WA
92 posts
Got a 9m Switchblade....Awesome!
Just want to see if there are any tips on untangling from an invert, or just untangling in general (while in the water).
Also any other tips or tricks that may make things even better.
I have read up on the alterations to change bar pressure but I find it fine so there is no need for tips on that.
Anything else is a help.
Cheers Troy.
NSW
58 posts
THESE TIPS ARE FROM STEVE ON KITEFORUM
When you pack up any of the bow kites, do not roll the kite up along the leading edge like you do on C kites!
If you do you will get terrible twists in the internal bladder.
Roll the kite this way.
Fold the kite over at the first strut, along the line of the strut seam, now keep rolling keeping the struts parallel, you will notice that the leading edge continually rolls inside the sail of the kite.
I roll each tip to the centre and then fold the TD once, but not exactly is the same place all the time. Avoid being too anal about folding in the same place, or brushing sand off with your hand, folding in the same place will lead to stitching failure at that place, brushing sand off damages the cloth. Remember sand paper is made out of sand.
The TD is heavier at the bar than the Fuel 06, but both are light in my opinion. The fuel pivot turns, the TD turns tight the point it turns about is further up the LE, and like all bows the swing turn. When learning to jump with them, you initiate the turn back to start the jump with the kite higher in the window, but turn back as sharply as you can by edging hard just at the time, then hang on!! Hold the bar in and only turn back when you feel yourself descending. Jumps are big and easy.
Make sure to pump the TD to at least 5.5-6 PSI.
NSW
58 posts
For an invert...
Slingshot advise to yank in a heap of steering line on one side and then once the kite starts to spin - finish the rotation with a pull on the opposite steering line. Then relaunch as usual.
Also, Steve... have you added an oh sh1t handle to the front lines for flagging the TD? IMO it would be nice to have one, esp for self land, any ideas? Im not sure how to rig it, I think you mentioned it before... Do you also have any tips to share to make the TD or SB any sexier?
Cheers
WA
92 posts
Ricky,
Cheers, I have spoken to Steve through email and he has advised me on the folding thing aswell as the invert tech. Still havent mastered it. But with time i'm sure i will, I suppose the main thing is just not to invert!
Any other tips from anyone would be great......
Anyone got an opinion on where to hook the safety leash. I hooked just below the safety release(on the lines) above the chickloop but as I was doing a swim in after I inverted my lines and i released my safety on the lines without knowing. It was lucky I was holdong my bar trying to steer the kite in cause I would have lost it otherwise. Since then Ive tried hooking to the loop under the bar where the centre lines run through and it seems to get in the way.
Ive heard about tightening the elastic in the line safety release making it harder to hit out. Iam thinking of doing this and attaching it back to the original spot. Its just a scarey thought if you have nothing attached above the red bobble and it accidentley gets pushed up its...bye bye kite. Watching my $1700 flying freely up to Lancelin will not make me a happy kiter!
ANY IDEAS?
WA
3464 posts
Hye Boost, I don't have a SB, but and Xbow...with mods.
I use a SS Surefire release on the Chickenloop, the leash from this contraption gets clipped in to the ring to one of the kite lines. Then, there is a stopper on this line one kite length from the bar...and that is my primitive rig, but it works. Spinning the whole mess can become an issue because the leash does not follow (brand design incompatability), however I have learned to unspin with the kite and body..which is a good discipline I think.
I am ready to go to the manufactur's system, but I want to be able to completely "kill" the kite without having to reach for the ring which is too far away for 90% of the people.
Anyhow, this works for me with regard to rig.
I wrote a whole thing on "inverts" a while back...you'll find it using the search feature...or in a nutshell: pump up the leading edge hard, do not 1. sheet in and out rapidly in gusty conditions 2. keep a steady force of wind in the kite..you do need to use some feel, even with this Cadilac. 3. be especially carefull of the above when you have the kite fully depowered on the strap.
I have seen the invert, crumple, upside down outside in..........FN everything..and ALL kites do wierd stuff given the right conditions. You must just learn to fly the kite you have...they all have their different thingies....but on the whole, the design is improving and the kites are safer.
