Tipo aquilone/vento

vento leggero
(6 - 15 nodi)

vento moderato
(12 - 27 nodi)

vento forte
(> 27 nodi)

1. General

   

    

   • Kite Name: Any name you want to give to the kite

   • Designer: Your name

   • Comments/Story: Anything you want to say here

    

2. Size and Shape

    

   This is one of the most complex Surfplan's parameter menus you need to fill in so relax, read and play around to understand the parameters properly before designing your own kites:

    

   

    

   • Flat Wingspan: The span of the kite in meters

   • Center Chord: The center chord of the kite in meters

   • Calc size: Click on this button to calculate the Wingspan and Center Chord using the total Surface Area and Aspect Ratio (and the other already defined parameters).  Most kite designers would finalize these parameters at the end to have an "even" kite size or aspect ratio number:

     • Flat Area: Total surface area when flat or in other words, the size of the kite

     • Aspect Ratio: Aspect Ratio of the kite (Wingspan * Wingspan)/Area.  Most kite designers would set this parameter from 4 to 7.

   • Tip Chord Ratio (%):  The length of the tip chord as a percentage of the center chord (less for more stability, more for more depower, more radical control).  Most designers would set this parameter from 25% to 50% (if you set this number to 0 then you are designing a 2 line LEI).

   • Num Cells/Panels (Ribs in version 4.4 and older): Number of the kite panels.  Less for ease of sewing, more for smoother canopy (most designers would set this parameter from 14 to 22 for LEI and 22 to 32+ for foils or Arcs  depending on the kite size).

   • Rib Spacing: How and where to place the ribs (where the two panels are sewn together):

     • Equal Spacing: Place the ribs at equal distance along the span of the kite (this is the default option)

     • Proportional to Chord: longer chord sections have ribs further apart.

     • Constant Area: Place ribs such that each kite panel has the same area.

     • Manually Spacing: Manually place the rib.  Select this option and then click Edit Spacing to place the ribs manually.

   • Statistics: This table shows all the current statistical information of the kite:

     • Flat Area

     • Flat Wingspan

     • Flat Aspect Ratio

     • Projected Area

     • Projected Wingspan

     • Project Aspect Ratio

     • Adjusted Area (Flat Area/1.36).  This number was "invented" by Bruno and used by many LEI kite manufacturers as "kite size" in the past (mainly to compare a flat size LEI with an average flat size foil - a 1.36 m2 flat size LEI is equal a 1 m2 average flat size foil).

     • Leading Edge Length

     • Trailing Edge Length

   • Kite Shape:

     • Elliptical: Use ellipse as the base shape of the kite (this is the default option and most designers would select this option).

       • Percent Square: 0% for no effect (default), 100% for fully square or rectangle shape

       • Front Curvature: 0% for constant curving from center to tip (default), 100% for keeping the center of the LE straight and curve more near the tip.

       • Rear Curvature: similar to Front Curvature but for the Trailing Edge

     • Rectangular: The kite has a rectangle shape

     • Triangular: Use triangle as the base shape of the kite

       • Percent Square: 0% for no effect, 100% for fully square or rectangle shape.

     • Scalloped TE: Select if you want the trailing edge scalloped between 2 inflatable struts.

       • Amount (%):  The amount to scallop (in percentage of chord). The default is 1%. This is used mainly to reduce the "flapping" of the trailing edge.

     • Curved LE:  Not used for LEI kite (this is mainly used for single skin kite to smoothly curve the LE panels for the fibreglass rod).

     • Planar LE:  Make the Leading Edge of the kite stay in a 2 dimensional plane.

     • Manual Offsets:  Select this to manually change the shape of the Leading and Trailing Edge of the kite.

       • Edit LE:  Edit the shape of the LE

       • Edit TE:  Edit the shape of the TE

   • AoA Settings:

      

     For some very good discussion of the LEI's AoA and Profile Alignment Point settings, read LEI Sphere Theory

      

     • Profile Alignment Point (%): To change the forward/rearward sweep of the kite:

       • Center: The amount to move the center of the kite forward (positive number) or rearward (negative number) in percentage of the center chord. (most LEI kite designers would set this from 20 to 40).  The default value is 33%.  For a 2 line LEI, Bruno has recommended that this alignment point should be around 42% (with 0 degree built-in center AoA) for stability.  Note that for Arc kites, designers normally set this value closer to the leading edge than Inflatable (Arc airfoil is a double skin with no turbulence at the front; therefore the CoP of such airfoil is more forward than inflatable airfoil)

       • Tip: The amount to move the tip of the kite forward or rearward in percentage of the wingtip chord. (most kite designers would set this from 20 to 40 and similar to the Center Profile Alignment Point).  The default value is the same as Center Profile Alignment Point at 33%.

     • AoA: The built-in Angle of Attack of the profiles:

       • Center: The built-in AoA of the center of the kite (most kite designers would set this from 0 to 5 degrees).  The default value is 3 degrees.

       • Tip: The AoA of the tip of the kite (most kite designers would set this from 0 to 5 degrees and equal or more than the Center AoA).  The default value is 3 degrees.

     • AoA Rotation Point (Chord %): The center point where the profile will rotate around when it changes the AoA (in percentage of the chord). This value is dependent on the profile and the value is normally from 20% to 40%.  The default value is 33%.  It is best to use some other profile design and analysis tool to figure out this value of the selected profile and enter it here.   

   • In-Flight AoA Analysis: This table shows the analysis of the AoA of the kite in-flight (this table only shows the front line connection points at 0% and back line connection points at 100% the chord of wingtips.  For other connection points, check the Sled Lines menu):

     • Vertical: At 90 degrees overhead:

       • Powered Down: The AoA of the profile when the kite is fully depowered (no tension on back lines). 

       • CoP (Mid-power):  The AoA of the profile when the kite in mid-power (front lines and back lines are equal).  This value is calculated by Surfplan and normally the result is close to the built-in AoA Center value specified in AoA Settings if the Profile Alignment Points are set close to the PAP of the Adjust AoA Analysis Parameters menu (default at 33%).

       • Powered Up: The AoA of the profile when the kite is fully powered up (no tension on front lines).  Most kite designer would make sure that this number is positive and between 5 to 15 (larger number for more empower and possibility of reverse relaunch if it is larger than the stall angle of the airfoil around 20 or higher).

     • At Window: At the Wind Window overhead (normally at 85 degrees overhead):

       • Powered Down: The AoA of the profile when the kite is fully depowered (no tension on back lines).

       • CoP (Mid-power):  The AoA of the profile when the kite in mid-power (front lines and back lines are equal).  This value is calculated by Surfplan and the result is close to the sum of the AoA Center value and the difference between 90 degrees and the Wind Window degrees (specified in  the Adjust AoA Analysis Parameters menu) if the Profile Alignment Points are set close to the PAP of the Adjust AoA Analysis Parameters menu (default at 33%).

       • Powered Up: The AoA of the profile when the kite is fully powered up (no tension on front lines).  Most kite designer would make sure that this number is positive and between 5 to 20 (larger number for more empower and possibility of reverse relaunch if it is larger than the stall angle of the airfoil around 25 or higher).

     • Effective Tow Point (%):  This show the effective tow point in percentage of chord when the kite:

       • Powered Down: No tension on back lines.

       • CoP (Mid-Power): Front lines and back lines are equal. For LEI, Bruno has recommended that this number should be around 42% for stability (actually, Bruno's recommendation is for a 2 line LEI as one cannot change the effective tow point in that case).  Note that coincidently, the default values of Surfplan 4.5 will yield a value of 41.182 for this field.  Note that for Arc, this value should be much smaller (around 25% or so as Arc airfoil has little turbulence at the leading edge thus the CoP is more forward).

       • Powered Up: No tension on front lines.

     • Adjust AoA Analysis Parameters:  click this button to change the parameters used for the In-flight AoA Analysis. It is best to use some profile design and analysis tool to figure out these values for the center and wingtip profiles and enter them here (or just use the default values):

       • CoP (%): Center of Pressure of the kite in percentage of chord.  Most designers would leave this number at the default value of 33% (which is .33 due to a bug ???) for LEI and 25% for Arc.

       • Wind Window:  The angle of the kite relative to the ground when it is stabilizing straight overhead (most designers would leave this number at the default value of 85 degrees)

        

3. Wingtip Shape

    

   To select the shape of the wingtips.

    

   

   • Shape:

     • Straight: This is the default value.  The advantage of this option is that the designer can have the flexibility of a batten wingtip, an appropriate profile wing tip or simply just Dacron material (early 4 line LEI such as Naish AR5).

     • Elbow-joined: the LE and the front of the wingtips are joined as an elbow.  Most modern designers would select this option.

     • Curved LE: The LE is curved all the way to the back of the wingtip (there is no clear distinction between the LE and the wingtip)

     • Scalloped:  The wing tip is scalloped.

   • Angled Wingtips: Select this field and enter the angle of the wingtip (positive for upward/rearward and negative for downward/forward)

    

4. Profile

    

   Besides Size and Shape menu, this is one of the more complex parameter menus in Surfplan.  One cannot design a profile with Surfplan but can import a profile and change some parameters.

    

   

    

   • Profile Type:

     • Single Skin: for single skin kites.

     • Double Skin: For foil or Arc.

     • Inflatable: Select this option for LEI.

   • Smooth Profiles: Surfplan will smooth out the profile automatically if this option is selected (default is not selected).

   • No Profile at Wingtip: This is the default. Most modern designers would prefer some profile at wingtip.

   • LE Strut:

     • Segmented LE: This is the default.

     • Armed LE: Using the "Armed" method for making the LE strut.

       • Armed Limit: The number of panels from the tip not to use the "Armed" method.

   • Center and Wingtips Profile tables:

     • Profile Name: The name of the profiles which have been loaded for the Center and the Wingtips appropriately. The default profiles are DA2 for both Center and Wingtips.

     • Profile Depth: The maximum depth (thickness) of the profile in percentage of chord (most designers would set these values between 8% and 14%).  The default values are 9 for both Center and Wingtips.

     • At Chord (%): The location of the maximum profile depth in percentage of chord.  Most designers would set this value between 18 and 33 depending on the profile.  The default values are 25 for both Center and Wingtip

     • Import: Click this button to load an existing profile.

     • Export: Click this button to save your profile for use in another kite designs.

     • Tube Size: The LE tube size in percentage of chord.  Surfplan will automatically calculate and display the tube size in cm. Most designers would select tube size between 6% and 12% of chord.  The default values are 9% for both Center and Wingtip tube sizes.

   • Seam Angle: Specify the seam spot of the LE tube.  The seam location is marked by a red marker. The default value is 45 degrees.

   • Sail Angle: Specify the spot where the canopy is sewn onto the LE tube (marked by a red marker).  The value has to be between 0 and the Upper Limit (display next to the parameter) which is dependent on the LE Tube Size.  The default value is 45 degrees.

   • View Rib:  Select the rib to view its profile.  The ribs are numbered from 1 at the Wingtip.  The ribs which have inflatable struts are marked with a "*" after the number.

   • Morph Profile:

     Specify how the profile along the wingspan will change from the Center profile to Wingtip profile.  There is no need to do anything here if the Center profile is identical to the Wingtip (even the "No Profile at Wingtip" option is selected).

     • Auto: Morph from the Center profile to Wingtip profile automatically (most designer would select this default option):

       • By Distance/Chord:  Use this slider button to select how the morphing should be dependent on: by distance and/or by chord.  The default value is "By Chord" 100%.

       • Keep Center Profile (% of Span): Use this slider to specify how far to retain the Center Profile from the center of the kite.  The default value is 0%.

       • Keep Tip Profile: Enter the number of ribs from the wing tip to retain the wingtip profile.

       • Morphing Graph: A graph in the table shows the result of the "morphing function" as specified by the above parameters.

     • Manual:  Select this and click on the Change button to change the graph of the "morphing function".

      

5. Canopy

   

    

   • FEM Modelled Canopy (for sled foils): Select this default option for LEI.  If you are using some old sample kite designs, make sure you select this option for Surfplan to update the canopy of the old designs..

   • Manual Canopy (for bridled foils): Select this if you design a bridle foil.

   • Detailed Canopy (for bridled foils): Select this if you design a bridle foil (more manipulation than the Manual Canopy option).

    

6. Bridle

    

   Select "None (sled)" and ignore the rest for LEI kite.

    

   

    

7. Skin Tension

    

   Certain kite material will stretch on pressure.  This menu provide a mean to specify how much skin tension (how "stretchy") certain part of the kite may be exposed to and therefore take the anticipated stretch into account to compensate for the ultimate outcome.

    

   

    

   • Inflatable Strut Tension:  set the tension (stretch anticipation) on the LE and rib struts:

     • LE Factor: Set to 1 for no tension and higher value for more tension and more stretch anticipation.  Most designers would set this to the default value of 1.2

     • Rib Factor: Most designer would set this between 1 (no stretch anticipation, the default value) and 1.2 (same pressure and tension as the LE).

   • Skin Tension: Most LEI designer would leave this field at the default value of "None (Disable)"

    

    

8. Ribs

    

   This is another important and complex Surfplan menu for LEI kites.

    

   

    

   • Use Ribs:  Enter a series of 0's and 1's (from Wingtip to Center) to specify where you want to have inflatable struts (1's).  The default is a string of "101010101" or 1 inflatable strut for every 2 ribs.

   • Rib Type: Select the default value "Segmented Inflatable" for LEI kites.

   • Seams Underneath: To specify the non-default location for seams (default is not selected) to have a smoother canopy.

   • Irib Nose Shape: To specify the nose shape of each individual inflatable strut (inflatable rib) either round (0) or regular (1).  Enter a string of 0's and 1's to individually select the nose type of each strut from Wingtip to Center of the kite.  Select round nose strut (plumbing type of connection between the struts and LE) for more rigidity and regular nose strut for ease of sewing.

   • Round Tail Struts: Select for round tails at the strut ends

   • Tail Angle: Enter the tail angle of the ends of the struts (good for reducing drag and turbulence at the strut ends).

   • Round-nose Struts: Select to have all the struts with round-nose (plumbing type of connection between the struts and LE).  This makes the LE and strut connections more rigid and more aerodynamic.  This field has no effect if each strut's nose shape has been defined in "Irib Nose Shape" field.

   • Upper LE Point (degrees): Specify the upper location, in degrees, to connect the struts (Center and Wingtip) to the LE.  The default value for Center strut is 80 and for Wingtip strut is 50.

   • Lower LE Point (degrees):  Specify the lower location, in degrees, to connect the struts (Center and Wingtip) to the LE.  The default value for Center strut is 0 and for Wingtip strut is -30.

   • Center Diameter (% Chord): Specify the maximum diameter of the strut in percentage of chord.  The default value is 7% for both center and wingtip strut.  Most designers would set this value such that the size of the strut is close (within 10% differences) to the size of the LE at that location.

   • TE Diameter (% Chord): Specify the TE diameter of the strut in percentage of chord.  The default value is 2% for center strut and 5% for wingtip strut.  Surfplan will calculate display the size in cm automatically.  Most designers would try to keep this value larger than 2.5cm or 3cm for practical purposes (to be able to insert the bladder into the strut).

   • Number of Segments: Specify the number of segments to use in the Center and Wingtip struts (default 5 for center and 3 for wingtip).

   • Seam Positions:  Specify the seam positions of the strut segments.

     • Automatic: Calculate the seam position automatically using the Equal Angle/Equal Spacing slider.

     • Manual: Calculate the seam position semi-automatically using the Equal Angle/Equal Spacing slider and the Seam Limit location specified in percentage of the length of the strut (chord)

     • Reflex auto: Similar to automatic; however, use the reflex profile algorithm (for reflex profile)

      

9. D-ribs and Mini-ribs

    

   D-ribs and Mini-ribs are not applicable for LEI.

    

   

    

10. Advanced

    

     

    • Lift Coefficients

      Specify the lift coefficients to compensate for the unequal lift characteristics between the Center and the Wingtip profiles at the appropriate AoA(s).  It is best to use some profile design and analysis tool to figure out these values of the center and wingtip profiles and enter them here (or just use the default values):

      • Center: Lift coefficient for the Center profile (normally set to 1)

      • Tip: Lift coefficient for the Wingtip profile relative to the Center (default value is 1, the same as Center lift coefficient)

    • Flying Line Length: Specify the line length in meters (the default is 30m; however, to save space, the modern line length is 25m or even 20m).

    • Handle Separation:  Or bar length (the default value is 0.3m probably reflecting the fact that the front lines are connected together while the back lines are normally .5m apart).

     

11. Calculation Data

     

    

     

    This is the same as "Adjust AoA Analysis Parameters" in the Size and Shape menu.  These parameters are used for the In-flight AoA Analysis. It is best to use some profile design and analysis tool to figure out these values for the center profile and enter them here (or just use the default values):

    • CoP (%): Center of Pressure of the kite in percentage of chord.  Most designers would leave this number at the default value of 33% (which is .33 due to a bug ???) for LEI and 25% for Arc.
    • Wind Window: The angle of the kite relative to the ground when it is stabilizing straight overhead (most designers would leave this number at the default value of 85 degrees)

     

12. Bladders

     

    This feature is not available in the demo version available to the public

     

13. Seam Allowances

     

    

     

    These are the seam allowances for sewing purposes and normally default at 10mm for all the seams.  It's best to use the default values in the beginning and change them after you have made 1 or 2 kites to suit your preferences.

     

14. Sled Lines

     

    Surfplan allows 4 line connection points (6 if you count the default connection points at 0% and 100% of Wingtip chord) on each Wingtip that can be used for either front lines or back lines:

     

    

     

    • Line Attachment Points: Specify the connection points in percentage of chord and click Apply to view the updated In-flight AoA Analysis of these 4 connection points plus the default at 0% and 100% of the Wingtip.

    • Mark Sled Line Attachment Points: Select to have Surfplan marked the line attachment points on the kite.

     

15. Colors

     

    Select the colors for the kite.

    

     

    • Upper: Enter the color code characters (shown on the screen) for each panel from the Wingtip to Center

    • Lower/LE: Specify the color code for the LE (or Lower skin for double skin foil or Arc)

    • Ribs: Enter the color code characters for the inflatable struts

    • Bridle: Specify the color code for the bridle lines

    • Adjust Color: Use the Red, Green and Blue sliders to create the 2 custom color code (1 and 2) besides the pre-coded colors.

    • Upper Skin Picture: Specify the file containing the bit map image of the picture to use for the canopy.

    • Lower Skin Picture: Only used for foil and Arc, not applicable for LEI.

From: Bruno Legaignoux <design@wipika.com>

Date: Thu Aug 3, 2000 2:44 am

Subject: Bruno Legaignoux's message

Hi,

I'm Bruno Legaignoux. For those which don't know my name, we are, with my brother Dominique the inventors of the inflated kite in the shape of a gore. This message is to try to put the numerous rumours off.

My brother and I were sailors (French Junior champions, cruising boat skippers, sailing instructors, surfers, windsurfers, etc...). We tried to develop very efficient sails and boats and finally we became interested in kites when seeing Jacob's Ladder, a catamaran pulled by Flexifoils, although we never flied a dual line kite. It was in 1984. After a few researches, we understood that no water relaunchable kite existed so it became obvious to us that we had to create one. You can see some old photos at www.wipika.com/Pages/chapitre1.html After one year of work, we were sailing with water skis and demonstrating the device during the 1985 Brest International Speed Week. We also applied for a patent. The project was to find one or several licensees within 2 years but windsurfing was at its acme and no windsurf company was interested.

We never stopped believing in this sport so we had 10 years of VERY HARD time, continuing the project without money, looking for new markets, for licensees, then creating our own company and producing in France in 1993-94... at a too high cost (please don't cry !)

Then Windsurfing declined and Kiteboarding time came. I am proud to see that we were the main actors of kiteboarding birth but for sure we were not alone. For example Cory Roeseler with the Kiteski device or Andreas Kuhn with a paraglider and a kind of wakeboard helped too with international media exposure.

In 1995-96 we went in very serious talks with Neil Pryde. Finally they renounced but they accepted to produce small quantities for us and we started selling these kites in July 1997 under Wipika brand mark. Then we found another manufacturer in Asia.

In 1998, Don Montague and Robby Naish came to us asking for a license. As it was our original goal, we agreed and told them that both of us needed a software to be able to make new designs quickly. I came to Hawaii and gave all my knowledge to Don Montague and their programmers. One year later, the program was working. We shared it. With it, everybody can make a new good kite in 30 seconds, just changing one parameter. For example, change AR = 2.5 (the default value) with 8 and you will appear as a genius designer!

WHY PATENT PROTECTION ?

Some people hate this way. I think that when you are a well organized company in a market where products

evolve very quickly, patent is just a waste of money and energy. But if you are a "small" independent inventor, you have no chance against large companies if you don't protect your ideas : they won't even give you just credit for that !

Who on this list is against intellectual property (music, literature, etc...) ?

Our motivation was kept during the hard years because of the patent.

INFRINGERS

Seen by my side, there are only 3 kinds of kites :

• the ones which are far from ours, like ram air kites, delta kites, etc...

• the ones which are very close to ours : if they got a license contract like Naish, they are licensees; if not, they are infringing copies whether or not there are patented improvements on.

• there are kites designed with a sole goal: to use our concept but escaping the patent by modifying the kite after studying the patent and looking for weak points in it. In this case it is more difficult for me to get the justice admitting the infringement but I'll try each time I think I can win.

Obviously, I beat the infringers and already stopped a few ones. Something interesting to be known is that I have no obligation starting legal action immediately, that means that I can start even when they will have invested a lot of energy and money in their product. This is to explain that it is probably more risky for them to infringe that what they generally think.

NEW LICENSEES SOON ?

Yes, we are open to give other licenses but to companies which are able to bring something to the market, not to companies with short term view or which sole way to get market shares is to discount their kites. In 2000-2001 a few high image companies will enter the market.

WHO INVENTED ?

- who invented kiteboarding ? several people did it on their side without knowing that other people previously made something close. Ourselves we started in 1984 with windsurf boards because we were surfers and windsurfers but not waterskiers. We built several boards for that purpose. As our kites were very unstable at that time, we mainly used waterskis because the waterstart was easier, but the patent talks about windsurfing board type too. We also tested any kind of boats and many other "things" that you can't even imagine and a patent drawing shows a guy on two 40cm "water skates" (photos in the History page of www.wipika.com). We made and sailed them. It was fun. I 'm sure that we'll soon see advanced pilots trying this kind of skates.

- who "invented" high AR inflated kite ? In 1985 we made a 17m kite with aspect ratio 6 and with 100% double-skin (photos on Wipika web site... and a short video soon). With it, we waterskied with 6 to 12 knots of wind and, during the 1886 International Brest Speed Week, we were clocked at 14.5 knots (average speed during a 500m run) while the best world class windsurfers reached 10 knots. This is registered. We also made kites with 20%, 30%, 40%, 60%, 80%, 100% double skin, what was already described in the 1984 patent, and kites made of clear mylar with scrim. Probably you will see this kind of "improvement" in the next months or years.

- who "invented" inflated "struts" without inner tube ? a competitor ? No, in the past, we used 2 different construction methods for inflated struts : airtight fabric and mylar fabric with inner tube. These ways are described in the original patent.

- who invented 4 line straight bar with both front lines meeting at a "main line" going to the harness and with the bar sliding along the "main line" ? a competitor ? No, we own a patent on this device since 1995. I first used this device for buggying and won some races thanks to it. Seasmik uses without any license the exact device we described so we'll have to sue them.

- who invented 4 line inflated kite ? A competitor ? No, the above patent also describes how to settle inflated kites with 4 lines by cutting the edges for example (there are other ways). I always used "cut tip" kites with the 4 line straight bar. I explained all these things to Don Montague in 1998. Why didn't we apply these improvements earlier ? There are 2 main reasons :

Firstly, when you settle a company and you have no money, especially in France, you have to work 80 hours a week to have it working properly. So I had no time for R&D. It's why in 1999 I looked for people to take care of Wipika and get myself more time in R&D. I also moved in early 2000 to Dominican Republic which is really a perfect place for R&D.

Secondly, the market was not ready for more evolved kites. In the "early ages", we made very efficient kites then we understood that we had to make simple, stable and safe. In 1998, 100% of the users were beginners - there are not so many markets like this one ! In 1999, still 90% were beginners but the 10 other percents were starting to ask for more efficient kites so we prepared the Free Air AR3.3 range and started sales in early 2000. But because of Naish AR5 our new range is already old fashioned if you believe a few ones. My main concern is safety and when I hear that some beginners directly purchase AR5 kites, I'm scared. Firstly they are more difficult to relaunch but above all they are fast. That makes them dangerous for beginners in the state of the market (almost no schools nor well informed retailers...).

We are starting a competition to efficiency, just like windsurfing manufacturers did. Remember : "Hey guy, how many cambers do you have ? Only six ? ... and your board, what size ? 2.26m ? Too bad! mine is 2,195m !". Windsurfing is dying for this reason. And us, when ? A fact : the Wipika riders Franz Olry and Christopher Tasti, which actually win some events, don't want to use too high AR kites because they are so fast and unstable that they can't make the kind of tricks they do with more stable kites. They don't want a 20 kite quiver. They want simplicity. Same for Lou Wainman, Mauricio Abreu and some other ones. If you see them using high AR kites, it's because competition pushes in this way, not because they prefer (except in light winds). To resume, if we go too quickly, we'll burn our wings. All the people involved in kiteboarding should take care with that.

R&D AGREEMENT WITH NAISH ?

Any kind of commercial/strategical agreement was never made. Both companies are completely independent/free of mutual contract. Both are Legaignoux licensees with same contract terms.

4 LINE KITES

Wipika supplies the Classic kites since July 1997 with an additional webbing so that all the Classic can be settled with 4 lines. That means that we believe to the 4 line use since a long while but 99% of the customers didn't want to hear about it last year. There are several ways to settle your Classic as a 4 line kite, I'll come back on this matter in another message. Very soon, the Classic kites will be sold with a second webbing, like the Free Air, to simplify transformation. Classic and Free Air will also receive long velcros to fold the tips. Many new Wipika items will be available in the next weeks and months, including an interesting 4 line bar. We'll keep you informed. You are welcome to use abstracts of this message for public use as long as it is in good faith. Please don't expect that I'll react to the messages which could follow mine, I'm still too busy to do it. Sorry!

Thank you for your time and...

Best winds to all of you,

Bruno