..whats the kite?
Don't expect any traction activity though.. to get serious pull from something that size you will need high winds... which mean comparatively high gusts...
Pull/lift is proportional to the square of wind speed.. so a 2m kite in 25mph is more dangerous than a 4m in 12.5 mph.....
By all means learn to fly on something that size- you will always have it in later days when its too windy for your bigger kites (you will end up with a number of them)
I used to have a pair of 10ft kites that I learnt on..but they got nicked
PS: thats nowhere near me..never mind...
Don't expect any traction activity though.. to get serious pull from something that size you will need high winds... which mean comparatively high gusts...
Pull/lift is proportional to the square of wind speed.. so a 2m kite in 25mph is more dangerous than a 4m in 12.5 mph.....
By all means learn to fly on something that size- you will always have it in later days when its too windy for your bigger kites (you will end up with a number of them)
I used to have a pair of 10ft kites that I learnt on..but they got nicked
PS: thats nowhere near me..never mind...
ywould said:
@Cliff, no luck so far, I have been listening to it on the Radio One Listen again feature but can't even find it listed anywhere on the net!
When i download from limewire i sometimes draw a blank with titles or artists,if you know an album mix they are on or a line from the tune then sometimes ive got a result,ile have a butchers while ime about.
Just read your 'harness' comment... don't even think about using harnesses for the time being.. you only really need it when going for 'big air' or in activities that require prolonged pull (ie traction work)...
...with a harness ideally you need two 'safety' features- a 'kill kite' device that kills the kites power (often by releasing the power lines leaving just one or two of the 'brake' lines attached), and a quick release that completely seperates you in case the kite gets wrapped round a car/bus/boat etc that you really don't want to remain attached to...
Not having a harness also means if you're lucky and a gust hits kite will be ripped out your hands before you're 30ft up and hanging on for dear life...
Start small- build slowly, and you'll get a lot out of it...
...with a harness ideally you need two 'safety' features- a 'kill kite' device that kills the kites power (often by releasing the power lines leaving just one or two of the 'brake' lines attached), and a quick release that completely seperates you in case the kite gets wrapped round a car/bus/boat etc that you really don't want to remain attached to...
Not having a harness also means if you're lucky and a gust hits kite will be ripped out your hands before you're 30ft up and hanging on for dear life...
Start small- build slowly, and you'll get a lot out of it...
Try to get a demo of power kites before investing any cash, that way you will at least have a clue about how to fly them.
Why not try ebay? You may be able to pick up a second hand Flexifoil Blade, either 4m or 4.9, which covers the widest wind range. If buying from ebay do not be tempted to buy a LEI kitesurfnig kite, they may appear cheap but can be extremely dangerous......
If you start off flying it on handles, with kite killers you should be able to let go, and kill all of the power in the kite should things go wrong...
Another alternative, if you are feeling brave and rich is to jump straight in and have some kite surfing lessons. A 2 day course will take you from you first go at flying inflatable kites on land through to your first small rides accross the water.
Why not try ebay? You may be able to pick up a second hand Flexifoil Blade, either 4m or 4.9, which covers the widest wind range. If buying from ebay do not be tempted to buy a LEI kitesurfnig kite, they may appear cheap but can be extremely dangerous......
If you start off flying it on handles, with kite killers you should be able to let go, and kill all of the power in the kite should things go wrong...
Another alternative, if you are feeling brave and rich is to jump straight in and have some kite surfing lessons. A 2 day course will take you from you first go at flying inflatable kites on land through to your first small rides accross the water.
I've got a 3.5m Peter Lynn Rebble which I've been flying for about a 18mths now.
My first piece of advice would be to start with a kite no bigger than this (I've been dragged 15ft in the air with just this one & I weigh 15st) and practice. Don't jump on a board until you know exactly how the kite handles in different winds.
The smaller kites are also more manouverable. My mate has a 5m rebble which is a heck of a lot more powerful but also a lot slower for turning etc.
A good starter is a basic flexifoil 2 line, cost around £80-100, these are fast, relatively powerful and a good intro.
My Lynn cost me around £250, and is a 4 line which gives a lot more control especially in stronger winds.
Get yourself down to a local powerkite shop and speak with them and see if you can try a few before you buy. They're fantastic fun but do need to be used with care.
My first piece of advice would be to start with a kite no bigger than this (I've been dragged 15ft in the air with just this one & I weigh 15st) and practice. Don't jump on a board until you know exactly how the kite handles in different winds.
The smaller kites are also more manouverable. My mate has a 5m rebble which is a heck of a lot more powerful but also a lot slower for turning etc.
A good starter is a basic flexifoil 2 line, cost around £80-100, these are fast, relatively powerful and a good intro.
My Lynn cost me around £250, and is a 4 line which gives a lot more control especially in stronger winds.
Get yourself down to a local powerkite shop and speak with them and see if you can try a few before you buy. They're fantastic fun but do need to be used with care.
himself 
BliarOut said:
Try and find somewhere where the wind is clean when you're first flying, gusty is bad
Amen to that, my mate is into his kite boarding, went to a field with him once and had a go on one of his slightly smaller kites (still pretty huge but not sure of exact size) anyway I was happily (but very lamely) being dragged around by it when a massive gust took me into an involuntary head cartwheel and I was knocked clean out.
Good fun, but can be very dangerous. I couldn't believe how quickly I went from being in control to totally helpless, I didn't even have time to let go!
Try this, its a bit large but well worth the wait....
[url]http://tinyurl.com/7tqll[/url]
All I can say, is this guy has one hell of a luck escape....
[url]http://tinyurl.com/7tqll[/url]
All I can say, is this guy has one hell of a luck escape....
jesusbuiltmycar said:
Try this, its a bit large but well worth the wait....
[url]http://tinyurl.com/7tqll[/url]
All I can say, is this guy has one hell of a luck escape....
OH MY GOD !!! Lucky lucky bugger
jesusbuiltmycar said:
Try this, its a bit large but well worth the wait....
[url]http://tinyurl.com/7tqll[/url]
All I can say, is this guy has one hell of a luck escape....
Yeah, saw that a while back. Lucky lucky guy. People don't realise how quick you can go up.
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