I just thought to ask your opinion about modern 5 lines kite such as the Rebel for waveriding.. Heard different opinions on them. Some people love them others hate them because of the 5 line system, which can cause problems if you crash on waves. What's your experience?
Thanks!

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mr moon said...

because of the 5 line system, which can cause problems if you crash on waves.

How?
This is not my experience at all.

Ah this old chestnut. Yeh potential for tangles...but a four line in the drink will also cause problems. Can relaunch with a fifth if you know how very quickly. Also remember the fifth line kills a kite completely, this saved my rebel a few times when I couldn't get it up in big surf (this was due to some dumb rookie errors though), flagged it out completely but was still attached so could relaunch between sets. Most four lines would still have power in the kite and would have been smashed in that situation.

Buy the kite for its performance and the fifth line does create a certain type of performance, get this concern out your head it will do you no good.

hey buddies thanks for your replies..

I think is down to personal opinions. Some people love 4 lines other 5. The 4 lines lovers seem to bring out potential issues of 5th line, sometimes without even testing them. I guess the new 5 lines are nothing like the old ones.

I need to try the Rebel and make my own assessment. Can you actually relaunch after having released and flagged the kite??

Def. safer in launching and landing though.

I think C kites are more prone to bow-tying on the 5th line and more swept back designs somehow avoid this, maybe by rolling onto the wing tip earlier or without rider input? Anyway this is my (limited) experience with Vapor3, Torches, Reactors. Only ever owned 5th line kites but not a 4 line hater (looking at C4s for next purchase).

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eppo said...

. Can relaunch with a fifth if you know how very quickly.

Eppo, whats the trick to relaunch a rebel quickly with the fifth?
Would like to know that one!

Cheers

This might help.

kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2376770&start=30

In my opinion, having four lines is preferred over the 5th line. This is mainly due to the fact that with 4 lines the kite has the potential to invert all the way around resulting in just the front and back lines crossed allowing you to fly the kite back to shore, or if your are skilled enough, juggle your bar through your lines to uncross them.

There have been several major instances in my personal experience where I used a fifth line, the kite inverted tangling the 5th line around the centre of the kite resulting in me having to activate the quick release. This in turn was not helpful either as when the wave caught up with the kite, the force of the wave actually broke the line and i was left to swim in.

I've learned that if my kite is about to get munched by a wave, and the situation calls for it, ditch the kite and swim in.

This is just my 2 cents, everyone has there own criteria they must satisfy.

Hope this helped

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Jiveous said...

In my opinion, having four lines is preferred over the 5th line. This is mainly due to the fact that with 4 lines the kite has the potential to invert all the way around resulting in just the front and back lines crossed allowing you to fly the kite back to shore, or if your are skilled enough, juggle your bar through your lines to uncross them.

I tend to agree with this comment reference the four line kites with no bridle (like the old C's) or very short bridles like a C4. The four line kites with bridles can invert and fly inside out but they also can catch the bridle on the wingtip sometimes and enter a death spin when relaunching.

Good point, kites with larger bridles can cause more problems than bargained for, however in this particular instance I was referring to the North 5th line vs 4 line trust bar.

In summary I would say yes there is potential for an issue, but...even on a four line, you want to the kite go (in the right circumstances) if a wave is to hit it! But make your purchase based on performance this outweighs the slight increased potential for issues with the fifth. You will always get counter arguments, to me the fifth creates such a nice stable canopy with such a direct feel that it was a no brainer. That being said I'm now on different 4 line kites, but that is due to a progression into looping madness.