Utah Windriders Association

Not as good as Saturday but still fun. I rode 14m with 31m lines. I have to say I am a avid proponent of long lines. It's like adding one size larger kite only better. You get so much more power from having your kite that much farther up in the sky. It makes a HUGE difference. You can buy line extensions for your existing bar/lines. Riders having a 13m for their largest kite need not buy a larger kite!! Another thing which makes a marked difference in kiting in light and inconsistent wind is board choice. I see alot of riders struggling to stay upwind on small twin tips. Riding a surfboard or raceboard enables me to kite and stay upwind with ease without constantly fighting on each tack to get back upwind. You need to learn to gybe and they are difficult at first, but once you get the hang of it they are so much fun and offer a huge range. A light wind specific twin tip can also be a huge advantage. Technique is another major factor. Building up apparent wind in your kite helps tremendously. I see alot of kiters going very slow. This makes you very susceptible to lulls. The faster you go, the less you are affected by holes and lulls and you are able to get upwind easier. There is no substitute for being efficient. There were small women kiting on 17m kites yesterday. I was kiting on a 14m and I weigh 230 lbs.

That efficiency is tricky. I'm in my 3rd year kiting, but still struggle with low wind starts and upwind riding. So I know enough to know when I'm being inefficient, but not always certain as to why. Sometimes I can go upwind going one direction but not the other. It might be a body/board/kite positioning issue but it could also just be just feeling like I'm not gaining ground based on where the beach is.

Also on my low-wind start, I definitely know I'm being inefficient there, but I cant quite tune it in. I can usually get up on the first try in low wind, but I have a stall moment on the way up and out just before I can start planing. There's got to be a smoother way to do this.

Kind of a just OK day with an interesting ending. Out on the 15m late with 2 other riders on 17s, when the wind shifted SE and ramped from sub-15mph to 30+. Got pulled off of the board almost right away and figured I'd body drag thru it with the kite low, but the wind stayed up and very gusty for a while. heading towards shore, I decided I'd rather not be attached to the kit on land so I turned and headed back out. heading back out, i found myself dragging one second and then 15-20 ft in the air the next second. figured that was enough an punched out. Glad the depower system works as advertised. Should have just flagged it on my first pass towards shore and saved myself a 200 yd swim dragging the kite. Had to avoid a pilot-less 17m Slingshot (i think) on the swim in. Not sure if there was a leash malfunction, but completely releasing from your kite should be a last resort when you're in serious danger and there is no alternative.

Funny that the guy on one of the best light wind surfboards made is pitching long lines and smaller kite??? Kiter please........Your gear is way better then most people on the water, you have been kiting much longer then most, and that 14m north kite is bad ass and is the largest size is that model. I rode 17 and was stoked, plenty of power, plenty of depower plenty of kite for UT. Seemed like some smaller kites came in and landed while I and other kiters rode for another hour.. at one point other riders on 17s where not kiting why I on Nugget was.....just saying..... Why you gotta be so ROAK about having a big kite????? Of coarse there are days I am on 12 when everyone else is on 17s also, But i wouldn't say you dont need a big kite here in UT...and that a 13 with long lines will work unless you have a race stick..

I watched the dude on the slingkite let it go It was for sure the right move....