Ok a few questions about lines...
1. What is the best method for storing lines or is it more of a personal taste?
I currently just wrap the power lines together on one of the holders that came with my Twister and the brakes on the other. This seems to me that over time the sharp turns on the holders would create stress on the lines?? Maybe I am over reacting.
2. The second thing is I have seen some videos on parapacking... this seems like a great quick way to get going but it scares the heck out of me.
I have visions of a tangled mess. I had one handle pop off my hand with my symphony one day and spent a long time untangling lines.
How do most of the "experts" on here wind your lines?

Wrap the lines in a figure-8 on the handles. Do this by moving the handles NOT moving the the lines around the handles. Otherwise you put a little twist in the line every rotation. This will cause lots of problems.

I assume you mean all of the lines at once? I tried that once but I did it by wrapping the lines around the handles. Made quite a mess. I will try again by moving the handles and see if it helps.

Yes, all 4 lines at once. I find it works better to wrap the power lines once around the top of the handles and the brake lines once around the bottom of the handles, then wrap all 4 lines in a figure 8 on one handle about 18-20 times and then on the other handle. Finish with a half hitch.

If you don't need to take the lines off your kite, parapacking is the fastest setup and storage. Don't twist your lines as you put them in, just push straight down the wall of the pack. Put your handles in the pack on the opposite side of the kite so they don't get tangled in the lines. When you unpack, stake your handles, hold the pack in one hand and the 4 lines in the other and walk downwind, feeding the line as it gets pulled out of the pack. Shake out any minor twists/tangles as they come out of the pack.

I usually disconnect from the kite. join the brake and power lead together on each side so as to make the unwinding a little easier the next time, doesn't matter to me either on the handles or on a holder at this point, I have not lost any lines using a holder that is supplied with any kites that I own or sell. It is pretty much preference, and ease due to not having one extra thing to worry about when on the field.

I have parapacked, and been succesful. It is not that bad, you just have to practice a few times in the side yard so that you know once you have it packed down you can be ready to go the next time you unzip the bag.

+1 for what Canuck does.

I have a big walking sock that I put my handles in (along with the killers, which I put tight around the handles)
I find it's then easier to wrap the lines, all four at the same time, around them in a figure of eight. At tw end i use an elastic band to keep them fon slipping. I don't take them off the kite or handles. Takes between 5-10 minutes from kite being in rhe bag, to launch, and vice verca. When unpacking I do the reverse, and have never had any problems or tangles doing it this way !

Tim

All my fixed bridle kites are parapacked - super fast, super easy. Looks messy but works like a charm. I really like parapacking because the kite is the last thing to come out of the bag and the handles and lines are always secured and sorted before the kite has any chance of inflating.

+1 for para-packing. This was one of the very first things I made a point to learn. Stake the handles down & it's simple and safe from there. Lots of really good video tutorials out there too. I adapted quite a bit from Scudley's parapacking video. The only disclaimer I can think of is the best method can actually be flying location specific. Wrapping the lines around the handles or the sock method may be better for sand and the beach since you use the sand to weight down the kite. Para-packing for me is the only way to go when setting up on a grass field, I like the fact the first thing I do is securely stake down the handles.

I take a couple of velcro straps and strap my handles together with one of the winders between them then wrap all 4 lines on the winder. I wrap the lines up until they are within about 5 - 10 inches from the bridles and strap the kite killers around the whole lot.

I fold up the kite with the lines still attached and the bridles inside (like they do with parapacking) then I place the handles and lines on the folded up kite and strap it all into one neat package.

Quote:

Originally posted by AnnieO I adapted quite a bit from Scudley's parapacking video.

I did a parapacking video? Odd, I use the method that Sky Country uses to ship the kites: handles inside bag and lines figure-eighted around 1 handle in the bag. I find it fast and tidy. If I want to take my kite out of the bag, I don't need to repack the lines. Handy in my small apartment.
S

Sorry Scudley, it was Screwyfits video over on Vimeo, my bad.

I figure 8 my depower kites on the bar , my FB kites I wrap round and round on one end of the handles (see video from HQ that Chris put together). I tried para packing once and messed it up. I really should try again because its got to be the best solution for setting up on glare ice.

Hey Snowspider where do I find the HQ video?

this is my method...

http://www.coastalwindsports.com/101FirstFlight4LineHandles....

I normally unwind the lines, shake them out and launch. The only times I get tangles is when a "helper" winds my lines for me and uses different hands and motions than I do.

Most of us out here just wrap the lines around the handles, either figure 8 or straight wrapped. I dont figure 8 my lines, you just have to make sure to unwrap them the exact same way that you wrapped them or they will twist and tangle a ton and it turns into a nightmare.. The kite just gets kinda scrunched up and stuffed in the bag. I used to parapack until I starting flying at the beach more often. I also used to fold my kites up really nice, now i just loosely fold it and stuff it into the bag. In my opinion, wrapping the lines around the handles is faster than parapacking, although not quite as neat sometimes. When it comes to unpacking, though, parapacking is much quicker.

I like this topic, I like the fact that everyone has a different way of doing the lines.
I use most of the methods that have been mentioned above.
It all depends on the line material. Some lines are stiffer, slicker, softer, and a few other definitions. I mostly wrap all 4 lines around the handles and then put the handles in the center of the kite at the leading edge and then fold up the kite from the wing tip into the center and then fold up the kite to go into the bag. and the biggest thing is that the complete opposite is done to set up to fly the kite.
Some lines wrap counter clockwise on the handles and some wrap clockwise on the handles. You can tell by the end of the wrap at the kite if the lines are starting to kink up, wrap the other direction. The direction of the lines are manufactured clockwise or counter clockwise.
I have some longer lines,(140' to 220') that I do the figure 8 on the handles.
Like Angus said, no problems unless someone else put the lines away.
Biggest Key to the line problem is to take them out the exact opposite way they were put away. Wax on, Wax off.

If you take off your lines from the kite, I would suggest to use a piece of cardboard about 4x4 inches and on both sides cut 2 short slots about 1" in and label the marks, left power, left brake, on the left side of the card, and right power, right brake on the right side of the card, and slide the appropriate line into the slit of the card for the appropriate line for identification for the next time.

One thing I have begun to do is I use a piece of nylon repair tape(white) and cut a piece 3"x1" and fold it in half with one of the power lines in the fold of the tape like a flag at the kite end of the line at the leader and write with a fine point sharpie the size and length of the line set. Helps to identify everything about the lines.(I have way to many lines and handles on way to many kites to remember anything about any one set of lines or handle, let alone remember the kite and its size.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8q4GTt9GbA&feature=youtu...
oops... some where in those videos is a line winding demo.

An interesting article on lines in Kiteworld Magazine this month:
http://www.exacteditions.com/read/kite-world/september-11-october-11-9361/116/3