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Wind Slither
Since 04 Mar 2005
2623 Posts
The 503
METAL
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 Wed Sep 15, 10 2:37 pm |
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| foghater wrote: |
IMO any extra pullies and harnesses slow the response time which hinders your ability to get down the line. |
I'm with ya on the pullies, plus they gather sand. But in theory, a bridal should allow for a narrower leading edge and a lighter canopy/strut system since it doesn't need to be as rigid on it's own. Bridle lines should slice through the air easier/faster than a fatter leading edge. However, it doesn't seem like a lot of bridled kites have narrower LE's or less canopy structure. I wonder what a Rev-like kite would fly like if you took the bridal off.
Putting aside who markets what as their designated "wave" kite, what characteristics make a good wave kite that aren't applicable to all kiting disciplines?
Strength - to put up being dropped in the waves, but still light so it handles nice
Sand and Salt resistant - no bars that clog with sand or corode unless you rinse them after every sesh.
Quick relaunch in the waves -
Here's what Ben lists as the features that make his new kite a "wave" kite.
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Bens surf kite features.jpg |
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Pete
Since 29 Oct 2007
843 Posts
Opinionated
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| Wed Sep 15, 10 3:08 pm |
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| I'd like to try one of Ben's kites, but wasn't ready to drop $1,000 on an "unproven" design.
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foghater
Since 31 Aug 2008
135 Posts
Stoked
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| Wed Sep 15, 10 3:27 pm |
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"A kite that works in all wind directions." BW states
Dont know if that is attainable. Not sure that an "all around" product is what we really want.
I want a ferrari designed to go from point A to B as fast as possible not a hybrid that works okay in all areas.
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lineman
Since 05 Feb 2009
170 Posts
Stoked
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| Wed Sep 15, 10 7:58 pm |
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The RPM is a great kite for waves. The 10m is straight from heaven, thanks God.
Never had mine stall, think maybe it's the wind??? Have yet to be out & never had issues with fluky wind.
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foghater
Since 31 Aug 2008
135 Posts
Stoked
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| Thu Sep 16, 10 8:54 am |
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It could have been a brief hole in the wind but that same session I went back to my Fuel and it never happened
Granted , Ive heard alot of people also say they love the RPMS in surf.. but Im still claiming the Fuel is the best (powered not parked) wave kite.
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DownStream
Since 18 Apr 2007
381 Posts
Obsessed
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| Thu Sep 16, 10 8:57 am |
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Wainman 7 and 9 for the surf, hands down. true this isnt a wainman bar in the shot, but they are all i use now, and are the preferred wave kite of the entire APK team.
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kite surf.jpg |
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Wind Slither
Since 04 Mar 2005
2623 Posts
The 503
METAL
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| Thu Sep 16, 10 9:49 am |
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| DownStream wrote: | | Wainman 7 and 9 for the surf, hands down. true this isnt a wainman bar in the shot, but they are all i use now, and are the preferred wave kite of the entire APK team. |
what are the characteristics that make them your perferred wave kite? They're deltas right?
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foghater
Since 31 Aug 2008
135 Posts
Stoked
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| Thu Sep 16, 10 9:54 am |
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This is what we have to do.
If Speed and responsiveness is one of the most important features( IMO the most important) of a wave kite lets have the kites compete.
Ill send a request to the kite mags to get a bunch of kites together ( anyone have some good contacts?) and go head to head on speed. Maybe how fast they can make a kite loop or speed from point A to B in an equal playing field.
Then we can base it on fact and not just opinion or brand loyalty.
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DownStream
Since 18 Apr 2007
381 Posts
Obsessed
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| Thu Sep 16, 10 11:07 am |
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super smooth and consistant pull during turns - because the kite doesnt twist towards the wingtip at all (thats what happens in most flatter LE Profiles, they might turn quick, but as the kite stalls on the wingtip being pulled on and flips over it, it doesnt deliver a smooth or predictable amount of pull)
tight turn radius - you can loop it or turn it really tight and still get the smooth power delivery
its relatively slow - meaning you can't go very fast with it, nothing to do with turning speed or sensitivity - if you try a speed run on it and get into the 45+ range, you will race ahead of the kite, its position will shift progressively more down wind of you, and you wont be able to maintain your course and continue to accelerate, you'll top out, but this isn't a prob if your into wave riding.
its wide canopy ( which has a lot to do with why it is slow), allows it to drift downwind smoothly which is really good in sideshore down the line riding
super fast relaunch, it stays pointed straight down after a crash for about 0 seconds before rolling onto a wingtip, which helps it ride over waves even if you haven't started trying to relaunch it yet.
does not require active sheeting adjustments to fly smoothly, at all. rides the same unhooked as hooked in. ride it unhooked all day long and its no more likely to stall than when hooked in. (as long as you have proper back line tension for wind conditions)
i ride mine with the outside lines all the way up the LE for heaviest bar pressure and least steering sensitivity because i keep it parked and let it drift down wind while i ride, but for powered turn and burn style wave demolition kitesurfing it is a quick and responsive turner with medium bar pressure with the outside lines coming directly off the trailing edge.
3 strut is pretty sweet. if a kite can be built around 3 struts and still maintain a tight canopy shape w/o trailing edge flutter or weird deformation than i'm a fan
damn, i haven't written so much about a kite in a long time, slow day around here
both the 7 and 9 have similar awesome characteristics. the 12 is pretty heavy handed and slow turning, i dont use it when kitesurfing
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DownStream
Since 18 Apr 2007
381 Posts
Obsessed
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| Thu Sep 16, 10 11:18 am |
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on another note:
if pulley problems concern you, replace them with 1" (or smaller) steel rings, works the same, no failure.
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windpig
Since 28 Aug 2008
282 Posts
Obsessed
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| Thu Sep 16, 10 5:56 pm |
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I didn't know you knew that many words B.
_________________
"I don't believe in doing work that I don't want to do in order to live a life that I don't want to live."
-Ed Abbey |
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Pete
Since 29 Oct 2007
843 Posts
Opinionated
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caps1
Since 10 Aug 2010
8 Posts
Kook
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| Fri Sep 17, 10 12:18 pm |
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| I'm also looking for a new quiver with emphasis on wave abilities. I'm a slingshot fan and am looking at the rally or rpm. But the waiman and f-one bandit interests me as well. Anyone know the wind ranges on the waimans? if they all work fine once you get to know them, i guess it will be down to a "buy local" and look at price.
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Gman
Since 11 Feb 2006
4911 Posts
Portland
Unstrapped
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foghater
Since 31 Aug 2008
135 Posts
Stoked
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| Fri Sep 17, 10 2:38 pm |
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| thanks for the comps Gman....gotta start doing more strapless though .. how the F**** Ian alldredge and the rest and can pull that off.. Im pretty sure their feet are glued to their boards
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eric
Since 13 Jan 2006
1861 Posts
XTreme Poster
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| Fri Sep 17, 10 3:14 pm |
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As a bit of a poser wave kiter I have a bit to add. I ride strapless, but 95% of that is in the Gorge, which is not really wave anything. The reality is I make it out to real waves 1-4 times/year on a good summer--0 this year!
So, when I do make it out to the coast I want a kite that has significant depower so that what I lack in timing and HARD bottom turn carving skills, because of lack of practice in real waves, I can somewhat make up for with a kite I can shut off. To that end, both the RPM and Rally fit the bill perfectly. The Wainman and North Evo look really nice for that too, based upon me watchng strapless riders I know use them in The Gorge--Chooch and Yardsale to name just two. No doubt there are many others.
The Rally 10 is a thing of beauty for me.
Results may vary
Eric
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lineman
Since 05 Feb 2009
170 Posts
Stoked
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| Fri Sep 17, 10 6:06 pm |
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Wow, someone actually gave an honest review of a kite. I never thought I'd see that, ecpecially from someone who sells them. 
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