It's the end of August and I have ten events and one kite building workshop behind me! With three more in September and then the Convention ...wow what a busy year! Did I mention I love kites and kite people?

This month I have a couple tricks from you......

Sleeping Beauty

Michael Raycraft from Toronto reminded me of an old stand by well worth mentioning here. He wrote:

"Actually, I have one that by its name hails from your neck of the woods -- the Berkeley Hop, or, as we call it around here, the Sleeping Beauty Launch".

You already know the drill:

• Kite's on it's back on the ground, nose towards you with the lines on top of the kite.
• Pull one hand enough that it does a 1/2 rotation, with the wind (or air movement from the move as the case may be) as a result lifting one side as it spins so that the kite comes to a standing position before it starts to fall forward.
• At which time, a well-timed pull of both hands results in either a takeoff or the kite poised on its wingtips ready for the next command.

Very cool-looking when done all in one motion.

Here is a hint on timing:

And possibly the best one of all, Steve Bates of Portland says:

"You should always try your riskiest tricks when your flying partner is already walking to turn his/her kite over!"

The Leave

This is a billiards term it refers to how you "leave" the balls for the next shot ...

With kites it can be important to give yourself a good "leave". By this I mean, DO something ... anything before the kite stops moving ... falling ... or spinning. Sometimes all it takes to set yourself up for a take off, is a subtle pull on one or both lines as the kite is falling on its nose. I don’t mean wildly yanking the stuffing outta the kite, but often a little tweak will save the walk of shame!

I know there is more ... share your favorite trick with us!

Come on you guys send me the tricks you use to keep from walking, I’m running out!

         

Top of Page

Back to your last visited page

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