Flat kites are for cheaters...

pjc · Since 06 Mar 2005 649 Posts Addicted

are there specific incidents of flat kite accidents you are referring to?

if you are flying a 12m when everyone else is flying a 8ms ... well, you are asking for trouble. i'm wondering if there are specific incidents of someone flying a SLE within a reasonable range and getting hurt by some SLE specific sort of mishap?

to claim that SLE's are more dangerous the normal LE's seems a bit off to me.

Wyo Kiter · Wed Jun 14, 06 1:08 pm

gabe · Since 16 May 2005 475 Posts Obsessed

i actually find this is one of the best times not to be constrained by a stopper.

my prediction is that as people use these kite more and more, they will increasingly have less interest in using a stopper to ride against. i still use a stopper to control the sheetign distance so i can grab the bar and it wont invert etc.

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6548 Posts Couve / Hood Site Lackey

NaishUSA · Since 07 Jul 2005 53 Posts HR OR

pjc · Since 06 Mar 2005 649 Posts Addicted

i guess it is a question of semantics - is getting you a** handed to you dangerous or merely uncomfortable? i certainly wish these SLEs were around when i was getting tossed on every transition a few years ago.

imho, it is not very responsible to ride without a kite leash. i don't think sending one of these SLEs to leash is an automatic death spiral. i haven't studied this topic too much but the worst i've heard about is "the kite spun around a lot and mande me feel nervous".

at any rate, my kite leash has an easy to activate QR on it as well - which i think is a good thing for any kite leash re:less of SLE or LE.

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6548 Posts Couve / Hood Site Lackey

I've had the bridle wrap around a tip of my Waroo. The net result is if I tried to power up the kite by pulling the bar in, the kite flew up in the air and started to spin, but as soon as I let the bar the kite would just drop back on the water.

Eventually I just gave up and self rescued. I've had similar circumstances set up on a C kite where lines wrapped a tip and wouldn't come loose.

As for leashes, isn't your chicken loop your leash? Again as long as the rear lines aren't tensioned, the kite has no power. Jim was showing me in the shop how when only the front lines are tensioned there is basically no way for the kite to power up, it just flags out.

So the only scenario I see being a problem is if for some reason you aren't able to release tension from the rear lines. Not sure how it could happen, but I am not going to tempt fate and say it couldn't happen!

pjc · Since 06 Mar 2005 649 Posts Addicted

yeah it's pretty docile with the bar all the way out (assuming you don't put a stopper ball on it like i did...)

but couldn't you lose the chicken loop pretty easily. pop the shackle by accident or unhook yourself by accident? i guess that is not super common, but both have happened to me more then once.

so no stopper ball and a leash on the chicken loop sounds like an option.

but no leash at all.... imho that is not so wise, but thats just one opinion

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6548 Posts Couve / Hood Site Lackey

Yeah some sort of leash is good, but I am just saying having it go to the CL is ideal.

I am using a suicide leash to my chicken loop or at least using the donkey dick. I think with the donkey dick in there it ain't pulling out.

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1804 Posts XTreme Poster

I have a "False 5th" on my SLE and leash directly to that. I can spin the bar at will. When I let go it kills the kite power--period. If that system fails I have a release on my loop; if that fails on my spreader; and if that fails on my leash-- steps 2-4 all similar to my C-kites of old.

I think the depower of the bow/SLE is your first line of defense against an accident, and that it is an order of magnitude safer than a 5 line C, as for the fifth to work on a C you must pull it or unhook before letting go of the bar, at which point, assuming it's not too tightly wrapped around your flying lines, it is VERY effective. This is not the case with a bow/SLE, as arm extension causes a huge reduction in kite pull without activating anything.

Yes, there are NO 100% safe kites. And, stupid is, as stupid does. Go out on a 12 SLE in 40 knots and you are asking for trouble. Keep an SLE overhead while standing on shore and it luffs or inverts.....?! However, I find that a leashed SLE is a very significant step in the right direction. In fact, I would call it a profound step. I am done with traditional C-kites, and would not recommend that newbies use them either.

Most important is the mind that is attached to the kite. To that end I support every effort made to educate kiters to safe methods and practice. Currently, this appears to only happen in any sort of organized way from top notch kite schools.

My $0.02.

Eric

mikes · Since 13 Mar 2005 90 Posts B'Ham