TractionKiting.co.uk

Evening all, just a quick one.

Was out today in the wild weather had some great fun.
Got lifted a good 10ft in the air, which was quite the buzz. lol

Problem i keep having is that after all the fun is done and i pack away. The next time i go to use it the lines are a disaster and need sorted n untangled. Is there any proper method to pack up or is this untangling just part of the experience??



Stu.

I'm going to assume that you're flying with handles. There are two ways to pack the lines away and a search on the forum will bring up both and probably a better explanation than mine.

My preferred method is para-packing, this means when you pack up; your kite is staked at the handles and you are at the kite, you tidy the bridle away etc and fold the kite up then you put the kite in the bag, make hole with your hand in the middle of the kite you just folded up (not a real hole I may add) walk up to the handles with the lines trailing on the ground and then you place the lines in the bag. It's easier if you see it done. I keep meaning to do a video of this method and If I get out at the weekend I will.

The other method is wrapping the lines round the handles, otherwise known as the Elton John method. I will let someone who uses this method explain it.

The people who use the lines round the handles method are usually packed up quicker but the people who para-pack are usually the ones flying quicker.

Also I very very very rarely get tangles.

Elton John method????? thats a new one on me dude...

Anyhow, Handle wrapping...

I start similar to the parapak method ie spike down the handles, tuck bridles in kite thenm fold and bag it, just stops it flapping about as you wind up lines.
The most important part here is whichever hand you hold both the handles in to pack up, you must hold them in the same hand to set up( a four line plaite is NOT nice)

Gather all four lines into your free hand, and start to wind onto your handles, keep a sensible tension on the lines so they dont slip off in the bag, I tend to put the last 2-3m of line on in a fig 8 just to hold it all neat, finish off by putting the kite killers round line and handle again just to help prevent the lines coming off in the bag.

Thats probably as clear as mud, but the important bit is holding handles the same way on pack up and set up.

Have fun

Iain

just a daft thought, what and where were you flying 1.2 or 4.5, cos its been blowing up to 50(bit too much fun) all day at Luce.
No fair... i wanted to play today.

LOL well i had the 4.5 out and it was amazing real handfull but it was manageable.

Was off the ground severall times, only had one hairy moment where i was dragged like a poly bag for about 10ft on my ass.

We had it blowing up to forty. Was really weird as it was very strong all day then when it gusted it felt more like 70. The wife took a video of me being lifted and dumped into huuuuggge puddle i didnt see. After being soaked i decided to pack up. Hence where it all goes wrong for me.

Sounds a bit hairy, surprised a 4.5m kite is still in one piece in those winds !!

As for packing up I'll try and explain the way I do it (elton John method).


1. After landing the kit, stack the handles on the ground first.

2. Fold the kite from each wing tip into the middle and repeat until it's small enough. Roll up from leading edge toward the lines. Tucking the bridles into the kit to keep them neat. Place kite in bag to stop it unrolling/flapping about.

3. Walk back to the handle, place them side by side, pick them up in my left hand. Whilst holding the handles by the brake end, wind the lines around the handle using my right hand.

4. Lock off the lines, by windng the last 2-3 turns between the power end of the handles in a sort of figure of eight. Wind the remaining length of bridle (above where the lines connect with the bridle loosely around the handles and place down the inside of the back.

When unwinding, remember to hold the handle with the same hand (in my case left hand) and unwind with the other (right) hand. This should help avoid too many twists, but you may still have a couple, but these can easily be fixed by flipping the handles over BEFORE whilst they're still together.

Hope this helps, but I'm sure one of the guys can show you if you're down at Stevenston.


Would be interested to see the parapaking technique though.

www.tractionkiting.co.uk/information/inf.../61-launching-a-kite

A short guide to unpacking your kite can be found here

O.

Roors wrote:

Would be interested to see the parapaking technique though.

I will post a link when I do the video, it really is the easier method.

flyinchef wrote:
Elton John method????? thats a new one on me dude...


That was my feeble attempt at humour that just flew over your head.
As you were

I don't get the Elton John connection either?

Key to handlewrapping is to wrap & unwrap with the same hand holding the handles (as already said)

I used to parapack, and it's great when it works, but when it doesn't it's a nightmare.
The way I did it was to pack the kite into the bag and make a space, then wrap the lines up with a wee half twist, like you'd coil up a rope, then put the whole coil into the gap in the kite. Also make sure the handles go down a different space than the lines otherwise madness happens.
Then when unpacking, simply stake the handles down, pick up the kitebag and walk away - the lines should pull out nicely on their own. If they don't it's usually a matter of a wee shake to loosen them up. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you pull hard on tangled lines.

By the way - I'm assuming youdon't disconnect anything? Lot of people think that kite lines should be disconnected from the kite to pack away, but DON'T!

Anne wrote:
then wrap the lines up with a wee half twist, like you'd coil up a rope, then put the whole coil into the gap in the kite.

And that's the part that makes it NOT work.

The lines are just pushed in to the middle of the kite, no need for any fancy coils or anything similar. Like I said though, it's easier when you see it done.

Oh, about the Elton John thing....WHOOOOSHHHHHHHHHHHHHH