I want a 5m kite! Pics from Rufus on Saturday...

gabe · Since 16 May 2005 479 Posts Obsessed

Jerry had his 5 waroo out on Sunday at rufus. It’s a real kite. Saturday would have been better for it though because it was much windier. In my experience I think it’s possible to use the 7 in as much wind as anyone kites in, but I’m also eyeing a 5, for the absurd quiver of 5,7,9. It would be way better for going fast upwind, and for downwind you would be able to sweep the kite in those conditions (with care). The 7 is a blast downwind b/c it’s such a strong pull you keep the kite static and can carve anyway you want, and still have power, and the kite will always stay deep in the window (99% of the time). But it can also be limiting of course. They are very different downwind styles, and both are fun.

Being really overpowered actually works kind of well at rufus, because you can go downwind all the time and control the power by your angle to the kite. Without current, the 7 would be horrible in that much wind b/c so much time would be spent going slowly and carefully upwind. In the big gusts I often just slowed all the way down until I was just barely planning and waited it out. This is actually one area where easy planning boards like surf and skim boards work well in crazy conditions, because you can go really slow upwind, and still plane. Not fun, but essential survival technique at times. The 5 would also be way safer when things go wrong.

The more I fly these kites the more I like them, in almost all respects. But, if you crash them with slack lines though, their chance of inverting off the water is very high. It’s really important to keep the lines tight. The kites are also extremely stable, which is a huge advantage for light wind and also for swells. In my experience, you are less likely to ever drop these kites, but if you do drop them, there is more chance of things going wrong, especially if they tumble. i have not found a fast self rescue technique yet.

Have others noticed that the swell doesn’t form well at rufus now until the wind gets really strong? Is it because the current is so strong? It seems like it can be 25kts with crappy confused chop, and only when the wind picks up until it blows most people off the water does the swell become well formed and glassy (wind finally overcoming the current effects). Saturday late afternoon was the only really good swell that I saw all weekend. It’s like all or nothing.

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

Thanks for your input gabe! That's definately the kind of stuff I like to hear! I too was considering a 7m, but since I already have a Fuel in that size, I figure I'd just be overlapping too much... I dunno.

mikes · Since 13 Mar 2005 90 Posts B'Ham

Never been on a Fuel so I can't draw comparisons. For me the 7m Waroo is the most fun kite I've ever been on and it works in gobs of wind. Sunday iwindsurf shows Roosevelt was gusting over 40 when I was out, I had it 1/2 way depowered BUT in reality that is getting really close to the limit, another couple inches and the kites just don't fly as well, but you could get back to the beach if it nuked. I also topped up the LE everytime I launched to be sure it was stiff. There was plenty of carnage launching at Roosevelt since it was holey inside, big guys tea-bagging, kites crashing left and right, etc. I was wary but didn't have a problem

I never had to slow down to ride out gusts, never was out of control, never was fighting the kite, never has just edging it out going upwind, never freaked about the amount of wind, no tea bagging, no out of control body drags. After three days of kiting my legs were jello, that was my biggest problem. The main thing is I could really ride the swell and the kite would basically be floating, hardly any pull as I surfed the waves, but if I needed power it was there.

For what it's worth I weigh 180lbs, I rode a small twin tip, two strapped surfboards, and an Underground FLX128, all worked fine. The UG and the surfs were stellar in that stuff

Mike S

gabe · Since 16 May 2005 479 Posts Obsessed

mike, if the 7 was so comfortable, why do you want a 5? Wink

for comparison, i weigh 145 and used an unstrapped surfboard and skimboard on the weekend, but i don't know how much those variables matter when it gets really windy. i don't trust wind numbers that much.

my gauge is that when most people think it's too windy to kite, and only a handful are out on 6-7m, with the occassional 5 and 8m, the 7 is totally usable, but you feel like you are close to the high end and need to be on the ball. you aren't getting tea bagged or anything, but you feel that if you depower too much more the kite will get unstable and fold up. that's really the limiting factor. so, in this wind, the 7 is usable, but the 5 is probably ideal.

it's funny, i bought the 9 first, thinking i might get a 7 as a high wind luxury. now i use the 9 for light to mid wind, the 7 is the staple medium to high wind, and i think the 5 will be a luxury for nuclear days.

fyi, the 5 looks bigger than you would expect. at a distance i can't tell any of these apart.

mikes · Since 13 Mar 2005 90 Posts B'Ham

Ryan · Since 14 Jul 2005 537 Posts Oregon Addicted

I think the crazy current made much of those kites feel bigger than they really are. the current had to be 8-10 knots add that to the wind speed and Exclamation

the apparent wind was crazy. i was on my 7 fuel with a 5th line and had a blast sat and sunday. i weigh 150 so was nearing the limit in some of the gusts. i will wait for a few more years of development before a get on the bow/flat band wagon Very Happy

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

Yea, we're certain that the current made a huge difference. Riding on the inside (no water flow) was completely manageable, but once you hit the channel it was psycho! Didn't think the current was that fast, but I figured at least in the 5-10mph range!

gabe · Since 16 May 2005 479 Posts Obsessed

i'm curious what the real current speed was, but i really doubt it was anywhere near 10kts. i would guess 5-6 mph at most. ~3 is walking speed. does anyone have a good grasp on this? i'm sure some windsurfers out there have done precise GPS testing...

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

That's what I was figuring... For JP's board I said it was probably running about 7mph at the fastest, just so we could get an idea at how far downriver his board got.

Ryan · Since 14 Jul 2005 537 Posts Oregon Addicted

historically the river runs and 3-4 during the summer months (ie low river flow). with all the snow we got this winter and the requirement to release more water for the salamonids i think the river is moving. i really have no idea what the current is but i know at Rufus, the wall and maryhill the current is way faster than anywere else on the river that have been at this spring.

Anybody know if the current is measured anywhere on the river?

jdk · Since 21 Dec 2005 333 Posts Obsessed

http://wa.water.usgs.gov/realtime/htmls/lower_columbia.html

Mike Hawk · Fri Jun 02, 06 9:19 am

jdk · Since 21 Dec 2005 333 Posts Obsessed

if you scroll to bottom it says 2.96 ft/s most recently in the Dalles. which is like 2mph i think. but it looks like it dropped off in the last day quite a bit

jdk · Since 21 Dec 2005 333 Posts Obsessed

You are right .68181818

Kataku2k3 · Since 14 Aug 2005 3753 Posts Los Angeles, CA Videographer

mph = ft/sec x 3600 / 5280 = so you're absolutely correct!

The water seems like it slows down through the Dalles though... Rufus and the close, surrounding places are narrow!

Project_Flightning · Since 10 Oct 2005 47 Posts Sea-Town & South Beach

Time to revive the Picture aspect of this so called "Picture" thread.

I come back to this thread and see that it's at 3 pages, I think woot woot alright tons of pics. Only to be disapointed by usefull discussion. Yea I'm dissapointed, but at the same time this is usefull stuff. I especially enjoy reading what Gabe has to say, and after seeing him ride I wanna know what he knows.

If anyone wants Higher Res versions email me at projectflightning at gmail.com

-Tyson-

importracer9 99 · Since 27 Oct 2005 296 Posts Obsessed

looks nice out. how warm was it?