I can see this kicking off -
www.instagram.com/p/DKIK89jIACA/
Is the Flysurfer closed cell parawing a wing or a kite because it just came first in Defi Wing - but without a doubt there is no way ordinary hand wings will compete with a mini hand held race kite like this.
Will it become it's own category in future?
I bet the organizers make a rule like the unpowered pump rules of other wing racing(to limit the small foil arms race). Just some weird rule to make it difficult to get the advantage, maybe a size limit(this thing looks huge I don't know) or make some rule about it has to be not "flying" and self relaunched between races for "safety"(I know these bigger racing PWs don't necessarily relaunch like regular PWs)
Select to expand quoteMeonAsh said..
I can see this kicking off -
www.instagram.com/p/DKIK89jIACA/
Is the Flysurfer closed cell parawing a wing or a kite because it just came first in Defi Wing - but without a doubt there is no way ordinary hand wings will compete with a mini hand held race kite like this.
Will it become it's own category in future?
Can it be relaunched after being dropped on the water? Does one need to know how to kite to use one?
I don't think parawings are kites because you can't sine them. A kite gets its main advantage from flying through the arc of the line length and the ability to turn back with power.
A parawing can only ever pivot around the end of the bar and a tiny bit of movement from the rider's arms.
You only need one or two rules to keep things sane. One is the lengthways bar with the front lines attached to one end.
The other could be a maximum distance from the bar to the first bridle split, say 30-50cm. That gives room for sliders and pulleys and stuff but stops using kite lines.
That introduces a physical barrier by making the wing sit close to the water so that huge and/or ultra high aspect wings will not be practical.
www.instagram.com/reel/DKH9SvXIHYH/?igsh=NHlybWRiZTE0aHI0
"Parawings" are kites with short lines. I don't understand why so many people (kiters) disagree and insisting "it's wings". Once it has lines (shape of that thing, length and arrangement of lines doesn't matter) it is a kite.
Select to expand quotemotogon said..
"Parawings" are kites with short lines. I don't understand why so many people (kiters) disagree and insisting "it's wings". Once it has lines (shape of that thing, length and arrangement of lines doesn't matter) it is a kite.
maybe they don't remember that kiting started without any depower ?
Because "kites" are banned at almost all inland lakes and some beaches in the US. "Wings" are not banned and you can use them at almost all inland lakes. :)
Wikipedia: "kite is a tethered heavier-than-air craft with wing surfaces that react against the air to create lift and drag forces. A kite consists of wings, tethers and anchors. Kites often have a bridle and tail to guide the face of the kite so the wind can lift it. Some kite designs do not need a bridle; box kites can have a single attachment point. A kite may have fixed or moving anchors that can balance the kite"
why is a wing not a kite? No strings
So the question to be asking though - what are the negatives compared regular wings? Cost, ease of use, etc. If it's faster and not materially worse in the other aspects then all the competitors can just go to that. If it more of a pain in the ass, etc, and competitors don't think it's worth it then yeah, ban it, and convince kite foilers this is an easier and more fun future than long line kites
This was posted yesterday sometime
Thank you everyone! Sending good vibes from Gruissan, where Mathis Ghio has just topped the overall Wing podium at Defi, with Axel Mazella second, and a new ripper for your radar, 15 year old Baptiste Loire winning the under 16s. all on Ozone Fusion V2s!
My 2c, Parawings are kites, Hand wings are not kites they are as described a hand held wing. I don't think any of the current Parawings are fast enough to beat the top hand wing riders.
The guy in the OP definitely appears to be flying a small Flysurfer kite (not a parawing, not the flysurfer POW) with no lines other than the bridles.
