new designs easier to learn on?

Do new kite designs make kiteboarding easier to learn?   by Captain Jeff Hoxtell

http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=224026

Nearly
every brand of kite manufacturer started offering newly designed kites
which feature nearly 100% depower, super easy relaunch and other
various features. The traditional kites which we have been using since
the beginning, referred to as c-kites, u-kites, or classic kites,
worked great. As a matter of fact many pro riders prefer to ride them.
However, learning on a kite which probably depowers 25-35% means that
if you make a mistake on the control bar, you get to suffer the
consequences. With the newer style kites, push the bar away and the
kite won't throw you. Does this make learning easier? You better
believe it! However.....

.....anyone who learns kiteboarding with a flat kite or bow kite, will
not learn to respect kites the way the rest of us did. In the c-kite
years most people got thrown around by the kites until the subtleties
of kite control were mastered. So let this be your warning, if you take
your kiteboarding lesson with a new kite you are not necessarily
prepared to rent, buy or operate a c-kite.

In the beginning we used two line c-kites which had 0% depower, unless
you landed the kite and made rigging adjustments. Then various
varieties of four line and later five line kites made learning easier
and safer allowing the pilot to adjust the power while the kite was in
the air, even while riding the board. Changing the power was
accomplished by pulling the bar in closer for more power, or pushing it
away for depower. Additionally, one could tune the trim strap for how
much power was available when the bar was pulled in for full power.
Nearly everyone agreed right away that being able to depower a kite was
a great feature and the designers began to look for new ways to design
kites which would allow for 100% depower.

The c-kites generally turn in a wider arc, which means that it uses up
more of the wind-window to complete a loop, and generate a longer
duration of power when being looped as they have farther to travel. A
no frills 4 line c-kite can be tricky to relaunch, especially the
larger they get. Many brands offer variations of a trailing edge
relaunch system in which the rider pulled in on a steering line which
caused the trailing edge to pinch in and create lift causing the kite
to roll over. This system worked fairly well for moderate to high
aspect ratio kites (aspect ratio is the length / width), and not so
well for low aspect kites, again especially for larger kites. The next
innovation was the fifth line system which could be used to self
launch, water relaunch, and usually was the safety system as well. The
system worked great as long as the kite didn't somersault resulting in
the fifth line getting wrapped around the back side of the kite, which
was a big problem sometimes resulting in damage to the kite. Throughout
the years we can see a definite progression in the safety and user
friendliness of traditional kites.

The new designs for kites rely on a bridle system, usually with 2 or
more integrated pulleys, this bridle allows the kite to flatten out and
spill wind to a much greater extent than ever before. The huge depower
allows riders an incredibly huge range of wind speeds for which one
kite size is usable. For the beginner being able to get the kite to
depower 70-90% means that big mistakes can be made without getting
thrown by the kite every time. This year I have witnessed many students
progress much faster than years past. Mostly it is the average Joe who
is learning faster and the reason is the old kites were very
intimidating which for most people slowed down the learning process. It
is understandably hard to learn if you are intimidated or hesitant.

The flat kites also turn very tight which can be a plus or a minus
depending on one's riding style. Most intermediate riders like this
feature. Another benefit for those aspiring to ride waves is the
depower allows you dump all power and truly surf the wave. Many
seasoned riders have gotten their best wave sessions ever on the new
bow kites. The final difference in these two kites is the hang time,
and wow is there a difference. Learning to stick the spins, rolls and
board offs is much easier when you have more time in the air.

In summary I can attest to this being the safest, and most efficient
year to date to get into kiteboarding because of the ease of use with
the new flat kites. Having said this, remember that if you learn on a
bow kite stick with bow kites only, until you can get instruction on
c-kites. Everyone must take lessons with a certified instructor before
trying solo. Would you purchase a hang glider and just figure it out on
the way down? I hope not!

Captain Jeff Hoxtell
PASA, Kiteboarding Instructor, Level 3
Air Padre Kiteboarding
www.airpadrekiteboarding.com
info@airpadrekiteboarding.com

Technorati Tags: kiteboarding learn easier

Light wind kiteboarding

Techniques for light wind kiteboarding    by Captain Jeff Hoxtell

http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=247786

Kiteboarding / kitesurfing in light wind is tricky; flying the kite
requires extra focus and finesse. This is due to the fact that the kite
is often teetering on the edge of stalling and the smallest mistake
will usually cause the kite to fall from the sky. Understanding how the
kite behaves differently in light wind is a step in the right
direction. The biggest factor is apparent wind, one must understand
what apparent wind is and how to make it work.

Apparent wind is the vector addition of the true wind speed, and the
speed the rider is traveling. Consider the example where we have 10
knots of N wind, and you are riding E at 10 knots. The kite is feeling
about 14 knots at this point. So by riding the rider is creating extra
wind for the kite to use. However take the same example but lets ride
downwind. If the wind is 10, and you're riding in the same direction at
10, the kite feels 0. Remember launching a single line kites as
children, someone holds the kite and then lets go as we ran into the
wind. As children we already had a concept of apparent wind.

Starting now with launching the kite we will recall that the farther
upwind the bar is of the kite, the more power in the launch. By
choosing the correct launch angle, getting the kite up in the air is
easier. Many kites especially some the new flat kites, do not like to
be launched with much rear line tension, this is also true for water
relaunch, and when moving the kite from low on the sides back up to
neutral. It is counter intuitive that pushing the bar away a bit often
helps in these cases. When bringing the kite from low on the edge to
neutral focus on the center strut, as the kite comes up try to keep the
center strut almost parallel to the horizon, too much angle will cause
the kite to stall. This idea can also be used to stabilize a kite which
is about to stall, bring the strut down to parallel with the horizon.
This allows the kite to stabilize by moving across the window and since
the kite is moving side to side it doesn't have to fight gravity as
much as it does when moving up, or against gravity.

Once the kite is up in the air avoid walking down wind if possible when
moving to the water. If this can not be avoided keep the kite moving
between 11 and 1 o'clock and make the way slowly. Keeping the kite high
in the window gives us more time to react to luffing and stalling. Also
avoid parking the kite in neutral, again ,
[color=red][/color][size=18][/size]Do not park the kite in neutral!,
try instead 1 or 11. When the kite does stall push the bar away and
turn the kite making the center strut parallel with the horizon, (turn
kite down). Once the kite catches the wind bring it to a stable parked
postion. Mastering keeping the kite up long enough to get to the water
and up on the board on is the first challenge of light wind
kitesurfing.

Once we get into the water we slap the board on quickly and without
hesitation dive the kite, start kiteboarding / kitesurfing as quick as
possible. Remember once you have the board on your feet you begin
drifting with the kite which reduces the apparent wind. I usually loop
the kite once or twice to get moving then stick with flying the kite up
and down on the side of the wind window. I also down loop the kite when
doing a slide transition, which in light wind is more of a pivot. Light
wind is the best for learning to loop the kite while riding. Be cafeful
looping when the wind is higher until you've practiced in the lighter
stuff. And remember that downlooping is usually safer that uplooping as
going up will generate lift.

The idea now is to work the edge of the board with the kite to generate
as much speed as possible. The more speed we can get the more apparent
wind the kite gets, and the more power we get. At this point
over-edging will slow us down killing the apparent wind, conversely too
little edge and we find ourselves following the kite which also kills
the power. The more common of the two mistakes is over edging. The
secret is the edge pressure must be varied as the kite moves up and
down in the wind window. As the kite powers up during the power-stroke
the edge pressure is gradually increased, as the kite begins to depower
or turn, the pressure is decreased. This will take some practice and
patience.

Getting good at kiteboarding in light wind is a great way to get more
days on the water. Some of us don't live in places where it blows 20
every day, so being able to turn a light wind day into a fun day on the
water would be great. Keeping the kite in the air while moving to the
water and putting the board on is tough. Try practicing flying the kite
in light wind without the board if you are having trouble with this
step. Once in the water get up and riding as quickly as possible, thus
getting apparent wind working for you. Keep your speed up and don't
edge too much. By getting the right techniques you can be staying
upwind and jumping while friends are watching form the shore waiting
for more wind.

Captain J Hoxtell
www.airpadrekiteboarding.com

Kitesurf Worlds Team Cup 2006

http://www.outdoornewswire.com/v/current/htdocs/etc/sa.php/63617465676f72794c6162656c3d4b697465626f617264696e67266c6f636174696f6e3d323030362f30392f313135373439333431382672737349643d34313232

Be sure to start planning your travel and to register now for an
exciting new competition, brought to you by the The Gest Group and the
Professional Kite Riders Association (PKRA), scheduled to piggy back on
the end of the World Tour this year. The first annual 2006 Kitesurf
Worlds Team Cup is set for October 4th through the 8th in Fleixeiras,
Brazil, just north of Taiba.

The competition format is
designed to consist of teams of three riders participating in three
separate disciplines that encompass all aspects of kiteboarding
competition: course racing, best trick performance and waveriding.
Teams will be grouped by kite brand, and are required to have two
males, one at least 21 years or older, and one female rider. Currently,
16 teams are allotted to enter, all squaring off for $20,000 in prize
money, with $10,000 distributed for first place, $7,000 for second, and
$3000 for third. Cost of entry is $150 USD per team, and the
competition is filling up fast, so for complete information and to
register, go to: www.ktwc.info

Technorati Tags: kiteboarding, world cup

kiteboarding:Gisela WORLD CUP WINNER

another great vid.

Kiteboarding

quality is a little rough but some great stuff in there