john_crossland

So. After many years kitiesurfing ive decided id like to go strapless surfboard. I love waveriding on my TT. But last time I was out I completely messed up a very big kiteloop on my 11m and came down very strong! I sprained both ankles and hurt my already damaged knee. This was a large catalyst in the move to going strapless. I want my joints to last passed 40! What sort of board should I be looking for? I was thinking about getting a cheap old surfboard but tbh I dont mind spending a couple of hundred on something nice and tough thats been designed for it. Should i try straps on a surfboard to start? is that easier than going directly strapless on a directional? Do I use a leash?... really? I love riding a skim... Im 6 foot and 13.5 stone. so I put a lot of weight through my gear. Ive got a 9'3" long board but thats a bit big for a kite.. I want something strong and functional quite easy to manouver and ideally not too expensive! anything to recommend?? any hints tips instructional vid links ALL GOOD! Im gonna be ripping massive cut backs in no time! (and my joints will be in one piece too!!)

Nice. Just what I wanted to hear that makes setting one up on an old slingy bar so much easier! the 5th line split aint a problem. Cheers Jonny.

On the liquid force bar 08 for the Hifi. Did the lines hava a Y bridal like the north/naish or are they straight from the bar like on the slingshot.... please send your answers in a stamped addressed envelope to Blue Peter - Mod Your Old Bar Competition BBC House Landan or please write below.

STOPSTOP I am the fun police. Go over.. Stick a knife in his kite and shout at him that he is a dangerous person and is going to kill himself and also his children with his reckless ways.. Then go over tell his wife to ditch the zero and get with the hero.. Strut home singing the beegees Staying Alive solid in the knowledge he may not like you but your a life saver!! More seriously im a busy body when it comes to other kiters doing dangerous things.. Without telling them directly as to offend I will tell a muppet when he's being a muppet...

Katch, Dont ditch the 08 fuels man! Try playing around with the wave grenade on the 5th line and get used to being able to release it when you do get wrapped. If you just ditch the 5th on the wave grenade. then its really easy to sort out. Ive even managed to fix mine without landing the kite. If you get a full wrap with the 5th then the kite has usually inverted and your gonna get twists even on a 4 line which is just as bad to rectify. 5 lines always better than 4! IMHO

I couldnt agree more andy. Last time out I saw a guy boosting huge and nailing wicked loops on a set of 05 fuels and a board from the same year. He was lit. He was loving it and he had obviously been riding his old gear for years. Ride what you want. When you want, How you want!

Ive just done this. and...... It didnt work here are my experiences. 1. I did a full decal job with quality vinyl. It peeled off despite being laquered. cost = £20 vinyl + laquer - waste of time. 2 I did a full paint job with spray paints from halfords got a really pimping design. Again laquered it. First trip out - it all just flaked off!!! leaving a patchy design and shitty areas which had flaked. Ive just re painted the top plain white colour and laquered it but the base is just a mess. pretty screwed up tbh. total cost of paints £30 for about 5 cans. So in all i spent £50 trying to "pimp" my board. and it looks shit. Tips to anyone that is determined to try are to really "key" the base up. Get sandpaper and sand it rough to get a really good rough surface. Next, - use a coat of spray on plastic primer. Paint on top of that and finally laquer over that. If that doesnt stick then the only other way is to glass over a spray job but glassing a kite board might again just crack off because of the flex. I thought it would be as simple as getting a spray can making some stencils and bobs your uncle. But because of the way we use our boards the force of just the water and flexing will make even the best paint jobs flake. plus any scratches from stones and sand will be ten times more visible. I love the way my board handles so i dont care too much that the design in a bit patchy its still my custom ride

Andy at kinetic does a stirling job at repairs but if you want to do it yourself and... If you can get at the rip from the inside, apply a sticky back dacron patch to the inside of the Leading edge tear and put a kitefix repair on the outside then for cosmetic purposes apply a dacron patch over the kitefix repair It will hold as good as any professional repair for the life of the kite maybe needing the odd replacement patch on the outside if it flakes off. but thats just the cosmetic bit.

bump

I am selling my 15m 08 fuel becuase I have recently replaced it and cannot keep two 15m kites! I love this kite and over the passed 12 months it has been used more than any other in my quiver because the wind has been less favourable. Saying that it has not been used a lot. Im an office worker in london so i only get to ride weekends when my girlfriend allows. Its been out of the bag about 15 times in the passed year. MAX!. Its in Very Good Condition. Clean with very few dirt spots. Material is still strong. There are about 10 small patches on the canopy mainly covering sand holes (holes the size of a grain of sand) with 2 small kitefix patches. about 3cm long. These patches are there to protect the canopy from getting any worse. There are no major repairs or rips. I am confident the kite will last a long time and would be a great low wind addition to anyones quiver. Its a beast to loop, it will get you riding as soon as any other kite will and is probably the quickest turning kite of its size! Im after £150 plus postage (kite and bag only), So 165 and its yours delivered to your door. Thats a bargain! I also have a very good condition slingshot 08 bar for it that can be included for £60 extra!

hahaha. I love this. sorry for offending waroo flyers... just keep your kites down from the zennith when im trying to ride past you and when its rolling around in the surf let it go so i dont get caught in your lines. lol

Sound advice from Katch, practice makes perfect for unhooking. Ive taken a liking to unhooked wave riding recently, great fun!! It doesnt hurt to get down the gym and work on the arms a bit either.

o.k, if im wrong... correct me... Ive never flown a 15m Roo, I owned a 12m 06 when i was learning and have used the 13m 07 quite a lot. IMHO the 13m was awfull! jellyfished in high winds. fell out the sky in low winds. unstable. backstalled . low range. the 12m was quite a bit quicker to turn and react to the bar. not sure why. Im just imagining the 15 is worse than the 13m im sorry.. but do please supply your 2 cents.

That thing will turn like an absolute goliath and is only gonna fly in stable wind of about 15mph or more, Unfortunately the 12m will probably generate more power in low winds (14mph or less) because it is more nimble and you can fly it quicker. I.E. A kites power is not just down to size of kite but is proportional to how fast it flys and the 12m will fly quicker than the 15m creating more "Apparent" wind in the material generating more power. You will find a point where the two will cross and the 15m will start to make more power because of its size and having enough wind to keep it in the air aswell. (this is the reason for the whole "is the 9m the new 12m debate") The whole back line thing is quite simple. You need enough pressure on them to keep wind in the kite so that it flys forward and generates as much power as you need. If you put too much back line on the kite will back stall and stop making so much power as its not travelling forward in the wind anymore. Push the bar forward and it flys forward making more power. Usually untill it hits the edge of the window. If your not carefull in light winds the kite will then push itself using its momentum to move forward past the point of no return and "hindenberg" (fall out of the sky), Low wind flying requires a lot of practice to keep the kite moving forward and making power. The moment it slows. It will usually fall out the sky (and never relaunch) or you will be stuck trying to water start. Its a game of building up momentum nice and steadily - then keeping going... What youve got is basically a heavy mans 12m. It wont give you any better low end performance but will give you more power in 12m flying weather. more power to lift more weight. (IMHO)

Typical Northerner, Too lazy to pack his own kite up

Second that! Release onto 5th line (with safety attached to 5th) Walk hand over hand up the 5th line to the kite.Its simple and ten times safer than trying to land it at the edge of the window un-aided - Ive seen the best kiters get that wrong on numerous occasions! Just make sure you have room downwind of you for the kite to flap around a bit as you walk towards it!

Hi Guys, Im selling my 08 15m fuel, as ive just replaced it. This kite is my kite of choice. it is a light wind beast. Very quick to turn for its size! Lots of power will get me riding in about 15mph (and im 14 stone! (ALL MUSCLE! HEH) Kite is in good condition. Its got a few small "beuty spot" pin hole repairs which have been patched, and 2 kitefix patches which are covering slits about 2 cm long. material is strong and bladders are perfect. All patches are on the canopy (not leading edge) and are not structurally worrying. This kite really is my kite of choice and has been used more in the passed 6 months than any kite in my quiver (hence why cheap!) why sell if I love it so much??... Because. I just bought a brand new version of the same kite! I want £150 for kite and bag!!!! :eek: Thats 150 for an 08 low wind kite right before summer starts... I must be mad!!!. But i dont need 2 of the same kites and its better to be used than sat in a bag in my house. NO OFFERS. any less than 150 and ill keep it for flying when conditions are less favourable and i dont want to get my new one dirty! But 150 seriously you wont get anything as good as this for low wind for this money!! local pickup/drop off can be arranged for most areas. - South coast, london, South wales, - m4 corridor. If not postage will be your charge (usually around £13 for a large kite) PM me if interested. Plenty of pics available to come.

Bump on ebay. Buy it now through forum price drop.

Jump, Loop, Land. Kites about 7-8pm on the clock face. I know you can do it with most kites if your nit picking I was just loving it the other night loved it so much i bought that other one

Slingshot Fuel - 2008 - 11m - Kitesurf Kite - VGC!! on eBay (end time 21-Jun-10 18:24:48 BST)

On Ebay North 2009, Kitesurf Bar, Lines & Leash for Vegas etc on eBay (end time 21-Jun-10 17:54:05 BST)

Hi guys, Interesting to here your responces tbh. Im not looking to spend any money to change my 08's. Ive just bought a new 08 11m because i wanted a blue one rather than red selling a pretty immaculate 11m 08 in red and black if anyone wants it. going on ebay soon I love them they pop huge the bar pressure is awesome for me and they turn so nicely. Just yesterday I was on my 15m 08 and was looping it massive! How many other 15m kites can you loop other than a fuel. A few! but not many! wait and see if i win the 07 cos then i can make a direct comparison, but im not so bothered if i dont because my 15 is as good as any other kite in that windrange for me!

Really? Ive had a look and that seams right. So 145 for a 2009 north bar seams quite good to me....

sunday eve bump

Hi guys, NOW ON EBAY http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/North-2009-Kitesurf-Bar-Lines-Leash-Vegas-etc-/270593793564?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_SportingGoods_Kites_Kitesurfing_CA&hash=item3f00a59e1c BUY IT NOW THROUGH FORUM - £120 BAR & LINES - £130 Bar & Lines with Leash I am selling a 2008 North 5th Element bar and lines. I recently got these with a kite purchase but have no use for them. These are renowned as being the best bars on the market! Will work with most 5 line kites on the market! ive been looking and new these are now £290 . . . on ebay they are going for £160.. pics http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/john_thefruitman/IMG_3609.jpg http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/john_thefruitman/IMG_3610.jpg http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j109/john_thefruitman/IMG_3614.jpg