Kiteboarding Magazine

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2003-06-02 20:00:00 | 57 views | 0 Comments

Kite-Speed

 

It was only a matter of time. The sport of Kiteboarding has been
growing at a rate that few, if any sports have ever witnessed. Both
in terms of rider performance and equipment development, the
advances have been relentless and continuous. The sport has
continued to push the limits; How high you can fly, how tweaked you
can get, how many spins you can master, and now how fast you can
go.

Robby Naish testing the speed limit in Kailua, Oahu.

 

With the first “official” kite-only speed event
scheduled for Leucate France later this month, several riders from
around the world have begun the development of speed specific kite
equipment. Many different approaches to board design are being
experimented with, as are line length and kite options. It is going
to be interesting, to say the least.

 

I recently began a kite-speed program as well, and along with
Don Montague, have begun to test the limits of what is presently
possible. Using a waterproof GPS as a speedometer, present as well
as maximum speed can be recorded over a given test session. Changes
in board, fin, and kite trim can be measured. The first surprise
was how little board is really needed. The second surprise was how
good the high-speed control actually is with the right outline,
rocker, and fin placement…. even in fairly choppy water. The
third surprise was just how sore and tired your legs become in a
very short time while trying to maintain high speed! And I thought
my legs were in good shape…

 

In 25 knots of wind marginally powered on a twelve meter X3 we
are reaching speeds upwards of 35 knots on a ten-inch wide board.
In higher winds and the narrower boards, the speeds are much higher
(but that’s classified). In a head to head comparison with
our present windsurfing speed project gear, it was surprising to
find that the kiteboard was substantially faster in flat water
bursts than the windsurfer…. at least in wind speeds under 30
knots. We will see what happens in winds approaching 50 knots. This
could change things substantially. Either way, it is a whole new
challenge with very interesting prospects. The speeds are
exhilarating, the wipeouts are heavy (already had some good ones)
and the potential is huge. Although maintaining very high average
speed over a five hundred meter course is difficult (the official
length required for record attempts) it is not impossible by any
means.

 

Keep an eye out… the next outright world sailing speed record
holder…. and the one to finally break the elusive 50 knot
barrier…. just may be a guy flying a kite!

 

See you on the water,

Aloha,

Robby Naish

info@naishsails.com, www.naish.com

 

 

All photos by Julia Deutsch / Courtesy of Naish
International