I have questions about what techniques and "tricks" I need to be able to perform to be considered a capable flier. For example I assume a boarder or buggier needs to be able to do spins and figure 8s and I am sure there are others. I think it would be a great category on its own for newbies like myself.

It could also include clinics for certain manuevers with pictures and such. A place for learning and for showing off.

When I look at the board I am not sure which category to put this under, so maybe a category of its own.

Quote:

Originally posted by flyflinger I have questions about what techniques and "tricks" I need to be able to perform to be considered a capable flier.

I don't mean to oversimplify this but this is one of those things that doesn't need to be defined. Yes, being able to add a long list of tricks to your repertoire certainly demonstrates a degree of proficiency but who really cares about that? Sponsors mainly and I really don't think you are going to see huge sponsorship of this sport in America because of the lawyers and liabilities.

Sure, there are sponsors and sponsors want capable riders, borders, etc. but its not like their lining up with Nike contracts, etc.

IMHO, any struggling flier will be able to recognize a "capable" flier simply by observing the fluidity of their movements and how in unison the kiter is to his kite and instrument (board, buggy, skis, etc.).

I can fly lots of types of kites pretty darn good. In some areas I'd even say I'm accomplished. I can kite ski pretty good. I can kite land board OK. Am I capable? Maybe compared to some, but compared to others, I'm nothing. But I'm happy and enjoy every minute I get to fly.

To me, one of the pleasures of this sport is self-progression. I continue to learn and grow and improve. But the most pleasurable experience is simply the experience itself. IMO anyone who flies safely and really enjoys their experience is capable.

Its not all about the tricks. To some its about freedom. To some its about power. To some its about air. To some it's about speed. To some its just about chillin' with the wind.

Be thankful just for the opportunity to experience the power of the wind and your ability to harness and direct it.

Trust me, you'll know when you are "capable". And those who know they are "capable" will also recognize that in you and vice versa.

But if you really want to compare, go to the flexi forum and watch the vids there and make your own determination about how you want to push yourself and what you want to compare and be compared to.

Its not about the destination... Its the journey.

Thank you for your response. I think I misused the English language in my post. When I said "tricks", I essentially meant being able to do anything with the kite other than having it fly at the zenith as a single line kite would. For example, I would think that a figure 8 is a trick that you can do with a power kite that a beginner may not be aware of how useful it can be to maintain power for long periods. At the same time, as a newbie, I assume that I wouldn't drive a buggy or board using figure 8s all day.

Some other examples would be launching a four line kite when it is face down in the sand without a second person. These may be basic flying techniques for you, but may be very useful for a beginner.

I would say that for people watching me fly my kite, they would call loops and figure 8s tricks. I say this because I have been asked, " Is it hard to do all those tricks?"

Cheers.

These links may be helpful for total newbies.

http://www.kiteatb.co.uk/category/basics/

http://www.racekites.com/howto/howto.asp

I've put up some basic tutorials on my site.

http://www.coastalwindsports.com/TutorialMenu.Html

It's basically the stuff that messed me up or made me curious while learning what I know. (Still learning)

I think what you want goes something like this.

: Learn to fly without looking at the kite at all.
:place kite at the edge of the window and control all the way down the edge even when one wingtip is touching the ground.
:Fly a kiteloop, pull the one side + add brake until 360' loop... double loop.
:Fly a downloop,: when the kite is at 10 o'clock. do a fast kitelop down toward the ground and out. ( major power move )
Here' a recent link on relaunch. http://www.powerkiteforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=2881
next .... see "jumping" in the other links.

Thank you, that is what I was looking for. I have done 360 loops and undone them. I will try to walk the kite up and down at the edge of the window. I am not sure I understand the downloop. Can you elaborate? Is it taking it from 10 o clock, down counterclockwise 180 and then horizontally across the window to 3-4 oclock?

My original post was a suggestion that we have a category with step by step instructions and pic demos of these techniques you describe. I know that once you do them, the info is now useless, but for beginners, I think it can take out some of the newbieness.

Yeah, the downturn as I understand it is simply when the kite's at something like 10:00 or so, you turn the kite towards the ground, counterclockwise instead of turning it up towards the sky, the kite won't stall and you'll get way more power out of it.

About the only things I'd consider close to mandatory before moving on is



Good kite control when flying anywhere near other people.



Before buggying or boarding:

Be able to fly the kite without looking at it, you'll have to watch where you're going and can't babysit the kite at all times.

Be familiar with using the brakes both to turn the kite and to kill the power when needed.

As for being competend on a buggy/board, I think if you can go where you want in the park and return back to your starting point under kite power, you're starting to get there.