jumping rally vs rpm

honda1 · Since 11 Sep 2013 183 Posts Stoked

I have been kiting for a few years now. I have a quiver of rally kites and primarily use the rally, although I do have a rpm. I think I have become moderately good at jumping the rally. Last week I had a chance to take the rpm out. By the way I really enjoyed how much faster it was compared to the rally. I know I need to switch over to the rpm. But for whatever reason I was not able to jump as well on the rpm. Why? I suppose it has to do with the design of the rpm. Should there be that much difference? Thoughts?

Occupied Columbia · Since 12 Nov 2011 376 Posts Columbia City Obsessed

Just my feelings on this. I'm not an instructor.
You initiate your jumps a lot sooner on the rpm. For example if you normally load your rally and sheet in around 11-12 o'clock then on the rpm sheet in around 10-11 o'clock.
You'll land faster and maybe overrun your kite. So, be ready to move the kite back in front of you.

eric · Since 13 Jan 2006 1803 Posts XTreme Poster

The Rally, like a Rebel etc, is more of a "pull in with a little send/whip"", whereas the RPM like a C kite is more "send it with less and later pull in."

sromano1995 · Since 22 May 2013 240 Posts Portland Stoked

I have had a full quiver of RPMs for several years now (among quite a few other kites and brands) and I really enjoy them but everytime I ride a Rally I am always impressed by the superior lift and hangtime compared to the RPM but it's definitely much slower when it comes to looping.

voy-tech · Mon Jun 13, 16 7:38 am

I had the same expierience - flying mostly delta shaped kites (Rally/Rebel/Bandit/etc.) I thought I had my jumps dialed in, than I got an RPM and I could not jump at all. I was talking to my friend who boosts on his RPM like crazy and realized that my load & pop sucked Sad

With a C-like kite you need to have your pop dialed in and you need to time the pop and sending the kite perfectly and then you'll boost just like on any other kite. I'm still working on my pop and timing, but at least now I can jump with the RPM - still I'm yet to go as high as I can with the delta kites.

MrGie · Since 17 Feb 2015 55 Posts

RPM is designed to pull like a motherf*cker. This is why it is so awesome for unhooked tricks. It will pull you no matter how much you resist, therefore creating more line tension and larger boosts if you can resist the pull. To boost high on RPM, you want to be a bit more aggressive than when flying Rally. If you're not aggressive, you can't hold your edge against the kite to build the resistance and slingshot yourself into the clouds.

How to be more aggressive?

Right before you initiate the jump, begin steering the kite to 12 AND go a bit downwind for just a fraction of a second. This will release the tension in your lines, allowing your muscles to relax and prepare for aggressive resistance. This will also send the kite a bit deeper into the wind window. If you're practicing unhooked, this will also enable you to unhook easier.

Then, inhale and hold your breath (exhaling makes muscles relaxed and you don't want that when boosting high), push against the kite like your life depended on it while fully sheeting in. If you took the first step right and started sending the kite to 12 before you slacked the lines, as soon as you make the lines tense again - the kite will continue it's momentum to the 12 and you'll be looking at everyone else from above in few more seconds.

...

If this sounds too complicated, then there is PLAN B.

...

PLAN B:

I always prefer to learn from observing others. Find someone on a beach who flies kites like yours and performs tricks and jumps like you would like to. Start following them and observing what they are doing. The smallest details make all the difference. Notice those details and copy them. Or even better, find them on a beach and ask to ride along. That's who I learned and now I rarely see people who can jump higher than me. If they do, I always follow them to find out what they are doing better/different.

Btw, I have a quiver of RPMs, and these are my favorite kites for unhooked and looping performance, but if I unhooked is not your domain, then I strongly suggest sticking to Rally's because you will progress much faster on them. They are more stable, more forgiving, easier to handle, have more direct feel to them, and are really really amazing kites. When you master the Rally you'll have no trouble jumping with RPM.

Find me on a beach someday and I'll who you some boosting tips/tricks that will leave your friends jealous.

Cheers Cool

Jonpnw · Tue Jun 14, 16 2:47 pm **Try Before You Buy**

I currently have 2016 RPM's to try and will soon have 2017 Rally's, Wave SST and Ride Engine harnesses . Hit me up to find your perfect match.

I am most frequently in HR but plan to do a Stevenson , Jones Beach and possibly coast demo.

Windance is having Kite Demo June 25 & 26 where you can try all the different Slingshot Kites also

proletariat · Since 22 Feb 2013 102 Posts Denver, CO Stoked

This is a great discussion. How does the Wave SST compare to the RPM and Rally for jumping?

Jonpnw · Wed Jun 15, 16 5:54 am **IMHO**

My 2 cents when talking about just jumping\ loft boosting not wakestyle , not freestyle.

1) Rally
2) RPM
3) Wave

Windance Crew · Since 18 Apr 2008 473 Posts Hood River Kite Shop Obsessed

They jump different due to where they naturally sit in the wind window.
The Wave sits deepest
The Rally in between
The RPM sits furthest forward.

So when you jump with the RPM you get a quick boosty, vertical jump. Fast and high

Jumping the Wave it's more of a lower altitude, longer horizontal flight time type jump. The Rally is in between.

That's my take on the difference.

knotwindy · Since 25 Sep 2011 598 Posts Addicted

Huh, feels slightly different to me
the RPM has that quick rip you off the water feel and then slacks
the Rally is the other end, not a huge rip but crazy hang time and slow drop
he Wave feels in between those two
just my opinion,

but they need different techniques to get the best out of them

Occupied Columbia · Since 12 Nov 2011 376 Posts Columbia City Obsessed

Electric Goat · Since 01 Aug 2014 7 Posts Port Scandalous Kook

I regularly swap between the 2011/12 Rallys, 2014/15 Rallys, and RPMs.

My RPM sits deepest in the window and mimics skateboard/snowboard airs, fast up/fast down, and very natural feeling like a movie in regular motion...super predictable.

The newer Rallys cruise in front of me toward the edge of the window and haul upwind and jump super high and land smooth(lest pilot error) kind of like a slow motion movie (in a really good way).

The original Rallys are a friggin blast. They turn so quick that anything is possible. Quick boost, slow boost, fast landing, slow landing, unplanned kite loops.

I can't wait to ride the Wave SST someday.