McAbe wrote:
FredBGG wrote:
SupaEZ wrote:
Drifts perfectly off the wind on waves in LW (8 knots test w/ surfboard)
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How in the hell can a kite drift when you are riding the surf in 8 knots.
Driftng a kite is when you ride down the line and the kite drifts with you fully depowered.
Your going to have to explain how that works in 8 knots......
If you are surfing a wave you are planning on your surf board. That puts you at about 8 to 10 knots.
This would mean that your kite would have to fly just fine in zero wind......
I am not so clever, but I imagine it could have something to do with the wind vs wave angle

Actually you are "clever"
Off the wind as i mention "does not mean downwind"
Let's think in term of an Olympic Triangle course
Once you reach the windward mark you have to go "off the wind" to the jibing mark
2 types of racing triangles exist:
On the first type you go "off the wind" nearly on a broad reach at 120 degrees to the wind
On the second type you go "off the wind" on a broad reach at 135 degrees to the wind
So yes" wind and wave angle" can help a lot when it comes for the kite to stay up
But in many cases with the kite at around 70 degrees in the sky and a good technique
You can in 8 knots (9.3mph) on this "lightweight 10.5 lbs XR2 19" with 27m lines be on a wave
That kite can stay up in the sky going "off the wind" riding a Whip quad 5'7"x18 5/8" at my 165lbs
Often on waves "apparent wind" get's created due to some extra board speed glide on face
And that can be of great help to sustain the kite's drifting off the wind (not downwind)
Of course you need to feel the right time to cut back before it is too late and lines go too slack !
.............If Dirty Harry was a Kiter he would say : " A Man's Got to Know his Limitations"....................
Like SupaEZ likes to say: Kitesurfing nice waves in LW always "Make my Day"
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