Have we reached "peak kite"?

[mark van haze]

A little opinion piece of mine on upcoming kite developments such as the North gripshift bar and Cabrinhas Fireball system http://www.alwayswindy.com/blog/have-we ... peak-kite/

[naishdude]

how nice and technical it all looks...I still have my doubts how it will function when in salty water and sandy beaches...uptill now all pulleys suffer to some extend...and espcially if they are built inside of something...
Sorry to be negative
dude

[tomatkins]

Mark,

Thanks for researching the patents on the rear line adjuster devices.

Nice way to present the info on your Blog.

[mark van haze]

Mark,

Thanks for researching the patents on the rear line adjuster devices.

Nice way to present the info on your Blog.

Sure, no problem. Its just my personal opinion based on whats already on the web.

[TomW]

1. I really don't understand why adjustment of the trim is so important. You basically do it 1-2 times a session. It's Solving a problem that doesn't exist. Biggest beef I have is line wear, so I'd like to see some material innovation.
2. I work in smartphone industry, and it's flattened out because most " innovation " is solving non-existent problems. the real problems of battery/ power capacity and durability will require long long time to solve.

[kjorn]

Cheap, lightweight, easy to use hydrofoils are a new idea. Incremental technology, granted, but still a new thing.

I think for kites the leading edge tube is due for a new idea. The inside of inflatable stand up paddle boards are bridled, so when inflated they don't form a cylinder but a board shape.



This could be used to make an inflatable kite shaped like a foil kite.

New cloth.

New electronics on the kite. Gathering data on kite speed and orientation, wind speed etc.

It'd be nice to get rid of the bladders, integrate bladder into the cloth.

More opensource plans for DIY kites.

[alamos_kiter]

- cheap pontoons to be anchored in front of crowded beaches, so as to allow launch / land from pontoon
- small, short, standardized QR which can be used with slider, ball, ring, hook
- rigid inflatable boards in general
- standardized leash mechanism

[ragzilla]

interesting article......
well worth the read with my morning coffee...
cheers!

[Starsky]

Hold the electronics please.