Am having problems with my North Rebel 10m kite, 2011 model.
I am struggling to launch it and when launching it has a tendency to drop (when the wind slightly dies off) where other peoples kites don???t, this then obviously sends me flying and potentially pretty dodgy! I tried to launch the other day at the beach and couldn???t. I played with the trim which didn???t work. I was unable to get tension on the lines with the bar fully pulled back. Basically the kite just needs a good adjust (I think!!). North manual is pretty much next to useless and not much about on the net.
Anyone else on here have one of these kites and had to readjust the lines?
Do you have these problems mainly in light winds/lower end of the wind window? If yes (some of your comments hint at that), it is probably rather your technique that needs adjusting. If you pull the bar too far in in light winds, you "choke" the kite, means the increased angle of attack increases the drag of the kite beyond what it can take - if the wind dies off a bit you have to push the bar rather out than pull it in. The same goes for launching a kite in light winds - push the bar completely out and just pull the upper steering line. I know it sounds a bit counterintuitive, but that's aerodynamics.
Anyway, if you have the same problems in strong winds, the kite might need readjusting - unfortunately, I don't have experience with that.
Light wind is tricky. Are you new to kiting? Don't want to be mean, but it sounds more like technique, however tuning your lines is always a good idea.
I found the "progressions kiteboarding" app on iPad has a very well explained tuning section. If you don't wat to by the in-app module then perhaps do a search on YouTube for North bar and line tuning. A quick search reveals quite a bit of stuff on the topic. The principals will remain the same with most bars, just how the adjustment is done on each will differ.
Hope you come right! If not I could spare some time if you're NOR.
I've owned a 2011 North Rebel 11m for over a year and it always been very good in the air never seems to want to fallout of the sky, But if you go on the river where the wind isn't as constant then you might experience the kite falling, but it could be your just used to it.
