SaskAlex Posted December 12, 2006 Report Posted December 12, 2006 Anyone go out at night? I think I've heard of people doing this, but of course it's not recommended in the flexi manual. Any special considerations to make? Quote
cstowell Posted December 12, 2006 Report Posted December 12, 2006 Go on a night with clear skies and a full moon. Wind helps. So does having a few buddies so that you can keep an eye on eash other. Light sticks on you and your kites also help spot each other (and everyone's kites) at a glance, shoulders are the best for visablity for others but the light often obscures your view when looking over your shoulder, try taped to the top of your helmet (with clear tape obviously). Eat lots of carrots. Dress warm. Enjoy. Quote
Prattymatty Posted December 12, 2006 Report Posted December 12, 2006 Or get some glow sticks! Looks awesome as the glow travels all the way down the foil. I usually use about 3! Quote
geir Posted December 12, 2006 Report Posted December 12, 2006 Be careful of flyinglines laying on the ground. No way to see them. Rig in different places. Went straight over buddies lines once in a moonlight session. Quote
tszy Posted December 12, 2006 Report Posted December 12, 2006 In addition to the above, fly in a location that you know really well. Preferably as wide open as possible - that shouldn't be a problem in Saskatchewan :-] Tszy Ozone LD 1.5 Flexifoil Bullets - 2.5 7.0 PKD Century's - 2.5 3.5 4.5 6.5 Flexifoil Buggy Certified BPKA power kite instructor Certified BPKA buggy instructor Quote
Blazingskibum Posted December 12, 2006 Report Posted December 12, 2006 Full moon night riding is the most incredible experience. Got out last weekend under a brillant full moon on twinkling snow. Although a lot of times you don't find much wind on a beautiful clear full moon night we had a bit around 12mph. It was bright enough so I could read the logos on my Blade 9m. It is tough to get because wind, good snow and moon all have to come together. Over the years I have been shutout more often than I have gotten full moon kiting. But it is worth trying to make it happen. It is Magical. Big kites....big smiles Blazingskibum Quote
maxlevens Posted December 12, 2006 Report Posted December 12, 2006 it is really awesome fun. i tried in cornwall. turned up at 10, left at 3 in the morning or so under a full moon. had great wind etc as well... Quote
mrbuggy Posted December 12, 2006 Report Posted December 12, 2006 Done this last month for Children in need. Great fun. Some points. 1. Glow sticks are crap. 2. Look for where the stars arn't, thats where your kite is. 3. Go out on a full moon or very stary night, else get a big flashlight. 4. Avoid small teenagers with flashlights who do not know the meaning of night vision. Quote
doggy Posted December 12, 2006 Report Posted December 12, 2006 My mate and I went out in the solent last week, was really bright moon and fairly flat water with a constant 20 mph, had glow sticks on each tip of the kite, one on either side of the board held with gaffa tape and one on our helmets! vision was fine and was awesome, totally new experience! didnt push ourselves too hard but was fun for a few hours! Quote
sonicseal Posted December 12, 2006 Report Posted December 12, 2006 You can train for this by flying during the day with your eyes closed :D Quote
Angoose Posted December 12, 2006 Report Posted December 12, 2006 i have had a night session landboarding and manage to nick loads of those head torches frmo my dads work and works well with 1 round each ankle just above the shoe, 2 set to flash on the kite, and 2 on the helmet perpendicular to the way your looking then could just see where i was going cos it was pretty bright Quote
Kite Killa Posted December 12, 2006 Report Posted December 12, 2006 A halogen headtorch strapped around your helmet would be ideal for spotting obsticals Quote
zerogee Posted December 13, 2006 Report Posted December 13, 2006 Around here, we kite as much at night as we do during the day. The days are short and it's windy, what' a guy to do?? You will find kiting in the dark a less than satisfying experience, to put it mildly, if you can not fly the kite without crashing it regularly and if you haven't setup and packed a kite too many times. You might want to fly your kite well and practice kite setup and packing a few times in the daylight first. That said, for winter kiting in or around the city at night you don't have to wait for the full moon... The overcast nights have the best light and visibility for kiting. We call them "pink nights". It really is amazing how much you can see in this light and lights for kitng are not necessary, just decoration. The visibilty is often better than those days where the light is so flat you can't tell where the sky begins and the ground ends and the bumps just blend in. Then, nights with a full moon have the next best light. The clear, moonless nights are the worst (I avoid these nights). Only use the headlight for setting up and packing up. Headlights give you tunnel vision. You can only see what is directly in your beam. It's better to let your eyes adjust to the darkness. You will be able to see whats going on around you better. We often setup and pack our kites without the aid of a headlight on pink nights. Quote
SandMonster Posted December 13, 2006 Report Posted December 13, 2006 Tip...don't wear your sunnies... Quote
baldwhippet Posted January 10, 2007 Report Posted January 10, 2007 Check out this pic taken on the Langjokull Glacier in Iceland last year. This was midnight of the longest day when a group of us kited to the summit: http://www.snowkiter.co.uk/images/midnight-snowkiting-iceland.jpg Quote
SandMonster Posted January 10, 2007 Report Posted January 10, 2007 Super cool...you lucky b'stards... Quote
snowbird Posted January 11, 2007 Report Posted January 11, 2007 We have found that you are better off just using light to set up and pack down. Better to let your eyes adjust. The light is better left to mark your gear / home base. I have lots of free glowsticks. Thinking we'll set them down around hazards but ride without. Quote
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