"doofus" wrote:
yeah we do something similar with a small pile of damp sand that's been stepped on to hold the downwind lines
Okay, I'll try that, but I think that once the tip pulls enough line through the sand so that tip can flap freely*, it will have enough slack to wrap around the tip. Still, it's worth a try, being much easier, lighter, & more aerodynamic than adding a cork to the zipper tab.
*The wind also shifts direction here too, which certainly doesn't help matters.
I left nearly all the text from "monkeyair" <traigtrumbo@e...> intact below (with my comments inserted) for those of you on groups where his reply may not have appeared:
> Hi Mel.
> Sounds like you are having a blast on your G arc. The bar load is
> actually not bad at all even on the forward attachments which I have
> been using on the new models and all the old protos last year. No
> harness line is necessary. If you come from any tube, defenitely no
> fixed harness line is necessary.
Well I did "come from" tube kites, but I haven't used one since mid 2001, so my forearms are a bit out of shape (but quickly building back up again). When I'm feeling strong &/or rested from a few sad days of no wind I'll likely give the forward attachments a try.
> As far as the spar addition goes. Many, many hours on these things
> , with and without spars showed quite an improvement with at the
> bottom end and any time even in upper end when putting lots of control
> input into the kite as in yanking it around while wave sailing where
> distortion can be brought into the kite. The stiffened tips make a big
> difference in the look of distortion in the center span of kite. For
> sure more noticeable in the bottom end though to the casual observer.
> The stock kites rock as well for sure. Certainly not a mandatory
> modification. Just a stiff sway bar added to the 911 porsche sort of
> thing. Good, but not needed by everyone. It was a huge difference for
> all the 12 G users this last year. If you don't yank your kite around
> wave sailing, jumping or signing, stock is fine. We are using firm
> carbon spars as in the tips of the kites in the additional spar
> pockets.
I'm definitely a "stiff sway bar" type of guy, & I like to be able to yank the kite around, so I may end up trying those mods too. Spar added to the bottom of the 5th rib from the end (counting the half-rib as #1), right? How close to the LE do they go?
> Did you switch from your free bar on your new G?
No. I didn't switch anything but the kite itself. I just happened to be in the middle of testing a new board, & plan to switch back to my old favorite for the next G test.
> The 13 and
> above love a lot of sheeting range. There was a 220 pound customer of
> mine on a larger plywood (154 cm?) board and a g 13 here at Leo today
> having a blast in 12 or 13 mph average. You can really work these
> kites. He would do a pump and then just lock it in and zip up wind. I
> was on a 19.5 Gastra. Was on my 18 G earlyer. Like to use lots of
> different stuff. The difference in gust absorption between the two
> are night and day. Huge advantage to the arcs here. These g arc kites
> love board speed. I was on a very small and sinky board. Putting on a
> little larger and faster board was like adding a couple of kite sizes.
> Let us know how your jumps go. We have been getting huge and floaty
> stuff on our G's and love the speed. The kite can accelerate out of
> neutral for a fast landing. The 13 and ten are the kings of this of
> course. Another fellow was out on his 15 G and thought he had the
> perfect kite for the day. He was 170 pounds and on a wave tray 157. It
> is all in board and how much you want to work the kite. When you get
> used to where the power is in the g and start throwing the jumps Mel,
> you will be even more stoked. Still teaching on the s arc and think
> it is a great first timers kite for a good season but the G has realy
> taken the concept to the next level. Flat rocker board and you are a
> planing bullet. Were you on a directional on your G Mel? Thought I
> saw the jybe word in your diary.
You did, & yes I really only ride directionals so far, since I haven't found a bi that suits me (but have a Buzz & LiteWave 136 on order, to see if I like either of them).