By Paul Lang
Originally Published int the April 2009 Issue of The Kiteboarder Magazine
When asked what properties materials used for kiteboarding equipment should have, Tony Logosz from Slingshot replied, “The materials have to be light, strong, UV resistant, impermeable, permeable, durable, compactable, low stretch, elastic, stiff, soft, airtight, breathable, inflexible, flexible, supple, watertight, waterproof, tough, stable, and so on.â€
That is a long list of demands for the materials that make up the seemingly simple equipment we use. Without the modern materials that can provide the traits above, the sport of kiteboarding wouldn’t be able to exist.
Kites and boards must give us the performance we want, while being strong enough to stand up to the abuse that the average rider puts their gear through. A mix of materials that includes polyester, carbon fiber, epoxy, and various foams and woods gives designers the tools they need to create gear that works for riders of all levels.
Read the article here: http://www.thekiteboarder.com/wordpress/2009/11/below-the-surface-the-materials-that-make-kiteboarding-possible/
Originally Published int the April 2009 Issue of The Kiteboarder Magazine
When asked what properties materials used for kiteboarding equipment should have, Tony Logosz from Slingshot replied, “The materials have to be light, strong, UV resistant, impermeable, permeable, durable, compactable, low stretch, elastic, stiff, soft, airtight, breathable, inflexible, flexible, supple, watertight, waterproof, tough, stable, and so on.â€
That is a long list of demands for the materials that make up the seemingly simple equipment we use. Without the modern materials that can provide the traits above, the sport of kiteboarding wouldn’t be able to exist.
Kites and boards must give us the performance we want, while being strong enough to stand up to the abuse that the average rider puts their gear through. A mix of materials that includes polyester, carbon fiber, epoxy, and various foams and woods gives designers the tools they need to create gear that works for riders of all levels.
Read the article here: http://www.thekiteboarder.com/wordpress/2009/11/below-the-surface-the-materials-that-make-kiteboarding-possible/
