3 Reasons Why Your Kiteboarding Lines Are All Wrong

October 04, 2017

Ok, maybe they aren't wrong, but they are definitely not the best length and may compromise your riding ability. Some of the most innovative brands in kiteboarding today are including variable length lines with their control bars. How come you may ask? Because the standard of 24 meter lines has always been a compromise. Those lines are a balanced choice between power and control, but are they killing your kiteboarding progression? Here are three reasons why not having an adjustable line length on your kiteboarding control bar is holding you back and preventing you from excelling in kiteboarding.

#1. Go long!

If you're flying anything larger than a 12m² kite you should be adding some length to those lines. This will dramatically increase the size of your wind window giving you a much larger power stroke and enabling you to get more power out of a smaller kite. Add 3-meter extensions and your kite will feel 1 to 2m² bigger.

Advantage:

Larger wind window creates a larger power stroke and more time in the power zone.
Gain more power from any given size kite.
Increase jumping potential
For best results use line lengths from 27-29 m².

Disadvantage:

Because of the added line length, the kite may feel more sluggish than usual.

#2. Just a little off the top!

Unless you are Richard Branson and can buy as many kites as you want, you're probably like the rest of us and own somewhere between one and three kites. If you ever find yourself in a higher than expected wind range for your given size kite, take some length out. Shorten your lines to 22 meters and now you can easily handle 2-5 mph more wind. The power zone and the wind window are now smaller, so any given power stroke will create a little less power and the kite flys quicker to the edge of the wind window. In other words, your kite will be less likely to sit deep in the window making power, and better able to go directly to the edge of the window where you can control the extra wind speed.

Advantage:

Slightly shorter lines give you a few mph more range on any kite.
Faster turning speed and turn initiation.

Disadvantage:

Smaller wind window will deliver a little less power overall.

#3 Hey, Shorty!

18 through 20 m² lines will give you ultimate control over the positioning of the kite inside the wind window. This is especially true for riding waves or achieving radical kite loops. If you want that kite below your body during the loop, go short.

Advantage:

Super precise kite handling and immediate input response.

Disadvantage:

Extreme power loss from the kite, expect 1 to 2 sizes less power.
The wind shadow behind trees, buildings or shrubs will really affect your kite.
Your kite is going to look absolutely huge because it's so close!