UL Kites

[spud]

Read elsewhere that in order to appreciate or in order to learn to fly
well one should master low (crappy) wind with a STD kite.

I tried that, but considering this is a hobby not a profession I don't
get the need for the pain to seek what ever increment of gain their
might be from that philosophy.

I've tried a std here, inland, low velocity, bumpy winds, enough to
make a guy quit flying. It's just not worth the complete hassle and
frustration.

Why do the guru's advise noobs like me to use std's in crappy wind?
So there won't be damn noobs at the kite field?

[Ian Newham]

Post by spud
Why do the guru's advise noobs like me to use std's in crappy wind?
So there won't be damn noobs at the kite field?

I think that the underlying issue is learning to fly very smoothly
and to conserve what lift and momentum you have - trying to keep a
STD aloft in little wind forces you to be smoother or it falls out of
the sky. A PITA yes but once you've got the hang of it it does
pay dividends especially when you get a UL because you will get
more out of it.

That said just buy a UL if its frustrating you that much but be
aware you might not get as much out of it as you expect at first.
Sometimes old hands forget its easy to make such opinions when
you've done all that 10 years ago and forgotten how frustrating
it is!

What kite are you flying now? Another thing old hands forget is
that late 90's kites usually have a lower A/R and more sail
which makes the kites they learned on a lot easier to keep in the
air than say a Nirvana STD.

Avoid the temptation to pump it hard to keep it in the air - you
get a bit of drive when you tug bu the kite stalls when you push
for the next tug. Try to be smooth and keep the lines just tight.

A bit long winded but its quiet here...

[spud]

Thanks Ian:

I have a Mohawk XS UL. A local gentleman has shown me some basic
tricks which I work on when I get a chance to fly, axle, fade, JL,
flic-flac. The kite wraps up for me easy, uh yo-yo's...

I still have 2 std kites, but never use them, the work keeping them
aloft precludes play. Even with this kite I move to keep the kite
up, but don't need to eat up the football field just trying to fly.

I'm in no hurry, gotta keep it fun!

Thanks,
Steve

Post by Ian Newham

Post by spud
Why do the guru's advise noobs like me to use std's in crappy wind?
So there won't be damn noobs at the kite field?

I think that the underlying issue is learning to fly very smoothly
and to conserve what lift and momentum you have - trying to keep a
STD aloft in little wind forces you to be smoother or it falls out of
the sky. A PITA yes but once you've got the hang of it it does
pay dividends especially when you get a UL because you will get
more out of it.
That said just buy a UL if its frustrating you that much but be
aware you might not get as much out of it as you expect at first.
Sometimes old hands forget its easy to make such opinions when
you've done all that 10 years ago and forgotten how frustrating
it is!
What kite are you flying now? Another thing old hands forget is
that late 90's kites usually have a lower A/R and more sail
which makes the kites they learned on a lot easier to keep in the
air than say a Nirvana STD.
Avoid the temptation to pump it hard to keep it in the air - you
get a bit of drive when you tug bu the kite stalls when you push
for the next tug. Try to be smooth and keep the lines just tight.
A bit long winded but its quiet here...