edt wrote: ↑Sat May 19, 2018 2:31 am
I think the best answer is just go try it. People are always asking in this forum about what's the "right" line length. Wouldn't it suck if you took the advice of some random here on the forum who told you "such and such length is the longest never go above it" and only figured out years later that you actually liked longer lines?
So true, best advice here
But I still find it interesting what others experience when going even longer, as apparently most or all here havent done it really, just speculations about how it would work, or only a freak day now and then with these and not daily experience
As said before, I havent tried it myself so can not answer.
Why havent I ? Hmmm, maybe because when out in 6-8 knots and it suddenly gets too low, one stops.
So should be done in advance, simply to "try" and see how it works, for a reasonable amount of marginal wind sessions, to know the effect.
It could also be a lot simpler, namely that the feel of a tad longer lines when riding in a bit less wind is the very same, so easy to switch without having to re-learn timing fully, and you still win the power and duration effects
Besides still being easy to launch in most spots, whereas longer can be tricky but isnt it just out of old habits we think so ?
I can say one thing for sure, I am using 26-27 m lines for all winds and sizes when powered in the sweetspot, that is simply a personal choice and nothing special about that.
But when light and marginal wind, using 30 meter lines instead, maybe only 3 meters longer, makes a HUGE difference in every positive aspect whatsoever, no downsides IMO
It is not just a "tad" better, but so much one wont believe it.
Thus the question, does even longer make the same extreme difference, or will the return start diminishing like slowboat proposes and not really worth it ?
Or something in between ?
The extra long lines might also work in a very different way on LEI kites and fast foil kites and really big foilkites, which might also give some confusion when shared on the net and not experienced personally.
30 m has the huge effect over 25-27 m on LEI and fast foilkites, whereas it is more difficult to say about really big foilkites (18 and 20 m2) as only racers use these in general because they dont start earlier and overpowered for freeride fun, but way better up/downwind.
And as they dont want long lines because they hardly never ride so low powered and have a different riding pattern also, experiences are a lot more limited on these sizes.
But how DO say 35 m lines really work, compared to 30 m and most kitefoilers "normal" 24-27 m when LEIs at least ?
I think I will rig a bar with some older 9-10 m extensions I had back in the days, on a 26 m bar and try.
This can show how it feels right away, but I have to change to a 30 m on the same days, for "power and benefit" comparisons.
Norcom havent found any advantages though, going from 30 to 33 with an 11 m2 tube.
Others ?
The question is one of the best IMO, "How long is too long ?" eventhough of course it can only be "How long do you find is too long ?"
PF