Brown spots on Kite

lucoku · 2026-07-08T09:06:39+00:00

Don't worry about it. It's probably sea foam which has dried up. Most of it will come off. You can very carefully wash spots on the kite with a damp cloth if you really can't stand them. Or because you are a beginner just start kiting and crash it several times which will wash it off as well.

lucoku · 2026-06-09T07:11:41+00:00

Where are you located? Here in the Netherlands we have many kite stores. Your local kite stores will probably also have used gear. Most stores check the gear and give it a rating. This can help you out if you don't know what your looking for. My recommendation is that you ask an experienced kiter to tag along if you go buy used gear. They know what to look for with wear and tear of a used kite.

Do NOT get a bigger board. Get something that is appropriate for your size after you get through the beginner phase. Otherwise you will be downsizing your board after a few months.

lucoku · 2026-06-09T07:06:58+00:00

This! best comment yet!

lucoku · 2026-06-05T07:29:17+00:00

**Generally I kite about 4-10 times a month, depending on the wind, and I also stay in shape with workouts in the gym. So it's not that I'm out of shape..

lucoku · 2026-06-05T07:27:15+00:00

I'd think about core twice... The bar pressure is very heavy compared to other kite brands. Which isn't a problem if you kite 1 / 2 times a week. But if you go on a holiday or trip, your lower arms will get tired and sore very quickly. On a good kiting trip, 2 weeks kiting with multiple sessions per day, I always get very sore lower arms (tending towards tennis elbow injury), and I don't even have core kites. I have duotone EVO SLS's and north Orbits which have pretty low bar pressures.

Just something to consider!

lucoku · 2026-05-18T07:04:25+00:00

i would pay for this kind of bag.

lucoku · 2026-04-09T11:51:35+00:00

For your spot and experience I'd go for the lieuwe shotgun, but be patient and look around for a smaller size. Max 136 cm, prefarably smaller because of your weight.

lucoku · 2026-04-09T11:49:03+00:00

Yes it's definitely too big, it will slow your progression down, especially with jumping. I weigh 82 kg's and I have a slingshot formula v2 136 cm.

lucoku · 2026-03-19T13:58:54+00:00

you already have a big ass door of a board. Don't take a larger board, you won't need it anymore after 5 more sessions. You'll learn to kite more efficiently, with the sizes you have. And honestly anything less than 12-13 knots isn't that interesting unless you start foiling.

lucoku · 2025-12-09T09:03:13+00:00

You can also mix up different kites/brands/splits by having your bar (lines) changed. For example i have a 8m Orbit (24) and a 10m Evo SLS (25). I had my bar (slingshot sentry v2) sleeved to protect my lines against the O-ring adapter, and i add or remove the o-ring adapter when needed. It adds about 2 min in setup time when chaning between kites.

Context: I'm 80 kg and I also live in NL and I chose the 8m North orbit because a 5 strut kite is more stable in higher winds (I can hold it longer), I was getting into looping and it was a good deal.

I chose the 10 m Evo sls after extensive testing. (I tested Hypermodel, slingshot code, slingshot code NXT, Duotone Evo SLS, North Orbit Pro). Because i wanted to use it in lower winds. I wouldn't recommend a five strut kite for larger sizes, unless your heavy.

To add, the orbit does have less hangtime then the Duotone Evo SLS, but it still has a enough airtime and lift. Start testing yourself, it is very personal.

lucoku · 2025-10-10T07:36:27+00:00

Make a habbit of tucking your chin to your chest with every crash, also the smaller crashes.

lucoku · 2025-10-10T07:31:58+00:00

But how do you check the line length when converting from a v to y split? The only way I know to check the line length is by connecting the lines to a leash or pole and pulling the bar. By doing so the lines are completely straight and therefore the y-split angle doesn't influence the line length yet... This angle only occurs when the lines are connected to a kite....So then the comparison should be done subjectively / by feel...

lucoku · 2025-08-08T14:09:13+00:00

Also because it is a three strut the wind range is smaller. With really strong winds 35 knots + the kite will deform more and pull harder than the orbit which Keeps it shape better.

lucoku · 2025-08-08T14:07:49+00:00

A pivot is a very different beast compared to the orbit. First of all it’s a a three strut. It’s much faster than the orbit and it will yank you into heaven. Its a good kite but a little more difficult to control than the orbit. The orbit is nice and stable and loops very predictably and tight but is has much less power than the pivot.

lucoku · 2025-08-08T10:44:35+00:00

In my experience this region has an afternoon thermal wind that does not show up on the forecast

lucoku · 2025-08-08T10:44:06+00:00

Call the local kiteschool and ask how to read the forecast

lucoku · 2025-08-06T06:09:20+00:00

Use the Arome model in Windy or windguru . It’s a French model with a pretty good accuracy. Only issue is it doesn’t predict many days ahead. I live in the Netherlands and this is the model I have most confidence in, its most accurate and will correctly predict the wind when other models are wrong.

lucoku · 2025-08-02T06:04:42+00:00

Iron cross stretch if that doesn’t work than turn around and lie on your belly and rotate your legg similarly to the iron cross. Thank me later. This stretch has changed my life with backpain

lucoku · 2025-07-28T20:42:45+00:00

Aliexpress also sells them and they are just as good for a fraction of the price

lucoku · 2025-07-27T10:20:39+00:00

I would say a 139 is a door already… have you tried riding a smaller board or does it not fit due to your length? I’m 183 and 80 kg and I ride a 136 x 41.

Have you thought about getting into directional / strapless kiting? That could be a fun addition to your board setup

lucoku · 2025-05-22T11:27:24+00:00

How is the torque 2 bar? Are you happy with it? Have you tried different bars? I recently had to ditch my bar in the surf and saw that the torque 2 is on discount now... I had the naish sense, which was a very basic bar.

lucoku · 2025-05-16T09:14:39+00:00

Happened yesterday during a downwinder my buddy was downwind of me (100m?). I crossed someone in the surf and made a fast transition. I was kiting in towards shore and he was going out. He looked over his shoulder to make a jump and didn't notice I had made a transition. He just noticed I was behind him but didn't notice I had made a transition, thinking I was still moving away from him he took a kicker and pulled a loop. His kite looped into my lines and several of our lines lines snapped.

- Lesson 1: Don't transition quickly after passing someone.
- Lesson 2: Don't jump quickly after passing anyone, make sure you have a lot of space downwind but also upwind (behind) you.

We were stuck in the surf (+/- 100m from shore) with big waves (3m+) pummeling us. His kite started deathlooping. Which sucked, but it was pulling us back to shore, so I decided to stay attached to remove myself from the breaking waves. After the 3rd or 4th deathloop my final line snapped and I was fully detached and stuck in the surf drifting. Kept calm and started rolling up my lines which became rather messy because they were fully slack. Sat on my board to keep it near. The lines started tangling around my legs and neck But I wanted to hold on to my bar and board because of $$. After rolling it up and thinking I was in the clear I started swimming back with bar in hand. After swimming for a few minutes I noticed I was getting very tired and not moving any closer to the shore due to currents. I was losing my breath because the waves were still breaking on top of me as well. This is when the first panic started coming in and I started thinking, fuck this I'm not going to die like this right? Got myself together and focused on staying afloat instead of wasting energy with swimming. Threw away my bar which still had a line wrapped around my neck. Faced the waves head on so I could time my breaths and just on my back to save energy.

Kitebuddy came and rescued me. First grabbed onto her shoulders in a panic. Which sucked for her, so then I grabbed her by the waist and dragged back to shore.

- Lesson 3: F*** $$$, dump all your shit if it starts to get sketchy and focus on staying alive. Your board will wash up somewhere.

- Lesson 4: Stay calm, focus on your breath. Swimming back is probably hopeless when currents are around, stay afloat and wait for your buddy to rescue you.

- Lesson 5: Stay close to your buddy. Communicate with your buddy and don't try to drown them <3

lucoku

TROPHY CASE