4 posts
Hi guys
I took a few lessons last year to learn the basics of kitsurfing. So im fine when it comes to flying the kite landing launching etc. My board skills sucked so I went to the local cable ski place and did a couple days there.
So anyhow after many failures the last month or so I have been able to get up on the board in the surf. The problem is once I dive the kite into the power zone and am up on the board and going, I find myself doing power strokes to keep moving and eventually 10 or so seconds later I end up sinking and start the same thing over.
I can’t seem to park the kite in a place that gives me enough pull to keep up without it wanting to go into the 12position and then head upwards to 3 or 10 causing me to stroke. When I’m up on the board I’m going down wind although I’m trying my best to cut out to sea
The kite I’m using it s a Royal Era 12m 09, I know its got plenty of power when it wants to after doing a 2-3m unintentional jump with a fair amount of hang time on Tuesday. Actually managed to land but then got pulled back up in the air and waved goodbye to my board
Maybe its the winds the last couple of months playing with me as the kite seems to go like a rocket or not at all
Im on the gold coast and the winds are usually SSE 13 to 25knts when I go out although the last couple of times I went out today and Tuesday the winds have seemed quite lumpy
QLD
481 posts
Hi wangman at least your getting up, the solution to the problem your having is hard to discribe properly but ill have a go. If you have to keep on pumping the kite its usually becuase your powerstroke is too close to the edge of window and in same power area. Remember if your going left you dont send the kite to much to your left becuase you will only get short burst of power then it will stop at edge of window and no mater how much you fly it then if it stays out in front of you on your left you wont get any more power . There are several ways to fix this, 1 as soon as you get up, bring your kite up much faster,and then dive it harder too dont wait for it to get above you or it will stop again
,2 think when you get up, the power isnt out in front of you its downwind of you ,,which is if your going left, and the kite is out near the front of the board ,the power is more to your right, beetwen your stance
.3 try to keep the kite inside your stance and dont edge too hard and keep your wait centeral to the board .Not sure how well i discribed this but hope it helps if you need more advice give me a call or pm me,
Have fun
George
4 posts
Thanks George
Next time I get a day off work and the winds playing nice ill try to do shorter strokes to stop the kite going out of the edge of the wind window
Ill also see if I can get the mrs to take a video of what happens this might make it a bit easier for everyone to see what is going on
Other than that if I cant seem to progress after another 2 or so sessions I might have to give the instructor a ring and book in another lesson
QLD
701 posts
Just a little bit more help that i found with learning myself . pull bar in ONLY when kite is coming DOWN , on the UP stroke PUSH bar away . Hard tooo get ya head around it but it also stops kite from going to edge and stalling . keep with it . remember that the winds are like all f..k up at the moment and it might not be you . i would also agree give it a couple of sesions then may be back to instructor at the end of the day dont try and go upwind at ALL ride cross ways with it in both directions untill you get use to it. Sure one thing ,you will have too walk back wards into wind to get into deeper water and we have all done it iam talking about couple of ks all up, walk out to deep water kite side ways to wind maybe going a little down wind but generaly holding your line , when ya get to close to shore walk out again and again and again . Then it will all click then you can learn to go up wind or cut out to sea . hope this helps
41 posts
this happened to me mate.
it feels like there isnt enough power to keep you going. but you have to gain some speed downwind before you start edging otherwise thats what will happen.
NSW
18 posts
It is hard to know what you are doing without seeing you on the water. I had a similar problem when I was learning. I was out on a 12m in 15 to 16 knots and couldn't get going. What I found was that I was pulling in too much and also letting the kite fly too high. When you pull right in the kite will bog or stall just like any wing. Try flying the kite with more bar out and you will have much more power. Call an instructor for the tech stuff.
QLD
796 posts
I know all the same answers where given to me when i had the same problem and they are all right but it wont take long till it clicks and you think to yourself "so this is what it feels like". Having said that this time of year is a real challenge, we where kiting last week in a south westerly and one minute your under powered and the next your kite is turning inside out, so don't be surprised if the conditions this time of year are giving you grief. At least your out there getting practice.
VIC
172 posts
surface2air has hit the nail on the head, it sounds like you are pulling in on the bar and the kite is suffercating, push out and release the wingtips and wala power!
