I couldn't find any threads on this since 2007 but maybe it has been covered?
Its nice to be on the right kite size for the wind and have a steady wind. I'm wondering where kite design is now for auto-adjusting for gusts, so the kite 'spills' power in the gusts?
The sort of design features that might handle gusts like:-
Reducing the projected area by the leading edge deforming so the tips are closer together.
Deformation of the aerofoil shape in the centre of the kite so either the aerofoil flattens or the material near the trailing edge sheets out while the front area keeps the same aerofoil.
Sheeting out - maybe by the front lines being very strong and non-stretch and the rears stretching but I cant see how that could be done without badly affecting the handling.
'Leaking' air by having a split which opens up across the width of the kite allowing air to pass through it onto the top surface, reducing the lift?
So where is design now compared to years ago in terms of 'spilling' the extra power in gusts?