• Preparation
• Learning
• Bridle
• User Guide Original
• 4 line control system ?
• How to proceed for 4 line control ?
• What control device in your hands ?
• Set up
• How to land the wing ?
• How to accelerate your 8.5m ?
• Schools ?
  
  

• How about going upwind ?
• How to fly a Wipika Wing ?
• How about a water launch ?
• How to succeed on the water ?
• What line material ?
• What line strength ?
• What control device ?
• What about Kitesurfing; Sailing; Buggying; Kayaking; Skating
• What WIPIKA means ?
• Why this design ? 

• You can depower in the gusts, when preparing your waterstart, when falling or when walking on the beach, so it is safer and more efficient.
• Your wing will fly and launch in lighter winds.
• The wing reacts faster.
  
  

Disadvantage

• More tangle risks.
  
  

All the Wipika wings delivered since July, 1997 can easily be converted to 4 line control.

It is possible to fit the wing out without modifying it.
You need :

- 20ml of 200kg sleeved line
- four 200kg flying lines of the same length,
- 4ml of 4-6mm line
- a quick release
- a control bar.

This equipment will soon be available, but if you are in a hurry, make it now and let us know how you feel with your "new wing".

1/ Completely remove the 2 line bridle by disconnecting the gliding knots, except the four short 3 knot lines attached to the kite webbings

2/ Make 2 V with the thin line as shown here and place a small pulley inside each V.
The total line length is 3m for the 3.5m², 4m for the 5m² and 5m for the 8.5m².

3/ Prepare four Spectra/Dyneema lines.
The recommended length is 20m for the 5m² wings and 30m for the 8.5m².
The recommended line strength is 200kg for the front lines and 150/200kg for the back lines (the Wipika extension lines can be used).

4/ Connect 2 lines to the front edge webbing and 2 lines to the pulleys.

Several possibilities : choose below or purchase a new one.

1/ Handles : attach the 2 front lines to your harness and put soft handles at the end of the back lines.

2/ A straight bar with the back lines at its ends - the front lines are attached to the harness.
The main advantage of a straight control bar is stability & better board handling(you can hold on with one hand)

Attach each front line to a 3ml sleeved line. Attach the sleeved line to a 1ml rope and the rope to your harness.
Attach the 2 back lines to your control bar.

If you loosen your bar, you can easily catch it again by :
- fixing something in the middle of the bar with which the rope will slide through
- fixing a bungee cord between the bar and the harness (that you'll adjust the length accurately)

This system is simple and works very well but you can't de-hook in manoeuvers and jumps.
If you don't like the latter, use the control-bar below.

3/ A special bended bar with the 4 lines attached, shaped like bicycle handlebars and placed on the same side.

The front lines are attached to a 1m rope attached to the middle of the bar.
The back lines are attached to the ends.

Caution : For safety, always put a quick release to stop your wing after a sailing or in a case of emergency.

On the beach, you also can stop your wing alone by depowering then quickly pulling on one of the 2 front lines.

You will just have to adjust the front/back line length.

- ask for an assistant to hold the wing by the leading edge middle strut, wear your harness, tighten the lines then adjust the lengths so that you can easily power and de-power the wing.
- adjust the control bar at the right length for your arms. The best way is to install
a clam-cleat on the rope which receives the front lines.

When you pull the bar, the power increases.

One way is to ask someone to catch the leading edge. If this is not possible :

- depower the wing when above your head
- quickly pull on one of the 2 front lines (3 or 4m). The wing will slowly fall.
- go to your wing while keeping the line tightened. Gloves are required in high winds.

 Pulling the 2 back lines, as with parakites,doesn't work well with a Wipika. Don't try it !

1) find the 3 knots at the end of the crossing lines. It is attached under the middle knot.

2) mark at 10cm under the bottom knot.

3) "open" the bottom knot. If the knot is tight, use a punch.

4) place the knot exactly on your mark.

5) undo the gliding knot at the end of the crossing line then tighten it under the new knot.

If you can't open the knot, make a new one.

We use Dyneema line because it floats (as opposed to Vectran, Kevlar and polyester).
Spectra and Dyneema are two brand names for the same product.
Spectra brand is used in the USA, Dyneema in Europe.
But there are several qualities of Dyneema/Spectra ! You will find cheaper lines than ours but not stronger ones.

200kg strength for the most uses. As for any equipment, you have to calculate a confortable safety factor.

If you are not too heavy,& you want to sail in very light winds or race, you can use 150kg or may be even 120kg lines.

Using thiner lines will give less drag so a better upwind capability, but also less safety and comfort.

For kitesurfing, boating, buggying, a control bar is perfect.

For bodydraging or kayaking, use handles, and if you want to use a harness, put a rope between the handles and a pulley on your harness.

Caution : always put a quick release between the harness and the pulley.