Here's a quick question for everyone.
I'm under the impression that as you shorten your kite lines you increase the turning speed of the kite but take away a bit of the power.
So, how short is too short? Is there a general guide for this?

Correct that shorter lines increase the turning speed. Where people get confused is about the relative power that your kite produces. A 9 will always be a 9 no matter what. By shortening your lines you are effectively decreasing the size of your wind window and limiting the amount of space your kite has to build apparent wind. Your kite will still pull the same once up to speed, but will not generate the same amount of power/stroke.

I've tried 12m lines on a 9m kite and wakeskate and had a ball, but felt they were a little too short. 15m would be my suggested 'shortest'. Feel free to experiment yourself!

Different styles of riding have preferred different line lengths, but that also comes down to user preference. As a guideline:

Freeride: 23-27m
Freestyle: 20-23m
Waves: 18-23m
Racing: 25m-30m

Thanks for the info. I'm thinking of shortening the lines on my 13 m. Get it cranking a bit harder.

Be careful you don't ping your kite the first time you dive it! It's surprising how quick the kite turns and how used to longer lines you have become. Maybe think about having a few different sections of lines so you can swap them out here and there. For example, you could shorten your main lines to 13m and then have two sets of 5m extensions to give you both the 18m and 23m options depending on the conditions. Keep us posted how you go!

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KPSS Used said..

Be careful you don't ping your kite ...

Explain?

Ping the kite?

Tomahawk it into the water! Must be a shop term we've just gotten used to haha. Near guarantee the first power stroke you'll put it into the water.

I'll let you know how it goes.
Something to do this arvo

Secondary question: if I were to go 20 metre lines on the outside, how much difference is there between these and the inside. Or should they all be the same length?

Alarming

?

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Trapped said..

Secondary question: if I were to go 20 metre lines on the outside, how much difference is there between these and the inside. Or should they all be the same length?

You'd have a nice time sitting on the beach doing nothing, you wouldn't be able to steer your kite.

Your right lines should be 6 inches longer than your left... Unless your left handed then its the other way round.....

Really guys I'm not to sure here and you're just being smart. Way to show off that nice friendly Kiteboarder image.
Put it this way. When I'm running out my lines to hook up to the kite the inside ones are a different length. Is this because the lines are actually shorter or because of the bar set up?
No need to be dicks guys.

Google how to tune your lines it will explain what they should look like

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Trapped said..

Really guys I'm not to sure here and you're just being smart. Way to show off that nice friendly Kiteboarder image.
Put it this way. When I'm running out my lines to hook up to the kite the inside ones are a different length. Is this because the lines are actually shorter or because of the bar set up?
No need to be dicks guys.

Mate tune your bar, (anchor them all to a fixed point) and lean hard against them fully powered and they should all be the same length...well mine aren't, all lines are equal with about 3 to 4 fingers gap between the swivel and the bar. But generally the former. Short or long lines, same length mate.

steering lines should be approx 3 miles longer

So for a 9m Fuel and looping what do you guys think is the best length?

I have heard anything from 17m to 21m.

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eppo said...

Trapped said..

Really guys I'm not to sure here and you're just being smart. Way to show off that nice friendly Kiteboarder image.
Put it this way. When I'm running out my lines to hook up to the kite the inside ones are a different length. Is this because the lines are actually shorter or because of the bar set up?
No need to be dicks guys.

Mate tune your bar, (anchor them all to a fixed point) and lean hard against them fully powered and they should all be the same length...well mine aren't, all lines are equal with about 3 to 4 fingers gap between the swivel and the bar. But generally the former. Short or long lines, same length mate.

Thanks mate. I appreciate it.

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Trapped said...
Secondary question: if I were to go 20 metre lines on the outside, how much difference is there between these and the inside. Or should they all be the same length?

your joking right?

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Underoath said..

So for a 9m Fuel and looping what do you guys think is the best length?

I have heard anything from 17m to 21m.

Think you might need to tune the bar you check got firstfirst

Follow the instructions Eppo mentioned when you apply even tension on all lines the bar should be around 50mm from the chicken loop.

Thanks mate

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NickT said...

Underoath said..

So for a 9m Fuel and looping what do you guys think is the best length?

I have heard anything from 17m to 21m.

Think you might need to tune the bar you check got firstfirst

I should have used your bar, but who goes around swapping pigtails these days!

Although short lines are nice, I do find that on a large kite (+12m) is a bit funny on them. I like them on under 11m kites as it's better for looping etc but because of the width of a large kite in the sky I find it doesn't work as well. I use 22 or 23m lines on a 13 and 20s on all other sizes.