PurdyKiter wrote: ↑Sat May 18, 2019 3:06 pm
Carlos_C wrote: ↑Sat May 18, 2019 8:16 am
You can use a teathered bar /or bag of sand with a climbing quick draw- its a little more fiddly but you essentially back stall the kite to the ground and hook the chicken loop and the steering line s into your quick draw - this keeps the kite in stalled state - sitting on its trailing edge.
I am entirely new to foil kites after a life of LEI kites. In my winters I live on a wide open deserted Mexican beach with gentle sea breezes for my new 12m FS Soul. But... all of my Mexico kiting is always solo. I've got the launch figured out and I've had success. I've also purchased the Ozone Foil Race bar which has the brake strap which should facilitate your rear/steering line self-land backstall technique.
My question for you: I assume the rear-line-backstall landing method only works if the wind is light? What if I'm out kiting and the wind jacks up overpowered? Have you tried a method of flying the foil kite over to the edge of the window (3 o'clock/6 o'clock) and then flagging out with your QR? Is this safe? Will it create a lot of messy bridle & line tangles?
Thank You.
You can do as above and if I am extremely overpowered on a big foil, this is my option. Ways to keep it from twisting more than a little: When you pull to safety with the kite at the wind window, as the kite is flagging out, position yourself upwind and keep the bar/line on the ground or as close to the ground as you can. This prevents the kite from dragging/rolling down line from you and helps keep the kite from flapping around which also causes bridal tangles.
Also in moderate winds I bring the foil to the edge, then at the same time backstall/quickly move upwind. This prevents me from having to flag out. Also trim full out(full power) before hand since it allows you to backstall more easily.
I currently use FS bars and long ago I use to have a backstall strap but ended up taking it off. The plastic steering line balls work better for me, let’s me know how much is needed to backstall the kite, and makes it very easy to do it all with one hand.
Practice in lower winds till you are comfortable and give yourself plenty of room downwind till you get good. Also having a tree/post/whatever that you can backstall the kite and basically allow it to lay against is another method
FYI at least 90% of my kiting is solo launching and landing. I actually prefer it to having someone who does not know how to properly land a foil kite(that includes MANY inflatable riders) try to assist me.
=Jason-