Tony wrote: ↑Fri Nov 02, 2018 3:09 pm
Can you guys explain the deflate vent to a novice? I open the velcro on the trailing edge and pull out the vent.
The vent also has velcro strips on the end, what is their purpose? Do I need to do anything with that velcro?
To be sure that we are talking about the same thing, here is a picture:
We are talking about the "sock" in the middle of the trailing edge, aren't we? The "sock" has two velcro: 1/ one in the inside (the white "line" that we can see on the sock in the above picture) and 2/ one on the trailing edge. If yes, the answer is that it has to functions:
Function 1: when you deflate the kite, you take the sock out (just like in the above picture) by opening both velcros. You grap one of the tip (usually the up wind tip while you have the wind on your back and the kite is totally downwind from one tip to the other) and you put it over the tip which is on the ground. You can then start rolling the kite and the sock helps you emptying the air in the kite because it is in the middle and you roll the kite towards the middle.
Function 2: It helps to manage over-pressure in the kite if you crash the kite at high speed on the water or on the ground. The sock open and gets the over-pressure. The velcro inside which has to be closed when you ride allows you to continue to ride and keep the air pressure in the kite if you crash it and the sock deploys --if there were no second velcro inside, the air would get out and you would loose pressure. Several riders have tested (against their will) the sock and all of them say that if the sock deploy there is no problem to fly the kite. You can go back to shore without any problem.
On FZ, we have discussed how to "regulate" the opening on the sock in case of a crash, no only for CA Waves but also for FS Virons that can also be damaged with over-pressure (here is the
link to the thread on FZ. They have the same sort of sock but without the second velcro that keeps pressure in the kite if I remember well. Here is a technique to ease the opening of the sock for a 3m. The aim is to fold the sock in a way that it can open easily and to condemn some of the velcro -- you can also do that with an additional piece of velcro:
some riders have been experimenting with this and folding the sock as above seems to be the current consensus for hydrofoil riders (crashes are usually at higher speed and more "intense" than while riding a strapless surfboard in waves). It is helpful for snowkiting too as the kite crashes on hard ground. The nice thing with the sock is that it is like a "fuse" but you can still ride (thanks to the second velcro) if it blows.
Stef