Look up a STD is comming down!!!

[berrisbob]

Yes Sherman was a bit crazy yesterday and Saturday -- pretty typical for a windy weekend out there.

The mishaps that occurred should be a reminder/warning for all that Sherman is NOT, in general, a beginning kiteboarding location, and that even experienced riders should practice safety. There is very little margin for error.

First timers at Sherman are strongly encouraged to ask regulars about conditions, hazards, and local conventions and etiquette. To his credit, one first timer did exactly that, and I was more than happy to give him helpful info. And any of the other regulars would have gladly done the same. BTW, it's always a good idea to ask about a spot your 1st time there - that doesn't just apply to Sherman.

Here's to good winds all over the bay next weekend. And best wishes for a speedy recovery go out to Brian.

[OliverG]

I stayed out of trouble at SI Saturday. I went there in the afternoon to kite, but I was feeling lazy, it was a little chilly and the wind wasn't perfect, so I lounged on the beach with my kite bag as a pillow, had a couple beers in the parking lot, ate Garby's birthday cookies and brownies and watched Jabba rustle about and come to in his van for a while before rising....

[Kraemer]

It's not that the front lines are too long but the back lines are probably put on the innermost knot. This is a common mistake with bows. some think it will produce more power but it just causes the kite to fall out of the sky.

[Greg]

IN GENERAL:
Kites that have turbular flow over there skin are oversheeted. A way to spot oversheeting is to look at the back of the kite, are the wind tips pinching togather in the back? Thats easy to spot, Next the kite moves backward, WHAT THE...!often the rear of the kite will pull togather or the back of the wing gets folded forward. KITE IS STALLED! If held in this condition the kite may back all the way down. If allowed to fall deep in the window and then only partly depowered, the kite will surge forward! BE CAREFULL!
To correct this type of problem loosen the rear lines or tighten the front lines.
FOR EXAMPLE:
On my S.T.D.'s I hook the back lines to the outside knot AND I hook the front lines to the inside knot. THe result it about 5 or 6 inches more depower. ADDITIONALLY, I pull in the depower line an additional 5 or 6 inches for anything unhooked....
This kite likes speed, if flown slowly and tuned correctly it produces solid and steady power, if flown with speed it produces LOTS of steady power. If turned slowly the power stays on, if whiped over "on a wing tip" the power is greatly reduced This power reduction is related to the fact that almost half of the wing goes into turbular flow while the other half has reduced airspeed.
I believe, this concept can be related to almost any kite made today,
L.M.G.

[andyandmarlys]

I'll admit this.... In really light winds, on the downstroke, oversheeting the STD produces more grunt to get you going... You need to be careful though on the upstroke and purposefully sheet out...otherwise it will stall.....

This is part of the secret as to why a fat ass like me can ride efficiently in super-light wind with relatively small kites...

The other half of the secret is the Glide....and knowing how to ride it efficiently.....

[Greg]

Up out, down in, up out, down in, up out, down in to steady POWER!...
Now just Lock ~r~ load,
L.M.G.

[andyandmarlys]

Up out, down in, up out, down in, up out, down in to steady POWER!...
Now just Lock ~r~ load,
L.M.G.

That is just plain pornographic........ By the way...I have always suspected that you'd need to look down to see a STD "comming down"

[OliverG]

Greg, you rascal...

[windhorny]

I'll admit this.... In really light winds, on the downstroke, oversheeting the STD produces more grunt to get you going... You need to be careful though on the upstroke and purposefully sheet out...otherwise it will stall.....

This is part of the secret as to why a fat ass like me can ride efficiently in super-light wind with relatively small kites...

The other half of the secret is the Glide....and knowing how to ride it efficiently.....

Are you sure about that? In my opinion, the reason the kite is "stalled" to begin with means it is not acting as an efficient airfoil-hence lack of power-hence stalled. It would produce more power acting as a bucket to the wind than a lift producing wing. Hmmmm.

[D]

[quote="windhorny]Are you sure about that? In my opinion, the reason the kite is "stalled" to begin with means it is not acting as an efficient airfoil-hence lack of power-hence stalled. It would produce more power acting as a bucket to the wind than a lift producing wing. Hmmmm.[/quote]

It's moving faster on the way down. The apparent wind changes the AOA at an angle which requires sheeting in to compensate. Same goes for any kite.