Balotelli, removing the pigtails on the rear lines (yes, the kite was underpowered out from factory,
go figure) does not help much. The problem is still there and it is dangerous for you & others
especially when you are on the beach.
If you are not experienced and you don't know well about backstall problems, I would suggest
you buy something else. The captain mentioned the Revs, I had the 9m 2009 for 3 years until I
crashed it for good last month, hence the octane. I love this Rev, it has the same easy to fix p-line
& pulleys design flaw, but no backstall issue. It is interesting here to note that newer generation
does not always mean better, sometimes they make it worse...
As jbdc said, the Octane goes upwind very well, maybe too much, and that might well be part of
the problem. Letting go the bar while the kite is above you is a very good stability test: the Rev
and most kite nowadays will stay up, the octane will fall down and might pull you hard in a gust
before it actually lands. Even when there are people, fences, rocks or whatever around if you
see what I mean...
You're asking what would happen when you sheet fully in at the zenith, this is not a kite problem
and is not related to the above problem. This is simply about properly adjusting your lines, you
should do that in light winds because it is easier and safer: If the kite tends to backstall then it
is overpowered and you need to shorten the front lines (or lengthen the rear lines) until it doesn't
backstall anymore. When buying a new kite, I would begin with (too) long back lines on my
heavily modified bar and start shorten them until the kite starts to backstall when fully sheeted
in. I would then go back to the previous position before backstall, and there I know that this
particular knot position on my bar will allow me to get 100% power out of this kite.
If this is all chineese to you, you should buy North
