Tips going downwind

cedralpass · Post by **cedralpass** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 2:49 pm

Maybe strange, since most posts are about going upwind! Basically after my "kitemare" experience last sunday, where i turned downwind going fast and the kite lost power rolled on the fifth line.

I was wondering if you racers had pointers for fast downwind runs.

What i have seen you guys doing:

1) constant tension on back lines (my mistake)
2) keep kite moving
3) head upwind a bit if kite loses power

Any pointers?

Geoff

robotvox · Post by **robotvox** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 2:59 pm

ditch fifth line. problem solved

cedralpass · Post by **cedralpass** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 3:14 pm

Plenty of guys race 5th line, and north did pretty well at the nationals, with rebels..

Greg · Post by **Greg** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 7:40 pm

Keep pressure on the kite.. Going straight down wind, you'll need to stroke the kite on the sides of the power zone, not the middle.
Have fun, Greg

Bulldog · Post by **Bulldog** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 9:32 pm

You can edge back and forth (carve) to keep the lines from slacking.

Greg · Post by **Greg** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 11:04 pm

You can edge back and forth (carve) to keep the lines from slacking.

Do this untell you can go straight down with kite locked-in. FUN!
Enjoy, G+

adamrod · Post by **adamrod** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 8:17 am

you could also loop the kite while going downwind . . .

KillaHz · Post by **KillaHz** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 8:35 am

The key to going downwind fast is keeping those back lines TIGHT. Keep your body low and your weight back. For a race like today's, you want to have the biggest kite you can handle so you don't have to move it much. If you wind up having to move your kite, you need to use the side of the window as LMG said. Your kite should be trimmed so that you can get about an inch of oversheeting when you pull the bar all the way in. This will cause the kite to fall back into the window a bit as your racing towards it. You want to avoid letting your kite get too far towards the edge of the window and a bit of oversheeting will allow you to do that. When you get this down, it is truly fun as you can go quite fast.

CdoG · Post by **CdoG** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 8:41 am

i like to sine over loop..
when you unwine the bar you lose to much power

Greg · Post by **Greg** » Fri Aug 15, 2008 8:44 am

You want to avoid letting your kite get too far towards the edge of the window and a bit of oversheeting will allow you to do that. When you get this down, it is truly fun as you can go quite fast.

Got that right!!
Good winds RACERS!!
Best Wishes,
L.M.G.

BayAreaKiteboarding.com

Tips going downwind

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