Find reviews of kites, boards and accessories
-
Laughingman
- Very Frequent Poster
- Posts: 2979
- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2009 4:35 pm
- Local Beach: Kettle Point, Mitchell's Bay, Rondeau Bay
- Favorite Beaches: Kettle Point, Mitchell's Bay, Rondeau Bay, Long Bay, Cayo Guillermo, La Ventana
- Gear: Ocean Rodeo Gen6 Flites 10m, 12m Gen2 Roams 6m and 8m, Cloud D 4.8, 6.2, 8.0, 10.4
Xeon Laluz, Mako Wide 150, Jellyfish Custom surf board quad fin 6', LF Impulse Foil and Kanaha Shapes 37" board
Engine Harness with slider
- Location: Southwestern Ontario
-
Has thanked:
17 times
-
Been thanked:
17 times
Postby Laughingman » Fri Jan 27, 2012 10:13 pm
eree wrote:Laughingman wrote:Hi Bill
Can you tell us the aspect ratio of the switch kite line up? If they are different from size to size then just pick the largest common size.
i think AR is not a much importance if you don't know the profile of the wing of the kite.
if different AR kites have the same low wing profile you never have good low end for the heavier riders.
so good luck if you are heavy...
Hi Eree
I come in between 75 kg and 80 kg depending on the time of year. Not sure if that would be considered heavier or not.
What I am looking for is a larger kite for those lighter wind days which is not so difficult for me to edge against. I've read that higher AR allows the kite to fly further upwind (and past the window if you are not careful) so more difficult to fly but if you are good at it you can likely find that sweet spot most days and rocket upwind.... I think it is worth mentioning that I prefer to ride OR Makos most of the time.
If you have more to add to help me in my search for my perfect quiver please feel free to share!
-
eree
- Very Frequent Poster
- Posts: 1261
- Joined: Sun Jul 13, 2008 9:49 am
- Brand Affiliation: None
- Location: shallow sea
-
Has thanked:
9 times
-
Been thanked:
1 time
Postby eree » Fri Jan 27, 2012 11:00 pm
Laughingman wrote:I come in between 75 kg and 80 kg depending on the time of year. Not sure if that would be considered heavier or not.
What I am looking for is a larger kite for those lighter wind days which is not so difficult for me to edge against. I've read that higher AR allows the kite to fly further upwind (and past the window if you are not careful) so more difficult to fly but if you are good at it you can likely find that sweet spot most days and rocket upwind.... I think it is worth mentioning that I prefer to ride OR Makos most of the time.
If you have more to add to help me in my search for my perfect quiver please feel free to share!
i think you have just the perfect weight for it.
well i'm 20 kg bigger. so you can enjoy switchkite gear just fine, i'm sure
-
Hansen Design
- Very Frequent Poster
- Posts: 626
- Joined: Wed Feb 15, 2006 8:04 pm
- Brand Affiliation: None
- Location: USA
-
Has thanked:
0
-
Been thanked:
12 times
-
Contact:
Postby Hansen Design » Sat Jan 28, 2012 6:27 am
Eree:
Agree the AR is only one of many parameters blended into a final design. Profiles and their spanwise AOA and morphing are key determining factors and somewhat proprietary to most designers and brands. That said, attached is the Switch Method 9 center profile for those interested.
I tend to vary the depth of profiles between 12-15% depending on kite models and size with max draft between 17 - 25% (on inflato kites) and morph them to 0-5% and more draft aft in the wingtips. The constant curve leading edge on my designs make the profiles appear flatter because the kite is smoothly sculpted from tip to tip without angled joints but the profiles are anything but flat.
Many heavyweights prefer 'bucket kites' with substantial coning which tend to sit back in the window and pull hard even at low speeds. To me, that type of kite is one dimensional and inefficient with regards to upwind ability making them less desirable for all-round use. It is pretty well known by now that the Method is very powerful for its flat area size and also very efficient upwind. The Nitro is also known for rapidly generating power with great upwind angle so heavyweights really do have a choice and no longer have to settle for 'tractor' style mow-the-lawn kites.
Cheers!
eree wrote:I think AR is not a much importance if you don't know the profile of the wing of the kite. If different AR kites have the same low wing profile you never have good low end for the heavier riders. So good luck if you are heavy...
- Method-Profile.jpg (22.66 KiB) Viewed 2143 times
-
Telekiter
- Frequent Poster
- Posts: 265
- Joined: Thu Nov 10, 2005 10:37 pm
- Gear: Kites:
-7.5 m, BEST kahoona -09
-9 m Switch Element -12
-13 m Switch Element -12
-17 m Blade Fat Lady -11
-10 m, FS Psycho3, -08
Boards:
-OR Mako 150x40.
-OR Mako King 165x44
- Brand Affiliation: Switchkites Team rider.
- Location: Sweden
-
Has thanked:
0
-
Been thanked:
0
Postby Telekiter » Sat Jan 28, 2012 5:01 pm
Bill - have you ever contemplated solving the issue of kites ripping along the struts on high speed impacts?
I recon it would be an easy task realy. A simple solution would be adding a stripe (possibly 2" wide) of new slightly flexibel material that runs all along the LE and separates the LE from the canopy. This way, when the LE bends on a high speed impact the tensional forces normaly transfered to the canopy (ripping it) is absorbed by the new flexing mtrl.
soooo what do you think?
/Urban.
-
Hansen Design
- Very Frequent Poster
- Posts: 626
- Joined: Wed Feb 15, 2006 8:04 pm
- Brand Affiliation: None
- Location: USA
-
Has thanked:
0
-
Been thanked:
12 times
-
Contact:
Postby Hansen Design » Sun Jan 29, 2012 4:14 am
Urban:
Interesting question and possible solution.
Flexible materials are generally prone to quick degradation of properties due to UV exposure and profile changes also might present a possible problem with your suggestion but it does have some merit. We already reinforce the kites along the struts and the LE edge canopy-attach seam. Constant curve LE design also helps because it eliminates the corners at the struts where the tearing you mention usually occurs. We clearly would take corrective action if we found a significant problem with our current build. Kites are a form of aircraft and high speed impacts are potentially damaging even when the construction is based on their high probability. I do not believe damage can be totally eliminated - even with a large increase in cost and/or weight so a decision must be made at some point in that regard.
When I was building high performance stunt kites, I had to explain more than once that kites are aircraft and Boeing does not warranty their airliners against damage from crashes either...
Cheers!
Telekiter wrote:Bill - have you ever contemplated solving the issue of kites ripping along the struts on high speed impacts?
I recon it would be an easy task realy. A simple solution would be adding a stripe (possibly 2" wide) of new slightly flexibel material that runs all along the LE and separates the LE from the canopy. This way, when the LE bends on a high speed impact the tensional forces normaly transfered to the canopy (ripping it) is absorbed by the new flexing mtrl.
soooo what do you think?
/Urban.
-
L0KI
- Very Frequent Poster
- Posts: 2817
- Joined: Thu Aug 18, 2005 1:17 am
- Gear: .
-
Has thanked:
0
-
Been thanked:
1 time
Postby L0KI » Sun Jan 29, 2012 6:15 am
Ocean Rodeo has had a dacron strip about two inches wide that runs from end to end on the kite at about a foot back from the leading edge. A great idea. Nobody else bothers to go to the expense to add it on their kites.
-
Hansen Design
- Very Frequent Poster
- Posts: 626
- Joined: Wed Feb 15, 2006 8:04 pm
- Brand Affiliation: None
- Location: USA
-
Has thanked:
0
-
Been thanked:
12 times
-
Contact:
Postby Hansen Design » Sun Jan 29, 2012 10:59 am
OnB:
Not a matter of cost. I prefer to avoid 'hard' spots caused by fabric discontinuities or transverse seams in the max draft area of the profile. I do make a functional fabric orientation change further aft to reduce stretch and help keep the draft forward. Other designers may have different preferences.
Cheers!
Oldnbroken wrote:Ocean Rodeo has had a dacron strip about two inches wide that runs from end to end on the kite at about a foot back from the leading edge. A great idea. Nobody else bothers to go to the expense to add it on their kites.
- Fabric-Orientation1a.jpg (72.54 KiB) Viewed 1939 times
-
naishdude
- Very Frequent Poster
- Posts: 968
- Joined: Tue Oct 14, 2008 9:14 am
- Local Beach: Holland
Spain
Danemark
France
- Favorite Beaches: everywhere at the seaside, where it is allowed to kite
- Style: cruising& wave
- Gear: Airush Sector 54 V5, Cypher5'8 active, compact 5'6, Compact5'5 active, Limit Waves custom 5'6
Ozone reo V5 12 9 7 5
- Brand Affiliation: none
- Location: outer space
-
Has thanked:
6 times
-
Been thanked:
6 times
Postby naishdude » Sun Jan 29, 2012 12:37 pm
Onb.....its like toilet paper, it never tears off at the perforation.....
dude
-
Telekiter
- Frequent Poster
- Posts: 265
- Joined: Thu Nov 10, 2005 10:37 pm
- Gear: Kites:
-7.5 m, BEST kahoona -09
-9 m Switch Element -12
-13 m Switch Element -12
-17 m Blade Fat Lady -11
-10 m, FS Psycho3, -08
Boards:
-OR Mako 150x40.
-OR Mako King 165x44
- Brand Affiliation: Switchkites Team rider.
- Location: Sweden
-
Has thanked:
0
-
Been thanked:
0
Postby Telekiter » Sun Jan 29, 2012 12:48 pm
The BEST nemesis from 08 and 09 also had adressed this by adding reinforcement at the intersection of the LE and struts. Dont know if it worked as intended has i never had any hard crashes with mine.
-
lorenzods
- Rare Poster
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Sat Jan 16, 2010 10:36 am
- Local Beach: Helsinki, Finland
- Favorite Beaches: Caparica, Portugal
Tarifa, Spain
El mèdano, Tenerife
- Style: freestyle, free ride
- Gear: EH Eze 13m, EH Ovando 9m
Crazyfly 140x40
Eclipse 133x39
- Brand Affiliation: None
-
Has thanked:
0
-
Been thanked:
0
Postby lorenzods » Mon Jan 30, 2012 1:54 am
Hi guys,
I have a 10m nitro and am looking at the 13m Element for light winds.
I have been kiting 5years, have 2 TT big & small + strapless surfboard, weigh +- 95kg.
Conditions: 12kn-35kn, flat, chop, waves 2' max
water and snow
Does anybody know how the 13m Element compares to the 14m Nitro.
I like the boost, upwind & hang time of the nitro but figured to ride surfboards in light winds...
Lorenzo
Return to “Reviews”
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 124 guests