Kite Board Dynamics

[Tighe]

From: yahoo egroups
Date: 08/01/02


Deliberately tried a number of boards of different sizes, shapes and types, here are some of the findings I found (some of them are well known but I put them here anyway):

Lessons

1- Small boards need more power, large boards need less power. So for the same wind speed, use larger kite for a smaller board and smaller kite for a larger board. 2- One can go for a board as small as one like up to a point where one's leg get tired too soon - cannot handle the kite power for a very long period (for me its a 120 cm long and around 36-38 cm wide) 3- One can go for a board as large as one like until it becomes too clumsy (for me its the FOne 230, 230 cm long, 50 cm wide) 4- Thinner rail is more efficient than thicker rail for edging. Sharpness has some impact but not as much as thickness. 5- Longer rail is more efficient for edging 6- So short boards should have thinner rail and long boards can have thicker rail. 7- Fins are not needed on bi-directional boards (regardless of board size, shape and rail type) 8- Directionals are better for variable wind and light wind conditions 9- Shorter boards are excellent for jumping 10- Longer/larger boards are better for light wind