Hey mate,

You are pretty spot on with everything you have said.

People will disagree on certain aspects but this is how I see it.

2006 Bow kite patent was released by Bruno, they had a bridle system, usually 2:1 depower, and a concave trailing edge(use google to find out original patent).

Hybrids are a derivative of the "Bow" concept, most kites now can be classified as a hybrid as they use parts of the Bow design(eg. small bridle, curved wingtips, extra depower etc.) but also combine with a c-kite shape or performance aspects.

An SLE refers to almost any kite with a leading edge supported by some kind of bridle. 5th line is not SLE unless it is constantly under tension, eg. Airush Vapor, North Rebel etc.

Regards
Matt

Hi Wakes,
You have it right as far as I understand it too.

Hybrids are essentially 5 line kites where the 5th line supports the shape of the leading edge, as compared to the C kites that have a 5th line just for the safety line (ie. doesnt play a role in the kite's normal flight). My kites are North Rebel which are classic hybrids.

SB3 is a SLE/Bow kite, I am not sure about the Waroo but think it is also.

Nic

stamp said...

waveslave said...

I call any 'flat' kite a bow......
but many would disagree with me.

yep, the rest is just marketing. if it needs a bridle to hold shape, its a bow.

Bow kite, was a patented design from Bruno Legaignoux (here is a link to the french patent, I was unable to find the American http://inflatablekite.com/siteinf/gb/docs/FR2866859%20bow.pdf ), here is their site it may go further to clarify what a "Bow" kite is www.inflatablekite.com/sitebow/BowHome.php .

A much better word for the majority of the kites on the market would be SLE, as the Leading Edge is Supported by some form of bridle,

Regards
Matt
Sorry but I find it quite irritating when people misuse "bow", it is essentially irrelevant for all kites in the current market, Cabrinha excluded.

Go to airush.com and download the PDF-file FAQS under the menu Tech support. It explains some of your questions plus some more.

As I understand it "Bow" and "SLE" are essentially the same and came out at the same time. Naish termed their bridle system "SLE" so as not to infringe on the "Bow" patent. Or it may have even been the other way around... who knows... its a can of worms anyway... you will probably have some die hard old skool 4 line C kite guy on here soon calling people names

sunseeker said...

Don't forget about Delta C's [}:)]

Which are also effectively just bow's/sle's with a minimalist bridle.

Why do these people all have to try coin their own names? Its bloody annoying having to deal with everyone's marketing crap which is effectively used to differentiate between kites.

I'm not using a laptop right now, its a glass fronted input device. Its much better than a laptop, because its glass fronted and it doesn't go on my lap. BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH. Next thing they'll be renaming kite bars because they think that having some super duper foam on the bar qualifies it for a special name. Reminds me of the whole Cabrinha binding crap. They are friggen big footstraps...deal with it and stop blowing smoke up your own ass, Pete!

hawaii said...

yeah but which is better :)

My kite is the only acceptable answer

There will only ever be one Elvis... can we all agree on that?

getfunky said...

There will only ever be one Elvis... can we all agree on that?

You say it like he's dead. I know he's really alive, the aliens will break him back some time in the future.

Saffer said...

getfunky said...

There will only ever be one Elvis... can we all agree on that?

You say it like he's dead. I know he's really alive, the aliens will break him back some time in the future.

And he'll be riding a Delta C with IDS control bar and a hybrid Twin Tip with backless bindings.

He will need some big pockets (or DSC-device storage compartments) to store his PBJ sammies. Hope his control system features auto-pilot?


BTW I reckon 69 comeback Elvis would be riding a classic C. Las Vegas sequined suit Elvis would def be riding a bow though, the great flabby git.

stamp said...

Saffer said...


Next thing they'll be renaming kite bars because they think that having some super duper foam on the bar qualifies it for a special name.

its not a bar, its a control system

Most companies call them bars. Cabrinha call them control systems because they feel theirs are "special"

Hey Guys,

No disrespect intended, but you all techin' out too much. Although that stuff is a nice to know, it certainly isn't a need to know. There are good and bad models from each of the design types.

What matters is how a kite flies and whether it does what you want it to do. Thats it! Grab a ride of a mates kite, or a demo kite and see if you like it.

Whether it be a Bow, Flat 5, SLE, "C", 4 line, 5 line or whatever doesn't really matter, you'll just know when it is right for you.

Good winds,

There are only 3 types of kite: C; SLE and Foil

Hey RayQ,

As a pedantic foil user, I'd like to add that there are as many differences between foil kites as between inflatable kites.

For instance, a Peter Lynn kiteboarding kite has 4 main lines that makes it look like a C shape inflatable. A Flysurfer kite is "supported" with multiple bridles that give it a much flatter profile, like a SLE... although flatter. They are totally different kites.

Even within a brand like Flysurfer (the one i know best), kites are really targeted to a specific usage: the latest Psycho 4 is a fantastic waveriding, freestyle and wakestyle kite, though the Speed2 would be very average for waveriding, but excels in speed (surprising?), jumps and hangtime. They are radically different to each other.

So here is my amendment to the kite classification you proposed:

1- Inflatable kites:
1.1 - C
1.2 - SLE
2 - Foils (double skin only)
2.1 - Bridled (ex: Flysurfer)
2.2 - inverted U-shape (ex: Peter Lynn)

We fly what we feel like, as long as the fun is at the end of the bar...

Fred