¨lofting¨

Gman · Since 11 Feb 2006 4911 Posts Portland Unstrapped

I would bet most lofting accidents are not people walking around with their kites parked at neutral above their heads (though amazingly we do see people casually walking around when it is gusting 30 doing this Surprised

)

More likely the kiter inadvertently drives the kite across the window and launches them self - this can range from like what Blowhard said getting slack in the lines and over-correcting or even trying to keep the kite low - the wind drops for a second and gets hung on the ground for a second then rockets up - I've seen folks just plain trip over their own feet and send the kite on land (never good)

or newbs focusing on picking up their board and forget they are flying a kite...

jackZ · Since 13 Apr 2008 355 Posts Devon Alberta ca. Obsessed

Hey Fred
My foil is a 13m extacy 2005 . It does not have the depower developed later on in years . I have been told that the new foils ,like a pulse 2 and other flysurfers have the depower like sle's . I only had the opertunity to try one once in very poor wind conditions ,too light . I did not get the feel of the kite as my session with it was too short . However I have been told by another rider that they are not the same as the sle's in the depower department . I also watched a newbie on the snow with his pulse and for two hours the poor guy was just struggling . The kite would go up and then he would get it too far to the edge and it would stall and fall ,of course while falling it goes back onto the power , fills with air and hang on for a yank or unhook and let it fall to the ground . once on the ground the kite starts to get blown around and ties itself into a bowtie and now you anchor it and undo all the mess. Not bad if your on the snow covered lake and you can walk to the kite and straighten things out . Try it in the water where your to deep to touch the bottom Ha! As a newbie trying to learn on a foil is a steep process and could easily deter someone from wanting to carry on . There are however proficient riders who love foils and I myself like it on the snow in light wind they are awesome for the amount of power . Then there are the maintenance issues with the lines ,mixer settings ,line shrinkage which changes everything about the kites handling . I say the best thing to do would be to try a foil, talk to someone who flies them , they are different . Even just over a month ago I was on frozen over lake with six inches of loose snow on top of some packed . I put up my foil and 15 - 20 mph wind . The kite constantly has to be moving with the wind speed changes , deeper into the window for the lulls and quickly to the edge during a gust ( moving the bar , sheeting in or out is not enough as there is no depower like the newer kites ) sometimes your not fast enough and a gust will take you downwind quickly as you can only go with it. Any way after two hours of fighting it I put up a 12m sle and I was now having a blast so much easier for me . Just push the bar out for the gusts and work the kite a little in the lulls Got in some good jumps and things ,
I have been kiting for four years , have taken several lessons from different people . The first was on the foils as that was what was available in my area and I didn't know any better . I have IKO level three
My personal opinion as an intermediate kiter is this , I believe that to learn to kite start with inflatables and then to a foil or you may just loose interest and miss out on some of the best fun a person can have .
For sure try a demo and a new model not the old foils like mine .
As far as self launch and land . It's always better to have proper assistance . For my sle I attach my leash to a fixed object ( truck hitch or a tree ) fully depower the kite and put it to the edge of the window and let it sit there and then hook in . Foil , anchor it to a fixed object partially fill the kite with air and then hook in and launch (light wind ) don't hook in and launch ( higher winds ) then hook in . To land the foil unhook and let go of the bar and then attach it to a fixed object , go to the kite and wrap up up . sle , fly it to the edge keep it the width of the kite off the gound and pull the front lines so the leading edge falls to the ground and then pull one steerring line (tip closest to yourself )towards yourself , Unhook and go to the kite and secure it
The point is both sle and foils can be launched and landed solo once you train yourself it's no difference .
Just one guys opinion on the matter Fred , but it helps to hear it all .

Diggy · Since 25 Nov 2006 342 Posts Gorge to Coast Obsessed

fokiten · Since 04 Mar 2005 188 Posts Stoked

fredf · Since 10 Jan 2009 80 Posts Eugene. Or Â

What gman says is what I was trying to suggest when I opened this topic and I have picked up a lot additional info from the excellent responses.

The concept of an expanding and contracting wind window makes it easier to visualize than thinking simply of a stall.

Thanks to jackZ for the thorough explanation of what a foil kite does. It sounds like a new challenge.

Tommy · Wed Jun 03, 09 5:08 pm