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Popular Content

Showing content with the highest reputation on 05/11/2017 in all areas

  1. We're pleased to yet again announce the next prize being given away to our most appreciated supporters, the Kitelife Subscribers... For roughly 10 cents per day they play a major role in keeping KL growing in every way. Power Foil 2.6 by Skydog Kites, roughly a $229 value! Dimensions: 104" x 38" Materials: Ripstop Nylon Sail Skill Level: Intermediate - Advanced Wind Range: 8-25mph Line Set: 300lb & 150lb x 80ft, 135kg & 70kg x 25m Dyneema with quad line handle "For the more experienced flyer, the PowerFoil 2.6 offers strong pull in moderate to heavy winds. Power Foils handle gusts superbly and offers high performance characteristics. The great 2 sided graphics add to the attraction of this stable flying power kite." You can sign up here. Odds of winning for this prize is currently 1/349, and will be drawn on June 25th, 2017! Our thanks, and the very best to you... Let the drooling begin!
    3 points
  2. That's awesome thank you! Can't wait to see it in the air. Sent from my iPhone using KiteLife mobile app
    3 points
  3. Experience in low wind will be more advantageous than gear. Sent from my iPhone using KiteLife mobile app
    3 points
  4. Hello, Great to be here. Im local to Los angeles and looking for dual line enthusiasts to fly.
    2 points
  5. fly OPK April, until you know what you want or how to craft your own wing our local kite club has been flying "indoor conditions with an unlimited ceiling" since about 1996 (most everyone else would call it summer in the mid-atlantic states). These conditions typically last for five months out of the year. Want to build as SUL?,... you need to snuggle up to Dave Ashworth, our club president, he only flies kites he built himself and his stuff separates fliers on the competition field into the haves and the have nots. What about a vented kite with covers over the vents so you can open 'em or close off as necessary? Again, see Dave. His version won't fly as an SUL, but with half decent wind it flies as a full sail, open some covers up and it becomes a mid-vent, full vent or an extra-vent Jeffery Burka is the master of flailing and flying a kite UP WIND, his wing of choice is Rev2 sized kite, no bridle, super long throw handles, about 35 feet of length. (not handles silly, the string's length) I buy kites, but have somewhat extreme expectations, I almost always pay more than retail to get it built as I prefer. I probably have 6 or 7 thousand hours in a dead calm of flying time too. Eventually these demanding conditions have become my preference! I own 3 Zens and a couple of SULs which I'm happy to share. A single skinned sail weighs less, but is more impacted by stretch. Tapered down spars force weight where you want it and reduce strength down at the bottom where there's not much sail anyway. Nylon is cheaper to buy, but Icarex is the fabric of choice for most all high-end sport kite builders. Orcon can't be sewn, but nothing is as light for an indoor kite. Maybe mixing the materials offers the best solution of strength vs weight Skyshark P-90s are about as light as you can get, but now you're lacking stiffness in the frame. Would you pay 500% extra for diamonds? The difference is a cross-bow vs a long bow. $6 bucks vs $30,... oh and you'll need spares too What about a hybrid frame?, parts of it flexs and parts are stiff. This weekend there's a mothers' day gig at the Washington Monument. Come down and try out some different stuff from the other club members. Most of them are stock bridles and on 15 inch no-snags. Not that different from your current comfort zone. Try a kite with no bridle, then a french version,... see which one tickles your fancy. Next time it is very likely to be a different kite which captures your attention. What impact does your handle's length have on low wind conditions? when are achy wrists better off than no flight at all? (when you want to flail in big wind and still use those darn long handles) Bonding construction is lighter than sewing, easily as durable too (3M's 9460 bonding tape holds in windows on high rise buildings, it's proven stronger than riveting!!!!) How does the panel layout impact flight,... what about long term?,.. does it stretch and distort or actually improve with age? 50#/hundred foot length is a requirement for the washington monument grounds at least half of the year. At the beach you'd probably seldom use long throws and light weight lines. learn on our equipment, it's okay, everyone is offered this same opportunity (until you are not the weakest flier). Some like Fletch, are paying back so much that he's the guy giving lessons now!
    2 points
  6. Drum roll... The lucky subscriber taking home this bad boy is #1383, @khsidekick! Congratulations Kelly, fly it in good health. New prize coming up shortly!
    2 points
  7. I have been thinking about making a kite or two...and the holes in my collection are SUL, mid vet, and xtr vent. So I have been contemplating how do I fill in those holes with what I make- which naturally leads to what is really meant by those terms. The "all are under 6oz" comment is interesting to me. I am guessing that there is a wieght to sail surface area ratio that must be beat for the target wind speeds. In terms of buying equipment, seems that all I should think on for. The moment is to add 50# lines to my collection. Cath recommended that I wait until I spent less time on the ground...I think I might be there now. Sent from my Nexus 5X using KiteLife mobile app
    2 points
  8. Since I can remember I've always loved movies, especially making my own. So it's no surprise that from my first day with a quad I'd be documenting my progress. As I was making this short film a few things came to mind. First and foremost, how much fun I have. Setting up the shot, flying, editing, all of it great fun for me. The second thing these little movies show me? I want to improve everything! Which brings me to the last thing. After a year and a half, I'm actually improving! [emoji23][emoji12] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    1 point
  9. Will the AI file do?? If you want just the Ring Vector layer let me know since you have the original base drawing already saved.. TKLJB5.ai
    1 point
  10. That's a super cool logo too John! Sent from my iPhone using KiteLife mobile app
    1 point
  11. Or there's always a building in the way. Sent from my iPhone using KiteLife mobile app
    1 point
  12. To show what perseverance does, I should've started this thread with the first ever Rev video I posted on my YouTube channel. Should've been entitled "what first time Rev flyers shouldn't do". [emoji12] I just watched it for the first time in over a year and good lord what a wrecking ball. 15 minutes of raw footage- maybe 8 minutes of flying and half of that is not even in frame.LMAO Setting up and launching with leading edge up? Check Using travel rods as stakes. Yes, rods, one for each handle. Leaders way too powered up. That's just a few. The title is very accurate but one thing I did right. I didn't fly around if any one got remotely close to my window. I was a menace to society on that beach but as always perseverance will just keep me going. I've just become less dangerous with a kite. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    1 point
  13. It could just be put on the outside of the circle in solid color. Then the "TKL" can still be used on the hill. Terse = brevity. It is good.
    1 point
  14. Wow this is awesome. As a new member Im in!
    1 point
  15. Went for 5.. was exactly twice the font size and 4 iterations looked a little clock-ish to me..lost a bit of the circular feel.. Do you have a preferred font??
    1 point
  16. I can be the circle if you like.. I tend to use an old (Pre-Corel) version of Paint Shop Pro. I have the Adobe suite as well but I'm not nearly as practiced with it..
    1 point
  17. It would also be fun to put a kite pin at the end of his lines....could even extend the lines beyond the circle for this. Then you could attach whatever style you fly to the end of JBs dogstake lines. Sent from my Nexus 5X using KiteLife mobile app
    1 point
  18. The highest praise of all, from the heart - I'm happy to have been a part of it all. 🙏🏻
    1 point
  19. That is cool. I think it might even be more readable if we could get a tiny space between the words around d the circle. The .com part could also be smaller if needed. I like the circle of the logo, and the Rocky peak makes me chuckle a little bit...where exactly is he flying?? I think that we should ask some non kiter folk what they think he is doing in the logo just to be sure that there is no odd implications to the logo that we don't see with our kite focused eyes. Sent from my Nexus 5X using KiteLife mobile app
    1 point
  20. FWIW, these days I'm mostly flying ATM UL by Lam Hoac outdoors. Occasionally the regular ATM.
    1 point
  21. There is a continuum that spans zero wind/indoor to SUL, UL, Regular and onward. IMHO, it's about being optimized for a specific role. I started flying indoors in the early 90's before light, tapered carbon was introduced. In Oct 1994 I made a Rev 2.5 using first generation SkyShark 2p and Orcon (metalized ripstop mylar.) 1oz ripstop leading edge. Adhesive ripstop corner reinforcements. I still have the kite, although it's not flyable anymore. As the Orcon aged the ripstop fibers come away from the mylar. Without the ripstop the sail is very frail and prone to tear/puncture. Nice thing about Orcon is that it can be taped with 3M adhesives. Long ago I described this in a KiteLines article. No bridle. Minimal everything. Flies well on 18-24' of 30# spectra, depending upon the height of the venue. I used it indoors mostly. Only occasionally outdoors. The trouble with indoor vs outdoor is that outside you're never assured of zero wind. A 3-4 mph gust can come along and surprise you. So something that's extremely light and also fragile might be best indoors only. I can recall doing some work on calculations for sail loading. That is, the mass of the kite / sail area, to project low wind capability. I don't have recall of the numbers, but there was a table of sport kites where I tried to compare them on theoretical basis. Also, I found that it was possible to be too light. It takes mass to have inertia. Without enough mass you lose control. The mass of the lines can become disproportional in their impact on it's behavior during slack line moves. Lacking for mass you're forced to compensate with added velocity. Sustaining velocity in zero wind can be hard on the body.
    1 point
  22. Congrats! Sent from my iPhone using KiteLife mobile app
    1 point
  23. Congrats, and "rok" on...! Sent from my iPhone using KiteLife mobile app
    1 point
  24. Awesome. Thanks for another contest John.
    1 point
  25. Latest draft, just working on fitting in the full team name or URL along the circle somehow.
    1 point
  26. Slightly more delicate lines... Left yellow off just for this example.
    1 point
  27. Vintage HQ Catalyst For Sale. Fun kite with a flat sail. In pristine condition! These sold new for $225 back in the day. Wingspan: 90″ Height: 38″ Weight: 9.2 oz. Rated Wind Range: 4-20 mph Framed with G-Force Asking $75 OBO including shipping in the US.
    1 point
  28. I just bought an NOS NYM, but unfortunately, the dealer didn't have the original handles, so sent me the 'new' rev handles, with the stone-age leaders (no adjustments). I note also that the metal 'clips' you normally larkshead your leaders to are also gone, in favor of line through the handle, a washer on each end, and a couple of stacked knots on each end (apparently to keep it from shifting in the handle), then a rubber cap, and the end of that line comprises the leader with a single knot. Wanting to install the leaders I got from KL, I noted the end knot you would normally larkshead flying lines to only has aboht 1/8" of loose line (sealed to prevent fraying) after it, and that is considered good enough to hold. Extending this idea back to the handle, I cut off the end acting as the leader a bit over 1/8" past the knot and sealed it, ran the KL leader through the cap, and larksheaded it to the knot at the end of the handle (they have just enough slack to get below the knot), and replaced the cap. This appears to have the leader at the right length, and easily replaceble. So, my question is this: Am I asking for a failure here, or do folks think is is OK? (and if not, what would you do . . . )? - Tim
    1 point
  29. It seems like the kite line and silhouette and lines are thinner and more delicate in the old white version....and I think I liked them that way. The one question I have is the lack of representation of team.... Sent from my Nexus 5X using KiteLife mobile app
    1 point
  30. Does the line color endorse a specific line brand:) Sent from my Nexus 5X using KiteLife mobile app
    1 point
  31. Thanks guys. I refuse to be the sole contender.
    1 point
  32. Just got my ticket. So excited that you are coming to eastern Canada for a Clinic. Gonna be an awesome long Weekend.
    1 point
  33. For a Rev quad. The Indoor doesn't have a bridle to spread the forces, it is directly mounted to the vertical rods. It is lighter in the frame, 1 wrap carbon rods. It has a shallower V in the centre to give more sail. Essentially it has a greater sail to weight ratio than a SUL. Rev used to make a SUL in the 1.5 size. Same layout just lighter fabric sail cloth and a lighter leading edge fabric. I have a TKC 1.5 SUL that only has the lighter leading edge pocket. If you want to fly in Zero to very light winds on a 1.5 size sail, get a set of Diamond rods. I used to fly my Indoor outside in zero to maybe 2km/h but with some experience I know reserve my Indoor for true Zero wind. I'll reach for my B Standard and a Diamond frame and 30 foot lines. As a "general" rule, the lighter the wind go shorter on your lines. Sent from my iPhone using KiteLife mobile app
    1 point
  34. Your question is about quads but the dualie SUL has the same issues across a much greater number of builders. Here are some thoughts that apply to kites in general but I am speaking of dualies. The nomenclature of kite types is kind of murky as to precise specifications of light kites, ultra light kites & super ultra light kites. Different builders definitely have varying ideas as to what exactly is a SUL. Generally a super ultra light kite is going to have light construction throughout & will not be able to handle even six mile per hour winds as well as a ultra light kite. The SUL will have very light tubes with small connectors, the lightest fabrics, bridles made from kite line instead of bridle line & may even be slightly smaller. Some kites are said to be SUL but may be quite heavy & even have tail weights installed by design. Some kite builders don't offer much below a light version perhaps feeling they lose some desirable characteristics by going too much lighter. I have several SUL kites that I really enjoy & they can be day savers in poor inland conditions. They all weigh under six ounces. A standard kite would typically weigh more than ten to around twelve. I usually fly SUL kites on 75' to 100' line sets of 50# or 90# weight. Once you develop your light wind flying skills it will help you with flying the heavier ones in light conditions. Much more can be said about this topic. You need to have a couple SUL kites in my humble opinion. SHBKF My beloved Sky Burner Pro Dancer SUL, a full size sail that will easily break 50# lines R-Sky Nirvana WW, this kite is teaching me pretty much everything. We click. And the little 58" Prism 4D, bout worn this one out. A small twitchy kite that I often fly on 18' lines, 50's are too long. Do you first 360's with this one, or 720's. Keep going until you fall down laughing. Three completely different flying kites but all SUL
    1 point
  35. I'm in. i hate when people are so...."withdrawn".
    1 point
  36. Last chance to enter this drawing for a Prism Jazz Stunt Kite. I'm going to draw names Thursday evening... I'm hoping there will be more than one name to draw!
    1 point
  37. The key for me is that no matter how frustrating at times, it's fun. Even when I make a mistake I'm smiling at the fact that I even attempted a certain maneuver and the smile gets bigger realizing that eventually it will come. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    1 point
  38. 1 point
  39. Oh, yeah. That first time crossing lines with others can be just a bit traumatic. How do you say aaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh in English? Best advice I ever got specifically for that was ignore the other kites and lines. In other words, concentrate on flying your kite. It will "click", sooner for some than for others. Took me about a year to get anywhere near comfy crossing lines with others. Now I can't get enough. And even if you manage to bring a bunch of the others down, you're just creating laughs and memories that bring future smiles. Remember that time Franck got his line . . . . . . . What will help immensely with team flying is to practice speed control and positioning. Practice flying different figures at exactly the same speed throughout each. No speeding up or slowing down, even if the wind gusts. Do it at half that speed. Do it at an absolute crawl. Now, do it all again, backwards. Again, sideways, both upright and inverted. Sounds nearly impossible, until you do it. The second half of this will give you the ability to control your kite in any position, in any part of the wind window. Anything you practice, do it for 20-30 minutes, then take a break by flying without thinking about anything. After quite some time (months, years?) of doing this, you will notice that what you do without thinking looks a lot like what was once practice. There will be many "aha" moments along the way to be savored. Just keep in mind that there are three stages of kite flying: 1. The kite flies you. 2. You fly the kite. 3. The kite and you fly together as one. When you hit that 3rd stage, you'll know. Savor it. It doesn't happen all the time after you've been there once. It's a combination of conditions and the way you feel. But there is nothing better. "You know you got it, if it makes you feel good...."
    1 point
  40. Hello all, first post here, I'm pretty new to the kite world but dove head first into it. First kite I received was a prism single line and after flying a few times I quickly realized I wanted a dual line for the extra control so after some research I went with a prism quantum which has been an absolute blast. Recently I purchased a revolution reflex XX and realized very quickly I bit off way more than I could chew so, if able, will try and return. So with all this info I'm realizing, for now, that dual line is probably where I should stay so with that in mind I'm looking to find a new kite that ideally has a similar wind range but can handle lower wind but still handle the gusts. Where I live I don't have consistent winds. I could be looking at 8mph winds but with gusts up to 20mph or 3mph to 15mph gusts so I've been in debate on what to get. The kites thus I've looked into are the prism 4-D, prism E3 and quantum pro. If I went 4-D I would have the quantum for the 5-20 range and 4-D for 1-15 range but leary because of the gusts one could experience. Not all days are gusty but lately it's been interesting. I do want to learn tricking so the E3 and pro are an option too but just not sure. They both have good wind ranges and lighter frames than the quantum (I think).Any advice is welcome. Also, is anyone near the Binghamton NY area? Or if people know of anyone somewhat close please let me know. I think there is a locator option somewhere but I'm still trying to navigate. Thanks all in advance. Sent from my iPhone using KiteLife mobile app
    1 point
  41. Yes Sir. Thank you again Sent from my SM-G386T1 using KiteLife mobile app
    1 point
  42. Hey, miracles happen!, .... vented kites at the 1st Sunday fly. We started as ZenSUL, then full sails& midvents, switched to Shooks 75 & 135%, Polos and full vents, mostly on green race thruout the day. Easy lessons with the sail filled with energy, crowds most appreciative when team flying. A group came up to Melissa and asked if she was in charge of the WoW team, since she was leading,... should've seen her facial expression. I caught Burka leading and in forward flight too (natl holiday declared! enjoy that windy moment buddy, its rare!
    1 point
  43. From the album: Exult's Photos

    A few times the kites collided with a muffled sound. Well nothing broke but one time the kites started to spin and left the four lines in a twisted mess. I guess that I could offset the kites by making one line set a metre shorter than the other. In this way the "hit effective cross section" should be reduced and only be limited to kite/line collisions and exclude the kite/kite collisions. Would one notice in any negative way, a metre of difference in lengths between the line sets for a line length of 30m (98ft)? It just struck me that the "reflexes" to give line to make any kite to ground contact milder should ideally apply to kite collisions as well.
    1 point
  44. From the album: Exult's Photos

    Afternoon, 6th of May 2017 Ladugårdsgärdet, forecasted 4-5m/s 2 x Kymera on 30m 50kg lines Ready to roll up into launch position by using a hard wind parking method (the lines/leaders up and around the trailing edge so that the kite can be rolled forward into launch position by pulling the lines). It wasn't always necessary with this type of start, conditions were quite OK today, but was sometimes a bit on the lower side - no tail weights fitted (serves no purpose here anyhow). If you want to apply low wind techniques you need to have both the noses pointing either up or down at the same time. The wind range that I can do do dual DLKs is quite narrow given my current skills. Low wind means that the kites needs to be synchronized as just stated when flying up/down and hard wind well that is just makes the kites move too quickly. Perhaps going to 40m would allow higher wind speeds, since there would be more room to maneuver the kites? Most of the time I let the kites go left right in rather synchronized way. Often had them high up in the window, so my neck got a bit sore after a few hours. When doing normal (single) DLK tricking, I'm closer to ground most of the time which doesn't strain your neck. Even though I kept it simple, mainly striving to keep the kites in the air and avoiding the un-planned landings (which worked for some minutes at a time at best) I was quite satisfied.
    1 point
  45. … and now for a happy tale. I just recently got my hands on two new kites. A full vent phantom 1.5 and the vented Polo Rev just in time for a short 4 day trip to Dewey DE. Lucky for me the weather was such that I never had to breakout my old beat up EXP. 4 days of perfect 15 mph winds with strong gusts. Now, back to the city with crappy winds and limited space. Thank you beach gods. Here is one of the few videos I shot. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    1 point
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