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 Post subject: Going upwind in light wind ?
PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 1:54 pm 
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From time to time you can read topics about light wind kites, different people say that they are able to hold ground or go upwind i marginal condition ~8kntos or something like that.
I, on the 17m kite (fs speed I) and 164 tt board barely planing in 10kntos.
It's probably my bad technique, so any tips on going upwind in low wind ? or any article about it, i was looking for few days but didn't found anything.


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 Post subject: Re: Going upwind in light wind ?
PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 2:27 pm 
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Location: ontario
All about speed and technique. Try getting some speed and then turn upwind. If you start to lose power, point a little more downwind to get some speed. Also a 17 would have a lot of power. It could be equipment. Maybe the board gets you on plane, but doesn't cut up wind without killing the power?


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 Post subject: Re: Going upwind in light wind ?
PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 3:00 pm 
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Joined: Sun Jan 02, 2011 11:45 pm
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Location: Boca Raton, FL
How much do you weigh? In 10 knots im going upwind on my 12m sb and 133 tt....


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 Post subject: Re: Going upwind in light wind ?
PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 3:11 pm 
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Location: Japan
Speed 1 17m is not a 'grunty' kite ... nor is it fast. You won't get much power out of it by working it -- try some line extensions to improve the bottom end ... which'll make it even slower :lol:
There's better low-wind kites for sure -- that's more a fat-kids kite for 12 knots or so ... bit of technique with the FSers helps too ...

Wind speed is pretty subjective IMO ... things like quality of wind, temperature, current and flatness of the water at your spot help too with the bottom end. Have your grain of salt ready ...


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 Post subject: Re: Going upwind in light wind ?
PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 3:22 pm 
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Joined: Sat Apr 13, 2002 1:00 am
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Location: Vancouver, Canada. rides Naish
My guess is that your board may be what's holding you back. A big twin tip is not necessarily a good light wind board. With a twin tip you need one that is really flat and with straight or even concave edges like a door style of board.

Better still is a race board. I rocket upwind on my raceboard with a 12m kite in under 10 knots.

:wink: CG


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 Post subject: Re: Going upwind in light wind ?
PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 6:09 pm 
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Location: Thailand
KiteCulture wrote:
All about speed and technique. Try getting some speed and then turn upwind. If you start to lose power, point a little more downwind to get some speed. Also a 17 would have a lot of power. It could be equipment. Maybe the board gets you on plane, but doesn't cut up wind without killing the power?

:thumb:
Nothing to add to KiteCulture's advice if your TT is a Spleen or a Flysurfer Door and if you are anything less than 90 kg. In 10 knots, you should be flying upwind of everybody, except those with raceboards.


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 Post subject: Re: Going upwind in light wind ?
PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 8:36 pm 
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Yes i'm using flydoor 164x49 2006 probably, and i weight 81kg.
Maybe it's gusty wind i don't know, in next session i will try build a lot of speed before pointing upwind.


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 Post subject: Re: Going upwind in light wind ?
PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 9:09 pm 
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Well make sure you are gently dialing it up and rotating yourself upwind delicately, not carving upwind like a wakestyler, prob. you know that, but it's all finesse, edging just enough to hold ground and rotating hips to head upwind, careful not to oversheet, don't let the kite too low, etc.....
And at some point, bigger kites....


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 Post subject: Re: Going upwind in light wind ?
PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 10:49 pm 
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finalcell wrote:
I, on the 17m kite (fs speed I) and 164 tt board barely planing in 10kntos.
It's probably my bad technique


.........NO it is NOT your TECHNIQUE
........10 Knots is exactly what you can expect with that old flying tarp and probably that old board

......With a name like "finalcell" does it mean that your final decision is cell (foil) kites only?

.....Are you serious about going upwind easily in 8-9 or 10 knots?
....Well then get some gear that will do the job
....And it does not have to be a cell foil kite
...2012 is a revolution year for specialized LW tubes that does just what you are looking for

...The day before yesterday i tested the Core Riot XR2 LW 17M and flew upwind supaez in 8kn
...On the next lightwind day i will test the XR2 LW 19M to test 7kn
...We have a new importer/distributor in my town

....I ride in ocean on directionals and no true raceboards
...Freerace 164cm (5'3")x 18 5/8" twin-fin
...Whip 5'7" x 18 5/8 quad fin
...Kontact 5'9" x 16 7/8" truster fin

....I used to have all kinds of doors in the days
...Sold them all because they really are out of place in a wave environment...
...I am 75kg and ride what works for me

...Everyone is different.....so good luck.....and good light wind during your holy grail search

........................................................... :surf: :surf: ..........................................................................


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 Post subject: Re: Going upwind in light wind ?
PostPosted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 11:35 pm 
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