25 replies to this topic

[makatakam]

Make sure you have the dust cup secured well so it doesn't fall off during an inverted hoover!

If your wind conditions are as variable as they are here in the Midwest of the US, you can get a full- or extra-vent 1.5, and use vent covers when winds are lighter to increase sail area. I haven't heard of any that are made commercially, but I've seen some home-made that use velcro to attach.

[katrina]

Funny SV, I didn't know the EXP had a different bridle than the 1.5s.

James, I would call Theresa at the kite shoppe. She has 1.5 bridles, and she has the bridle line that's used to make new leaders. You can order these from her online site, but I'll bet she'll adjust the postage for you if that's all your getting, as bridles and line are small and practically weighless, and will just go in an envelope. kiteshoppe 1-866-ROKKAKU

I can tell you how to make new leaders, I will have more time later on. For right now, though, do you have any thick string or cord around your house? Maybe even yarn, if you braided it first for strength. This is just temporary kluge! Just take a loop of string, say 10-15 inches long, and tie it in a loop. Tie a couple knots in it an inch apart. Larkshead the new loops onto the knot that you already have on your top leader line. Does this make sense? This will give you a sense of what it's like to fly with longer leaders. Your kite will stop being so twitchy and crazy. With longer leaders, you will have to give a lot more input to get it off the ground, just be expecting that. But once you're flying, it should feel a lot smoother.

It sounds like you had a fantastic first day out. Remember the learning curve is steep. Do you ski? wakeboard? windsurf? kayak? Or something like that. Think of something you do where you have to have muscle memory. Even riding a bike, if you can remember what that felt like at first. It's hard at first, you're thinking about too many variables, then things start to click. If you were even trying fly inverted, that's great. Of course the wing tip flipped, that's what happens in the beginning and of course the lines wrapped around the tips (aka tip-wrap) and it went into an uncontrolled spin. We've all been there.

[katrina]

And regarding what to get next: the usual progression would be to get a full vent (2 vents on each side) B series 1.5. This is the same size as your exp and the rods are interchangeable as SV noted. You will then have the entire wind range covered except for 0-2 and gale force. There will be a point in the middle of the range where yeah, it'd be nice to have a mid vent, but you'll be pretty well covered with a standard sail (the exp) and a full vent. The different rods allow one kite to cover a broad wind range. Later on, you can think about replacing the exp with a b series standard. Lastly, you add a mid.

[Jim Foster]

Why would the EXP have a different bridle than a 1.5?

[RevWizard]

Why would the EXP have a different bridle than a 1.5?

I am not aware of any dimension differences between the EXP and any other 1.5 bridles. However, I must admit that I have never measured them.

[stroke survivor]

I've been reaching a local to fly and she has an EXP! Katrina, I don't know if you met her at the beach on the Sunday we flew during the informal clinic!! There is no dimensional difference between bridles that I'm aware of, but the EXP bridle is made of a different material subject to stretch, the standard 1.5 bridle is nicer!!