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Hey all,
Last few times I was out on a 15m soul with 20 to 25 knt wind, when I boosted next to side of the reservoir and a cliff side I felt like i was not moving down wind, I felt like I was going upwind like on a glide on snow in the mountains. I was kiting in a narrow reservoir with mostly thermal winds. Am I tripping balls or is it possible to fly or jump up wind on a foil kite. For the record it happened only twice, and it happened in the same area of the reservoir.

That should be upwind due to the cliff.

There are several videos out there where people fly along a cliff back and forth due to those winds.

Toby wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 06, 2020 7:36 pm

That should be upwind due to the cliff.

There are several videos out there where people fly along a cliff back and forth due to those winds.

Thanks Toby, I thought that may have an effect. I have never seen video of people doing that on the water, one of our local riders does ridge soar on his 18m chrono on snow.

Are you on a hydrofoil? I seem to barely move downwind when I boost on a hydrofoil

nope was on TT.

Mate of mine seems to sometimes end up upwind when jumping on his sonic 3

RomeUtah wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 06, 2020 7:28 pm

Hey all,
Last few times I was out on a 15m soul with 20 to 25 knt wind, when I boosted next to side of the reservoir and a cliff side I felt like i was not moving down wind, I felt like I was going upwind like on a glide on snow in the mountains. I was kiting in a narrow reservoir with mostly thermal winds. Am I tripping balls or is it possible to fly or jump up wind on a foil kite. For the record it happened only twice, and it happened in the same area of the reservoir.

I think it was a similar situation when a kiter last year died on a cliff, in Mexico?

I've flown RC planes slope soaring, similar thing but higher up. The free air flow away from the clif is fantastic but at you get close to the slope the lift becomes more turbulent. The lower down the worse it is. Close to sea level and close to the cliff would have to be the most unsafe place of all. Flying RC gliders the lift is better higher up the slope and extends far out and also well above the peak. As you fly lower the lift is more sketchy and less.

Sounds like you are experiencing ridge lift.

Side note. Kiting close to structures/cliffs is dangerous as f*** on a 15m in 20-25 knots. Stop that behaviour asap. You will die.

I've had a couple of times where on my way down from a jump on my 21m Speed 5 that I thought I was going up again due to a gust of wind. However, I think that the sensation was due to it slowing down my descent. Weird feeling as I was extending my legs for a landing and I was still a considerable distance above the water.