Power Kites
Generally designed to maximize power and pull on land, water, ice and snow, various types of power kites are commonly used as “engines” to pull land boards (mountain boards), kite surf boards, skis, snowboards or specially designed 3-wheeled buggies… While basic training and good equipment selection will allow you to direct and use such energy, power kites do have the potential to generate enormous amounts of pull and should be handled with extreme safety.
Types of power Kites
power foils
Probably the most popular choice for dry (land) conditions, Power Foils are parafoil designs that have been adapted with either dual or quad line controls, power and performance enhancements, as well as a number of safety features.
WARNING : These kites can produce tremendous power and should be used with extreme caution.
framed power kites
While as ideal for traction use (buggy, board, etc) due to less predictability and handling on the edge of the window, the rigidity of Framed Power Kites can sometimes provide power in lighter wind ranges when others cannot. These are specially designed power kites with spars, but traditional framed sport kites can also be stacked to multiply the amount of power.
WARNING : These kites can produce tremendous power and should be used with extreme caution.
c&Bow kites
C-kites (also called LEI kites), are typically made from ripstop polyester with an inflatable plastic bladder that spans the front edge of the kite with separate smaller bladders that are perpendicular to the main bladder to form the chord or foil of the kite. The inflated bladders give the kite its shape and also keep the kite floating once dropped in the water. LEIs are the most popular choice among kitesurfers thanks to their quicker and more direct response to the rider’s inputs, easy relaunchability once crashed into the water, and resilient nature. If an LEI kite hits the water or ground too hard or is subjected to substantial wave activity, bladders can burst or it can be torn apart.
Bow kites (also called flat LEI kites) were developed with features including a concave trailing edge, a shallower arc in planform, and frequently a bridle along the leading edge. These features allow the kite’s angle of attack to be altered more and thus adjust the amount of power being generated to a much greater degree than previous LEIs. These kites can be fully depowered, which is a significant safety feature. They can also cover a wider wind range than a comparable C-shaped kite.
In 2006, second generation flat LEI kites were developed which combine near total depower and easy, safe relaunch with higher performance, no performance penalties and reduced bar pressure. Called Hybrid or SLE kites (Supported Leading Edge), these kites are suitable for both beginners and experts.