Ishtar,

The kitesurfing FAQ has some info at
http://kitesurfingschool.org/faqs.htm#What%20types%20of%20kite%20can%20I%20use
. Also here is a very brief summary of kite designs:
- Wipika Classic Inflatable: Easy to relaunch, stable, low
performance, non-depowerable
- Kiteski Kites: High performance, cumbersome to relaunch but
reliable, non-depowerable
- Closed cell foil: High performance, non depowerable, easy to relaunch
- Seasmik: High performance, heavy bar pressure, depowerable
- 4 line inflatable: High performance, depowerable, light bar pressure
- Arc: High performance, depowerable, light bar pressure
- Flat 4 line LEI: High performance, 100% depowerable, light bar
pressure, very easy to relaunch

Flat LEI: First generation: Nova, Crossbow. Second generation: Waroo,
Sonic, etc.

Hung.

ISHTAR LUESBY wrote:

>As a beginner and just learning the sport Hung, could you point me to a history
>of different kite design and performance. Could you also give a few examples of
>the new flat LEI kites? Many thanks Ishtar
>
>hungvu2000@... wrote: But wouldn't that make it like the Seasmik that
we
>had few years ago?
>
>I would rate the new flat LEI as the way the future kites should be
>(both for water and snow).
>
>We talked about 100% depowered LEI and the "chicken loop is the safety
>leash" concept a few years back and now the flat LEIs seems to deliver
>it alright without any (or much) compromise.
>
>I was a long supporter of foils and still am in some respects but the
>new flat LEIs really impressed me.
>
>Some of them have the invert problem (being too flat) but most of them
>(and all of them eventually) would eliminate this completely by being
>less flat or a firmer LE.
>
>P.S., To launch the kite today (in good strong wind), I attached the
>chicken loop to my snowboard then went to the kite to launch it at the
>edge of the wind window. I went back to my snowboard and casually
>removed the chicken loop from the snowboard and attached it to my
>harness. I then sit down, put the snowboard binding on and slowly
>brought the kite up and kited. This is pretty amazing!
>
>Hung.
>
>George Sarris wrote:
>
> >Hung,
> >Could perhaps the inverting be controlled by adding a
> >few more bridle lines that attach to points not on the
> >leading edge of the kite such as that of a foil? I've
> >never heard of a foil kite inverting, but I've not
> >read much about foils. In rating foils versus bow
> >kites, which would your recommend? I may try a foil
> >if the bow kite prices stay high (Flysurfer versus
> >Cabrinha Xbow).
> >Thanks,
> >George
> >
> >--- hungvu2000@... wrote:
> >
> > > George,
> > >
> > > Some flat LEI kites have the invert problems due to
> > > their flatness. The
> > > flatter the kite, the more it tends to invert. I
> > > think that all future
> > > flat LEI kites will not be too flat to remove this
> > > problem.
> > >
> > > Also, you need some curve in the kite to get the
> > > "sled boosting" effect
> > > as described in
> > >
> >http://kitesurfingschool.org/kite.htm#Kite%20Design%20Fundamentals
> > >
> > > (heavy duty reading)
> > >
> > > Hung.
> > >
> > > George Sarris wrote:
> > >
> > > >Although I do not own a flat LEI (bow kite) I have
> > > >read forums regarding the kite inverting.
> > > Supposedly
> > > >after that happens, there is little control in
> > > >depowering. I plan to buy a flat LEI bow kite by
> > > late
> > > >spring if the prices come down to what I would
> > > >consider reasonable. The prices for a Cabrinha
> > > Xbow
> > > >16m are around $1700 complete. I would consider
> > > >purchasing one if the price was around $1200-$1300.
> > > >
> > > >George
> > > >
> > > >--- hungvu2000@... wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Having used a new flat LEI in the last couple
> > > weeks
> > > > > on snow, my response
> > > > > is a definite yes for snow (assuming that all
> > > flat
> > > > > LEIs are somewhat
> > > > > similar).
> > > > >
> > > > > So far, there are almost no negative things
> > > about
> > > > > the flat LEI kite I used.
> > > > >
> > > > > The positive things are:
> > > > > - Depower: boy, can these flat kite ever
> > > > > DEpower. I've never had to
> > > > > use the safety leash and wonder whether you need
> > > it.
> > > > > There was a time I
> > > > > crash landed and the bar got off my hand, the
> > > kite
> > > > > lost control and shot
> > > > > across the wind window. I was not dragged
> > > around at
> > > > > all for that.
> > > > > - Relaunch on snow: even better than foil.
> > > You
> > > > > just let go off the
> > > > > bar and the kite will slowly drop and hover at
> > > the
> > > > > window edge waiting
> > > > > for relaunch. When you relaunch, it goes up
> > > slowly
> > > > > and not dragging you
> > > > > around like foil.
> > > > > - Less kite to carry around: A single 9m
> > > feels
> > > > > like a 8m/10m combo
> > > > > (or even a 7m/11m combo). Two kite quiver is
> > > now
> > > > > possible. For me
> > > > > probably a 9 and a 15 flat LEI.
> > > > >
> > > > > Jumping is very good and hang time is excellent.
> > > > > The condition have
> > > > > never been ideal so I did not have a chance to
> > > "take
> > > > > it to the limit";
> > > > > however, I would think its "take it to the
> > > limit"
> > > > > jumping and hang time
> > > > > performance would be better if not the same as
> > > the
> > > > > traditional LEIs.
> > > > >
> > > > > I will know more about it on water in spring.
> > > > >
> > > > > Hung.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been
> > > > > removed]
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
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