Wednesday 4 July 2012

Kite Surfing Equipment

Kite Surfing Equipment Biography.


Control devices allows a kitesurfer to control the kites.  Normally, kitesurfers use a 4 line control bar for a 4 line inflatable, and a pair of handles or a 4 line control bar for a 4-line foil.  Using the control device, a kitesurfer can pilot the kite to fly anywhere within the wind window.  For all its practical purposes, the wind window is basically the area you can see with your eyes (85 degrees to the left, 85 degrees to the right, 85 degrees upward) when you are facing straight down wind.

Using an inflatable kite control bar (normally with 4 lines, two front lines and two back lines), you can turn the kite to the left by pulling the left end of the bar and turn the kite to the right by pulling the right end of the bar.  If the bar is in a neutral position, the kite will continue on its current flight path and fly to the edge of the wind window (left, right, upward or downward edges).

A 4 line inflatable can be depowered by shorten the front leader line (reduce the AOA) and empowered by lengthen the front leader line (increase the AOA).  This shortening and lengthening of the front leader line can be done via a chicken loop or a trim strap.  Some even tie the front leader line to their harness (can be released via a quick release mechanism).

Using a pair of 4 line handles, you can turn a foil to the left by pulling on the left handle and turn the kite to the right by pulling on the right handle. You can turn the kite faster by pulling on a brake line (the 2 front lines are called main lines; the 2 back lines are called brake lines). You can turn the kite to the left by pulling on the left brake line and turn the kite to the right by pulling on the right brake line.   If both the handles are in a neutral position, the kite will continue on its flight path and fly to the edge of the wind window.  You can slow the kite down by pulling slightly on both of the brake lines; stop the kite by pulling harder on both of the brakes lines; or make the kite moving backward by pulling very hard on both of the brake lines.

A 2-line reel bar can be used with the classic 2 line inflatable. The main advantage of the reel bar is that it enables you to launch the kite easily in a crowded area and offers you the ability to sail with different line lengths without having to change the lines.

There were some other 4 line reel bar that can be used with 4 line inflatable kites.  For some reason, reel bars have never became popular among the kitesurfers.

Safety Systems

Regardless of whichever control device you use, make sure that it has a dependable safety release system (especially if you use inflatable kites).  This system should be able to disable the kite completely.  Once activated, the system should also allow you to retrieve the kite and the control device (so you do not loose your kite).  Make sure you test the safety release system incorporated with your control device in light wind condition before using it (the best place to try this is in shallow water as some kite may crash and break when you activate the safety release system on land).
Kite Surfing Equipment
Kite Surfing Equipment
Kite Surfing Equipment
Kite Surfing Equipment
Kite Surfing Equipment
Kite Surfing Equipment
Kite Surfing Equipment
Kite Surfing Equipment
Kite Surfing Equipment

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