I know spring is here, the winds are back! After nice gentle breezes all winter, BAM winds hits here in the San Francisco Bay Area in early march and build thru the summer.

Spring also hails the beginning of the BASKL season. Our first event was held march 20th and true to tradition we got a little rain nothing like last year, but it did rain for an hour or so. Also true to triton we just kept going as if nobody noticed it raining.

Most notable of the day was John Morrison coming out of retirement to take a second place to Mike Weingands first and myself in third in the master’s ballet. Susan Shampo went back to San Diego with a nice pair of first place wins, look out you guys in experienced class she’s gonna be tough!

My "starchy" precision compulsories and free style gained me another first place in precision...... Again dispelling the myth that radical trick fliers can’t "DO" precision.

Now that spring has come get those kites out and practice those tricks AND some precession, and when you find you kite on the ground here are some more tricks to help keep you from WALKING!

The Wing Launch

I seems more often than not when the kite is on the ground it’s upside down, on it’s nose. A quick and almost seamless way to re-launch is the WING LAUNCH.

The wing launch is tricky near the center of the window. But remember by moving your body left or right you can dramatically change your "window".

The kite is on its nose in the middle of the left window:

• Lower the left wing to the ground, now the nose is pointing left and hold a little pressure to keep it firmly down
• Pull LEFT hand and hold, remember the left wing is now on your right because the kite is upside-down.

• With your Right hand pull the other wing down till the kite seems to kinda wiggle and feel "light", Immediately release pressure on the left hand and step back a step or two.

The kite should leap off the ground and you can continue flying.

If you have trouble at first, take a few step to the right... the farther out the window the easier it will be. Of course like most tricks, when the kite is on the other side of the window you must reverse your hands.

When you get good at wing launches its fun to try to wing lunch your kite without dragging the wing or touching the tip to the ground...yes it can be done!

The Death Spin

Often while practicing new tricks the line will get wrapped around one wing resulting in a horrible death spin that usually ends with a broken rod when the whirling kite finally hits the ground.

This one is too easy! Lets take a look at what is going on here. One line is wrapped around one wing and has in effect SHORTENED that line. Let’s say this time it’s the left line. The kite is spinning wildly to the left, the same as if you had pulled your arm back to your shoulders putting the kite in a spin... The fix?

• Simply reach forward as far as you can with your left hand and move forward. If your arms are long enough you can stop the spin totally and actually fly the kite with the wrap...though it won’t be pretty!

How do I know which hand to thrust forward?.... It’s ALWAYS the hand that is the direction of the spin

Spinning right = right hand, Spinning left = left hand.

• Once you have controlled the spin move forward and the kite will "crash softly" then use one of the tricks you know to KEEP FROM WALKING.

The Belly launch

Another easy one is the belly launch. This one is done when the kite is on the ground nose pointing in any direction AWAY from you.

Lets say this time its on the sight side of the window ,nose pointing (into the wind) right.

• Quick pop on the left line will cause the kite to pop off the ground and fly towards the center, usually fairly quick

The kite on the other side, pop the right hand.

Now the kite in the center offers the most opportunities, almost anything you do will result in a launch.

• Pop both hands and the kite will back upwards where you can then control the flight, pop either left or right hand and the kite will pop off the ground and fly.

Next page: The Sleeping Beauty, and The Leave

         

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This page was last updated May 26, 2003 01:37 AM