Power Kites
A Power Kite is a general term for any large kite that is designed to create a pull powerful enough to pull people to a particular direction. The kites used in Kite Surfing fall under this category of kites. In this article, the term Power Kite will be used to refer to the kite used in the aforementioned sport.
Types
There are several types of Power Kites used in Kite Surfing. First of which is the foil kite. It is the first type of kite used in the sport when it was conceived in the 1980s. Based on the design of parafoil, the foil is considered as the most efficient of all kites because of its design. It is composed of several cells, most if not all of which have holes to let the air in and inflate it. Aside from efficiency, this type of kite is preferred by kite surfers because it can be re-launched without the help of other riders.
Another kind of kite is the inflatable variety. Unlike the foil which is double-surfaced, this one only has a single surface. As its name suggests, parts of this kite have inflatable bladders. The structure addresses the problem of re-launching the kite from the water which can be quite difficult to do in the case of foils. Also, unlike the foil, this system does not need a bridle which makes the inflatable kite easier to maintain.
Sizes
Power Kites have several sizes to match the strength of the wind on a particular day. For strong winds, it is advisable to use smaller kites while bigger kites are for lighter winds because they have a larger surface area to catch the wind.
Aside from wind conditions, the choice of the size of the kite depends on a kite surfer’s level of experience. Beginners usually use smaller kites first for easier control. The kite size increases as their experience levels up.
Since the wind conditions vary regardless of one’s level of experience, a serious kite surfer should have at least a set of three kites. It would ensure that the kite surfer will have a kite that will be suitable to the wind conditions of the day.
Remember that when you are starting out, it is okay to just rent Kite Surfing Gear. This would ensure that you don’t shell out too much money just in case you find out later on that the sport isn’t for you. Keep on riding the wind and the waves!
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