Setting trim & stopper (for different heights & wind speeds)

This kiteboard tutorial explains setting your trim and stopper in detail, including:
0:00 The function of trim systems
0:48 Trim and stopper setting
2:32 How reach changes setup
4:46 How wind speed affects trim

[@stephenbarron8543]

Very good explanation and illustration. You are one of the best kite channels around. A point worth noting (I think): if you find yourself overpowered on your kite and use a lot of de-power from your bar, the kite can become difficult to control due to lack of steering line tension. Head for the beach and rig a smaller kite if you have one.

[@kitesurfcollege]

Thanks for sharing the Stephen. Absolutely, depowering will not help much at all if the wind's too strong for your kite. I remember in the past with smaller kites in really strong wind, that depowering could make them uncontrollable. This has aspect of kite design has definitely improved a lot in recent years.

[@chrisduc1]

Not really true ….i know and see a lot of kite pros ,kiting with fully depower . Not only because of too much wind. They say the depower strap is also an adjustment strap

[@dcmackintosh]

Nicely explained. It's gotten a little more complicated for beginners, now that some bars have steering line trim, instead of center line trim. I'm glad you included the issues with too much depower yielding slack steering lines, and too little encouraging stalling in light wind.

[@kitesurfcollege]

Thanks very much. Exactly, it looks like steering trim is only becoming more popular so I will include it equally in my fundamental tutorials.

[@Pete_R63]

Always so well explained and demonstrated using both a real model or example and again with the illustrations. Thanks so much!

[@kitesurfcollege]

Cheers Pete

[@georgm8499]

Thanks for this video! Have been waiting for such detailed guidance. I experienced that most kite trainers have either not the knowledge or ability to articulate themselves to explain the trim setup. Again BIG THANKS

[@kitesurfcollege]

You're welcome, glad you like it.

[@danielbinisti1913]

Gold video again, thx 😊
Note us mortals interldiate or beginner kiters. It takes time on the water in various conditions to fully appreciate that content. What we need to do is be conscious of what we are trying to achieve and try to deeply understand the kites behavior. Like dont rush and go jumping... think a bit more 🤔

[@vanvlietdaan]

Very clearly explained. As always👍

[@kitesurfcollege]

Thanks so much

[@AKJammer1]

I’ve got the Slingshot Joystick for foiling since that’s about all I ever do anymore. Similar to the BRM cloud bar, there’s no trim at all. Good explanation though.

[@kitesurfcollege]

Thanks for sharing. That's the first I've heard of that trimless bar. Are there some knots you can adjust in case you're not quite happy with the trim and bar position etc?

[@dcmackintosh]

@kitesurfcollege One can still adjust with the knots at the kite end. Slingshot has three positions, each about 1" apart, to shorten the center or steering lines.

[@AKJammer1]

@@dcmackintosh Yes, but not during a session. It does allow you to trim the lines in case of stretch.

[@A-fl1ln]

Thank you

[@kitesurfcollege]

Cheers, you're welcome

[@m007mm]

♥

[@chrisduc1]

Nice video. BUT : shorten the center lines automatically makes the AoA less . But when you shorten the steering lines it is not the same …. That’s also an issue because I doubt the click bar works as the normal trust bar . Duotone of course ☝️☝️🤔🤔🤔

[@olegta4581]

[@larsw.larsen4173]

When to use the second knot on kite stering line connections?

[@kitesurfcollege]

Hi, there's more about steering line and center line connection knots in this video:

[@kitesurfcollege]

th-cam.com/video/PsmYq4_qtuU/w-d-xo.html

[@kitesurfcollege]

I'm not sure what bar you have but with newer bars you can generally use the default connection knots, and then get the trim correct with your trim system. You can save your attachment knot changes for if you notice a problem (for example when the steering lines end up shorter than the center lines over time, then you can even them out using knots).. There's more about that here: th-cam.com/video/IA5Z9tsdR7I/w-d-xo.html
Some older bar had only minimal trim range, and then the different knots really did help adjust trim for different conditions, but that's not the case anymore.

[@sauce25]

Your last piece on how a kite that backstalls in light wind should be trimmed is a bit nuanced though, isn’t it? A kite that’s backstalling out of the sky at 12 o clock with no steering input would still hurt from being trimmed, wouldn’t it? Trimming a kite in light wind will definitely help keep it from stalling if too much bar pressure is applied while steering, but it seems to me that you shouldn’t always trim in light wind. But if I’m wrong, please correct me!

[@kitesurfcollege]

Hi, from what you've written it seems maybe there's a misunderstanding about the difference between frontstalls and backstalls in kiting. You say "A kite that’s backstalling out of the sky at 12 o clock with no steering input." If a kite is stalling with no steering tension then that's almost certainly a front stall not a backstall. If the kite is backstalling that's generally caused by the application of too much steering tension. Then holding the bar out further or trimming for depower can help. A front stall on the other hand can be prevented with steering tension, or steering etc. Both backstalling and frontstalling are covered in far more detail in the kitesurf playlist: th-cam.com/play/PL41dAinz_9ZeaG5FJ_XU8vyBAE_HL_Cgl.html&si=A5q2y-RSOq1iiTTi