Good with small kites and sucky with large kites...advice?

[burtonac]

I'm a decent intermediate kiter, but hitting a wall in low wind...any advice from more experienced kiters?

The details: I have a 10m (Cabrinha SB3) and a 14m (Contra 2). I've made a ton of progress with the 10m in 20+ winds--very controlled, smooth transitions, going way upwind, getting some good air, etc. But when I break out the 14m the game changes and I feel like a freakin' beginner. Speed control is nearly impossible--either I'm dragging ass or going hyper-speed (typically both within 10 seconds or so). One second I'm submerged, moving the kite straight downwind just to get out of the water, and the next second I'm going hyper-speed (even with the bar fully stretched out) and I feel like I'm getting pulled up and out beyond my ability to carve upwind with my board (despite tuning adjustments on the front lines). I know larger kites are less responsive, but this feels ridiculous...power and speed control feels impossible, and going upwind is a bitch. Here are my questions:

-Is this normal? Par for the course with a bigger kite in lower wind?
-How the hell do you make a quick tack with a larger kite?
-Any way to shorten the amount of bar movement to power/depower a big kite?
-My 14m tends to temporarily "collapse" more than my 10m--it pinches together, falls down a bit, then gets a rush of wind and yanks me like crazy. WTF?
-Any way to lengthen your arms, perhaps via surgery, to manage that nasty over-power, high speed downwind run with a big kite? :)

Thanks all!

[kitecrazy]

To me it sounsd like your kite may have issues especially if it pinches togther. When that happens to me, it is because I have not inflated my kite enough (waroo).

Big kites are a fact of life for big guys (myself included). Half the time I ride at Sherman I'm on my 16 (up to about 25 mph). I would definately say your experience is not par for the course as there are others who love their 16s.
- You dont make a quick tack with a large kite, you make a slightly slower tack and time it very well.
- Your 14 will never be your 10 so it will always require bigger bar movements to do the same thing with the same amount of bar pressure. You can shorten the amount of bar throw at the cost of drastically increased bar pressure.

Try inflating your kite a bit more. Try to make the leading edge bladder :ping: when you flick it. Its an aquired feel.
Try not flying your 14 like you fly your 10. Take your time, relax, be smooth. It is a different beast all together.

No doubt that any experienced rider where you ride would be happy to lend a hand in getting your kite tuned better. All you have to do is ask, and maybe throw in a beer. Where do you ride? What conditions are your riding your 14?

[Greg]

Pump up the kite..
Don't stall by oversheeting.. This is a tuning issue.
Take a deep breath- remember to chill-- you must work with the wind.
When way over powered- turn downwind sharply- force the kite to the absolute edge of the window.
You must smoothly blend board speed with kite speed untell they are equallized.
Practice, practice,practice...
Enjoy, Greg

[Sonny]

I don't know how big you are but it would make more sense to own SB3 10M and 12M than SB3 10M and Contra 14M. That is not only a big jump in kite size but those kites behave differently.

[burtonac]

This is great stuff across the board...thanks guys! Will make sure I'm more inflated in the future. Kitecrazy-- great to know that the style/feel shoudl vary by size--I'm beginning to get more of a feel of my 14 but it's a different riding style for sure!

Final q if anyone has a sec--is there a quick way to reduce the bar throw per kitecrazy's comment? I would have thought the geometry would be pretty inflexible with the bridle lines and line lenghts...but if this was possible, I think this will help, even at the expense of bar pressure.

[kitecrazy]

My comment earlier as far as bar throw was more directed at steering input requirements

Most Cabrinas have pulleys on the backlines at the bar. The lines come down from the kite, pass through pulleys and then go up to the chicken loop line above the bar. You could theoretically add an additional pulley above the chickenloop line and direct the line back down to the bar, but this (i believe) will double the bar pressure again. Your best bet is to get a longer bar to enhance steering input.

As far as bar throw for depower, I think you are stuck. There may be plans floating around the internet that depict modifying the bridal system on the Contra, but I'd stay away from that if you are not hyper-savvy about kite design. You may just have to live with it.

FYI, the amount of throw my Waroo 16 has when I'm riding lit is about 12 inches (full power almost backstalling to no power). I use a seat harness which makes it easier to deal with that amount of throw. I can foresee this being more difficult to manage with a waist harness.

--long answer to a short question--

[Bulldog]

If you like your 10 and ride it well, why fly anything bigger? You didn't mention your weight, but if you're not a big guy, you can probably get away with riding your 10 most of the time, especially if you get a bigger board or a surfboard.

For me, I'd rather ride my 9 and throw it around alot than ride my 12 and feel like I'm riding in slow motion all the time. If you're not really interested in giant air, that is. I ride my 9 Link all the time when other people are out on 12s and 14s.

I drive a tractor all day long every day at work; when I get onto the water I want to fly something that moves fast. :roll:

[burtonac]

This is great stuff, thanks guys. Really appreciate the tips and suggestions, and will be a more educated shopper next time I get a big kite I think. Kitecrazy, I owe you a beer or two :)