C vs. Bow: RELAUNCH COMP

From that position Im in the Sonic will just reverse launch out of it

Sorry for not being up to speed on this, been kiting (gloat,gloat)

Look, this was a well meant challenge to a guy who seems to think he can re-launch pretty quickly and that Bows are the gear to be on.

Of course some country bumkin up there in the sticks of WA (me) who only see's his local crew doing what they do and a couple of designers and their pro teams prototyping 2008 stuff. There's obviously going to be a gap there in which the real people exist.

But hey I can only speak from what I see and know "I" can do. I can re-launch faster than anyone (who has rocked up on the point except N8). I KNOW it's gotta be something other than my skill as there have been a lot more kiters out on the water that are way better than me. But one common thing I notice.

The Flat bridled kites stay down when down, a LOT.

Hence the challenge....I thought, "what the hell, surely I can't lose throwin that out there!" (famous last words)

Darren, Post the DNA re-launch, I'm sure it will have some insight for someone. Great to have you in on this thread. Unfortunately I wouldn't go against you even if paid. I have a hunch that you might just have a little more practice at re-launching ANY kite than anyone in the country so I'm going to take my bat and ball and go home with my bottom lip down. But thanks for your input. Although I know you don't necessarily like 5th line systems.

I won't be at kitestock, not at this stage...My wife is due on the 21st of Feb, it's our first child and it's not going to be early it's going to be late. so it kinda squashes me being away from Geraldton for that week. But I have been instructed by my wife to ensure I kite (God bless her soul)

The best I can do is post a vid of me re-launching my kite on a 5th line. I'll endeavour to do that as I'm pretty confident that unless you are Darren Marshall, Ian Young, Nathan Johnson, Rich Stenning, Dan Anderson, Adam Ratajewski, Jake Gordon, Jan Hurst, I could go on and on......and on...and on.....and on...and on with the list of people I wouldn't like to take on.

Sorry Sydney siders, YOU I will happily have a crachk at.

I'm sure you get my point, but if you fly a flattie, I reckon I can get more tricks in, in a session with horrible landings and quick recoveries because I fly a kite with a 5th line.

Just my opinion and I'm entitled to it and I'll happily defend with action.

All you crew who think flat kites are safer?. It all depends what you consider safety to represent and what element of kiting is the dangerous part. Because there are things about kiting that are dangerous wether it be a flat kite or an old curvey "C". There are some things that a flat doesn't do that a C kite does and things that a C kite does that a flat kite can't. It's all about what works for you.

I like what I like and it serves me just swell, waves, freestlye, re-launch, unhooked, de-power, wind range, self rescue, tangles you name it baby my kite delivers.

I'll see if I can get out there tomorrow and video.

N8 - You in for a vid session?.

Is there a camera fast enough

quote:

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Originally posted by hirschausen

The Flat bridled kites stay down when down, a LOT.

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That is my point exactly. Fair enough an SB2 may not go down as much, and when it lands with controlled line tension it may relaunch quicker, but when it goes bad it goes really bad (tumble / inversion).

You cannot compare relaunching a bow from the ideal position to relaunching a 5th line C from its standard position - simply because a C will ALWAYS land in the same position no matter what the rider does. A bow will not. I know the line tension argument, but you must be able to chuck it all in and not have to worry about anything.

Apples with apples I say - and I ride a bow.

Just my opinion...

Good winds
Justin

quote:

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Originally posted by newcastle_justin

quote:

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Originally posted by hirschausen

The Flat bridled kites stay down when down, a LOT.

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but you must be able to chuck it all in and not have to worry about anything.

Apples with apples I say - and I ride a bow.

Just my opinion...

Good winds
Justin

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Justin, you're just forgetting an important point. With a bow you don't need to necessarily chuck it to achieve your full depower/safety. This is something you need to do with a C.

I see a quite a few local riders here missing passes, but managing to land on the board, grab the safety leash, pull it down to reach the chicken loop and off they go. The kite has in most cases not even come close to the water. That's the beauty of a bow.

I remember the goold old C times where you would chuck the bar and the kite would pull you backwards for quite a few meters...

Now back to the relaunch topic. The original post was what kite relaunches faster. The answer is a BOW (probably the Switchblade 2 from Cabrinha as one of the fastest among them). To make it comparable i wrote down the rules. Both kites straight downwind lying on the leading edge. pretty simple and fair.

If you want to argue about special cases, that's another thing. The average user doesn't often come in contact with these cases anyway. But I'll give you some to think about.

Why don't we compare an inverted Bow launch with a C-kite launch where the 5th line is wrapped around the kite. You're lucky if the 5th line doesn't split the kite in half while relaunching. I'm sure I'll get my "inverted" bow dis-inverted and up in the air quicker.

Another example would be in waves. The extra time that it takes to relaunch a C in waves may make the difference between an undamaged and trashed kite.

I'll take my bow any time in big swell. Not only because of it's flying characteristics (faster, faster turning, more depower) but also because the relaunch speed is higher.

M

I have been riding a Switch Blade 2 for about 3 months now almost every day or at least 3-4 times a week for between 3-5 hours each time and not once has it inverted not at all, never. The switchblade 1 was a different story it inverted if you looked at it the wrong way, CB1 was the same . cant comment on the CB2 as I have not flown one.

Dunno, I'm prety sure the 12m Reactor 06' only came out with five line bar and lines. If you experimented with an old four line bar and lines I can understand issues. Kinda like hooking an old four line bar and lines up to a crossbow. I don't think it would be too much fun as it wasn't designed that way. But Ray, the 12m 06' is really fast at re-launch on five! ever tried re-launching a bridle kite with 3cm's of weed around a couple bridle lines?. Now that's what I call reason for swearing.

Another reason to keep it off the water and never drop it I guess.

Question: Isn't total de-power achieved when the kite is actually disabled. aka not flying?. Cos I thought that if the kite was still flying then it's....still flying and hence needs some power to do that right?. So aren't the claims "total depower" a bit misleading?.

Just a question.

quote:

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Originally posted by harry potter


I have been riding a Switch Blade 2 for about 3 months now almost every day or at least 3-4 times a week for between 3-5 hours each time and not once has it inverted not at all, never. The switchblade 1 was a different story it inverted if you looked at it the wrong way, CB1 was the same . cant comment on the CB2 as I have not flown one.

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Moritz, I guess this was part of my point too. If this is the case with the SB2 then I totally agree. As I said I only have my CB1 to compare to.

Re your points about the surf etc, totally agree. In my opinion, a bow will always be better in the surf for the reasons you describe.

Just out of interest Moritz, have you ridden an 07 Fuel? I traditionally HATED fuels as I tested them way back but the new ones are soooo much better. Not thinking for surf, I mean for freestyle, particularly kiteloops. My opinion, and I stress my opinion, is that bows are no good for loops.

Off topic I know, just my meandering thoughts!

Impressive!!