Stunt Kite Tips

Stunt Kite Tricks

Published: July 4, 2019

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Categories: Stunt Kiting

Thanks to passionkites.com for the featured image

Stunt Kite Tricks are the reason most people get kites to begin with. Our article is divided into two sections: tricks for beginners and tricks for more advanced flyers. We’ll start with the first type.

What Do I Need to Know About Beginners’ Kites?

Typically, beginners’ kites are 2 -line power kites that include wrist straps, flying lines, a winder and a case. They are easy to handle and stable. When buying your first kite, look for durable materials like ripstop polyester sail and a good design. Normally, kites in this class can be used at wind speeds between 5 and 25 mph.

Learn simple tricks with our article here

Tight turns are a favorite beginner trick. You pull one line and push the other away from you simultaneously or pull the left line to shift the kite left. Combination turns or pull turns are the basis of most kite stunts. Another popular trick is the so-called push turn. All you need to do is push one handle in the direction of the kite to slacken off the line.

Image: https://www.my-best-kite.com/kite-stunts.html

If it’s your first time flying a new kite, get a friend or family member to hold the kite up at arm’s length. As they do, take one line in each hand and pull them toward you. That’s how you get the kite flying. It should climb up into the air swiftly, propelled by the wind, and keep ascending until it is over your head. Normally, steerable kites are equipped with wrist straps to make sure the user has full control of both lines.

Now that the kite is high above your head, pull on one line gently to test it. Pulling on the right line will cause it to turn right and fly from left to right across the sky, and pulling on the left line – vice versa. Now, you can steer your kite forward and backward across the sky.

The eight-pattern figure is the most commonly performed one. After you’ve mastered it, try steering the kite full circle. You can do this by pulling the left line and holding. It will turn in a tight circle through 360 degrees, counterclockwise.

What are some common problems?

Common problems include collapsing kites and twisted lines. Here’s what to do if you experience them.

My Kite Collapsed!

There’s only one thing that can cause a kite to collapse – if the lower rod is not well-connected to the side rod. Stability of the connection needs to be checked prior to flying.

Unraveling Twisted Lines

You’ll find the lines get twisted around each other as you do an eight-pattern figure, as well as in other situations. Don’t worry! You still have control over the kite because the lines, when twisted, slide easily. To untwist them, pull the right line and hold. The opposite of the above will happen (the kite will make a full circle clockwise).

How do I Land?

If you want to land the kite, steer it horizontally until it moves out of the part of the sky where it is flying best. This part is called the wind window. Once out of there, it will lose altitude and gently fall to the ground.

To learn more advanced stunts and tricks, you need to perfect the basic skills. As with everything, practice makes perfect.

What are the Best Stunts for Advanced Pilots?

In this section, we’ll discuss two popular advanced stunt kite tricks – the Busted Yo-Yo and the Lazy Susan. The first one’s name is derived from the fact that the kite rolls down the lines without coming back. It is best done with delta shaped sport kites.

Busted Yo-Yo

Source: http://www.itsabreezekites.com/articles/tricks.php

How Do I Do The Busted Yo Yo?

Fix the handles in the ground with the kite in a launch position downwind. Its nose should be pointing toward the handles right between the lines. Wrap the kite with the lines by rolling it tail over nose several times. They should twist over the wings between the upper and lower spreaders along the leading edge. Watch out! The edge connectors might tear them.

Run the lines through the arrow nock on the standoffs so the kite’s frame supports the pressure from the lines. Standoffs of bigger kites need to be reinforced. With the kite in launch position, draw the lines over the top spreader connectors to keep it nose up.

Don’t draw the lines if the kite has a Bone Re-launcher; leave it pointing upwind and resting on the Bone. The lines come right from the trailing edge. You can launch the kite with just a tug.

Gently lean the kite forward until the edge connectors pop the lines off. An even, fast pull will make the kite airborne. Hold it steady. As the lines unwrap downward, the kite will keep climbing up.

At the end of the lines, the kite will stall, rotating from its final wrap and ready for forward flight.

Lazy Susan

Source: http://www.itsabreezekites.com/articles/tricks.php

Lazy Susan makes use of a technique that involves steering the kite in the window upwind of you as well as line climbing. The latter method involves gripping the lines in changing positions between handles and kite.

To do this trick, prepare your kite for launch. Grip the lines and take a slow step backward from the kite. The kite will be titled with its nose pointing upward, so it is ready for launch. Once it’s up in the air, turn it onto its back. This is called the Feather. Then, draw it in firmly and hold the right line. It will return to its original position, remaining on its back and rotating 360 degrees.

Once the rotation is done, bring the right line back to the neutral position. Now, you can pull the left line to attempt an opposite rotation.

Keep in mind this is a difficult trick to master. It’s been performed at international kite flying competitions. If you like a challenge, this is for you! Of course, there are many other advanced tricks you can try as well.

You can read about how high stunt kites can go in this article

Final Thoughts

Always practice with kites your own strength because balancing the constantly changing wind force with your body can be exhausting. Also, do observe the minimum age classification on the kite. You don’t want your child to fly away.

Read more Stunt Kite Articles through this link.

Resources:

https://hobbylark.com/misc/Beginners-Guide-to-Kites

http://www.itsabreezekites.com/articles/tricks.php