Hi,

I have been trying a few kite loop tricks lately and both times my kite has hit the water at speed (Leading edge first) it has torn completely in half. I know this is due to the kite not completing the loop properly which is my fault. My question is:
Is it normal for a kite to tear like this when this happens? I am not here to bad mouth brands but I want to know that if I buy a new kite it won't happen straight away again? Are some better than others?
The kite is 3-4 years old and has had a lot of use. This tear was right next to the last repair which held up nicely...

Any advice would be appreciated... I am sick of swimming in.

Cheers.

If the kite hits the water powered and direct then the leading edge flexes flat along the water which spreads the struts at the tail and the material rips from the back to the front which is why all kite's have reinforcement at the rear and most use high quality rip-stop nylon.

But the problem is with your technique. Besides the obvious of not completing the loop you are also powering the kite into the water so the canopy is already fully stretched as it hits the water. You need to let go of the bar or push it away from you before it hits the water. And if you are moving directly downwind then the kite has no power.

Try holding the bar with both hands on the same side. It's a little awkward at first but you'll keep the kite turning through the window. And setting the power right, try de-powering at the kite then heading directly down wind with the BAR POWERED the kite should just fall out of the sky. I reckon that's a good power to start on. And I had so much trouble completing the loop that I started on unhooked kiteloops first where your guaranteed to complete the loop.

Also starting the loop at the peak of your jump and slightly after 12 o'clock so that it loops through the power zone at the end of the loop rather than the bottom of the loop.

Sounds like the kite was pretty old and it just can't take the slams any more. I would think any new kite would hold up fine with those exact slams. I have slammed my kite hard straight into the water plenty and even a few times onto the sand, and no tears.

Some kites are way tougher than others. I ride Wainman and they are a really solid construction. Slingshot has always been pretty bomb proof too.

I'd say demo a kite, let them know you old kite split in 2 (so the shop knows you are giving it heaps), give the same trick a go and see if you like the kite. At least if it slams hard, you will know how durable it is, and whether its worth buying.

Your kite is old. Simple as that. Time for a new kite

Thanks, All good advice. There goes my tax cheque!

And you're chickening out half way through. - you've gotta commit!!!
Obviously if your kite is slamming the water leading edge first then you've only completed half a loop. This is the technique you would use if you were trying to rip a kite into two halves

Pull a small jump, then when the kite is just past 12 oclock ,slam the end of the bar right the way down to your hook and hold it there - for basically twice as long as you think you're going to need to! .
The kite will power up through the power zone then it'll move back up to 12 and loose all it's power , so everything slows down and you level out the bar. Dead easy!!

You can also do this riding flat with lots of edge

Also if the wind is too light the kite will be sluggish and turn too big

Bugger! I read this thread at lunch time at work, scampered after work to the beach for a quick "kite til dark" session in 20-25...
...and managed to crash my kite and split it from back to front!

I'm keen to have a go, is this close to right idea??

If travelling to left (my favored side for jumps), boost, at top of jump instead of flying kite back from 1-2 oclock to 10-12 to land, do this:

1. With the bar still pulled in, pull rear hand (right) back to fully pinned. Can i pin it left hand down??

2. Hang on....

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Slowlerna said...
I'm keen to have a go, is this close to right idea??

If travelling to left (my favored side for jumps), boost, at top of jump instead of flying kite back from 1-2 oclock to 10-12 to land, do this:

1. With the bar still pulled in, pull rear hand (right) back to fully pinned. Can i pin it left hand down??

2. Hang on....

Mate, pinning your left hand down is a down loop. That's really usefull in waves and transitions.

size and model give better results, something like a c4, vegas, rpm, etc etc will loop better than say a edge , rebel , saying that they go ok in the smaller sizes, what kite have you been trashing, watched a dutch lad on a rpm last year, ive never seen a kite take a thrashing like it got and was still in 1 piece

like daggy said...

kite hitting the water would only happen A. if the kites slower than your granmother or B. youve not committed to fishpoling the bar through a real rotation.

HTFU and JUST BEFORE the apex - loop it while its still got driving power in it, to help the rotation speed...

You should be slamming the water and breaking Dont blame your kite new or old !!!!!

p.s did someone say wedgy

It was only a matter of time before someone wrote HTFU... I know I know. I have landed most of them!
The kite is a 10m Core GTS and it was blowing about 20 knots. It has served me well and I am really happy with it, apart from the obvious.

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79Boarder said..

Hi,
The kite is 3-4 years old and has had a lot of use.
Cheers.

Therein lies the problem - most likely.
Most new kites are all way over-built for effective life of reasonable use - imo.
But go back 3-4 yrs its a different story - depending on the brand. Back then some were bullet proof - some werent so strong.
You also say it was along side a previous repair - a good indication its a weak point when subject to these extremes.

Me thinks a new kite should be on the agenda.