Hi
I am new to kite surfing, completed 2 out of 3 lessons. Was told I should buy the kit and practice before completing my 3rd lesson. So I did.

Kite is 2008 Switchblade 3, size 10m. My weight is 78kg.

Before doing lessons I practiced on my friends 7m on the beach, launching and controlling and landing which was fine. Also no troubles during the lesson on the instructors kite.

Now, with my new kite, the past 2 times (out of 4) launching it, it hasnt lifted up to the 12 o'clock position when launching 90deg to the wind, but has instead drifted on a lazy trajectory towards the power zone. I have tried to correct this both times but then it quickly hits the powerzone and I get hoisted 3 metres in the air and 10 metres long, straight out. First time, landed in the water and hit the QR. 2nd time at Melville Beach, landed on the beach at hit the QR, hurting myself quite badly. Very lucky that it wasnt even worse, which has shaken me up badly. One thing I know is that the for both occassions actual gust wind, compared to what the forecast said, was greater than my kite window (gusting up to and around 26 knots). found this out afterwards, when checking t'internet

I just cannot understand why it drifts into the powerzone rather than lifting up to the 12 o'clock position, never had this problem before but its happened twice in a row. My plan now is to stop until I take my 3rd lesson, speak to the instructor about my problems and show him my kite/set-up to get his opinion.

I just wanted to know the thoughts of anyone out there? (is it just that the kite it too big, will it be a problem with my control lines, is the 2008 switchblade 3 tempromental like that etc etc).

I dont want to injure myself or other people so want to get this right. Also dont want to be defeated by this sport as I really want to do this correctly. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Darren

thanks for the response, I meant to say in the original post that it could also be my technique. A workman always blames his tools!

I weigh the same as you and ride the same kite. 26knots (real knots not qld knots) is far too windy to be using that kite as a beginner. I'm an experienced intermediate use my 10m in 17-23 ideally. I can hold it in 26 but it's not fun and as you sheet further out the steering becomes very unresponsive. In its wind range the sb3 is still a good kite.

When launching you want to be slightly, but only slightly upwind of 90 degrees from the kite.

I don't think you should be out "practising" between lessons as you won't know what to practise. Lessons then practise eh. Maybe have a chat to a different instructor. And when you do get to more practising, check in with some experienced crew as to conditions and kite size. Whatever the forecast says, you still need to learn to read conditions for yourself. Start by asking those who already know.

hey mate,
you've got a switchblade, there should be no need to "trigger" quick release, don't set the stopper when launching, and don't grip the bar too tight. if the kite threatens to pull you around, let go of the bar. (i haven't used a switchblade 3 just a x-bow of a similar vintage)

Why the kite is behaving the way it is, is anyones guess. what you describe happens a lot in light wind with gusts, if the kite is launched and the wind dies then picks up again.

Good technique and considerable footwork can over come this, by walking upwind and tuning the bar as you go.

check your trim strap is de-powered too.

course, it could be a number of other things

Personally I can only see it being one if two things ....

i) kite is oversheeted ( either front lines have stretched or you have got too much bar pulled in in lighter winds.... higher winds will compensate for the poor aerodynamic and the kite will probably still fly ( but handle like a pig )

ii) you are trying to launch your kite too far into the wind window. Either ask your kite launcher to take 2 steps downwind or you take two steps upwind

whoever is launching your kit should hold it in position while you check your lines are ok, at this point your kite should not be luffing ( flapping ) the canopy should be smooth and catching wind to the point where it is supporting itself ie : person launching the kite can let go and the kite will neither drift back nor fall to the ground but remain in position or ever so slowly begin lifting. You should be able to feel the pressure through your bar and back lines... Pull your bar in and the kite should want to fly out if the launchers hands ease it out and it should become passive.

Only give the thumbs up to your launcher to release once you feel the kite wanting to fly out of their hands. Avoid at all costs the drifting back as it will end up lofting you as it powers up and that could get nasty.

sounds like you got the bar pulled in too much or you need to depower the kite abit whilst launching . If you pull the bar in too much this will stall the kite and it will drift back into the powerzone then all of a sudden power up lofting you..

Either is fine, but there is no need to turn the bar. Be sure to remember turning the bar (like a steering wheel) does not turn the kite, only push / pull will turn it.

dazba said...

Thanks everyone for their responses.

Firstly, just checked my line lengths and found the front lines were slack, so shortened them so that all lines had relatively even tension, as per my control system manual.

you really need to know what you are doing before you start adjusting your line lengths, you may have made the kite quite unsafe.?
To check line lengths!
All 4 lines should be attached to a common anchor point, like a rope around a tree with a knot or carabiner in the end to connect all your lines to.
Then to check that the trim/depower cleat or strap is all the way out (powered up setting).
Then you pick up your bar and pull on it and the chicken loop (or wear your harness and hook into it), and check that there is approx 4-5 cms gap between the top of the chicken loop and the bottom of the bar, when all the lines are pulled tight and under similar tension.
If you have done anything other than what I've described you have most likely screwed up the "trim" of your kite, and you should not fly it until you have reset it like above or had it checked by an experienced kiter/instructor.

dazba said...
Also, going through my head what I was doing when it all went wrong and your advice. I definently had the override stopper engaged which I realise is a no-no (that manual even tells me not to, but I missed it first time I read the manual).

I also would have had the bar pulled down to much so it would have been stalling. That was a common mistake I kept doing in my first 2 lessons, but as it was low winds it did not magnify the problem as it did lately. Thanks for pointing that out.

If the kite is moving backwards, its telling you to push the bar out (the trim of the kite may be out of whack too)
Disengage or remove any stoppers, until you are well experienced.

dazba said...
Finally, and there is a question here. I know that I turned my control bar 90deg when I launched (so that it was running vertical, one rear leader at the top, the other at the bottom) so that the bar was the same orientation as the kite when its being held by my kind beach helper. I dont know if that is a new thing I developed or have always done this when playing with kites, but I remember doing it for my last launch. Do I need to do this, or do I just leave the bar horizontal (parralel to the water) when launching as the kite will right itself?

I will be asking my instructor all these points when I do the final lesson, just thouhgt I would ask the question here?

Once again, thanks to all the people taking their time to help me here.

Very common mistake made by people who have not flown trainer kites, in fact a lot of your language and the difficulties you are experiencing are the result of not flying trainer kites and gaining a decent understanding of the wind window.
You should always remember that steering a kite with a control bar is like steering a bike, the bar should be pivoted around its centre (or the centre line), not rotated. You must apply or release tension to the steering lines, by pivoting the bar left or right, to steer a kite. If you pull one one side you must pivot the bar and release the other side, otherwise you are not steering the kite.

I strongly suggest you get some time on a trainer kite BEFORE your next lesson, and do not attempt to go kitesurfing again until you have had your next lesson, you have had a couple of lucky escapes don't tempt fate eh!
If you learn to fly a kite well, by using a trainer kite, then you will get much better value from a kitesurfing lesson.

Hey Dazba
Plenty of things to think about and all great advise

At Melville the wind is really gusty at the shore line
Try walking out further, cleaner air and safer landing if it does go wrong

PM me and we can catch up next week. You can borrow my trainer as well

Cheers