Control Device Tuning

 

2 Line Inflatable

Should you be using a 2 line control bar on a 2 line inflatable, you must choose the proper length of the bar for your kite. That is shorter control bar for smaller kite and longer control bar for larger kite. Try and try and you will finally find out what length is best suited for your kite. If you have a nervous kite, my advice is to use a shorter bar, or , for a rather slow in reaction kite, it is best to have a longer bar.

 

4 Line Inflatable

In case you own a 4 line inflatable, shorten or lengthen the front leader line in order to tune the angle of attack of the kite. If you set up a small angle of attack, the kite will fly faster, as it means less pull. In this situation, it will be quite difficult to turn the kite. should you set up a larger angle of attack, the kite will fly slower, as this means more pull for the kite. the best thing to do is to set a neutral angle of attack for the kite, so that when the kite is flying straight above, the back line will get loose when you hooking in to the chicken loop and fully extending your arms. Note that your hands should be on the control bar. When you are not hooking in the chicken loop the front lines and the back lines of the kite must be in full tension and the kite must be "flared out", meaning that the front leading edge must seem larger than the trailing edge. Use the chicken loop or a trim strap to set up the angle of attack.

 

Foils

Should you be using a ram air foil kite that has a pair of 4 line handles, tune the "camber" of the kite and hold the handles in their neutral position , meaning in the "neutral camber" at the same time. Connect the main lines to the closer knots and back lines to the farther knots on the lines that are attached to the handles to decrease the neutral camber. On the other hand , you can connect the main lines to the farther knots and the back lines to the closer knots on the lines attached to the handles in order to increase the neutral camber. The main thing is that when you hold the handles in their neutral position, the kite should fly forward with full power. You can achieve that by simply tuning the neutral camber of your 4 line kite . This puts the front lines are in a full tension position and the brake-line in a slightly loose position. The kite can have more pull if you increase the neutral chamber.

Nowadays, as a new series of foils has emerged, you can tune the camber of the kite while sailing, just by adjusting a strap. These foils , such as Concept Air New Wave , have 3 line and a bar, and allow modifying the characteristics of the kite during sailing. By doing as above you get to easily increase the wind range of the kite.

Jojo Rage foils have a 4th adjustable line, by which a kitesurfer can neutralize the middle section of the kite in order to reduce the pull . This is done basically by changing the shape of the kite.

Some say that a foil can be turned into a sled with the aid of a foil - sled depowering system.

New generations of foils are quite similar to inflatables, in that they can alter their angle of attack, by using a similar control bar to a 4 line inflatable. Last but not least, they use the same tuning methods.