XA Kiteboarding Kites - Which Kite to buy

In the early days, kite designing and making was an art exclusive to a small group of people who are gifted with tremendous amount of aerodynamic knowledge, skilful in drafting, sewing and with a passion for kites and kite flying.

The kite design and construction industry has come on leaps and bounds over the last decade. Nowadays with the help of modern kite design fundamentals, CAD kite software, database of airfoils, template kite designs, almost all kiters could make their own kite if they wished. Todays kite manufactures produce a variety of different styles of kite with new innovations in kite design every year. There are Two distinct types of kite currently used in kiteboarding, the foil and the Leading Edge Inflatable (LEI)

Foils

Foil kites also know as Ram Air Kites have no rigid structure, the shape of the kite is formed while flying as air is forced into cells of the kite which are harnesed into shap with a bridal. These kites have shapes that are very close to airplane wings and are probably the most aerodynamic kites available . Foil kites have been on the market for a long time and have been used by many buggiers and Kiteboardiers . In the early days of kitesurfing, Concept Air and F-One released the first water relauncheable ram air foil kites, the Concept Air EX's Wave and the FOne ATK kites. These kites normally have a limited number of air intakes and a valve system to prevent the air to escape after a fall. Due to this characteristics, these types of kite are also called closed cell foil kites

Peter Lynn has also introduced a new type of foil kite called the Arc.  The Arc is mainly a closed cell ram air foil kite with the shape of an LEI .  Similar to a 4 line inflatable, an Arc kite can also be depowered by pulling on its front lines to change the angle of attack of the kite.

The magority of foils are more powerfull than LEI's of the equivalent size but they are harder to depower and cant be flown in as large wind range as LEI's.

Flysurfer foils however use simalar control methods to teh LEIS and depower well.

Leading Edge Inflatable LEIs

Cabrianha Takoon Helfish Wipika

Inflatable kites normally have an inflatable leading edge and 5 or more inflatable battens to give it a permanent "crescent moon" shape (this type of kite is also called an inflatable or Leading Edge Inflatable or LEI). They are very dependable to relaunch except for certain conditions such as in very light wind (less than 6-7 knots), when the bridle is inverted (for 2 lines LEI, more difficult but still relauncheable). The original founders of Wipika are the inventor of the inflatable kites and has licensed the technology to many other manufacturers. All inflatable manufacturers continue to develop and market their own version of the kite. The patent was filed in 1984 so should be currently expired (or will be expired shortly).  Due to the permanent "intrusive" shape of the kite (to facilitate water relaunching), the kite is always "powered up" even on the water. One needs a good working safety release system when using this kite.

There are generally two types of inflatable kite, 2 line and 4 line inflatables.  The advantages of 2 line inflatable kites are ease of use and stability. The advantage of 4 line inflatable kites are higher performance and better power control (by changing the Angle Of Attack or AOA of the kite).  Most modern inflatables are 4 line kites.

Due to many good characteristics, excellent wind range, ease of jump and wide range of choices, inflatable kites have more or less dominated the kitesurfing market and started making major in-road to the kitesnowboarding, kiteskiing market with the introduction of the 5th line to facilitate relaunching on snow

Leading Edge Inflatables (LEI's) are the most commonly used kites for kiteboarding as they cover wider wind ranges than folis due to there shape and depower capabilities.

Latest Kiteboarding Kite designs 2005-2006

Cabrinha Crossbow ,Takoon Nova and Best Hellfish

the latest designs in kites are primary conceered with lighter, more areodynamic, and more efficient designs with improved safety features.

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