Wow!

[JimPat]

I have experieced the bliss of floating down under a "C" Kite and it would be hard to go back to a bow. The boosts are so big and the hang times feel longer! Yesterday there was no wind at the event site so the call was to go east to Stevenson. I was thinking we would be lucky to get a light wind day so I only brought the new 10 and to 12 North Vegas kites. We all know where this is going. We arrived to see guys riding (5 fuse, 7 fuse, 7 fuel, 8 RPM, etc.) little kites(oops!). I decided to give the 10 Vegas a wind range test. I moved the inside line hookups from the old school setting to the new school setting (it depowers the kite for freestyle riding). If you have ever seen the Stevenson beach launch area you would understand my concern about launching too much kite. You stand a couple feet away from a giant ten foot boulder in the middle of big rocks under your bare feet with your launch buddy standing up on a hill infront of a tree. If things go bad you will end up on the rocks or worse- you will fly into the side of the hill and up into the parking lot. And don't complain about the small area to setup at waconia; thats another fun fact for another time. I got a lot of comments about going out on a ten. Well I was pleasantly pleased when he threw it back into the sky and it glided out over the water( whew)! The end result was a kite that was perfectly lit giving massive boosts (sweet)! I can't say enough about the range and smoothness of how this kite flies. The other day I was asking guys how to properly mega loop when you get to the top of your regular boost. Well after getting better acquainted with this kite I don't know if I want to go any higher. Don't take this as I think I'm such a big booster it's not me it's the kite(and big is relative). The C kite gives you super soft landings and even though I usually landed super soft with my bow's I could occasionally screw up and really get myself hauled downwind like a rocket and hit the water like a balistic missle. So, lets debate: what do you guys who have rode both C and bow think about which style kite will give you bigger boosts and consistently soft landings? Do not compare what you can do on a bow versus what someone else can do on a C. Your ability- Kite ability?
Jimster, Wanna be Mega Loop Team Rider (or not?)

[John Rangel]

Jim, it was good meeting with you at the event site. Had I been able to stick around Hood a little longer, I would have tried conning you into a demo with one of those kites. I too received to odd looks, and concerning comments when I rigged my 14 up and headed out to the sandbar. It seems in the gorge, the only thing anyone flys is 7's 8's and 9's. Anyways, I ride both c's and sle kites. I really don't think that the C's give any softer landings than the sle's. I've had rough landings on both. Usually it was always a result of either, A: Me the pilot not bringing my kite back over my head before I land after swinging under the kite. or B: Not enough wind at the time of my descent. I'm on the market for a New C kite as well. Mainly because that's what the pros use and I want to be more like them. As long as you're super lit, I think either one, C or SLE will boost you big. Haven't really noticed any difference in Height concerning C or SLE only Difference I've noticed is with Wind speed. the more Wind, the more Air. Less Wind Less Air. woop woop Please master the mega loop so I can get some pointers. every one of them I've attempted resulted in me getting the wind knocked out of me or feeling like I just got hit by a car. cuz I know what that feels like.

[johnz]

JIMMY!

Dude, it sounds like you are getting pretty good!!!!

Love the comments and the observations... your stoke is shining through loud and clear

I started on C kites and still have a bunch - I think the boosting is more about the particular kite and what it is optimized for - not just bow vs. C vs. hybrid vs. delta vs. modified this-that-whatever!

The TD's are great kites for range, learning, and relaunch. While they boost well, I wouldn't put them at the top of the hit. Sounds like you are graduating, my friend!

Keep the stories coming!
- z

[Tighe]

yeah great stoke Jim. Keep the stories coming.

I don't think the difference is in the kite type as much as it's whether or not the bar has pulleys. Pulleys provide a lot of control over the pitch of the kite in the air. Great for depowering or responding to gusts. To me it seems like the key to big air and long hangtimes/soft landings is precisely controlling that wing overhead. I think the pulleys give almost too much control, making it too easy to mistune your wing. With a pulley less kite you have to really move the bar to have the same amount of effect. Maybe it's easier to keep it flying the most efficiently.

I find I can get big air and soft landings with both, but hangtime )and glide ratio) seems to be higher on C or bridled C.

my 2 cents