Hi all, I'm having a problem with the kite while attempting my first jumps. I swing it from 11am to 1pm as it says everywhere and then try to power it up again but it just goes fluffy in the air and many times it just floats down to the water. I am obviously doing something very wrong and would like to know what is it. Believe me, i'm realy committed to powering up the kite while in the air but it seems to lose all traction. Any suggestions?
I was having probs with getting the jump technique last year, and a post on Sea Breeze sorted me out.
I'm no expert, but there are three main things you need to do.
1. Be powered up and have kite in the 1 o'clock posi. 2. (This is the bit that's hardest at first) Cut up wind, to really load up your kite line with tension. You do this just before and as you cut the kite back to 1 o'clock. 3. Release your edge and you should get pulled up fairly vertically.
If your kite is de-powering and actually falling out of the sky when you attempt this, I'd say the wind is probably too light. I've never had it happen, and can't think of any other reason apart from light winds. Or maybe your kite is too small.
Some one who knows more will probably help you out mate but that above 3 steps sure helped me get it sussed. Really load up those lines by cutting your board up wind just before you fly the kite back and release.
im not an expert becasue im relatively new to the sport
my guess is if your kite is going all fluffy and falling out of the sky you probally dont have enough tension on the lines and maybe heading to much downwind while trying to jump. you can wash alot of power out of the kite if you head straight down wind and a similiar thing can happen if your moving fast enough so try going the other direction (upwind)
Sounds too me like a combination of three things. 1. Not turning the kite back to original starting direction once you have left the water, before it luffs overhead and upwind.
2. The second is I'll bet you a dollar that you are not edging upwind enough on take off. You really need some comfortable speed (don't let it wash off as you concentrate on the kite turning!)
3. You are more than likeley inadvertantly sheeting out the power by not keeping enough pressure on the bar whilst steering the kite back. This speeds the kite up towards the neutral which when combined with the other two problems will definately result in a luffed kite which drifts down to the water.
Try again and keep a closer eye on the three points above and you should be right.
Good luck and let us know if it turns out successfully for you.
Thanks for all the feedback. From your answers i reckon my main mistake was not cutting enough upwind and puting tension on the lines. I'll work on my take off this weekend (It looks like we are gonna have some decent wind in Brissie! )
Hey gorrino alegre, where do you kite in Brissy>? Cross fingers 4 this w'end We might actually get the winds that are predicted! 20kn SW - perfect for Wello
I go to wello in westerlys and on SE when high tide but in SE low tide i rather go to Brighton. On my last low tide sail at Wello i ended up with 9 stitches on my leg thanks to some friendly exposed rocks.