Fractured Axel

jo · Sun Feb 15, 2004 9:05 pm

In a muddy field with feet sinking in water I had flown the vented Masque, wind dropping I grabbed the E2, then the seduction. By the time I had struggled with the Seduction (hardly an easy kite to erect) the wind had dropped completely.
Sitting in my bag an extravagance, a visit to a kite shop with an enthusiastic kite boarder made me walk out with a Nirvana UL.
What can I say a couple of steps back and it rose and in a breeze was as noisy as the standard. Axels and fades, pancakes and then flipping it on its back it didnt stop. Round and round then one pull it spun back.
Wet feet cold hands, I was smiling, I knew this kite would make me smile.
A deep sail and standard bridle it flew in nigh on no wind. A few steps and a gentle pull on the 20m 50lb lines and it rose, I slid it across most of the window and then one step and it rose gusting.
With the light fading and blue hands I realised my new asset would be a pleasure for some time to come. With my limited abilities I have to say like my Nirvana the UL seemed to want to do things and I hope that we will grow together. It hurt my pocket but for me I have no regrets.

jo · Sat Feb 21, 2004 10:30 pm

might get the sul

SteveR · Sun Feb 22, 2004 7:04 pm

do it! do it! do it! :badgrin:

Guest · Fri Feb 27, 2004 11:26 pm

Yes, the Nirvana will roll itself up without the second small tug. Lay it on it's back and wait. Place 15g on the tail and it will roll up from an over-rotated backflip.

A very, very sweet kite and one I will enjoy getting to know. A SUL Nirvana will soon reside in my bag alongside the standard and UL.

Randyg

Guest · Mon Mar 08, 2004 2:11 am

Hey...call me ignorant or whatever, but what company makes the Nirvana?

Mon Mar 08, 2004 7:36 am

R-Sky (France)
www.r-sky.com

jo · Sat Apr 10, 2004 9:11 pm

I flew this kite in mixed winds on Friday, 50 mtrs of 90lb line. When the wind picked up it gusted and flew beautifully, slow lazy axels, still cannot manage the side slide. Its rotational tricks were just too much, as the wind dropped far too much line and the kite just rolled over and over, yoyo stoppers didnt stay fixed and the kite loved to roll and spin.
I have some new line to make up and sleeve and will try the kite on 50lb 10 mtrs and 15 mtrs, I couldnt run backwards fast enough on the longer lines. This kite just wants to take me forward and am a bit concerned that yoyo stoppers move and when it rolled it got snagged. Its amazingly precise but when the wind drops it just wallows.
If I was a good flier I would make sense but this kite in low wind just seems to want to do stuff without any input on my part.

Bastiaan · Sat Apr 10, 2004 9:54 pm

Hi, a drop of superglue will sort out the stoppers for you, I had the same on the gemini, I wonder did you fly on 50 meters or 50 foot lines?
B.

jo · Sat Apr 10, 2004 9:56 pm

50 mtrs according to what was sold me

Davey · Sat Apr 10, 2004 10:05 pm

50 metres - Good grief, it must have taken about 15 minutes to fly across the window.

On the stoppers - I've mine superglued in place... Unfortunately the whole ULE spar rotates! Ho-hum - Have to thing of something else now too...

jo · Sat Apr 10, 2004 10:09 pm

As far as a UL go shes as noisy as the standard, loving this kite very dearly. Short lines will be the making of her

Bastiaan · Sat Apr 10, 2004 10:37 pm

Davey, just super glue the upper spreader connectors as well,
I just ordered a Nirvana, we can fly team now!!
B.

jo · Sat Apr 10, 2004 10:42 pm

I have to say even in my ignorance, with the yoyo stoppers twirling as they do this is a babe of a kite. It does stuff without input, I stood and watched it gob smacked it turned spun flipped and rotated in nigh on no wind, was way ahead of me.

Sun Apr 11, 2004 1:35 am

Surprised the UL is as noisy as the standard. The noise means a loose trailing edge, which means drag, which means loss of speed and lift. You might consider threading a few foot of spectra through the TE with a darning needle and tying it off on the knocks and wrapping the slack round the spine...

Sun Apr 11, 2004 8:59 am

The UL should have a leach line.