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Kites available in sizes smaller than 4m?

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bragnouff
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Re: Kites available in sizes smaller than 4m?

Postby bragnouff » Wed May 29, 2019 9:54 pm

windmaker wrote:
Wed May 29, 2019 6:51 pm
Agreed with Peter that longer lines smoothen out and broaden the range of very small kites (...)
There's something a bit strange happening with very small kites and long lines (talking about 4m /surfboard conditions). Strong winds would make the line drag much more noticeable, and would tend to make the lines curve inwards when the kite isn't powered up (front lines and back lines would be significantly curved). This would make the depowered tiny kite pitch more and move in the window quite a bit, and contribute to a on/off jerky feeling of a small kite in strong winds. Nothing that can't be dealt with through practice and technique, keeping a bit more tension here and there, and typically kite drifts so much that it isn't much of an issue, but I find that 18-20m feels a bit more in sync with a tiny kite. Must be something with the line drag to kite grunt ratio.
Possibly having thinner race lines would help too, but there's something reassuring having heavy duty lines when conditions get serious.

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Re: Kites available in sizes smaller than 4m?

Postby grigorib » Wed May 29, 2019 9:56 pm

5-7-9-12 is a good line with about 30% increase each step. 3-4 is same ~30% increase range. But I wouldn’t go 3-4-5-7-9-12 - that’s a bit too many kites as I see it.

3.7-5-7-9-12 would be a nice line
4.5-6-8-11 is more limited range but also one kite less
However 9 is my (and many others) main jumping size and 8-11 sizes don’t really substitute for “jumping 9m”

Also there aren’t many 3.7m and 4.5m kites and picking kites of different models/manufacturers makes it a bit of a gamble

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Re: Kites available in sizes smaller than 4m?

Postby Nem0 » Wed May 29, 2019 10:02 pm


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Re: Kites available in sizes smaller than 4m?

Postby Nem0 » Wed May 29, 2019 10:03 pm


grigorib
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Re: Kites available in sizes smaller than 4m?

Postby grigorib » Wed May 29, 2019 10:07 pm

Technically this one comes in 3m too
https://www.slingshotsports.com/Z-Kite? ... stcol14=22

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Re: Kites available in sizes smaller than 4m?

Postby bragnouff » Wed May 29, 2019 10:19 pm

Nem0 wrote:
Wed May 29, 2019 10:03 pm
Or this one in 2.5m...
https://www.hw-shapes.de/Ozone-UNO-Trai ... gJjKfD_BwE
I've used the Uno 2.5 for training my son, and have used it a bit for buggying, and while it is a fantastic training tool, or even a usable option for someone under 35kg, it isn't really suited to strong winds, or proper loading. The power delivery is really uneven when going purposefully through the power zone, maybe the shape of the kite distorts too much under load with a tendency to stall and release despite a proper trim, but that's definitely not something I'd see as comfortable or enjoyable for usage in serious conditions.

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Re: Kites available in sizes smaller than 4m?

Postby tkaraszewski » Wed May 29, 2019 10:52 pm

grigorib wrote:
Wed May 29, 2019 9:56 pm
5-7-9-12 is a good line with about 30% increase each step. 3-4 is same ~30% increase range. But I wouldn’t go 3-4-5-7-9-12 - that’s a bit too many kites as I see it.
You underestimate my ability to acquire kites.

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Boards: Spleene RIP 37, Flysurfer Radical6 138, Flysurfer Flydoor5 XL, Slingshot/Moses/RDB 70/90/101cm masts with 1200/860/800/730/600 kitefoil or 2200/1700/1400 wingfoil wings and 310/230/425 stabilizers, Naish MicroChip 80cm, 36" Woody, Slingshot Dwarfcraft Micro 100, MBS Comp 95x

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Re: Kites available in sizes smaller than 4m?

Postby grigorib » Wed May 29, 2019 11:12 pm

tkaraszewski wrote:
Wed May 29, 2019 10:52 pm
grigorib wrote:
Wed May 29, 2019 9:56 pm
5-7-9-12 is a good line with about 30% increase each step. 3-4 is same ~30% increase range. But I wouldn’t go 3-4-5-7-9-12 - that’s a bit too many kites as I see it.
You underestimate my ability to acquire kites.
Oh no. I found a buyer few weeks back for two of my friend’s kites, and so his kite count went from 19 LEIs to 17 :)

But personally I feel that I need a size smaller than 5m as I get overpowered with my 5m on a foil but also like to keep all kites fit into one duffel bag for travel, and trying to keep quiver universal in the middle sizes 7-9m so it’s good for boosting/foiling/looping and sizes outside of those could rather be more tilted to foil specific I’d say.

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Re: Kites available in sizes smaller than 4m?

Postby SimonP » Thu May 30, 2019 12:28 am

junebug wrote:
Wed May 29, 2019 3:13 pm
Does anyone have experience foiling with the small Switch Elements? The 3m, 4m, and 5m sizes are all one strut.
I have a single strut 5m Element and love it for foiling. It is low aspect, very predictable and mellow. The wind range is crazy wide, I have used it in 15 knots and also in 30+ knot squalls. It's a very different kite to the 7m which is a five strut high performance kite. I have ordered a 4m for the 25+ knot days but having problems getting it through customs.
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Re: Kites available in sizes smaller than 4m?

Postby Peter_Frank » Thu May 30, 2019 6:50 am

SimonP wrote:
Thu May 30, 2019 12:28 am
Snip...

I have ordered a 4m for the 25+ knot days but having problems getting it through customs.

What are the problems?

There will usually be a delay as we have to pay customs in most countries when outside EU, but I haven't experienced they won't let you have it when paid, so curious now?

8) Peter


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