Air Born Kites:

Kitesurfing Introduction

We recommend that you get professional lessons before you take to UK seas. Not only will this enhance your safety and others too but it will enable you to make the right choice for a suitable kite to start with. We supply the brands of Flexifoil, Naish & Peter Lynn. We rate the kites we supply, giving you excellent standards of quality and performance from these brands.

What you need to get going on the water:

Kite: There are many kitesurf kites available, some with four flying lines and some with five. Some kites are pre-inflated and water re-launchable (leading edge inflatable L.E.I.) and some are inflated by the wind look like an air bed (twinskin). The modern market demands an inflatable leading edge with a fifth line system for easier water re-launching.

Most kites today have a depower system on them. When kitesurfing was first introduced everyone was riding on 2 line kites. The first 4 line kite came along a bit later on as the sport developed. Having 4 lines attached to the kite allows the user to depower and power up their kite by pushing and pulling on the bar which changes the kites angle of the attack.

De-power system: There are a few types of L.E.I (leading edge inflatable) kites available on the market: Bow kites, c kites and hybrid c kites (for land and water use). You will need to know the difference to find the correct kite for you and your riding style.

Bow kites

This concept offers many advantages compared with the C-kites:
- Huge depower for far more security. In case of gusts or pilot mistake, all you have to do is to release the bar forward to stop the power
- Very easy to relaunch (no need to swim)
- Very large wind range, allowing a safer and a cheaper practice
Its success was so considerable since its introduction that quite every brand followed the crowd in order not to disappear.

Bow kites have a flatter profile and usually have either a 5^th line, or bridle to support the leading edge. Bow kite are good for all styles of riding and because of the huge depower range are now used in most KiteSurfing schools across the U.K.

Bar: A control bar is the best system for two and four line use on the water. If you have a lot of kite traction experience, you'll know the benefits of using a quad line kite (mostly including a fifth line nowadays and will be specified where applicable). A quad line kite is much more controllable and therefore will be much more manoeuvrable. You shouldn't let the idea of four lines make you think you will get in a tangle - with the right set-up you won't.

Flying Lines: Lines are nearly always made from either Dyneema or Spectra fibres braided together to produce a very strong, thin line with very little stretch. In general line length for use on water is 20-27m (60-80ft). Many manufactures will recommend lengths - line sets should always be equal.

Kitesurfing kites are generally available as kite only (which generally means the kite in a rucksack with a pump). You can then choose your bar & lines. All our manufacturers provide these options at their recommended line length.

Harness: This will take the pull of the kite through your body rather than your arms alone and pivots you from a more central gravity point. A harness for kiteboarding is pretty similar to a windsurfing harness and there is no reason why you can't use one of these, though the kitesurf harnesses are built for the job and will allow the pull to come from a better place. Your bar connects to your harness via a hoop of line called a strop. This connection must be easy to get out of so that you're able to release the connection between kite and harness in case of difficulty.

Board: You will need a board specifically designed for kite surfing. The size of the board will vary according to use and your skill, weight and conditions. Larger boards are used for light wind conditions or by beginner/intermediates. Small boards (including wakeboards) are used for speed, tricks and choppy conditions in stronger winds by the more experienced rider. Most riders will attach themselves to their board with a leash to avoid becoming separated from it when wiping out - any long leash will do.

Protective Gear: If you are kite surfing in the UK you will need a wet suit. You should also think about a floatation device (typically a padded vest specific for the job), which will not only keep you afloat but will protect your ribs in a crash and give you bouyancy to help with your water starts. A light weight helmet is also recommended to stop you getting knocked out ie. by getting hit by your surfboard.

Quick introduction to aspect ratio

A quick word on aspect ratios and what they will mean to you when deciding which kite is right for you. The aspect ratio is the factor that determines the form the kite will take in flight. A low aspect ratio kite will have a much greater chord (depth from front to back) in relation to its wingspan and project a more rounded lobe (the inverted U shape formed by these kites). A high aspect ratio kite conversely will have a much greater span than its chord depth.

So what does all of this mean to you the flier? As a general rule low aspect ratio (2.2 - 3) kites are incredibly stable high in the wind window. Their wind window is smaller than their high aspect ratio counterparts and as a result they have less upwind performance. However, the advantage of a low aspect ratio kite is its power control systems are more affective and they have increased manoeuvrability over high aspect ratio kites. Low aspect ratio kites will relaunch with ease and 'power up' consistently giving the entry level kitesurfer an easier ride.

High aspect ratio kites (4+) have been developed for the experienced kitesurfer by the pros themselves. They generate more lift and power than low aspect ratio kite and have a wider wind window and greater upwind performance. However, they have less stability than low aspect ratio kites, if they are depowered too much too fast they may fall out of the sky. The power they produce can be very intimidating for a novice rider, who may find they are too technical rendering take-offs and landingstoo uncontrollable. The experienced rider however, will find the greater power essential for many technical tricks and jumps.

There are also intermediate kites of medium aspect ratio (3.1 - 4). These kites are good for the majority of riders, giving a fairly stable ride early on and leaving plenty of scope for developing your skills. Some of these kites are also 2/4 line convertible allowing you to explore these different styles with one kite.

<back to top of page>...