Home | Sitemap

Contact Us

Kiteboarding Gifts

www.windsurfing-gifts.com



Kiteboarding

Kiteboard Articles

Power Kites for Kiteboarding

Those who have had the opportunity to fly power kites already know they are designed a specific way. These are geared to actually pull the person flying it. There are 3 prime power kites you will see today; the supported leading edge, leading edge inflatables and foils. Individuals who enjoy these are usually just having a good time and adding doing so on ground boards or from vehicles. If you want to try this with a vehicle there should be everything from a kiteboard, buggy and landboard to all-terrain skates, skis, and various other options. They also come with anywhere from 2-5 line and some sort of bar to grip on to while enjoying them.

It's also important to understand that the sizes will drastically vary. You can find power kites that are as small as 1.5 square meters to as large as 50 square meters. It all depends on the vehicle you're using and whether or not you'll be taking advantage of this sport on land or water. A good example of this is back in 82', a boat called Jacob's Ladder used a power kite to hit 25 knots in sailing speed. In 2008, someone exceeded 50 knots on a kiteboard.

It's definitely entertaining and if there are plenty of power kites out there waiting for you. Here's a few tips to help you get started.

1) In the beginning you should always start off with a two-line trainer kite. This will allow you to easily control your power kite and stay within the safety measures. These are also highly recommended for children and small adults due to the pulling issues. They should be somewhere in between 1.2 to 1.4 meters. However, if you find that a little more power is okay you can go as high as 1.8 meters before it becomes a real issue. Just remember, the same sized power kites can still lift and handle differently. It's in your best interests to stay with a predictable power kite and just fly in a forward direction.

2) One of the most important parts to the learning process is the "wind window." This is the area in the air where power kites fly. If you hit different areas of the wind window you will notice different pulls and directional issues. You'll know when you hit the edge of a wind window though, because the power vanishes quickly. The best avenue to figure out what kind of power you'll get is starting at the edge of the window and dropping your trainer kite into the power zone. If you struggle in this area then it's safer to cut back.

3. At minimum, wear a helmet when power kiting. There are helmets specifically for land uses and helmets specifically for water use. Knee pads and wrist guards are also a good idea for land use. For using power kites over water, impact vests, gloves, and goggles are recommended to maximize safety. But whether you're power kiting on land or water, a helmet is a necessity.

4) If you're just starting we recommend starting on land first. The power kites for water purposes are more powerful because of water resistance. Even when you feel as though you mastered land, still take a few lessons on using power kites with water.

Once you start enjoying power kiting you will realize how addicting it can be. It's all about progressing through the sport, and once you get a handle on the two-line trainer kite, you will want to jump to kite sailing, kiteboarding and all the other options available. Just keep in mind it can be a dangerous sport, so safety gear is a requirement.

Eventually you will try so many different option you will find a favorite amongst them. Whether it's with buggies, boards, skates, skis, snowboards or anything else, each one has an appeal like no other. In the end, do the necessary research and find the best trainer kite to use in the beginning. The more you understand about power kites and how they work, the easier it will be to progress through this fantastic sport.

About The Author
Learn more about power kites.

 



Copyright © 2010-2011 DR Managemnt
All rights reserved
Home | Sailing Gifts | Marine Animals | About Dolphins