Riley single pulley for center $6 ( cheapest I could find )
Ronstan kite pulleys pk 2 for outer $9
2 plastic toggle clam cleats for brake adjustment $2 ea. ( I made that name up )
Bunch of 3mm rigging rope and some 4mm for center + loop $6
Already had 50cm off cut of 22mm dowel and some 4mm tube for harness loop.
Bowline knots are your freind for tieing off pulleys etc as they don't force the pulleys to be twisted and a highway man hitch for the kite loop ( quick release ).
Copy the layout of the ozone
I imagine there will be some tweaking of the main line that goes through the pulleys and attaches to the flying lines to get them correct.
If I was going to use it all the time I'd grab the real one cos it looks pretty good, but for my purposes the redneck version will be fine.
Hoping to get it out in the next couple of days, I'll let you know how it goes.
Apologies if I've hijacked a little here but thought this a good option for first time trainers.
Cheers!!
Select to expand quoteCinijar said...Alystan said..
On my 3metres ozone ignition trainer the 3rd safetly line is attached to the bottom of the kite, if you pull it, the kite start to invert and empty itself from air.
I am not sure how the quadro are lines are set up, but if Cinijar connected the two backlines (connected at the bottom of the kite) as the steering line, pulling on them would invert the kite like the safety on the ignition does, and the kite would loose power.WeirdEd said..Cinijar said..
Hi All,
Great thread, well done. (thanks for no sleep last night while I read it!)
I am just getting into this foray and recently purchased a small four line power kite (3.5m Cross Quattro) as a trainer. At least I thought it was small till I flew it, anything over 15 knots and I'm being dragged around the sand, 20+ the other day was quite challenging. Being a little bloke at 6"7 and 130kg this surprised me a little!!
Anyway I have made my own 4 line bar for it for about $25 worth of bits from the local chandlery after some close study of google images.....
and have my old windsurfing seat harness so will start using that to get a more realistic feel.
The only set back is pulling the bar in depowers the kite, but I figured it would help me to learn to fly extended by default ( I've heard the old windsurfer sheeting in habit is hard to kick). I figure in a decent breeze I can probably have a crack at some body drags before my first lesson, I'm sure that will look priceless at the local beach....
Any hot tips / things to be aware of for us 'larger' riders?
Sounds deadly.
I would make sure you have some sort of quick release built into that contraption before you permanently attach yourself to it and it ends in tears. Also I do not understand how pulling the bar in depowers the kite. Can you post pictures?
Rear lines on a quad line foil are the brake and you steer with the font lines (with a small mix of rear), kinda the reverse of an inflatable. The small kites are quite sensitive to the brakes so by fully pulling the bar the kite completely collapses and falls out of the sky. The reason I built one, was I couldn't come at $150 for something that I'll only use a handful of times (and I knew I could easily make out of ronstan parts) it's based on the ozone turbo bar which I'm sure is very good if you are into land kiting. I'll only be swanning about in chest deep calm water 30m off the beach so not too worried about relaunch, I've only crashed it once so far. It reverses very easily, worst case I'll fish it out.
I've fashioned a quick release on the front lines so if I pull it they get released and the kite collapses. So no more deadly than a 'real' one. Though good to have I can't see a time I'll need it for what I'm doing (famous last words).
I intend to be on the real thing having lessons in a couple of weeks 
Any tips for the big fella?
Hi Cin,
My advice to you is understand the wind window. VERY WELL.
Learn fly your kite at any single position at the edge of the wind window for a minute at a time and hold it steady in that position.
You generally only dick around in the power zone during launches, turns and poor wind days (when you need to Sine). Most of the time you are trying to fly the kite to the edge of the wind window and are being dragged along behind it with a board on your feet!!!!
Just got back from a mini session down the infamous St. K and I sort of did toe side twice...!
Select to expand quoteSaltySinus said..
Just got back from a mini session down the infamous St. K and I sort of did toe side twice...!
Just to upset you Salty .... I can't pop and load, I can barely get air from a ramp, but I can do toe side in either direction!!!!!!!
Select to expand quotebigtone667 said..SaltySinus said..
Just got back from a mini session down the infamous St. K and I sort of did toe side twice...!
Just to upset you Salty .... I can't pop and load, I can barely get air from a ramp, but I can do toe side in either direction!!!!!!!
I HATE YOU! ;-)
Have you surfed or wakeboarded previous to kiting?
Select to expand quoteSaltySinus said..bigtone667 said..SaltySinus said..
Just got back from a mini session down the infamous St. K and I sort of did toe side twice...!
Just to upset you Salty .... I can't pop and load, I can barely get air from a ramp, but I can do toe side in either direction!!!!!!!
I HATE YOU! ;-)
Have you surfed or wakeboarded previous to kiting?
Standup Paddle Board in the last two years but only in small surf. I like facing the wave, so I learnt to go natural and goofy.
But what really helped going goofy toeside was the dynabar V7 (string version of the bar works fine). Really really helps get you going.
Select to expand quotebigtone667 said..
But what really helped going goofy toeside was the dynabar V7 (string version of the bar works fine). Really really helps get you going.
So your harness' hook slides around the harness? But,... isn't that cheating? ;-)
That said, I'm clearly not eating enough pies as my harness was sliding round when I was doing my massive 2m toeside tacks. On more than one occasion, I found that when I returned to heal side, I was subconsciously shifting the harness back to centre by grabbing the quick release (North Bar) and pushing it round and out!!!! Not far off the same action that would have caused it to fire!
Turns out I'm more lucky than stupid as both times, I just caught myself as the QR collar started to shift against it's return springs...
Select to expand quoteSaltySinus said..bigtone667 said..
But what really helped going goofy toeside was the dynabar V7 (string version of the bar works fine). Really really helps get you going.
So your harness' hook slides around the harness? But,... isn't that cheating? ;-)
That said, I'm clearly not eating enough pies as my harness was sliding round when I was doing my massive 2m toeside tacks. On more than one occasion, I found that when I returned to heal side, I was subconsciously shifting the harness back to centre by grabbing the quick release (North Bar) and pushing it round and out!!!! Not far off the same action that would have caused it to fire!
Turns out I'm more lucky than stupid as both times, I just caught myself as the QR collar started to shift against it's return springs...
I imagine that would be classed as "face side".
I didn't need the dynabar for natural toeside, just for goofy toeside to get the feel. Now that I have "it", I have gone back to using my seat harness.
I am still awkward on the goofy side, but an impressionable wave will help you transcend those particular feelings.
Yeah, a 'face slide' or a '**-eat' depending on what state you're in.
As long as you feeling awkward isn't keeping you from chasing those waves, then it's all good!
Lesson:
Be careful when unhooking and doing back/front rolls, if you accidentally send the kite, it will hurt a shed load.
learning is making sure you really set the angle and keep the kite set and rotate a bit toward the kite (ive found) so there is slack in the lines and if the kite does get sent you have some chance of recovery.
Note to self, I feel I can *finally* do something which qualifies as 'going toeside'. No real secret to it, just try try try... and spend many hours getting funny looks from people, holding a toeside stance whilst using the rail round an oval as your pseudo bar!
Select to expand quoteSaltySinus said...
Note to self, I feel I can *finally* do something which qualifies as 'going toeside'. No real secret to it, just try try try... and spend many hours getting funny looks from people, holding a toeside stance whilst using the rail round an oval as your pseudo bar!
I did find it much easier doing it on a surfboard than TT. And I know you want to try a surfboard!!!!
Select to expand quotebigtone667 said..SaltySinus said...
Note to self, I feel I can *finally* do something which qualifies as 'going toeside'. No real secret to it, just try try try... and spend many hours getting funny looks from people, holding a toeside stance whilst using the rail round an oval as your pseudo bar!
I did find it much easier doing it on a surfboard than TT. And I know you want to try a surfboard!!!!
Thanks Tone,... and I do... and I have a kitesurf board (Cab. Skillet) but I found switching between the two types/styles of boards was making progress even less productive. Plus no real waves here so will focus on the TT for now!
commit to the surfboard if you want to learn to ride it. Leave your twintip at home for 20 sessions. It's easier to learn on flat water. Once you can ride it you can then swap boards around depending on the session.
Select to expand quotePeterc150 said..
commit to the surfboard if you want to learn to ride it. Leave your twintip at home for 20 sessions. It's easier to learn on flat water. Once you can ride it you can then swap boards around depending on the session.
Thanks Peter, and I definitely take your word for it. What was your 'jumping off point' with the TT? At what point did you say "Nah, directional/race boards are for me?".
Was it instigated by your downwind marathons? The directionals certainly seem more versatile than the TT in terms of upwind reach and ability to tack in low wind conditions...
I went to Bali with Ben Wilson in August 2010 without much time on a surfboard. It was a great trip and I learn't a lot but when I got back I went back to the Twin Tip for a while due to the comfort zone.
Got back onto the surfboard (Cabrinha S-Quad) about April 2012 after a big surf weekend at Inverloch got me inspired to really ride waves. I have hardly used the twintip since. I alternate between the S-Quad, a Firewire surboard (not straps) and my Sector 60.
I found it easier to learn to gybe on the Sector 60, then carry the skill over to the surfboard.
I doubt there is any real interest in my progress... other than from me... but FINALLY managed my first backroll today. A combination of medium to high board speed, and medium to low respect for worrying about keeping the kite in the air... To think I've progressed from the below to this in "only" (yes sarcastically said) just under 15months..
Posted 08/11/2012:Select to expand quoteSaltySinus said..
Hey that's a great tip!
Okay, here's my setup notes:
This is the bit I always have to slow myself down on, as I just want to get into the water and make the most of the wind. Here are a few notes (not saying they're good, but they help me).
Kite:
1.?Get the kite out of the bag and move away from your bag and crap to make sure there's nothing behind/upwind of you for a few metres.
2.?Have only your pump and board to hand. Inflate the kite as usual. When you get some air in your kite, put the board over the leading edge to stop the kite blowing away.(upside down so there is a foot strap over the leading edge to keep the board stable)
3.?Once fully inflated and you've secured the valve things? remove the board and turn the kite over (remembering you're the boss, not the kite), once you've turned it over, before you put it down, walk backwards (up wind) so that lines on the kite remain down wind and easier to attach.
4.?Place the kite down and if you'd care to do so, put sand on it to weigh it down (at your own risk, especially if it's full of sharp shells and/or rocks etc.)
5.?Finally, go round to the rear of the kite and check all of the lines are untangled. Pull them all taught and check there is no fouling etc.
Lines:
Erk, lines? a real pain. The amount of time you spent putting these away will be deducted from the amount of time you have to spend now untangling them. If you were putting them away in a rush, chances are they'll be more tangled now. I personally set up with my lines downwind of the kite as I find it much easier. Here goes:
1.)?Get the lines out of the line bag and put the line bag somewhere safe (inside your main bag, perhaps).
2.)?Walk a metre downwind of the kite and start unravelling the lines in a straight line down wind (I put sand over the loose ends when I start to keep them in one place)
3.)?Once you get to the end, remember, red is usually in your left hand but as the kite is effectively upside down, it should be in your right.
4.)?Unravel all lines and make (slowly slowly catch a monkey, don't rush it). Once separated, go over them one last time to make sure they really are separated.
5.)?Attach the lines and give the looped end a good yank to make sure there is no slack.
Easy.
And I've loved every salt filled moment of it!
Great topic here.
No big technical tips here but:
1. One thing I learned is to take LOTS of fluid to drink with you. Especially on the first few trips out where you are going to spend decent time drinking seawater, or just being manhandled by the kite a bit when you make mistakes. I now take a minimum of 2 ltrs in an old soft drink bottle of water with a bit of gaterade powder in it. I also have another drink in the car afterwards of something soft drink or juice etc.
2. The other big one for me was booties. Managed to impale myself on something under the water a week ago (sea urchin?) and a few of the spikes were a right pain to get out. Yes booties will make getting your feet into your twintip more of a pain, but vastly better than having to stay out of the water for a week and worry about infection.
Additional to 2. First aid kit nearby is great, with good tweezers inside.
Select to expand quoteSetAdrift said..
Great topic here.
No big technical tips here but:
1. One thing I learned is to take LOTS of fluid to drink with you. Especially on the first few trips out where you are going to spend decent time drinking seawater, or just being manhandled by the kite a bit when you make mistakes. I now take a minimum of 2 ltrs in an old soft drink bottle of water with a bit of gaterade powder in it. I also have another drink in the car afterwards of something soft drink or juice etc.
2. The other big one for me was booties. Managed to impale myself on something under the water a week ago (sea urchin?) and a few of the spikes were a right pain to get out. Yes booties will make getting your feet into your twintip more of a pain, but vastly better than having to stay out of the water for a week and worry about infection.
Additional to 2. First aid kit nearby is great, with good tweezers inside.
Great advice. I distinctly remember being about 80% sea water when I was learning... Don't worry, that passes.
You know you're making progress when you can wee whilst kiteboarding... trust me ;-)
+1 Booties (even summers ones) with a good sole are good for beginners if you are kiting anywhere you might end up on over a reef such as Hampton or Brighton, or where there are known hazards such as sea urchins (Altona, Point Henry). Winter warmth ones are needed for the cold winter water too.
Salty, congrats on your backroll. Now on to kiteloops . . .
Select to expand quotePeterc150 said..
Salty, congrats on your backroll. Now on to kiteloops . . .
Thanks Peter. I've managed a couple of downloops coupled with slide turns on my shiny 10m Dice (I can't speak highly enough about this kite... at least at the moment) and one V shaky downloop water start... They're a great way to check one's shoulders aren't susceptible to dislocation!
Have much more work to do to lock down the back roll on my strong side and weak side has yet to be attempted.
How long until your cast is off, 4-weeks?
I didn't haves a cast, the fibula isn't load bearing. I went kiting on Sunday. Great to be on the water but still a bit sore. . .
Select to expand quotePeterc150 said..
I didn't haves a cast, the fibula isn't load bearing. I went kiting on Sunday. Great to be on the water but still a bit sore. . .
So, a few weeks off the water, and you're clearly rusty, hence you looking at the Newbie section for advice ;-)
Glad you're back on the board.
FYI, no backroll+kiteloops yet, but managed a weak sided backroll (inc. landing). Wasn't the most graceful thing, but goes to show persistence pays off.
Select to expand quoteSaltySinus said..Peterc150 said..
Salty, congrats on your backroll. Now on to kiteloops . . .
Thanks Peter. I've managed a couple of downloops coupled with slide turns on my shiny 10m Dice (I can't speak highly enough about this kite... at least at the moment) and one V shaky downloop water start... They're a great way to check one's shoulders aren't susceptible to dislocation!
Have much more work to do to lock down the back roll on my strong side and weak side has yet to be attempted.
How long until your cast is off, 4-weeks?
there a good way to start kiteloops. just dont over rotate. i think that's when you get punished the most.
Select to expand quotekitcho207 said..SaltySinus said..Peterc150 said..
Salty, congrats on your backroll. Now on to kiteloops . . .
Thanks Peter. I've managed a couple of downloops coupled with slide turns on my shiny 10m Dice (I can't speak highly enough about this kite... at least at the moment) and one V shaky downloop water start... They're a great way to check one's shoulders aren't susceptible to dislocation!
Have much more work to do to lock down the back roll on my strong side and weak side has yet to be attempted.
How long until your cast is off, 4-weeks?
there a good way to start kiteloops. just dont over rotate. i think that's when you get punished the most.
that's kitcho. So, I assume if I'm tacking to my left, I pull on the right of the bar to get the kitelooping and as I feel the resistance start my back roll then?
Things I learnt today (well yesterday).
Judging kite size to wind strength. Learnt not to fear the stronger winds but respect them.
It was the first time I've been out in such strong and gusty winds. Had a 1 on 1 lesson with KR at St Kilda. I'm going to be really stupid and forget his name though :( but it was an awesome lesson.
Getting up and going on my left side pretty regularly now however being a natural footer, going to my right is near on impossible at the moment, I did a great "Jesus walk on water" impression towards the end of my session.
Was good to experience those conditions with an instructor.
Good on you SammyJay, keep up it up, you'll be doing deliberate Jesus walks one day...
Lesson learnt today;
How hard it is to get back upwind to your board after going superman styles.... then how quickly it gets away from you (or you get away from it?)
... and to top it off, how easy it is to loose sight of it!
Tomorrows lesson,
how to avoid this happening again??????
On that note, do those weird floaty board returning thingos actually work? Maybe I should kook it up a bit and buy one, cheaper than a new board every time I crash.
Hey Nik, this is all part and parcel of learning to Kite. Yes it's a pain in the ar$e when you lose your board, but it's a very valuable lesson. Especially when one loses their board a good distance from shore and the only feasible way of getting back in is finding your board and kiting in...
You'll quickly move past losing your board every 5mins, and also master body dragging up wind.
"weird floaty board returning the board" - if you're referring to a board leash, it's my and many people's opinion that these things are bad bad bad (just google images for kite board leash and you'll see the results).
Unlike surfing, you can often get wretched by the kite in a different direction, causing the leashed board to swing like a pendulum and stopping on your face with pretty unpretty results.
