Shortening lines

Correct that shorter lines increase the turning speed. Where people get confused is about the relative power that your kite produces. A 9 will always be a 9 no matter what. By shortening your lines you are effectively decreasing the size of your wind window and limiting the amount of space your kite has to build apparent wind. Your kite will still pull the same once up to speed, but will not generate the same amount of power/stroke.

I've tried 12m lines on a 9m kite and wakeskate and had a ball, but felt they were a little too short. 15m would be my suggested 'shortest'. Feel free to experiment yourself!

Different styles of riding have preferred different line lengths, but that also comes down to user preference. As a guideline:

Freeride: 23-27m
Freestyle: 20-23m
Waves: 18-23m
Racing: 25m-30m

Be careful you don't ping your kite the first time you dive it! It's surprising how quick the kite turns and how used to longer lines you have become. Maybe think about having a few different sections of lines so you can swap them out here and there. For example, you could shorten your main lines to 13m and then have two sets of 5m extensions to give you both the 18m and 23m options depending on the conditions. Keep us posted how you go!

Ping the kite?

I'll let you know how it goes.
Something to do this arvo

Alarming

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Trapped said..

Secondary question: if I were to go 20 metre lines on the outside, how much difference is there between these and the inside. Or should they all be the same length?

You'd have a nice time sitting on the beach doing nothing, you wouldn't be able to steer your kite.

Really guys I'm not to sure here and you're just being smart. Way to show off that nice friendly Kiteboarder image.
Put it this way. When I'm running out my lines to hook up to the kite the inside ones are a different length. Is this because the lines are actually shorter or because of the bar set up?
No need to be dicks guys.

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Trapped said..

Really guys I'm not to sure here and you're just being smart. Way to show off that nice friendly Kiteboarder image.
Put it this way. When I'm running out my lines to hook up to the kite the inside ones are a different length. Is this because the lines are actually shorter or because of the bar set up?
No need to be dicks guys.

Mate tune your bar, (anchor them all to a fixed point) and lean hard against them fully powered and they should all be the same length...well mine aren't, all lines are equal with about 3 to 4 fingers gap between the swivel and the bar. But generally the former. Short or long lines, same length mate.

So for a 9m Fuel and looping what do you guys think is the best length?

I have heard anything from 17m to 21m.

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Trapped said...
Secondary question: if I were to go 20 metre lines on the outside, how much difference is there between these and the inside. Or should they all be the same length?

your joking right?

Follow the instructions Eppo mentioned when you apply even tension on all lines the bar should be around 50mm from the chicken loop.

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NickT said...

Underoath said..

So for a 9m Fuel and looping what do you guys think is the best length?

I have heard anything from 17m to 21m.

Think you might need to tune the bar you check got firstfirst

I should have used your bar, but who goes around swapping pigtails these days!