Inflatibles vs foil kites

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General Gear Reviews Newbies The Hookup Foiling Lost & Found WA NSW QLD SA VIC TAS

fver

453 posts

fver

WA, 453 posts

24 Dec 2013 8:05pm

IanR said..
Is there a technique with more modern foils to self rescue if you have gear failure like line snap

Ian,

Coincidence?

I was flying a Flysurfer 12 m Speed 3, a 3 year old kite, two days ago. The leader line (at chicken loop level) snapped

as I was (fortunately only) 100-200m m from the shore.

Here's the behaviour of the kite in this situation:
The kite landed relatively nicely and depowered in the power zone, in kind of safety mode, except that I was still holding the bar (i.e. the rear lines). As the wind was cross on-shore, i got gently pulled by the kite until I reached the beach. The kite did not filled with water (i.e I easily pulled it out off the waves and water). No notable line tangling. The experience went relatively painless.

Then I had another swim to get back the board...

Fred.

Kamikuza

QLD

6493 posts

Kamikuza

QLD, 6493 posts

24 Dec 2013 10:24pm

Those ****ing leader lines - I've had 2 break on my 21 and 15... both resulted in damage to the kite while trying to get it over the bamboo trash on the shore :(They're just power lines, spliced onto themselves for the loops. My theory is they get rotten and then snap at the weakest point - right in the middle, where it's just one line's thickness.

Going to make some proper ones out of leader line Amsteel.

Gorgo

VIC

5124 posts

Gorgo

VIC, 5124 posts

25 Dec 2013 12:26am

IanR said..

...
Is there a technique with more modern foils to self rescue if you have gear failure like line snap

You wind the lines up until you get to a tip. You then put the bar in the tip and wind the kite a little around the bar. This pressurises the air in the kite and stops water getting in. The dampness on the seams and valves also makes the kite seal better.

If there is wind you can work the bridles to sail the downed kite in to shore. Otherwise, just keep hold of the bar wrapped end and swim in. Take another wrap from time to time to keep the internal pressure up.

If you have a split cell then you can leave the split down on the water. The water covers the split and slows the air from leaking out. That also works with open foils if you land them nose down on the water.

IanR

NSW

1342 posts

IanR

NSW, 1342 posts

25 Dec 2013 1:52am

Neat technique Gorgo wished I tried that years ago.
Maybe I should try out big foil again. The last one I tried was a 19 m spleen, it had heaps of power but was real slow to turn.
I Need to find someone who demos the flysurfer kites

twojaythomo

QLD

28 posts

twojaythomo

QLD, 28 posts

11 Feb 2014 10:39pm

I own both so here is what I find.
Been kiting since 2009 I have had a few kites, now I have 2010 nomad 11m and a FS Speed 3 12m.
Relaunch the LEI are easier but foil isn't really hard either.
Setup and launch I find in crowed areas the LEI are easier but in open area I would take the foil, I find easier to launch and land solo.
I higher winds foils are hard to manage on the ground, flap around, easy to tangle.
Do foils get water logged not really, they float on top of the water for ages, had mine floating on the water for 30 minutes, flew it around for a minute and was good to go.
I could go on but there is no point.
If you are on water stick with LEI, much easier to deal with.
If I had both kites in the car and conditions are suitable for both kites, I would always choose my foil, why because it still scares me sometimes and and I guess that's why I always like to take it out over my LEI, but I am babbling because I have had a few drinks.

In the end LEI turn quick, are easier to fly and have more instant depower making it safer to fly and that's my opinion.

twojaythomo

QLD

28 posts

twojaythomo

QLD, 28 posts

11 Feb 2014 11:03pm

FlySurfer said..

Kamikuza said..
You think your S3 15 has less depower than other kites that size/power? I think one of the best things about the Speed3s is their wind range...

The problem with their depower is they don't fly too well fully sheeted out (powered). I tend to keep mine fully depowered so they handle better.
But in general I'd say their right at the top of the power range for all kites.

Kamikuza said..
I'd love to see someone fly a PG on a bar and lines

I know people have flown Speeds on harness and handles, like a PG...

I've got a 28m Airwave Sport 3, that could be repurposed

FlySurfer said..

Guess what I fly?

Here's my view and I've own/ed LEI and Flysurfers.

Flysurfer Pros:
1.- Huge lift... specially the Speed's look at their AR.
2.- Easy quick self launch... unroll pull the centre lines and your off while LEI guys are still pumping. Occasionally you may get a bridle tangle, specially when new to them.
3.- They fly better, they're more stable and have more consistent pull.
4.- Easy self land.

Flysurfer Cons:
1.- They're fragile... crash one LE in to the water and chances are it's going to rip something inside. It will still fly, but a couple more and it's game over. But since they're much more stable it rarely happens.
I've learnt to repair my own... pretty easy now; tape with duct tape, sow with nylon line. 1hr to repair 50cm tear.
2.- They're slow turners. So if your doing kiteloops, you really need to boost higher pull hard a lot sooner.

LEI Pros:
1.- They turn faster.
2.- They're tougher, but they need to be bcos they're always falling out of the sky.

LEI Cons:
1.- Farking pumps, bladers and valves.
2.- Take up more space. An 8m takes more space than a 12m + 15m FS.
3.- Yo Pump up your kite, pump it up a little more, while I'm jumping... look a hit the water cos that's where the party's at and you still pumping. I wa a place to kite can't you keep me on the water some more. Make ma daay. Make ma daay.
Pump it pump it pump it.

When I've been flying my North Rebel, and get on the Speed... I think WTF is this slow piece of crap, but within 10 mins I'm thinking oohhh that was nice air.

When I've been flying my Speed, and get on the North Rebel... I think WTF is this unstable darty no lift piece of crap, but in 10 mins I'm pulling off all my loops with no problems.

This is so true I could not have explained it better, I was drunk when I entered this conversation and didn't not read any earlier post forgive me .

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