Key technologies and tipping points in kiteboarding history

[Peter_Frank]

Hi.

I've written my knowledge and what I think was the big inventions, added or corrected in red.

The rest is just small tweaks and not inventions that changed things, IMO

Some might be able to help with the year and inventors on # 3, 6, and 8/9 ?

Or if I've forgotten something

It should be noted, that I write the year when it gets "public" and sold in bigger numbers or worldwide.
The invention would be made a bit earlier of course...

Hope this can help you ?

- Peter

Hi, everyone!

I'm trying to make a list of key technologiest, R&D steps, major tipping points in history of kiteboarding gear. I offer you my version, but everyone is welcome to correct me and share your vision.

1. Inflatable LE kite design
Legaignoux brothers 1984
They are trying to sell this patent to sport brands without any success. Starting own brand Wipika.


2. Cory Roeseler is starting to ride water ski and rigid delta-shape kite on Maui 1993-94
Windsurfers are stoked and start to get interested


3. Switch from 2 line to 4 line design
When? Was it introduced with bow design?
I think it was in early 2000 they came, maybe the Naish AR5 as the first ? Not with the Bow design...
One of THE greatest changes, as now you could kite in less stable wind, and still feel "safe" and in control.


4. Switch to fast front line flying depowerable C kites.
Wipika / Legaignoux in 2000-2001.
Suddenly the main pull was on the frontlines, and you could turn the kites faster with less fatique with the rearlines.
And they flew faster too, with more depower thus windrange - both making them jumping machines and freestyle beasts.
Used by all kitebrands shortly after till this very day.


5. The Twintip replaced the directionals.
Wipika / Franz Olry in 2001.
Instead of the directionals that rode one way and had to be jibed, one could ride both ways now.
Made a huge amount of difference for both the beginners, but also for freestyle that suddenly changed into a whole new scene with a much higher level of "artistery" so to speak.
Not to be mistaken with those who had used a wakeboard earlier - as wakeboards were too rockered and slow, and too bad upwind, so no good for kitesurfing.
A big difference that suddenly made kitesurfing appealing to a much bigger crowd now, and they totally dominated the full market everywhere, in lots of sizes, for many years.
Twintip pickleforks specially for kitesurfing came around the same time, but they dissapeared again quite fast as too "wake"ish regarding downsides.
Later directionals returned in form of kitewaveboards.



6. 5 lined C kites.
North around 2004 ???
Made C kites much safer and the ability to depower hugely in emergencies.
Easier to relaunch, and could be self landed safely when overpowered.



7. Bow shape kite design
Legaignoux (see Marcs post !) 1995
First in history almost complete degpower and water relaunch
Now kiteboarding is accessible to much wider audience


7?. One pump
Legaignoux 1995 with the Takoon "Bow" kite ? Not sure, but the first I had..
Now the hazzle pumping and closing small struts went away, and you could inflate and deflate kites very easy and simple, by just pumping into one single valve.
Life has been better ever since this invention ! (personal comment but it sells so much better so apparently what most wants)


???. Durable construction of boards (same as in snowboarding)
~2003 Polish guy (later he will create Nobile brand) starts to use this technology
everyone is stoked, because board is not breaking anymore from hard landings.
Have never heard about this, nor really problems with boards breaking...
But it could be true, that it has been a turning point maybe - just not many who knows and sees this as an invention (I think)


???. Delta-shape
designers from F-One in 2007 (who?)
launching Bandit kite with big success
originally in pursue of ways to go around bow patent
shape is really successful for beginners/schools because of windrange and relaunch
Hmmm, I can not see the Delta shape has made ANY change at all in kite history ?
An existing design, tweaked a bit to get a patent, but no difference in kite characteristics and has not influenced kitedesign since this patent.
A small tweak (not used by many) and not an invention IMO


8 or 9. Raceboards invented.
North / Ken Winner in 2009 ?
A completely different type of directional, focusing on light wind planing and upwind ability, instead of turning abitliy, suddenly came.
For kiteracing, which started worldwide to gain popularity.
Bigger fins, more flotation, still short, but wide. The kitesurf way of a "Formula" windsurf board.
Made a big difference in light wind for the recreational kitesurfer too. No more mowing the lawn back and fourh, but you could ride upwind and downwind in surprisingly light wind, and you could jump much higher too in this light wind, because of the speed and upwind angle.



What else? Please correct me, where I'm wrong, and post your versions of key steps in development of our sport.

[icebird]

sorry if some of this is already covered

realizing kites actually do go upwind (upwind movie)
bodydragging upwind
king of air competition

snowkiting, ragnarock?
quick release, any system
push away quick release introduced, North?
push away quick release becomes a standard, mostly

Closed cell foil on water
LEI LW kites that actually fly and relaunch in light wind - Zephyr?
hydrofoil kiteboard

[Peter_Frank]

sorry if some of this is already covered

realizing kites actually do go upwind (upwind movie)
bodydragging upwind
king of air competition

snowkiting, ragnarock?
quick release, any system
push away quick release introduced, North?
push away quick release becomes a standard, mostly

Closed cell foil on water
LEI LW kites that actually fly and relaunch in light wind - Zephyr?
hydrofoil kiteboard

The closed cell foils on water are from 1999-2000 (or earlier, if others ?), as those were the kites we used when learning kitesurfing back then, in our area.

They were the Windtools Mosquito foil kites that did not soak water, great

But I am not sure I would call it a "game changer" like the other inventions

Depends on where you set the limit, as of course it was an invention, true.

Bodydragging upwind was in 2001 or 2 it was "relatively" wellknown as I remember, not a new thing, and meant we ditched our leashes after that.

Peter

[loco4viento]

I would add that the releasable center loop was a great advance in safety after a couple of tragic fatal accidents in 2002 involving very accomplished, well respected top level riders.

[dandaka]

loco4viento, what do you mean be releasable center loop?

[loco4viento]

loco4viento, what do you mean be releasable center loop?

I'm referring to the quick release on a depower "chicken" loop. Before 2003 a center loop had no quick release, and a kiter had to pull the bar all the way in to release in an emergency, or take both hands off the bar and struggle with both hands. Inability to release from the depower / center / chicken loop was involved in a few high profile deaths.

[JGTR]

With regard to 5th lines didn't Wipika start first, they used a passive system that did not support the canopy but did act as a safety line and to assist relaunch, I remember my friend having a Wipika in 2004 with a 5th line. North messed around with lines that attached to the rear of the kite to help relaunch and didn't market it until after North???

[Lanc]

What about bridles, or is that just part and parcel of the bow design?
I remember the old C kites used to jellyfish a lot if not pumped hard enough.
LOL and I remember the early bows inverting quite often.

[Peter_Frank]

With regard to 5th lines didn't Wipika start first, they used a passive system that did not support the canopy but did act as a safety line and to assist relaunch, I remember my friend having a Wipika in 2004 with a 5th line. North messed around with lines that attached to the rear of the kite to help relaunch and didn't market it until after North???

You are right - I remember this too now you remind me, from Wipika, a passive 5th line for safety, which was awesome in terms of depowering and safety release/reconnection or just depowering in squalls

Maybe it was not North that made this as the first ?
They made it as an active stabilizing 5th line, yes, and used in for a long period, partly in order to avoid the bow/bridle patent, but they are also using bridles nowadays on many kites.

What do others say, is it 2004 and Wipika that should have the honour of inventing the 5th line ?
Or ?

Peter

[jbdc]

This thread is totally missing the contributions of Peter Lynn:

• The C-Quad in 1997
• The ARC in 1999

And any mention of the earliest closed-cell (fixed bridle) foils:

• Quadrifoil Kitesurfer
• Mac Para Neptune

I can't find solid dates for those, but they were around in the late 90s and certainly predated any depower foils.

Let us not forget our rigid frame and flying air mattress fore-bearers.