hi wind warriors. i fly on the beach where launching is pretty easy using the sand to hold the trailing edge down. What do you do when you are at a dry lake or or grassy field when sand isn't available?

thanks

matthew

I carry worn out rollerblade wheels in my kite bag for that purpose. They are the right weight for smaller foils and will roll off the kite upon launch without snagging bridle lines.

For larger kites try zip-lock bags filled with dry rice or beans. Cloth bags in bright colors are better so as not to get lost.

I use them even on the beach. If the wind is blowing hard enough to need weights, then moving sand around the trailing edge just kicks up enough to get all over and intio the kite.

I have seen several kiters use bean bags, others use crown royal bags filled with sand or dirt (those nice velvet blue ones). Myself and most others in our group use a kite stake. A kite stake can be something as simple as a large screwdriver or piece of rebar or as deluxe as you want it to be. David S. made some really awesome kite stakes that went on auction at the NABX this last year and I was lucky enough to pick up one of those for myself...just havent had the nerve to drive it into the ground yet...much to nice for that.

Couple of water bottles work well.

Kent
I know about stakes for the flying line handles, but cannot visualize their use at the kite end. Clearly you are not driving them through the fabric into the ground. ;-). Enlighten me.

the stake keeps the kite on the ground because it is staked on the handles on the brakes, so the kite does not take off

Yea, don't drive them through your kite. You stake your handles to hold the kite on the ground. Not always easy to do with a dual line kite but very effective for a quad. Just stake the brake lines as Jim has stated (bottom of the handles). If it is very gusty and your kite wants to bounce around a bit, you can flip your kite over so it is leading edge down and stake the top lines. This seems to help some kites stay put better in gusty conditions. This is also the only way I know of to stake a dual line ram-air foil to the ground. If your kite is going to be parked for a long period of time it is best to walk to the kite and just stuff it in the bag. You can leave the kite staked to the ground with the lines out. When your ready to fly again, just pull the kite back out of the bag and your ready to go.

Usually staking the brake lines at the handles will do the trick, some kites will flail around if you have too much brake on though, With some kites I've had to use 2 stakes, one for the brake lines, then a second about 8" over and 4" closer to the kite to put the power line end of the handles around. This will keep the kite sitting up more and keep wind from getting under the kite, they'll park happily all day this way.

Ill tell you the truth,

I bring my wife........ she does all the kite holding down work,

:alien:


Kustom
Kite stakes

http://community.webshots.com/photo/1415134404072413283xevuY...

as soon as the rainy season starts I'll be heading in the shop to make a bunch more .....3 of them will be going to NABX next year for awards or prize and auction and I allways like to make a special one just to give out to someone

I am the proud owner of the one shown in the very center of the group. Those are truely works of art! Cant wait to see what will be at the '07 NABX!

KYTE SLINGER-

DUDE THOSE ARE SWEET !!!
You have any availible for sale right now ??

same here i want one or maybe you could just tell me how you make them I am a bit of an artist myself.

Howdy,
Staking the handles/brakes on a quad works the best.
If your handles don't have brake loops, wrap your bottom lines (just in front of the handles) around your stake a few times to hold it.

Leaving the kite out there, inflated, with your lines stretched taut at ankle-level, while one relaxes, is a potential problem.
Someone, curious about what we're doing, could easily trip over the lines.

I bag my kite every time I land.
Doing it every time makes it a habit and not an extra chore.

Keeps U.V. deterioration to a minimum too.

For dual-line foils, I've used hacky-sacks, juggling balls (that don't roll) and sand bags.
Probably lost over 50 in the last 15 years.

"Ma... Look what I found!"

Couple of years ago a friend here gave me the perfect solution.
Half-gallon plastic milk jugs.

Empty them out and rinse.
Half fill with sand.
Tape or glue the cap back on.

With the wind at your back and the kite on its back, trailing edge first, lay the milk jugs along the trailing edge.
Lay out your lines and make them taut.
The kite will stand up and inflate.
Pull the lines and the jugs roll off (but don't roll away) and the kite launches.

Best part is the jugs look like garbage - Nobody will pick them up.

I love the sarcastic irony of that.

And they have convenient handles already.

I saw this on a tv show...


Safen Up! Buggy On!

"Often wrong... Never in doubt"

the coreylama

I took a couple of 2 meter lengths of 1/4 " chain (linkk diameter, not chain diameter) and put them inside 2" tubular webbing. The ends of the webbing are secured with nickel plated snaps. A loop of cord is looped through each end of the chain and sticcks out of the webbing around the snap, forming something of a handle and serves to keep the chain from retracting into the webbing tube.

I call them Kite Snakes

I lay it down on the trailling edge on top/ in front of the brake lines. They roll right off on take-off.

When packing up they act as third and fourth hands. Every time I make a fold, I grab the end of the snake and pull it out then flop it on top of the fold. The webbing is slippery on top of the kite fabric so it moves around easily without abrasion (but won't blow off)

If the day is gusty and I have a kite that does not like to sit still when parked by the handles, I toss a snake accross the lines near the kite and it will keep it tamed.

i was luckly enough to win one of dave`s
kites stakes last year at nabx for coming in first in all 3 npw races we had. i would never use it in the way it was made for. its just to nice to stick in the ground. i just look at it at my workbench.
thanks for the nice ground stake dave. i think of mine as an award to be hung on the wall.