rexracer Posted May 26, 2013 Report Share Posted May 26, 2013 I was thinking about some of the challenging conditions I've flown in, and started wondering what challenges others have overcome. I almost always face challenges when it comes to wind since I live in inland Connecticut. I commonly fly 270 degrees during any session. Last week I set up with a good semi-steady wind out of the north, and 5 minutes in it was directly out of the west. About 15-20 minutes later it was SSW and 10 minutes after that it petered out and I packed up. One of the most challenging, and most rewarding sessions happened last year while vacationing in the Yosemite area last summer. We found a cool swim spot on the Merced river and the wind was blowing 10-12 MPH (a guess) right down the river valley. There was a small beach to set up on, but I flew from thigh deep water with the kite over the water downstream since there was basically a cliff on one side, and an embankment on the other with peaks at least 500ft higher than I was on both sides. I was flying a full sail SLE with travel rods on 20' lines. To say the kite was a bit hyper would be an understatement, but after a couple minutes of over controlling it, I got a handle on it, and had a blast for about 15 munutes. Then the wind started to die, and switch directions. It is definitely a great kiting memory. This is my daughter standing on that little spot of beach. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mystainedskin Posted May 27, 2013 Report Share Posted May 27, 2013 Sort of similar situations..... I live on the east coast,Florida, when the wind is out of the west,it makes for "washing machine" wind on the beach due to hotels height...etc... It will be frame breaking one moment and falling from the sky the next... Sometimes fun,some times not 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joespickles Posted May 27, 2013 Report Share Posted May 27, 2013 Ditto here, Finally bought an wind gauge, The wind this weekend went from 4-7 with some gusts that came out of nowhere up to 17 mph, flew my e3 and nexus yesterday, Thought the e3 was going to break in the gusts,( gunshy on my part). The nexus flew great, This am started quiet. Then quickly started blowing to 15+. Landed the ul very quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHBKF Posted May 28, 2013 Report Share Posted May 28, 2013 Flying conditions here in the Appalachian mountains vary so much that I don't believe I have ever had the steady conditions for more than an hour during the last hundred hours of flight time. A two hour session may require my using four different set ups progressing to lighter & lighter conditions. Once in awhile the wind will increase but that is because it is gusting. The best winds are mid day but I am usually working. Tonight a little wind came at dusk but by the time I grabbed a SUL kite it turned into another zero wind session. I am starting to get better at zero wind finally learning to move slowly keeping the sail lightly loaded to keep tension on the lines instead using all my ground to fly fast then stalling. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rexracer Posted May 28, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2013 I can relate. I can deal with the wind speed changes, but direction changes are tough. I've had my kite close to center in the window and had the lines blown slack when a gust blew in from 180 degrees from where the wind had been. Days like that I like to fly on 50 footers for the quick reaction times. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHBKF Posted May 30, 2013 Report Share Posted May 30, 2013 I am progressing to shorter line sets as I try smaller locations & less wind. I have done some flying in direction changing wind & now that you have mentioned it I will try to embrace it too. It seems like you go from light wind to no wind to negative wind (blowing wrong way) as your wind window changes. The light changing winds, or lack thereof, started as a frustration but now give me extra joy. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Barresi Posted May 30, 2013 Report Share Posted May 30, 2013 I am progressing to shorter line sets as I try smaller locations & less wind. I have done some flying in direction changing wind & now that you have mentioned it I will try to embrace it too. It seems like you go from light wind to no wind to negative wind (blowing wrong way) as your wind window changes. The light changing winds, or lack thereof, started as a frustration but now give me extra joy. Ommmmm, you've got it - juggle the lemons, but focus on the quality of the lemonade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rexracer Posted May 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2013 I am progressing to shorter line sets as I try smaller locations & less wind. I have done some flying in direction changing wind & now that you have mentioned it I will try to embrace it too. It seems like you go from light wind to no wind to negative wind (blowing wrong way) as your wind window changes. The light changing winds, or lack thereof, started as a frustration but now give me extra joy. Agreed. It can still get frustrating sometimes, as my best low wind kite right now is my full sail SLE with race rods, and all of my line sets are #90, but I'm eyeballing a roll of #50 and maybe there's a Zen in my future... I think I may pull the trigger on a Prism 4D. I was reading another thread and it was recomended as an inexpensive low wind kite. I may even be able to learn how to do some cool stunts with one of those! Dealing with the wind conditions may have slowed my learning curve in some ways, but I've found that when I go somewhere with better wind (like the beach) I have better control than I thought. I know I've improved since I was in CA last summer, so I can't wait to get down to the coast and get some smooth wind practice. Who knows, I may suprise myself! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rexracer Posted May 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2013 I just had to add this. I watched a video of JB, and maybe Watty? "urban" kiting, and at one point they were in a parking garage. I found that VERY impressive. If you can find the time John,(I know you're swamped right now) I would love to hear what kind of wind you had that day in the garage (if any), and what setup you were flying. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mystainedskin Posted May 30, 2013 Report Share Posted May 30, 2013 I am progressing to shorter line sets as I try smaller locations & less wind. I have done some flying in direction changing wind & now that you have mentioned it I will try to embrace it too. It seems like you go from light wind to no wind to negative wind (blowing wrong way) as your wind window changes. The light changing winds, or lack thereof, started as a frustration but now give me extra joy.Agreed. It can still get frustrating sometimes, as my best low wind kite right now is my full sail SLE with race rods, and all of my line sets are #90, but I'm eyeballing a roll of #50 and maybe there's a Zen in my future... I think I may pull the trigger on a Prism 4D. I was reading another thread and it was recomended as an inexpensive low wind kite. I may even be able to learn how to do some cool stunts with one of those!Dealing with the wind conditions may have slowed my learning curve in some ways, but I've found that when I go somewhere with better wind (like the beach) I have better control than I thought. I know I've improved since I was in CA last summer, so I can't wait to get down to the coast and get some smooth wind practice. Who knows, I may suprise myself! I found that all the low wind hard hork will make you a better all around flyer in every situation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHBKF Posted May 31, 2013 Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 The 4D I have gets constant use. It's a good deal for the money & great fun to fly. It continues to teach me. Not a kite for easy tricking but I can do a few with it. Get or make a 5 meter set of lines & you will be able to fly most anywhere & in very challenging conditions. I need to make some 10 meter lines too. Just went outside in zero air & flew my first delta 360 & followed it up going round even further with a couple 540's. A big deal for a newbie like me with the 4D on 18' lines. I have seen video of 4D's doing all manner of slack line tricks. I am pretty limited in my efforts but tonight was progress. Flying with intent is really pushing me further a bit each session. Thanks JB! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joespickles Posted May 31, 2013 Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 I picked up a ITW echo, sine my local winds are non existent most times Been using long lines. I am making up a set of 60 lines, Flew it the first time this past weekend, was amazing in the lack of wind it flew in. $$$ starte to edge up a bit since it came with no lines, but so far so good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobB Posted May 31, 2013 Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 I cut the stock lines down to 30' the first day I flew the 4D. The 50' lines were way too long for the little kite ! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rexracer Posted May 31, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 I cut the stock lines down to 30' the first day I flew the 4D. The 50' lines were way too long for the little kite ! sounds like I may get 2 line sets for the price of 1 if I do that! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khal Posted May 31, 2013 Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 I cut the stock lines down to 30' the first day I flew the 4D. The 50' lines were way too long for the little kite ! I've got a Prism 3D, the predecessor to the 4D. It came with lines that were 15 or 18'. For my very limited dual line skills they were way too short. I constantly struggled until an experienced kiter suggested longer lines. The 4D comes with 50's so I got a set of lightweight 50's and I was finally able to fly it. I never tried 30'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tmadz Posted June 1, 2013 Report Share Posted June 1, 2013 Here in the midwest, I do have the opportunity to fly among corm/soybean fields, but the winds will never be like on a beach. It has caused me to play around a lot with different lines and make different line sets. I now have a better idea how kites sit on different weight lines and lengths. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rexracer Posted June 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2013 Well, I made the trek down to the coast today with my daughter. TWC website called for 10-12mph winds in Westport so I spent the day at Sherwood Isle state park. Dead calm. Wind picked up at 2:00 so I hooked up my SLE with race rods on 50' lines (90#) Wind was 2-5 mph so flying was tough. Put it away for a bit then flew later for about an hour while it blew 5-10 mph. Almost pulled out the vented at one point when it was blowing about 10mph steady, but that only lasted maybe 15 minutes. There were quite a few people walking around and no matter where I flew, someone was always "invading my space". I had to wrap up my lines every time I wanted to take a break. I waded around with the kid for a while, and decided to put the kite back up on 30' lines and fly from the water. Got to bounce the corner off of some 1ft waves for about 5 minutes when the wind died out completely again, swamping my kite. I got it up to dry after pulling it out of the surf, but I used about 100 yards of beach to do it, so I wrapped it up for the day. I was hoping for more (wind) but it was a good day. I did get to talk to a couple of people that were fascinated by the kite, and there may be 2 more revs sold because of my trip today, so that's a plus. Highlight of the day: After 10 minutes of trying, with dirty and variable winds in the 8-12mph range, I set my kite down on it's left tip on top of the 4x4 that supported the "no swimming beyond this point" sign. I flew that flag for a full minute and a half before taking off again. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobB Posted June 2, 2013 Report Share Posted June 2, 2013 Rex, I'm surprised your wind conditions were so poor. I'm only a little bit east of where you were (and south on LI) and our wind was huckin' at 15+mph all day. You know, I've flown in Ct. three times, and the wind has been poor every time. The whole thing with the 'wandering idiots' under the lines... yup, that's the summer time. I can't stand flying in the summer, mostly because of that, but also, I can't stand the heat & sun ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rexracer Posted June 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2013 That explains it! Long Island is stealing our wind! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Dowler Posted June 2, 2013 Report Share Posted June 2, 2013 There's a term for those wanderers - Obliviots!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Barresi Posted June 2, 2013 Report Share Posted June 2, 2013 I just had to add this. I watched a video of JB, and maybe Watty? "urban" kiting, and at one point they were in a parking garage. I found that VERY impressive. If you can find the time John,(I know you're swamped right now) I would love to hear what kind of wind you had that day in the garage (if any), and what setup you were flying. ON the top floor of the garage ("open air")... youtu.be/bMywuOsFk4I?t=3m43s Lines, 30' x 50# LPG. Wind, variable 0-4 mph, 7 stories up, shifting wind directions (45-180 degrees at a time). == IN the garage was closer to indoor, 0-2 mph with little gusts in variable directions. youtu.be/bMywuOsFk4I?t=4m36s 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rexracer Posted June 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2013 I just had to add this. I watched a video of JB, and maybe Watty? "urban" kiting, and at one point they were in a parking garage. I found that VERY impressive. If you can find the time John,(I know you're swamped right now) I would love to hear what kind of wind you had that day in the garage (if any), and what setup you were flying. ON the top floor of the garage ("open air")... youtu.be/bMywuOsFk4I?t=3m43s Lines, 30' x 50# LPG. Wind, variable 0-4 mph, 7 stories up, shifting wind directions (45-180 degrees at a time). == IN the garage was closer to indoor, 0-2 mph with little gusts in variable directions. youtu.be/bMywuOsFk4I?t=4m36s Thanks JB. Hope your Bday was the best. Just curious...For light wind, how much difference is there between an SLE with race rods and a B with race rods? On 50' lines how big a difference going from 90# to 50# lines. I gotta get a spool of 50# LPG. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparkieRob Posted June 2, 2013 Report Share Posted June 2, 2013 I feel I can fly in lower winds in my B Std than my SLE Std both with Race frames. There is only a couple of km/h in it though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Dowler Posted June 2, 2013 Report Share Posted June 2, 2013 I just had to add this. I watched a video of JB, and maybe Watty? "urban" kiting, and at one point they were in a parking garage. I found that VERY impressive. If you can find the time John,(I know you're swamped right now) I would love to hear what kind of wind you had that day in the garage (if any), and what setup you were flying. ON the top floor of the garage ("open air")... youtu.be/bMywuOsFk4I?t=3m43s Lines, 30' x 50# LPG. Wind, variable 0-4 mph, 7 stories up, shifting wind directions (45-180 degrees at a time). == IN the garage was closer to indoor, 0-2 mph with little gusts in variable directions. youtu.be/bMywuOsFk4I?t=4m36s Thanks JB. Hope your Bday was the best. Just curious...For light wind, how much difference is there between an SLE with race rods and a B with race rods? On 50' lines how big a difference going from 90# to 50# lines. I gotta get a spool of 50# LPG. You'll see a bigger difference if you make longer line sets! Some won't use it, but 120's in 50# are the bomb in light winds! Along with a set of 15" handles (again IMHO)!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Barresi Posted June 2, 2013 Report Share Posted June 2, 2013 Just curious...For light wind, how much difference is there between an SLE with race rods and a B with race rods? SLE has a flatter profile by nature, B-Series is designed to load and manipulate the loading in the center of the kite... Not sure how to quantify the experience because not every pilot feels the same things when flying. I say find some OPK (other people's kites) for testing side by side. On 50' lines how big a difference going from 90# to 50# lines. I gotta get a spool of 50# LPG. For me, 50# gives much more connection with the line tension, but gets a little bouncy (stretch) if you get too loaded up (sail pressure) at longer lengths... I carry 120', 90' and 30' in 50# LPG, for those absolute no wind or urban flying days. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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