Kiteboarding Magazine needs your design input

Airnsails · Since 22 Jun 2005 104 Posts Hood River, OR Stoked

Here at Kiteboarding Magazine we are running a feature story on the Dream Kite of the Future. We are working with several top name designers and are looking for input from the kite community . The designers will decide whether or not these dream designs are possible and if they are, we have a designer willing to make a few prototypes. You could help shape the kite of the future. Thanks for your input.

1. What are the three most important factors that you consider when buying a kite? (Choose up to 3 answers)

¨ Stability
¨ Durability
¨ One pump
¨ Safety systems
¨ Price
¨ Range
¨ Bar pressure
¨ Light wind abilities
¨ Hang-time
¨ Easy re-launch
¨ Unhooked abilities
¨ Full de-power
¨ Jumping height
¨ Surf ability
¨ Ease-of-use
¨ Flying speed
¨ Sweet spot (wind range where the kite is actually fun to be flown)
¨ Turning speed
¨ Upwind ability
¨ Advice from friends
¨ Reviews
¨ Brand name
¨ Team rider results in contests

2. Imagine your ultimate dream kite. What would you want your dream kite to do that’s not currently possible with any of the kites out on the market today? (Choose up to 3 answers)

¨ One kite quiver
¨ Modular/changeable
¨ 20 second hang-time
¨ Ability to fly my 'bread and butter kite' on 15 meter lines and still have the same power as I would on long lines
¨ A kite that can intuitively change profile mid-air
¨ A kite that's 10m or smaller that will get me planing in 10 knots of wind
¨ During jumps, ability to control mid-air direction of travel
¨ Ability to control my kite with something other than a bar (such as a joystick)
¨ Auto-inflatable
¨ A two-line kite with full de-power ability
¨ Auto-zenith
¨ A kite with no flying lines
Other- Describe your dream kite in Once sentence

pdxmonkeyboy · Wed May 14, 08 2:03 pm

My dream kite would inflate itself, allow me to paraglide around in thermals if I wanted to and generate an excuse for me and text that excuse to my wife when I was going to be late coming home.

KidCorporate · Since 10 Jul 2007 563 Posts Addicted

1. Durability - Can't ride with a broken kite

2. Sweet Spot Range - the bigger the better, duh!

3. Advice from fellow riders/demos - the more kites you can ride with, the better feel you'll have for what you really want.

Dream kite:

Auto(compressed gas?) inflate with self-healing bladders, solar-cell fabric that powers onboard computer & control surfaces(flaps, louvres, etc); can either auto-adjust based on wind patterns or be selected from the bar. Oh yeah.

EDIT: I want an auto-return board, too!

arehn · Since 24 Mar 2008 166 Posts Hood River, OR Stoked

1. Range- More range means the less kites you need

2. Durability- Shouldn't have to worry about your kite shreding while your shreding

3. Price- Kites are are too expensive and if we can make the price cheaper then more and more people will discover this awesome sport.

My dream kite would have a windrange from 1 knot to 40 knots with almost the same proformace anywhere on that wind scale. It would have a self-inflation system, the lines would automatically un-tangle and it would be dirt cheep but never break.

$ociopath · Since 28 Nov 2007 523 Posts Twilight Zone Addicted

a foil kite that wont sink and has a direct downwind sort of automatic transmission relaunch with no bridle that steers like my small kites and of course beer... and girls and more girls

holly · Since 09 Jul 2006 440 Posts Hood River Obsessed

Stability, Durability, and Easy re-launch. my dream kite would fly in all wind speeds and keep me powered, the ability to tommahuck the shit out of it and it would never break, it would fix itself, and be free!

Airnsails · Since 22 Jun 2005 104 Posts Hood River, OR Stoked

I want a foil kite that I can snowkite use to snowkite up a mountain, then roll up the bar and lines and attach the bridle directly to my harness and fly off forward like a speed flyer. Flying with a kite is cool and all but facing forward with a more controllable foil is quite a bit safer.

blowhard · Since 26 Dec 2005 2027 Posts Windward

I would like something that fits in my pocket
generates a huge amount of controllable power
and isn't obsolite within a year

Rico · Since 13 Mar 2005 1219 Posts Vancouver Photographer

#1
¨ Durability
¨ One pump

#2
¨ One kite quiver
¨ Modular/changeable
¨ Auto-inflatable

kitekid · Since 15 Apr 2007 170 Posts Stoked

C kite that loops hard

Spike · Since 13 May 2007 1414 Posts Alameda Spelling Expert

boardrider · Since 05 Apr 2006 1034 Posts Ventura, CA XTreme Poster

i want it ALL Twisted Evil

Stability
¨ Durability - W/O SACRIF. PERFORMANCE
¨ One pump - NOT A MUST
¨ Safety systems - ALLOW SUICIDE LEASHING
¨ Price - WOULD BE NICE
¨ Range - W/O SWEET SPOT TO MATCH MEANS NOTHING
¨ Bar pressure - LOW
¨ Light wind abilities - BOMBER CONSTRUCTION AND GOOD LIGHT WIND ABILITIES - CAN THEY GO HAND IN HAND ?
¨ Hang-time
¨ Easy re-launch - ESP W/ LARGER KITES
¨ Unhooked abilities - WHY IS THIS LACKING W/ SO MANY KITES?
¨ Full de-power
¨ Jumping height
¨ Surf ability
¨ Ease-of-use
¨ Flying speed - DEF IMPORTANT- WANT THE KITE TO WORK OFF APPARENT WIND AND ACCELERATE
¨ Sweet spot (wind range where the kite is actually fun to be flown) -SEE RANGE
¨ Turning speed - FAST PLEASE
¨ Upwind ability - DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A PROB W/ MODERN DESIGN
¨ Advice from friends - THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THERE TALKING ABOUT - WHO CARES Wink

¨ Reviews - IF I KNOW THE REVIEWER
¨ Brand name - DON'T CARE (I'D BUY LOCAL IF EVERYTHING ELSE WAS SIMILAR)
¨ Team rider results in contests - DON'T CARE - BUT IT'S NICE TO KNOW YOUR KITE CAN PERFORM

Mocean · Since 21 Sep 2005 343 Posts Newport Obsessed

A kite that will work in all the "Waldport, Future Kite Mecca of the World' conditions!

$ociopath · Since 28 Nov 2007 523 Posts Twilight Zone Addicted

i take back that other gay d kite i need one thats rain propelled , and er.. what to do on a windless weekday;i couldnt get the little drunk guy icon to appear so ill have to settle for Idea