short lines

[kostaaa]

hi, I had only one session with longer lines in very bad wind... so I didn't notice any difference in turbulent wind with Crossfire II 8m2 - the same collapse tendency.
more tests when I come back in Athens

[dimpapadop]

hey kostaa, how's going with the longer lines?
tell us your experience...

[dimpapadop]

yes, the timming is much more easier to catch !!!!

[kostaaa]

Interesting discussion!

I agree with what you explain at the diagram. The "time with power" is really critical for how much "power" we perceive. Like you said shorter lines is more safer / direct / less time powered.
Another good example: Kiting with a Paraglide! Huge surface, super short lines.
Imagine a Paraglide (27m^2, 7m lines) Launch at the mid of the wind window. By crossing the power zone the air inflates the canopy (cell by cell for very short time). Due to the very short bridles the canopy goes very quickly to zenith. You can launch in 30-40km/h wind by doing few steps downwind. OK, "Flying steps" sometimes but it's really possible to launch even in stronger wind with some help.

Something else is crossing my mind... If you have the kite VERTICAL at the mid of the wind window, 2m from the ground (constant high, not moving). The longer the lines, the more projected area you have -> more power/downwind drag!
And because the kite generates "Power" due to the apparent wind it will make more power / for longer period of time when crossing the power zone with longer lines... call it powerstroke parallel to the ground.

I still have the feeling that I will go further and higher with the longer lines. OR at least the timing will be much easier to do big jumps!

[dimpapadop]

Alex, regarding the lines....
you shall consider it !!!! please tranfer my suggestion // opinion to headquarters.

today i was kitesurfing in my local spot (lake of northern greece // vegoritida)
7-11knots original matrixx setup., was a lot of fun!

@ about 19.00 the wind picked up @ 15 ++ knots and continue to rise. (instead of landing my MATRIXX 15 and launcing the NEO 11, i borrowed some 12m lines from a friend of mine. (only problem was 5th line... so i risked a bit and did not connected one, because i was dying trying that setup).

The kite flew like a dream! I experienced a total different kitesurfing sense! i was going upwing... too far upwind, because it was so easy to fight against my kite and the kite being so low.... only prob, i had to time so hard to jump, but i never minded!!!! (i did my jumps @ 10 knots and were fantastic // high for 11 knots with the matrixx 15

also wave crossing was a hell lot easier!




ANOTHER QUESTION.... are there any 10m line extensions (including 5th line)? i manage to plan @ 6-7 gusting to 8-9 knots, with my matrixx, so i wanna try if i could plan @ 6 more descent and with less sineing!!!!!

[dimpapadop]

That is very good idea! Experiment with the length of the lines! I mean.... to have 2-3 sets for different conditions and spots with less free space.

I ordered 35m (220kp and 100kp) for my Crossfire II - 8m and I expect to jump higher.... making bigger pendulums

Shorter lines sounds cool too!! The Matrixx 15m will have extended wind range. In strong wind the kite will stay lower and produce less power (wind gradient) and do smaller pendulums.
Big Matrixx with short lines..... think of it like some kind of hybrid between Paraglide and Power kite! GREAT!!!

Kosta, short or long lines do not produce more or less power, the power is the same always.
the difference is, that with long lines you have a bigger wind window, so in light winds the power section of the wind window is wider, and you have the time to stand up and plan on your board easier, also shorter lines will make the kite drag less downwind, but always with the same power.

if the wind is stronger, then short lines is enough because a tiny powerstroke is enough to get you up and planning with parked kite full powered. (but when the kite is parked, no matter the line length the power is equal)

kostaaa (i drawed a sketch below)
imagine a kitesurfer (landboarder // or a buggy with kite) trying to waterstart // start and plan, from right to left. you shall place your kite @ 13.00 (regarding wind) and powerstroke it till 10.00 to produce power. (as you understand from the picture below, the length (of whole power stroke path (that passes through max power area) and the time needed to cross it, is such smaller in short lines and goes on for longer as you can see @ the pic.....), so, longer lines give you not more power, but more time to get up and plan ( you gain enough speed during the powerstroke that let's the kite park'n'ride), so, indeed you can plan earlier, because if you gain enough speed the kite will park and you're planning!!!!! so as you understand, you don't really have more power, but more time with power!!! So i think if you try longer lines you will jump further - longer (longer pendulum) but not higher!


short lines, benefits... easier to learn kitesurfing // small area to launch and get on water (or narrower place landboardig) // (even launching directly downwind in strong winds, the kite is NO TIME to zenith, so no serious drag... to risk injury if by yourself) // a lot safer // kite direclty responding // faster kite // a lot of less drag // ... and more

of course there are negatives too.

[kostaaa]

That is very good idea! Experiment with the length of the lines! I mean.... to have 2-3 sets for different conditions and spots with less free space.

I ordered 35m (220kp and 100kp) for my Crossfire II - 8m and I expect to jump higher.... making bigger pendulums

Shorter lines sounds cool too!! The Matrixx 15m will have extended wind range. In strong wind the kite will stay lower and produce less power (wind gradient) and do smaller pendulums.
Big Matrixx with short lines..... think of it like some kind of hybrid between Paraglide and Power kite! GREAT!!!

[Alex]

Hi,

I'm sorry, we can not offer shorter lines at the moment. But we may will have it in future.

Best Regards

Alex

[dimpapadop]

The new trend, that makes kitesurfing even safer and easier theese days, is short lines.
has anyone tried HQ kites NEO // Matrixx with short lines 12 - 15meters?

any chance i can find such Y lines + 5th line to try my NEO and / or Matrixx with such configuration?

i've tried LEI's with such configuration, and i was happy the way the kite reacted regarding the 25m lines....
maybe a bit less power, and more difficult to jump high due to timming.... but
fast react
great for waves
great and easy for begginers
faster
easier to open and launch
much much safer !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the best if you kitesurfing for fun and not a trick-style junkie!!!!!!!

and many more