Understanding the Wind Window

The red zone is colored in red for a reason. This is the "power zone". In the power zone, the kite is more directly in contact with wind. At the edge, the wind "sees" only the semi-circular arc shape, and produces minimal pressure changes over the kite so the power is kept at bay. In the power zone, the kite's wind profile is larger and pressure changes are more extreme, causing the kite to generate enough power to easily lift you off the ground, or drag you across a field.


Furthermore, the power of the kite is exponentially related to the speed of the kite, or its "apparent wind". Apparent wind is the wind that the kite sees. So as it travels across the wind window, it "sees" more wind. Furthermore, when kiteboarding, the kite will be moving with you, locked in position, "seeing" more wind than the ground wind-speed. This enables you to keep constant power on the kite. The faster the kite moves, the more power it generates, much more. Therefore, if the kite dives through the power zone at a fast speed, the power can be many times that if it were stalled in that position. Wind is unpredicatable and can change at any moment. It is important to have good kite skills prior to entering the water with, or without, your board. information courtesy of http://www.chicagokitesurfing.com

First Flight with the HQ Pro 350 Trainer Kite

I took the new HQ Rush Pro 350 out for its maiden flight today. Overall, I'm very pleased with the design and durability of this kite. (It took a few nasty crashes but appears to be fine) Although, steering the kite was a bit more challenging that I had initially anticipated. However, I was able to launch the kite unassisted and do several reverse launches via the de-power line. The equipment was also fairly easy to deploy and store.

Why to Buy a Trainer Kite

Some words of wisdom, I found on the web... Kite skills are 70% of kitesurfing, or more. Therefore, learning to control the kite is the first thing to do when learning to kitesurf. A trainer kite should be used for this. Trainer kites cost very little compared to real riding gear, and are far more durable. Beginners tend to crash kites when learning to control them. For these two reasons, someone just starting should use the trainer kite. If this isn't reason enough for you, the trainer kite is a lot smaller, so it will generate less power and therefore will be much safer, as well. The trainer kite will help you build your kite skills to eliminate extra risk-factors on the water. Since the kite is the most important aspect of the sport, and can be learned separately, it should be practiced on land with a smaller kite prior to the water....until you can fly the kite without having to look at it.

HQ Rush Pro 350 Trainer Kite Has Arrived

Well after considerable research I decided to go with a 2012 HQ Rush Pro 350 trainer kite. It's a 3.5 meter square kite and features a three line control setup.

Welcome

Hello and welcome to my kite boarding blog/journal. In an effort to assist others looking to get into the sport of kite boarding, I will be chronicling my journey from start to finish. Hopefully by the end of my journey I will have developed a decent guideline in which others can learn from and/or follow.

-Landon