Bow Kites VS. Non-Bow Kites

How To Set Up Your Surf Kite

You will need :

A kitesurfing kite

A harness

A Pump

Lines and bar

A knowledgable friend

video at http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-set-up-your-surf-kite

Step 1: Inflate the kite

Take your kite out of the bag, unwrap it and lay it out flat on the ground. Put your board on one tip to stop it from blowing away. Secure all of the valves on the kite and begin to inflate it! TOP TIP Under-inflating the kite is a common mistake so squeeze the struts to make sure they are firm. Once the kite is fully inflating, flip it over so it is lying on the inflated edge and weight it down with your board.

Step 2: Attaching the lines

Unroll your lines from your bar down wind and lay them on the ground. Next, grab your 2 centre lines and walk up to the kite, making sure there's no tangles or knots in them. The outside lines on the bar always attach to the back of the kite. Attach your lines to the kite using a larks head knot remembering that the closer the knot to the kite the more power the kite will have in the air. TOP TIP Beginners should attach their lines to the knots in the middle of the rope.

Step 3: Harness

Now you are ready to attach your harness. Wrap this around your back and close the 2 flaps across your stomach. Next, secure the buckle and pull the fastening tight to make sure there is no movement. Pull the bottom straps as tight as you can to stop the middle bar rising. Pick up your bar and make sure the loop is facing you with the strap at the bottom. Hook the loop over the bar on your harness and thread the strap through the bar below the loop. Finally, fasten your leash on the harness to the leash point on the bar to act as your safety system should you come off your board.

Step 4: Launching

Walk back downwind to the launch point. Your knowledgeable friend should now turn the kite over and stand with the kite vertical whilst holding the inflated edge. When you are ready to go, give your friend the thumbs up and they should let go of the kite and then it should fly straight up to the top of the wind window.

Bow kites/Hybrid vs C shaped kites

Bow kites or C shape kites? This question keeps on popping up. Nicolas Caillou (lead kite designer for Takoon), gave a really good comparison of C shape kites and bow kites - and gave us a rundown of the advantages and disadvantages of each type of kite.

In summary :

Advantages of Bow kites over C shape kites :

I can note 4 main advantages of bow kites over C shape.

1- Safety: you have nothing to release just let go of the bar.
This induces a “safety feeling” - you free your mind in gusts because of the de-power ability of the kite and because you ride with the same kite, you know it in all conditions.

2- Windrange: use one kite for 80% of wind conditions. You save money.

3- Performance: Thanks to the revolutionary shape of the Nova, it will always perform well regardless of that the weather conditions are.

4- Re-launching: with bow kites, the re-launching is really easy and you don’t need to swim.

What are the disadvantages of bow kites compared to C shape kites?

You can note some disadvantages compared to a C shape.
A bow kite is a little more complicated when compared to a 4 line kite (I’m not comparing to a 5th line kite here).

Generally a bow kite is more versatile, performing good in all areas (hangtime, turning speed, low end etc.), whereas a C shape kite can be excellent on one criteria.

A C shape can give you more performance for a specific range of wind. If you have money to buy an entire range of kites, that’s perfect.

A kite such as the Wook is a perfect kite for waves, the kite gives you power in turns and is very predictable for surf.

On the other hand, C shape kites such as the Air from Takoon is perfect for new school tricks and hangtime. This kite turns fast and is perfect for unhooked riding.

Don’t forget that bow kites are on the market for less than 1 year and C shape kites have 8 years of development. Bow kites have really good characteristics and suit a lot of riders.

Why more C shape kites than bow kites are currently used in competitions :

" I have to admit that bow kites requires a different technique to C shape kites (different timing for jumps, different turning radius, feedback on bar) and pro riders have to adapt to a bow kite in order to kite well on them. It is difficult to expect someone to change over to a bow kite when they have been the best on a C shape kite for many years. I believe this is the main reason why so few riders don’t use bow kites on the PKRA tour yet."
"The new generation will ride more bow kites on the PKRA tour because they will learn with bow kites. "

Read the full interview at : http://www.ikiteboarding.com/kiteboarding/articles/interview-nicolas-caillou.aspx

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