Big KItes and lots of hang-time.....

Post general kiteboarding discussion topics here!
User avatar
KirkTalon
Regular
Regular
Posts:429
Joined:Mon Jun 13, 2005 4:37 pm
Location:West Sacramento
Contact:
Re: Big KItes and lots of hang-time.....

Post by KirkTalon » Wed Mar 31, 2010 1:19 am

I second the helicopter statement by Yuri...
RRD, Mystic

User avatar
adamrod
Old School
Old School
Posts:1534
Joined:Fri Sep 15, 2006 5:35 pm
Location:SF
Contact:

Re: Big KItes and lots of hang-time.....

Post by adamrod » Wed Mar 31, 2010 10:50 am

long floaty landing

in my experience, higher aspect kites tend to have better hangtime and floaty landings. so, look for something flat and narrow (like a cabrinha crossbow, lf havoc, rrd addiction). your more delta style kite (like the f-one bandit, wainman or even the rrd obsession) is much more lower aspect, so landings and hangtime can be a bit tougher.

i'm not knocking the delta style kite (I love them and think they are one of the best designs out there today) but if you want big air and soft landings, higher aspect works better IMHO.

(for what it's worth, higher aspect hurts in other ways tho, tend to be less stable, not as good for freestyle or relaunch....like anything, there are tradeoffs and i'm making big generalizations here)
Liquid Force Kites/Boards
ShredReady Helmets

shred_da_gorge
Regular
Regular
Posts:329
Joined:Thu Apr 23, 2009 12:43 pm
Contact:

Re: Big KItes and lots of hang-time.....

Post by shred_da_gorge » Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:36 pm

I don't agree that lots of "square footage" means more hang time. I ride a 2008 10m Rebel and remember the first time sending my buddy's 2009 10m Rebel - noticeable difference in the design and the hang time, same basic type and size. I can't imagine a 155lb guy wanting a 17m. I'm 175lbs and looking to replace my 2008 14m (whose hang time sucks) with a gruntier and quicker 12m or 13m (maybe the new Fuse if that profit-sharing check comes through). Big kites are slow and heavier, and when the wind is light you have to work them harder and I'm betting your hang time is somewhat dependent on wind strength anyway - your altitude will be for sure.

Best advice is to demo as many different styled kites as your time allows. If your budget demands not buying a whole new quiver, check with North to see if your Evo bar will work on a Vegas (fearlu's advice was most succinct). Evo's are good all-around kites but not known for hang time, but you may sacrifice some safety, stability, or ease of relaunch if you go to a higher aspect kite. Good luck!

User avatar
guidoz
Valued Contributor
Valued Contributor
Posts:166
Joined:Sun Mar 14, 2010 10:34 am
Location:San Mateo
Contact:

Re: Big KItes and lots of hang-time.....

Post by guidoz » Wed Mar 31, 2010 5:12 pm

a kite like the Vegas will not give you big hangtime or floaty landings. The Vegas will agressivly rip you out of water, you will go high and then you drop very quickly back down and the landings are "advanced". This is just the nature of a kite like the Vegas, other C kites with similar shapes will be about the same. This is good if you are into newschool and freestyle stuff. I don't think that is what you are looking for when talking about hangtime. A kite that is more flat and still high aspect will give you more hangtime in my opinion. Looking at the North range that would be the Rebel but there is many other kites out there that will deliver on that.

steve
Regular
Regular
Posts:632
Joined:Sun Apr 16, 2006 10:33 am
Contact:

Re: Big KItes and lots of hang-time.....

Post by steve » Thu Apr 01, 2010 12:58 pm

Don, check your PMs
steve

litewavedave
Valued Contributor
Valued Contributor
Posts:86
Joined:Thu Dec 28, 2006 9:02 pm
Location:Sac-o-tomatos
Contact:

Re: Big KItes and lots of hang-time.....

Post by litewavedave » Thu Apr 01, 2010 1:19 pm

The new 15m GK-Trix is more delta shaped and is HUGE power in light winds. We also make a 17m Sonic Delta for 2010, but the 15 is quicker turning, though not as good upwind.

You can try some with me anytime. Storm winds have been good lately. BTW, I'm the GK N.America distributor.

tanker223
Contributor
Contributor
Posts:61
Joined:Wed Jul 27, 2005 4:33 pm
Location:Berkeley
Contact:

Re: Big KItes and lots of hang-time.....

Post by tanker223 » Thu Apr 01, 2010 1:44 pm

not sure your gonna pop higher or longer with a bigger kite. At 155, I think you might have a hard time loading the lines on a 12m enough to generate more lift. If the wind is good, you should be able to get 30+ feet of air out of a 7 or 9, and then rotate the kite back above you in the air (once you are airborn) to increase your hang time. Yuri is totally right about the helicopter. Big kites are a great way to explore trees, too.

Sorry guys, I still say nothing pops like a good 'ol "C"... but to each his own.

Colin
Colin

User avatar
windhorny
Old School
Old School
Posts:4039
Joined:Mon Jul 11, 2005 12:47 pm
Location:Alameda
Contact:

Re: Big KItes and lots of hang-time.....

Post by windhorny » Thu Apr 01, 2010 2:23 pm

Whats up Colin! haven't seen you in a long time. You coming back around this year?

hope all is well.

maxsteamer
Regular
Regular
Posts:578
Joined:Tue Jul 05, 2005 12:01 am
Location:Max,s Launch
Contact:

Re: Big KItes and lots of hang-time.....

Post by maxsteamer » Fri Apr 02, 2010 12:19 am

windhorny wrote:Whats up Colin! haven't seen you in a long time. You coming back around this year?

hope all is well.
Hello Yuri,

Do you mean..Colin how you be hangin'..and are you coming back up here to hang??" [-( "
http://www.cautionkites.com

Zombie
Spitfire
Trespass
DaKine
O'Neill

Don Lester
Contributor
Contributor
Posts:21
Joined:Fri Apr 23, 2004 7:54 am
Contact:

Re: Big KItes and lots of hang-time.....

Post by Don Lester » Fri Apr 02, 2010 9:19 pm

Boy, it's really great to get all these opinions and I agree with you guys about not needing super big kites, but after watching Toby's video "Volare" and seeing the hang that he's getting I just wanted to see if there's something going on that I was missing. He claims using a 16 thru 19m kite in 15 to 20 kts. I know he's a bigger guy but I just wanted to hear what others had to say on the subject........ I think everyone who mentioned high aspect ratio kites has the right idea about maxing out your hang-time ( not jump height ). I've been riding Evos the last couple of years and love them, but for going big in medium winds I think I'm going to try a 10 or maybe a 12m Fuse, which is a higher aspect ratio kite then the Evo and hopefully leave the helicopter rides to the traffic reporters. Thanks all......... Don

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 16 guests