Saturday, January 21, 2006

New lines fitted

Friday 20 January 2006

I visited SHQ and got some replacement lines. They did not have the exact Crossbow replacement lines, but they did have 25m Cabrinha lines of equal length but different colour coding. However, they were about 5cm shorter than the existing lines, so I bought a complete new set (for about $200) and have kept the original two front lines as spares.

Ivan (of SHQ) fitted the lines outside the shop, which involved changing the attachment method for the front lines. We got rid of the "quick release" fitting that nobody uses and simplified the attachment. Then the lines were fine tuned for length.

Both rear lines are equal length - test with all for lines under tension and the bar being even. The rear lines are slightly shorter than the front lines.

Check the front lines for equal length by holding the together then stepping forward - both should sag evenly.

Thursday, January 19, 2006

Session 9. Aborted with a snapped line

January 18 2006

Back to St Kilda for another solo session.

I was feeling a bit dubious after the encounter with the other kite at the last session.

I rigged up and joined the queue of beginners learning.

When attempting to get going, the right rear line snapped, resulting in the kite crashing not too heavily into the water. Upon examining the lines, they had been damaged during the line-crossing incident at the last session. I didn't pick this up when I was running the lines out during rigging, but there were several spots in both rear lines where there were serious wear points.

I was lucky the line did not snap when I was out from shore.

So I packed up and went home.

Summary

Always check your lines when rigging the kite. If you have any accident or incident involvling the lines, check them very carefully.

I visited SHQ and got some replacement lines. They did not have the exact Crossbow replacement lines, but they did have 25m Cabrinha lines of equal length but different colour coding. However, they were about 5cm shorter than the existing lines, so I bought a complete new set (for about $200) and have kept the original two front lines as spares.

Ivan (of SHQ) fitted the lines outside the shop, which involved changing the attachment method for the front lines. We got rid of the "quick release" fitting that nobody uses and simplified the attachment. Then the lines were fine tuned for length.

Both rear lines are equal length - test with all for lines under tension and the bar being even. The rear lines are slightly shorter than the front lines.

Check the front lines for equal length by holding the together then stepping forward - both should sag evenly.

Saturday, January 14, 2006

Session 8 – Windy conditions and colliding kites!

13 January 06

Wind 20 knots – Southerly
Weather fine
4pm start, not too crowded.
Stopped about 5:45pm.
Helmet on.
Tried seat harness for the first time














I thought that the wind might be a little bit too strong but decided to have another go “at the upper margin”. The wind seemed a bit stronger than Session 7.

No problems launching!

Tentative about getting up. Headed left half in the water. When carving starts, again get a lot of pull and started slide slipping. Solution is to fly the kite more into the wind? I tried that.

Getting going is touchy: too much power and you get hoiked off your feet – this happened a couple of times. The board hit my wrist (small bruise) and my left foot (small bruise).

Then I did a a run out left where I felt in control and was preparing to go back when another kiter collided his kite lines with mine resulting in immediate mayhem. The other rider said he would try to “surf through” my lines – which of course did not work. Both kites were tangled together and both of us getting dragged. He eventually let go of his bar which resulted in his kite pulling free from mine. I body dragged in with my board. His rig was tangled, but he seemed in good spirits.

When conditions are “full” you are not the only one who may have trouble. Others were ditching their kites and flailing. But many were whizzing along apparently at ease with the conditions, dialing in as much or little power as they need.

I got lifted once about 1m; quite a good sensation and under control.

The seat harness was definitely more comfortable, but a bit harder to walk in due to the straps under the legs. No riding up though.

NOTE: The tendency to pull on the bar is a real trap for beginners. You need to focus on backing off the power by pushing the bar away if you are getting over powered. This is a bit counter intuitive. Flying the kite into the wind window is not the only way to reduce power.

Friday, January 06, 2006

Session 7 – Up and going, making progress

5 January 2006

Wind 20 knots – Southerly
Weather fine
5pm start, fairly crowded.
Stopped about 7pm. Helmet on.

I thought that the wind might be a little bit too strong but decided to have a go “at the upper margin”. My 12m Cabrinha Crossbow is rated to maximum windspeed of about 21 knots.

I rigged up with a crossed line so I had to re rig.

Progress
  • I gotup and going to the left well. Up and running, but still going too fast. Corrected by edging board and heading more upwind.
  • One big crash when I was not sure about a kiter coming towards me and distracted. The kite inverted and twisted, so I “sailed to shore”, let some pressure out of the leading edge bladder, walked back and re-rigged.
  • More successful left tacks with a controlled stop.
  • Less successful on right tack – still not getting enough power and staying too far upwind. Then I got some more power, followed by board heading a bit more downwind. This did the trick as I got up and running for a short time. Basically, I had one very successful “out and back run”.
  • I was worried about losing board, particularly as I am now getting out quite a way. So I tend to let the kite land, swim to the board, then relaunch the kite. However, this increases the risk of the kite inverting and not being able to relaunch, and is also a hazard for other kiters. Better to body drag back to the board?

Summary

What a blast, I am really getting going now and my confidence is building.

One other kiter recommended putting name on board (& “reward”) NOT using a leash. He has had his returned twice after losing it during Winter.

The waist harness still riding high on wetsuit, so I will get a seat harness.

Session 6 – Up and going but a lot of speed and some crashes

5 January 2006

I visiting the training beach at St Kilda with about 20-25 kph winds blowing. I sam my friend Geoff Butcher (also learning kiteboarding) there.

I felt a bit rusty getting going. Then I got up and heading left for some distance.

Heading back in (right) was still more difficult, but I got in one good run (the first one heading right).

Observations:

  • Once up, forgetting about the kite and concentrating too much on the board, so the kite crashes out.
  • I sometimes ran out of power and sank back in (too much to the side of the wind window?)
  • The kite sometimes scooted back to the right when I was heading left – need to focus on keeping in left quadrant when going left.
  • I again sometimes gathering too much speed again and planing – eventually the board skittered out.
  • Kite “jelly fished” – upside down and back to front (?). Very difficult to water relaunch. When I eventually did the rear and front lines were crossed on each site. Kite could still fly, but this was not ideal. I landed it and re-rigged.
  • I headed quite a way out, then crashed and the harness became unhooked. Holding the bar just put the power on (no depower via harness pulling on front lines) so I let go of the kite. It then blew along the beach faster than I could swim after it. Another kiter helped out by going and jumping on it. I swam to shore (quite a way) then ran along the beach to get it. Lines tangled, kite OK. Carried the kite back along the beach.
  • Not enough air in leading edge bladder – go “very firm”
Summary

Overall, a challenging session. Making some progress, but also encountering hurdles. Losing the kite is a real hassle, and relaunching it is not always easy.

I noticed some people use retractable board leashes. This is NOT recommended as the leash can yank the board towards you, which can then collide with you. If you use a leash, you MUST use a helmet to be safe.