Toby wrote: ↑Mon Oct 29, 2018 9:40 am
Wait for the death loop...then we talk
When was the last time you owned and flew a 5-6m kite in gusts to 40 knots Toby?
I'm guessing pre 2010.
I'm not sure you can make any experienced recomendations on flying in these winds with the current kite technology when you openly state that you only own 18m and only use it in lighter winds and have done so for many years.
Current small kites are far safer and easy to fly than the crazy on/off power, shitty safety systems, long bridled kites tip catching death looping machines you have experience with.
Death looping is almost a thing of the past these days. Bridles dont wrap around windtips easily anymore. As long as you have the skill to fly in those winds, the death loop is relegated to equipment failure.
I had such a failure a couple of months back. A squall came through, measured wind gusts hit 50-60 knots. I was in the shallows and my 6m kite center strut burst (its a 2012 kite) chucking the kite jellyfishing and looping into the powerzone. I got dragged through the shallows for a few meters before i hit the safety. Kite fell out of the sky and I was fine. The kite was still too powedered on the safety to walk the line and secure the kite. So i held onto the safety line until squall passed then I secured the kite.
Now tell me about your last 5-6m 40+knot session. When was it, What kite were you flying?
I honestly think you are out of date when giving advice on high winds. I think you need to get a small kite and go and fly in high winds for a while so you can re-aquant yourself to highwind flying and get an impression of how the latest kites behave in those winds. Then you will be able to offer advice based on current experience.