Kiteboarding Kites
One of the first things you need to know about Kiteboarding is the different types of kites available today. If you have ever watched Kiteboarding before you may have begun to notice that not all kites look the same. There are three main types of kites that you should know about, these kites fit into two categories leading edge inflatable’s and foils.
Leading edge Inflatable’s:
- C Kites
- Bow kites
Foils:
- Foil or air ram kites
Leading edge inflatable’s have bladders sewn into the frame of the kite which, when inflated create a rigid frame for the kite. They are pumped put with hand pumps and maintain a frame for the kite (unless there is a holeJ). Foil kites are not pumped up they get there shape when flown as the air passes through the kite.
C Kites
C kites are one of the most common kites around and are most likely what you have seen around the beach. They are inflatable kites and get there name from the highly recognizable C that they make when inflated. Until very recently these kites have been the standard for Kiteboarding.
Pros:
- Lots of power
- Lower price
Cons:
- Less depower
- Smaller wind range
- Harder to re-launch
Bow Kites
2007 was the year of the bow. Having gained more and more popularity over the last few years bow kites were huge in 2007.
But what’s the big deal about bow’s you ask? A bow kite looks similar to a C kite only with less of the C arc. It inflates just like a c kite also. But the big difference in a bow is safety and versatility.
Bow’s are much safer because of the combination of lesser arc and a bridal system (don’t worry a bridal system isn’t complicated is sets put as easily as a C kite). This combination allows the kite to reduce its surface area much more than a C kite. You can think of it like putting a piece of paper in front of a fan when the paper is parallel, facing the fan directly there is a lot of push on the paper but as you angle the paper heading towards perpendicular there is less push on the paper. When a gust of wind comes this could be the difference between getting pulled hard down wind and continuing right on with your same path by lowering the surface area.
The kites are more versatile because they can depower as well as power up more than a traditional C kite. This means you can ride them in a larger wind range.
Pros:
- Versatility
- Safety
- Easier re-launch
Cons:
- Higher price
Foils
These kites are not inflatable. Their structure is made by the air passing through the channels in the kite as it is flown. Since these kites are not inflatable they don’t have bladders to pop, and because they don’t have this frame they are harder to re-launch in water. This makes them better suited for other types of kiting such as snow kiting, kite buggying, and land boarding. Also they are commonly used when you wouldn’t want to get off the ground as traction kites.
Pros:
- Much lower price
- Easier to maintain traction
Cons:
- Harder to launch
