Power Kites: 4 Tips to Help You Get Started

Those who have had the opportunity to fly power kites already know they are designed a specific way. These are geared to actually pull the person flying it. There are 3 prime power kites you will see today; the supported leading edge, leading edge inflatables and foils. Individuals who enjoy these are usually just having a good time and adding doing so on ground boards or from vehicles. If you want to try this with a vehicle there should be everything from a kiteboard, buggy and landboard to all-terrain skates, skis, and various other options. They also come with anywhere from 2-5 line and some sort of bar to grip on to while enjoying them.

It's also important to understand that the sizes will drastically vary. You can find power kites that are as small as 1.5 square meters to as large as 50 square meters. It all depends on the vehicle you're using and whether or not you'll be taking advantage of this sport on land or water. A good example of this is back in 82', a boat called Jacob's Ladder used a power kite to hit 25 knots in sailing speed. In 2008, someone exceeded 50 knots on a kiteboard.

If this sounds like something you would like to try, here are four tips for successfully flying a power kite.

1. Start with a small, two-line trainer kite. For kids, small adults, and strong winds, start with a 1.2 meter kite or a 1.4 meter kite. A 1.8 meter kite will offer more power, but will still be relatively easy to control. Larger power kites, such as 2.2 meter ones, are made for more experienced fliers who want a strong pull. Most kites need very little wind to fly. It is important to understand that different kites that are the same size may lift and handle differently. That's another great reason to start out with a more predictable steady kite. Two-line kites let beginners master the basics of power kiting and usually only fly in a forward direction.

2. Familiarize yourself with the "wind window." This is the region above ground in which power kites can fly. If you fly your power kite in different parts of the wind window, you will get different levels of pull and different directions. At the edges of the wind window, power goes down drastically. If you're not sure how much power you'll be getting, you should launch from the edge of the wind window and test the kite by dipping it to the power zone. If the conditions in the power part of the wind window are beyond your skill level, use your safety system to abort the ride safely.

3) No matter what you do, it's a necessity to wear a helmet. There is no loophole here, and we want to make sure you understand this thoroughly. Also, land riders will want knee pads and wrist guards as well (maybe even elbow pads). If you're focusing on the water then impact vests, gloves and goggles should be worn for maximum safety (and the helmet of course).

4. Learn on land first. The power kites needed for power kiting on water have to be more powerful to overcome the water's resistance. They have to be very powerful and efficient. Depowering systems are usually built into the kites used over water. Learn to use your power kite on land first, and then take lessons on using your power kite over water before trying it.

Power kiting can be an addicting sport. First you start out with a small two-line trainer kite and next thing you're wanting to learn kite sailing, kiteboarding, and every other type of traction you can pair with your kite. It can be enormously fun and rewarding, but you have to keep in mind the dangers involved too. Always wear a helmet and if you're over water, wear an impact vest too.

It isn't easy to pick out a favorite form of traction. Buggies, boards, skates, skis, and snowboards all have their own "awesomeness" factors. You'll probably want to try them all at some point. But if you're just starting out, do some research, and be sure to choose a trainer kite that you can maneuver easily over land. Then work up to larger, more complex power kites, and master handling your kite over land before attempting to use power kites over water.

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