A standard test protocol for comparing kites

lmontejo · Post by **lmontejo** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 7:58 pm

While talking to others at the beach in Alameda, it has become apparent to many of us that deciding on how well a new kite performs up to now is completely subjective. If you read the magazine articles, or internet blogs, kiters will refer to a given kite with terms such as "great hang time", "too much bar pressure", etc. The list is endless.

I propose that a group be created to discuss what tests we can perform to scientifically compare all the kites in the market.

Test runs could be done at the old navy base in Oakland during the winter.

If you want to participate in a group that will seriously end all the hype in the market and compare kites with a standard batch of tests, please contact me.

Best regards.

Leo

string pupet · Post by **string pupet** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 8:27 am

Leo - why do you want to do this? What problem are you fixing????

Kiting has many variables - skills, where you kite, types of boards used, freestyle, waves, mellow wind, high wind, body weight, line length, size of bar, user skills.........- to every be isolated and truly tested.

Not sure what you will accomplish by measuring a few key metrics - it still comes down to how "IT FEELS FOR YOU". To me, this is actually one of the fun things about the sport.....

Good winds + waves, Zeev.

sflinux · Post by **sflinux** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 9:38 am

I have to agree with Zeev. Even if you had unlimited resources (be able to buy every kite ever made), you would have to mix that with all the different styles of riding, with all the different types of boards ever made, with all the different types of wind conditions, with all the different types of water conditions, ...
I just don't see how it could EVER be done in a scientific manner, or at least anytime soon.
I've ridden many different types of kites: two different traction kites, low, mid, high aspect leis, little, mid-sized, big leis, little and midsized arcs, and a flysurfer.
Every kite is different. And in my opinion, is no one kite best for every type of condition. In my opinion, each design is best for particular conditions and a particular application.
I think even the designers have to step back from their designs and think of their kites as a piece of art. Their is no one piece of art that everybody loves. But there are ones that suits the masses and becomes a classic.
my two cents,
bric

Pablito · Post by **Pablito** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 10:38 am

It would be nice to see an objective evaluation of safety features; QR, 5th line, SAFE, etc. There are plenty of posts on other forums detailing how QRs don't release under load or release prematurely (premature evacuation?), how 5th lines cause problems, etc.

Performance is performance, and everyone will do their hyping. But safety claims should be a little more reality based. Seems like something that IKO or some other existing organization should do.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 11:27 am

Good point pablito,
I would like to see/read an article on the subject of safety.
If you have any doubts about your gear, I'm sure a PASA/IKO instructor would be happy to look at your gear and make any safety recommendations.
-bric

charlie · Post by **charlie** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 11:52 am

sounds like you can start right here with your past year experince on what ever kites you rode..?
also post your wight and board used and wind speed and deriction.
keep a log.
as far as doing sometime in a werehouse....himm.... like jumping off the rafters...?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 2:29 pm

This is the problem with our sport. There are so many kite companies in the game that are all trying to cash in. We would all benifit if some of the smaller companies went out of business so there is less competition to make profit. Really at this point it is down to features and quality vs cost more then anything. All kites are generally the same now only difference being High aspect and medium aspect and now bow. They are all prety much the same and quite honestly saftey is learned. No feature will make the sport 100% safe. This is an inherently dangerous sport so if you want to minimize risk, don't kite. Lets look at snowboarding one more time. Ski resorts have massive jumps and rails but there are no safety features provided by the resort or the snbowboard. If you mess up the jump you just pay the price. You can't just pull the parachute!! This is just my opinion of course!!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 4:24 pm

leo i support you, i'd be willing to help out in any way possible. I've been thinking for a while now, how it may be possible to objectively test kites, and i always come to a point where i have to know the wind speed.

other measurements don't seem very useful, maybe dimensions and aspect ratio, but thats relatively useless to the consumer.

charlie · Post by **charlie** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 4:34 pm

think about the catagoreies, hi left, low left ,speed,windword action, bar pruesser
air werthness how well its built ,power depower ,...
and go by area...?
pro area...?
and think of it as art..? no
think of it as wing.
then ask yourself "what do you want to do with it".
easa use ,high lift?
steady pull...?
then build that foil.

dewey · Post by **dewey** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 5:41 pm

How could anything be measured with a kite. I kited with the same kite Ollie did, and it is one of the best jumping kites I've ridden, but I wasn't getting the same air he was with the same kite. I've seen others on a Veags, but none of them could fly that kite like Z. I guess what I'm saying is if we all had the same hands, we could quantify kites. We are all different and fly the same kites in different ways.

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A standard test protocol for comparing kites

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