Efficiently Riding When Underpowered

Alter Ego · Since 11 Aug 2008 6 Posts New Member

All,
I need you technical input on efficient underpowered riding

I took several lessons at the spit, I feel confident riding, body dragging, I dipped my toes into trying toeside riding (thanks for the informative thread) and it would be all fun if I didn't suck so much in riding underpowered.

When taking a lesson the instructor demonstrated pumping the kite leaving me with excatly that info - pump the kite...

I still suck at it big time. By trial and error I recognized some factors that improve what I do - like sheeth in when sending kite up to get me up and keep on the surface. Still I'm not sure about the order of events that would make the cycle efficient.

Could someone who can say they ride underowered better than the average share the secret? I'm hoping for event by event split of what happens to bar direction/kite position, sheething in-out, body weight distribution/board direction.

I watched Beginner Progression DVD and that piece was not really discussed in detail.

Please help a kook who wants to get better!!

Spike · Since 13 May 2007 1414 Posts Alameda Spelling Expert

I ride underpowered a lot because I either anticipate the wind picking up or I don't want to go back to shore to rig a bigger kite when I've got only half an hour left.

Anyhow, I have some advice (this applies to being very underpowered). The only real power you'll get is on the down stroke of your "figure 8" When you send it down, send it pretty far back in the window. As soon as it starts to pull turn your board a bit downwind to allow yourself to pick up speed. As soon as you have a little bit of speed (kite is about halfway through the down stroke) you carefully edge to gain some upwind distance, but not so much that you stop. With a little luck you can maintain this throughout the upstroke, but chances are you'll have to ride that one without making any upwind progress. On the up stroke flatten your board out because you will plane easier and not slow down as much.

Riding underpowered is a real workout, both mentally and physically because you are constantly trying to optimize your board and kite performance. Don't expect to make much upwind progress riding severely underpowered. It's a fact of life, and it may well end with having to body drag back to where you started.

pdxmonkeyboy · Mon Aug 11, 08 10:28 am

what Spike said. It takes allot of practice really. You have to learn when to edge to stay upwind (when you have some speed) and when to ride the board flat (and gain some speed). Also, don't try to sine the kite to aggressively as you will loose allot of power b/c the kite is just rotating and not much air is traveling over the kite.

And the last and most important thing..DON"T OVERSHEET YOUR KITE. If the tips are turning in, your sheeting in too much and choking the kite. kites generate more power when they are moving faster. Unfortunately, the control bar is not a throttle.

Lastly, the best way to enjoy light wind is to go somewhere that is windier. Very Happy

Hope this helps, lets everyone know if it does, and welcome.

Joshiebaby · Since 14 Oct 2007 569 Posts Vancouver, WA Addicted

broadbandito · Since 26 Apr 2005 342 Posts CSO headwaters WheatHead

It helps to vary your board direction and weighting according to the power of your kite path. Bear downwind a bit more more when your kite has little power to avoid a stall, and work the streaks of power to gain/maintain a bit of ground upwind. I also find it helps to keep my weight forward on my board to stay planing. Edging hard or burying the tail sucks all your momentum so put as much weight on your front foot as you can without burying the tip. if you can gain some water speed the kite will fly better. The downside of good board speed is you will occasionally be surprised how little power you have for your transition back to shore.

Alter Ego · Since 11 Aug 2008 6 Posts New Member

...but not today, I'm in PDX area and to practive underpowered wind at Sauvie today would require what? 16 M kite?

By the way - while practicing at Sauvie I found that my 14m is very slow. It feels that by the time it finally starts moving down my bar is at extreme position and it should be sent up. Now that I wrote it I'm guessing I don't have enough tension on the line. Or is it part me part large T2 behavior?

Going to a windier place? Check -- Christmas in Aruba! Very Happy

Just need to make sure my upwind skills are solid since I've heard winds are offshore. Otherwise next stop for me would be mainland South America.

pdxmonkeyboy

Spike · Since 13 May 2007 1414 Posts Alameda Spelling Expert

T2's over 11m don't turn fast enough to be able to sine up and down on light wind. I have T2's and my 7m and 11m have about the same bottom end because I can sine the 7m fast enough to generate the same power as the 11m. But I can't go upwind as easy on the 7m's bottom end.

pdxmonkeyboy · Mon Aug 11, 08 11:59 am

I can guarantee your over choking the T2 cause I have the same kite and its a light wind monster.

No 14m kite is fast. that is way light wind riding sucks donkey balls comparatively.

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

Nautical skills count in light wind: (1) play the "headers" and "lifts" (2) Stay within the "rivers" of wind (3) Use the river current to (a) act like a conveyer belt and (b) increase the force of the wind on the kite.

bulae99 · Since 12 Jul 2006 1692 Posts XTreme Poster

The trick in light wind is to not expect the kite to power you up without a big board. Buy a cheap floaty surfboard or TT thats wide and like a glide.

As for sine on a td2 they are slow and that is why they are such a great kite for begs.

The 14 nimi, 12 nimi best 08 on 55cm bar is a machine in light winds. If your on a budget the 14 waroo on a 55 bar is great as well.

When your learning to ride in light wind keep in mind that light wind conditions are actually more fun because of the slow kite. You can do amazing spins and if you keep your kite up you land it without a problem.

It's when you drop your kite in light wind that makes a good day really crappy self rescue experience. I've dropped my 14 td 2 at rufus 2 times this year and it was in light wind. Harder to relaunch in light conditions with big lulls.

Practice flying your big kite in "hot bar" conditions! This will help you learn how it behaves in light conditions.

Always keep the kite high in light wind. Stay away from 12 overhead and cycle the kite from side to side in lulls to create apparent wind.

Good luck

Reaper356 · Since 10 Dec 2006 781 Posts Salem / LC Oregon Opinionated

It may be a good idea to ask / look around at what other people are rigging .. gauge their weight and board size too. And if you don't see anyone else staying upwind, don't feel bad that you can't!

Alter Ego · Since 11 Aug 2008 6 Posts New Member

[quote="Reaper356"]It may be a good idea to ask / look around at what other people are rigging .. gauge their weight and board size too. And if you don't see anyone else staying upwind, don't feel bad that you can't![/quote]

I was at KB4C and I have to say I've seen some variations. In some cases it must have been due to the finesse of participants, small moves, almost invisible from the grassy area make it look so easy.

One person seemed to be very effective but I was surprised that he was sending kite very low, agressively sheeting in when his kite was very low, close to 9:30 (pointing the board downwind) and letting it all go when it was moving up (around 10:00-10:30).

It stuck in my mind because others were sheeting in with kite much higher - I guess the difference some sheet in to generate lift to stay afloat, others to generate more horizontal pull and gain speed. What I need to do now is to figure out what to do, and when.

Spike · Since 13 May 2007 1414 Posts Alameda Spelling Expert

You got all the info you'll need now.
Now you just need to get on the water and practice all the different techniques described above to see what works best for you. A good way to reference your upwind speed is to follow somebody else's wake and see if you can track upwind of it. If so you're doing better than they are.

Riding efficiently is not only good for when you are underpowered, but it gives you that much more opportunity to try jumps and other tricks.

Alter Ego · Since 11 Aug 2008 6 Posts New Member

Thanks all for your imput! Tried it last night at Sauvie and all I can say -- great improvement. It want's quite underpowered but I tried all of your tips and I can really see the difference.
Appreciate all your words of KB wisdom!

kitezilla · Since 22 Jun 2006 453 Posts gorge Obsessed

Three other things to keep in mind:

(1) Don't loose distance on your turns...swing the kite up to 12:00 and time the dive of the kite, so that it hits a puff rather than a lull...since diving it into a lull just drags you downwind.

(2) Take advantage of the "ground effect" by using shallow water (6 inches to 2 feet deep) to minimize the "slip" of the board.

(3) Turn around as soon as you feel a big lull...there might be some wind left in the area you just rode through.