jumping with a bladeII 4.0m

[Guest chrisfuller3]

i have just got my blade II but i am finding it hard to jump i am 11stone. How strong does the wind have to be to let me jump? any help would be great!

thanks chris

[bushflyer]

well the last time i was with someone on a 4m blade it was blowing about 15 mph. he was a bit overpowered, but i think that was down to his kiteskills. how much do you weigh? local grom Brendan 'The Birdman' soars with a 3m blade but must only weigh 10 stone. he flew up to house roof height last week! we were all biting our nails but fortunately he landed safely. take it gradually. jump by working the kite first and then take it out in gradually higher windspeeds once youve got it dailled. but dont do a Brendan, please.

[Guest chrisfuller3]

i weigh 11 stone. how can u tell how fast the wind is going? and how do u jump all i seem to do is scud.

[bushflyer]

well you should've got a guide to the beaufort scale with your blade mate. there's one in the back of the flexi catalogue mate. once youve sussed this, you use the 'wind tree' (the nearest tree to your house in clean wind) and use this to gauge your windspeed using the beaufort scale. you dont need a windmeter. WAP weather is also useful. try flying the kite across the top edge of the window towards one side as you run crosswind in the same direction. then send the kite back to the 12 o' clock position and jump at or just before this point. then steer the kite GENTLY in the original direction. you'll soon find out why. there's guides to jumping on this website mate too.

[flying high]

If you find yourself scudding, rather than getting upward lift, you'll probably find your starting the kite too low down the wind window. Jumping does take some getting used to though.

 

You're two main options are the pendulum jump, as described in previous response, running with the kite and turning upwards and back on yourself, or a stationary jump, which I find much easier. Depending on the level of wind I try a couple of approaches. If loads of wind and you can actually get the kite up in the air, take it right to the top, then you only need bring it down a small amount, and the wind will just take you up. If not loads of wind then best to fly slightly lower down, across the window and then upwards.

 

As I say, loads of practice is all you need, and also a good idea to try and get somewhere you'll see other flyers doing jumps. Much easier to learn by watching and trying to repeat.

 

Best of luck with it.

[Katamarino]

I am looking forward to trying my 9 stone weight against a 7.8 Blade 2

[psychotic_eddy]

If we meet sometime you can use my 7.8 so long as I can bring the video camera!!! based about 30 miles from Cambridge. But flying (weather permitting ) at Rougham airfield this weekend with the suffolk kite club.

[Planker]

I recently got a 4.0m blade II, though I probably won't be too much help as I only weight 9 stone, but I was out in about 15 mph wind to start today, got about a 4-5 foot jump, then wind picked up a bit and I got proly about a 6 footer, then the wind got a bit high for my weight, got one more jump in, proly 7-8, though my friend missed that one so not sure, wind was going about 20-25 at that point, I'm sure i could have gotten some huge air, but I decided to play it safe and call it quites.

 

With your weight and a 4.0m I'd say you'd need at least 20 for some decent stuff, though once again being 3 stone less I'm probably not a great judge.

 

As for the 9 stone guy looking to fly the 7.8m, be careful. Two of my buds have 7.8's and they deff pull a bit much for me in anything above 10mph (I'm 9 stone as well)

 

 

Lates,

Pat/Planker

[folber]

i was at MW on sunday afternoon wit my 7.8mk2 and jumps were amazing the best way by far is the first technique (run along with kite the n turn it back and up up and away! ) but when u start going high then somtimes you spin a bit jus watch your landings and have fun! ps im 9 stone

[Guest chrisfuller3]

went out today and got a few 5-6 ft jumps. but the wind was really lumpy so i could only jump on gusts. but thanks for all the tips if flew for the first time and it was well worth the bruses that i have!

[Horse]

Well I weigh 11 stone and have the same kite. I can get to jump in some quite light winds, no idea of the speed but I find that if the things takes off and goes up to the top of the window without working it I can jump. I would guess this is between 5 & 10mph. Bit frustrating at first as there is a bit of a technique to it especially in getting the timing right for take off. Try and get use to it in really low winds doing little "hops" and build up to the big uns, believe me the kite has lots of oomph!!

[Giantwasp]

Jumping is all in the technique. I got really frustrated doing little 2ft hops all the time. even in moderate winds. Then I managed to improve my technique and in about 20mph winds I have got 15ft with my 4.0 doing the swing method. Still haven't sussed the pendulum method and can't jump with my 7.8 I just get pulled but I rekon it is just a matter of practice. (I am about 13st)

[ktejohn]

my cousin who being 225 lbs (16.5 stone) was pulled up by a blade 4.9. me being 11 stone or 145 lbs. 15 mph is all it was. boy we had fun that day

[folber]

the only way that works with the 7.8 is the pendulum because it just pulls you along otherwise. all you need to do is turn the kite to the left or the right and then run with it dont take the kite to low or you will just go forwards thenwhen you have some speed up then turn the kite around quickly and keep running the same way you were the kite will then lift you up either hight and back the way you came or low and around the trick is to figgure out how high up to put the kite as you are running just try differnet hights and see what works for you. good luck tell me how it went!

[Giantwasp]

Thanks for that folber.

I'll keep working on it and let you know how it goes. Like I said I got the swing jump working with practice so I am sure that the pendulum will come eventuallly with a bit more work. Then the skys the limit

[madmarkymark]

I've flown my Blade II 4m in a variety of winds. I weigh 11.5 stone and can guarantee some reasonable jumps in 10 mph winds. They get a whole lot better as the wind goes up over 15 mph, and I managed a 20 foot high, 40 foot long MONSTER, when the wind was up around 20 mph (No sure I want to repeat that one in a hurry !!).

 

Technique and practice - you'll soon be floating. One word of warning - 'landing' - you can come down pretty hard so take care ...

 

MMM

[SkintMonkey]

I know this i s a really old thread but i dont really see the point in starting a new one.

So here it goes......... Im looking to buy a 4m Blade III. I only weigh 8 stone but will it be ok to jump with etc? Ive been goin out with my friends balde II 4.9 and fear being disapointed.

Will it be suitable say when i progress into kiteboarding?

[Spartan1599968628]

I wouldnt worry about being dissapointed!

 

I got my 4m a few weeks back and have been getting great air in 10-15mph winds. (11st)

 

Infact, I can report my first kite related injury. I stupidly took it out in 20mph+ and got swept up by a gust. My mate said I was a good 8-9 ft in the air before dropping like a ton of bricks and landing rather harshly on my hip. (Nicely bruised!)

 

Let this be a warning to all you kids!

[SkintMonkey]

lol - thanks for the reasurance.

 

Now ive got to try and get the money. right Daaaaaad do you thing i can have.............???

[cj-bungatrot]

sorry to resurrect an ancient thread but,

 

would a blade II 3.0m set you down gently when jumping, and I take it that weight make a difference...

[cj-bungatrot]

bump.

 

C'mon someone help me.

[SkintMonkey]

well ive now got used to my blade 4.0 and find it amazing with pretty amazing jumps. As to a 3.0 ive got a mate with one and he ways a good 12 stone. In good winds he can get some pretty amazing jumps. He sets down ok but hes the judge if its hard. I find its quite soft but then i only weigh 8 stone and it was very very windy.

 

Im sure someone with better experiance then me will be better informed as ive only been out and seen him on his blade once.

[Phatdan]

small kites have atendancy to pick you up quick and put you down quick. evan 4.9 b2s put you down quick unless you are seriously powered up. small kites are usually more manouverable as well so its poss to place the kite out of the power zone which will make for a hard landing already power up so if your flyin static this means a quick drag down the feild. give it a go but be catious start with small jumps and work your way up. mke sure your in lots of safety gear to give you a chance if it goes wrong.

[cj-bungatrot]

I find its quite soft but then i only weigh 8 stone and it was very very windy.

cheers. I'm 8 stone as well. Do you have any ideas about the speed of the wind? If I'm out in more average winds, maybe I should get a 4.0m. I've heard they're the best in the BII range. The reason I wasn't thinking about a BIII 3.0, was because I've heard it's more aggressive, and not as good as the BII 3.0.

 

Hmmm....

more help needed I think.

[c_oriordan]

4m is more than enough for 8 stone. that is bloody tiny. youll get nailed. with a god technique youll be happily floating over the house..

ahh technique. ive got a 4m bladeIII and was in a reasonable wind today, but only really managed to get about 5ft off the ground. i mainly do pendulum jumps, i dont really see the point in flying it too far across the window cos it just messes up. anyone got a textbook technique for it for MAXIMUM air? i can rarely get some huge jumps..unless its blowing a gale, and thats just down to brute strenght.

also..what is the 'swing method'