Kiteboarding Magazine

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2003-06-04 20:00:00 | 109 views | 0 Comments

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.

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!