Hi, first season noob on a 9m 2012 rebel and have had two sessions experiencing bad luffing with the kite falling completely backwards out of the sky (ielanding leading edge up). The second time was today with the result being my kite falling backwards into someone's back yard - embarrassing!!!

Following the first time a month or so ago, got advice to lengthen the rear lines which I have done ensuring they were all the same length. Since then, apart from today, I hadn't experienced the Kite falling completely backwards howver I have felt it lose all power even when sheeted in before catching the wind again.

This is unnerving me a bit - is the Rebel compared to other brands prone to luffing or shall I get my kite properly trimmed by the retailer?.

Btw was at Melville beach this arvo - whilst winds did die away towards the end of my session before my kite luffed out winds were still around 15 knots.

Cheers

A common mistake for noods is to pull the bar in when they see the kite falling backwards. Solution is to push the bar OUT as NaturalHigh says. The kite will fly up again as you've reestablished an efficient air flow over the kite.

If this does not help then your back lines (stearing lines) are too short. You may only need 2cm extensions to solve the problem or simply pull in a little trim strap to shorted the front lines. Give the kite to an experienced kiter to play around with if you can't solve the problem yourself.

according to wikipedia luffing is when the kite stalls and the front (or leading) edge falls downwards.
I understand backstall is when the kite falls on its trailing edge

NaturalHigh said...

If your kite is falling backwards, push the bar all the way out and wait for it the kite to recover and fly forwards again. If the kite doesn't fly forwards with the bar pushed out, the wind is just too light.

Hope this helps.

Yes but......maybe the trailing edge has just sunken too deep in the water.... In that case you're right saying to push the bar all the way out (as always when the kite is down) but also you can help by pulling both center lines or just by swimming backward until the trailing edge gets out of the water...

As a newbie I must say I enjoy my walks back I'll miss them after I learn how to ride upwind, or properly ride for that matter