Saturday, January 2, 2010

Power Kites and Trainer Kite Tips to Get Started

By Andy Simmons

Those who have had the opportunity to fly power kites already know they are designed a specific way. These are geared to actually pull the person flying it. There are 3 prime power kites you will see today; the supported leading edge, leading edge inflatables and foils. Individuals who enjoy these are usually just having a good time and adding doing so on ground boards or from vehicles. If you want to try this with a vehicle there should be everything from a kiteboard, buggy and landboard to all-terrain skates, skis, and various other options. They also come with anywhere from 2-5 line and some sort of bar to grip on to while enjoying them.

Variety is a word that is definitely used when talking about power kites. They come in all different shapes and sizes that can be anywhere from 1.5 square meters to 50. The thing you have to remember is that they are various ones because of the different ways to fly them. For instance; one trainer kite tip would be that using a boat will mean you purchase certain power kites that are geared for that type of speed and velocity. Take a boat called Jacob's Ladder back in 1982 that used a power kite to hit 25 knots in sailing speed. Twenty-six years later a kiteboard exceeded 50 knots.

If this sounds like something you would like to try, here are four tips for successfully flying a power kite.

1. Start with a small, two-line trainer kite. For kids, small adults, and strong winds, start with a 1.2 meter kite or a 1.4 meter kite. A 1.8 meter kite will offer more power, but will still be relatively easy to control. Larger power kites, such as 2.2 meter ones, are made for more experienced fliers who want a strong pull. Most kites need very little wind to fly. It is important to understand that different kites that are the same size may lift and handle differently. That's another great reason to start out with a more predictable steady kite. Two-line kites let beginners master the basics of power kiting and usually only fly in a forward direction.

2) When you start getting the hang of everything you will hear more about the "wind window." This is the area above the ground that will offer air for your power kites to fly. You don't need much, but you could experience different pulls and directional issues. Once you hit the edge though your power will greatly decrease. If you want to figure out if you can handle the power zone, start out at the edge and then drop into the power zone with your trainer kite. If it's too difficult then you should abort the ride.

3) No matter what you do, it's a necessity to wear a helmet. There is no loophole here, and we want to make sure you understand this thoroughly. Also, land riders will want knee pads and wrist guards as well (maybe even elbow pads). If you're focusing on the water then impact vests, gloves and goggles should be worn for maximum safety (and the helmet of course).

4) If you're just starting we recommend starting on land first. The power kites for water purposes are more powerful because of water resistance. Even when you feel as though you mastered land, still take a few lessons on using power kites with water.

Once you're able to get out there and enjoy everything this sport has to offer, it's quite addicting. Why? The progression is really what catches everyone's attention. If you start out with a trainer kite (the two-line), eventually you want to move up to kite sailing, kiteboarding, and every other option out there. Just remember that it can be dangerous, so it's extremely important to wear that safety gear.

It isn't easy to pick out a favorite form of traction. Buggies, boards, skates, skis, and snowboards all have their own "awesomeness" factors. You'll probably want to try them all at some point. But if you're just starting out, do some research, and be sure to choose a trainer kite that you can maneuver easily over land. Then work up to larger, more complex power kites, and master handling your kite over land before attempting to use power kites over water. - 16887

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