I personally have not used the first generartion flat LEI but via direct
talk with others who have tried it, the differences mainly in relaunch
problem, invert problem and somewhat heavier bar pressure.

I would think that most 2nd generation flat LEIs would not have the same
problem as the first and by next year, all flat LEIs (third generation?)
would solve all of the first generation weaknesses...

The flatness of the kite directly influences its behaviour. The flatter
the LEI, the more it flies like foil. The less flat the kite the more
it flies like a traditional LEI and therefore more familiar to most kiters.

Hung.

George Sarris wrote:

>Hung,
>How much difference is there between the "first
>generation" and "second generation" flat LEI kites?
>Are the second generation kites less flat such as the
>Cabrinha Switchblade versus the Crossbow? Or is it
>bar pressure or something else?
>
>Thanks,
>George
>
>--- hungvu2000@... wrote:
>
> > 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.
> >
>=== message truncated ===
>
>
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