For bsically towing into the wave and then depowering the kite enough to surf the wave and try to cut back and to have major upwind ability - which aspect ratio is better, LOW or HIGH or Average?

Are depowerable C's better than Bow kites for this kind of wave riding, I hear bridled kites loose upwind ability.

5th or no 5th, I hear 5th lines cause the kites to rotate around the centre of the LE when dragged through water and cause it to crash?

Rich, you already have some Nano's but take note of what is said about the soon to be released Kima.

KIMA- Is the new 100% surf kite, its desiged for wave riders that just want to ride waves. No big jumping or things like that just really good wave riding. This will be a Delta/SLE shape with 3 struts.
and
KIMA: Wave specific kite, 3 struts, insane speed for lightning fast turns, very fast relaunch.

so for one manufacturer it seems that insane speed for fast turns is a desirable aspect.

for me fast turns are a must in saving me from the predicaments I get myself into when mistiming top turns.

Over the last few seasons I have seen the best speed in turns etc. from kites that pay attention to drag caused by struts. Either going less struts or thin struts.

Hey Richswing,

Nice questions. I don't think you can pigeon hole the kite types though, although having said that, lower to mid aspect ratio is best becasue of the stability inherent in the design.

A good wave kite is very lightweight, this is important becasue if it is light it will be a) more responsive and b) more resistant to luffing and falling from the sky when the lines go slack in a bottom turn.

Upwind ability is a good aspect so you can get back upwind quickly as is being able to easily edge the kite to neutral. As the kite drifts back in the window it falls deeper in the power, to be able to easily apply pressure and see the kite move to neutral is essential if you ride unhooked on waves.

A kite being tough is essential, being heavy is not.

Hope this gives you a few clues. There are kites that tick some of the boxes, and a few that tick all of them

Good winds,

junglist said...

RAL

Are there any pictures released of the Kima? NO

Is that the Nano replacement? Nano stays. So NO again

Cheers

J

Switch is much better use straps it helps your balance, can loose them later if you want. It's all about kite positioning the more you do it the better you get. Unhooked I believe(Just learning that skill) gives you better more consistent pull down the line. Much better for smacking the lip. Save the natural riding for Ben Wilson, when it is really onshore or NW in winter isnt that joy.
I don't think there is a magical wave kite the Nano will be fine try a 7 if you can. I am 110kg and ride a 6 and an 8 mostly in summer better to be sightly under powered. My big kite is a 10.

richswing said...



Are depowerable C's better than Bow kites for this kind of wave riding, I hear bridled kites loose upwind ability.

Depowerable C kites are great for wave riding pick one up for 200 bucks get out surf n smack the !#@$ out the waves if smash ya kite into a wave break ya lines blow a couple of bladders rip it in half cut away from it you wont be worried about it like a brand new Kite name here (and you push ya self abit harder) surf a few waves while you wait for it to wash in to the beach pick it all up use the remainder of your lines they work well for extending your eel leash camping clothes line! I miss my old Takoon Wook

agree with jb...diff stokes for diff folks..a good kite for waves is determined by your style first...

stability is realy important, when riding slight cross offshore its makes wave riding so much more fun (and easy) but gusty directional wind can make a timid kite the session from hell.

what i like about my kite the most is its ability to have slack lines and instead of hidenburg it just floats back into the window until the lines tension.


my wave riding is fast and powered..that's where a kite with power in the turns does well and also very easy to turn to get that power is important for me.. depower isn't as high on my list as turning power. but then getting ripped down the line isnt a good thing either when in overpowered conditions, but thats more about using the depower strap not bar throw anyhow - otherwise its a poostance down the line . other thing i like about power in turns is that it gets me away from crap situations faster than a kite thats power is from park and ride.

a well made kite won't determine if it will survive a wave...its almost all down to luck realy... how fast you can relaunch would be a bigger preference in regards to crashing anyhow.

Any kite that turns when depowered. Good waves and suitable wind direction make a great wave kite - if you ride downwind on the waves it's all good

you want a kite that drifts back in the window, if you got that happening there is no need for fast turning or any of that stuff. most kites fail at this

Which ones?

Mr float said...

richswing said...

Which ones?

the one Aron Jarman uses (he'll tell you thats one of the reasons why)

Peter Lynn?

tightlines said...

Mr float said...

richswing said...

Which ones?

the one Aron Jarman uses (he'll tell you thats one of the reasons why)

Peter Lynn?

no!peter jackson or was it winnies