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  1. Hot Items

    1. Current Drawings

      Giveaways from the past and current publishing periods are listed here... We hold various drawins for some pretty cool gear on a regular basis, and almost all are free and based on your participation.

      10.9k
      posts

    2. Scheduled Events

      Post your event dates and details here, please be sure to include contact information to reach the organizers... You can also add it to our calender here.

      2.4k
      posts

  2. Site Topics

    1. News from the Webmaster

      Site updates, changes and news from the Kitelife webmaster can be found here... You can also sign up to receive site updates via email by clicking here.

      2.6k
      posts

    2. New Member Introductions

      Please say hello if you're new to our little kite community, we're sure you'll find this to be one of the most helpful and friendly communities around - launch, spin and dive right in!

      2.9k
      posts

    3. The Web Site (nuts and bolts)

      This section of the forum is dedicated to ongoing discussion, news, technical insights and education regarding various parts of the Kitelife site and their functionality or effectiveness.

      2k
      posts

  3. Sport Kites

    1. General Sport Kite

      For any sport kite topic that doesn't fit into one of the listed forums, you have free reign here... Challenge the panel!

      6k
      posts

    2. Beginners

      We all started somewhere... If you have a question on to do a trick, someone here can probably fill in the blanks as there is a lot of collective experience you can draw on here.

      6.9k
      posts

    3. Trick Flying

      From Jacob's Ladders to Cascades, Yo Yos to the Comete... This is the place to discuss the hows, whats and whys of modern trick flying and kites specialized for that purpose!

      1.1k
      posts

    4. Quad Heads

      This is where all you Revolution and quad line nuts can exchange information and tips on the finest quad line kite designs known to man... Drop a line!

      14.1k
      posts

    5. Indoor Flying

      Discuss upcoming indoor events, kites, equipment, stories, flying tips and more... What, me need wind?

      1.8k
      posts

    6. Team Flying

      Any questions or discussions about team or pairs flying on this forum can usually be found here, we are lucky to have several veteran team fliers here in the KL forum.

      236
      posts

    7. Competition

      All discussion pertaining to sport kite competition in the USA or internationally, rules, tips & techniques, organization, or anything else related.

      68
      posts

    8. Adjustments and Modifications

      Got a special trick, technique or modification for your kite(s) or equipment? Share it with the other fliers here, and keep the evolution happening!

      1.2k
      posts

  4. Single Line

    1. General Single Line

      Anything single line related that doesn't fit up above, put it here!

      1.9k
      posts

    2. Indoor Gliders

      Discussion for single line indoor kiting.

      510
      posts

    3. Beginner Questions

      Have a question about kite making, tuning, or any other topic related to single lines? Post it here!

      462
      posts

    4. KAP - Kite Aerial Photography

      Want to know about taking aerial photographs or video, or want to share some experiences? Do it here!

      343
      posts

    5. Fighter Kites

      Discussion for fighter kite enthusiasts.

      13
      posts

  5. Power Kiting

    1. Power Kites

      Whether they're flat, dimensional or parafoil-based, this is the place to discuss any sort of power kite flying, tuning and repair techniques.

      356
      posts

    2. Kite Buggy

      Setting the trend for traction kiting in the early 90s, buggying is still going strong worldwide with speed and distance records being set everyday.

      232
      posts

    3. Kite Surfing

      Arguably the hottest thing on the global kiting market, kite surfing blends extreme sports with wind sports to make an exciting and media-rich past time.

      71
      posts

    4. Kite Boarding

      Quickly becoming one of the hot facets of power kiting, kite boarding is something else... Imagine a big skateboard with knobby wheels, and you've got it!

      102
      posts

  6. General Kite Stuff

    1. Open Topic

      Personal announcements, general kite stuff or what have you, if it doesn't easily fit into one of the main discussion topics or kite classifications, this is the place for you.

      3.9k
      posts

    2. Kite Videos

      If you know where to find kite videos, let it be known! In addition to general footage, Kitelife is always looking for more sport kite competition or demo routines to add to their video database.

      2.8k
      posts

    3. Kite Photographs

      If you have a collection of photographs, new or old, post a link to them here! Mugshots, aerial and ground shots of kites all apply of course. :)

      1.1k
      posts

    4. Kite Making

      Discuss kite making techniques, styles and applications here!

      1.8k
      posts

    5. Kites for Sale, Swap or Trade

      Looking to off-load a new or used kite out of your personal collection? This is the topic area for our Kite Classifieds, you can reply here but new topics are generated only when a new classified ad is posted.

      2.9k
      posts

    6. Local Connections

      Looking for other kite fliers in your part of the world? Click in here, find your the discussion for your general area and say hello - kiting is better with company, make a connection here! If you don't see your area listed, send the admin a note and we'll try to arrange something. 

      92
      posts

    7. Favorite Kite Fields

      Where did you fly today & what were you flying? Have an ideal spot to fly, or even a memorable one away from home? Share it with other visitors, arrange to meet, or comment on ones you see here!

      608
      posts

    8. Kite Travel

      Tips for safe transport of kites as well as advice for dealing with any aspect of travel to and from kiting events.

      106
      posts

    9. Kite Plans

      For sport kite, single line, foil, or anything under the sun... Feel free to exhange info and share web links for others to enjoy.

      114
      posts

  7. Everything Else

    1. Lifestyle

      Doing something to make yourself healthier and happier, or have a question for your fellow forum users? Share it here!

      193
      posts

    2. Web Sites

      Found a cool kite site on the web? Post it here, after review we may add it to the links page as well!

      228
      posts

    3. Off Topic

      Anything and everything that doesn't fit anywhere else... Oddballs and all!

      2.4k
      posts

  8. Manufacturer Support

    1. Kite Forge

      Discussion area dedicated to exploration, assistance and product support for Kite Forge.

      546
      posts

    2. Polo Kites

      Discussion area dedicated to exploration, assistance and product support for Polo Kites.

      53
      posts

  • Latest Posts

    • Joneo
      HQ Symphony Pro 2.2 vs 2.5

      By Joneo · Posted

      Hello! I currently have a Symphony Pro 1.8 dual line foil kite, and am looking to get something with a bit more pull. Is there much difference between HQ's 2.2 and 2.5 Pro Symphony kites? I'm a small framed individual, about 145 lbs if that helps. I see a lot of people like the 2.2 and have modified it into a quad line kite; do they do this with the 2.5 as well? Thank you very much for your input. ☺
    • frob
      What are your current most rewarding indoor/outdoor “negligible” wind short line drills?

      By frob · Posted

      Image to show it: https://photos.app.goo.gl/ktG4W98qK8bUhmUk8 Even at rest you can see lines in the fabric from tension. It takes no effort to fill the sail. 
    • frob
      What are your current most rewarding indoor/outdoor “negligible” wind short line drills?

      By frob · Posted

      Regarding the tension mods...  As shipped the kite had almost no tension. The leading edge was completely slack, and the verticals had only the slightest tension. My tension increase on the verticals requires a bit of leverage to install them. After the second round, putting endcaps on the leading edge now requires a significant ark (maybe 15-20 degrees) to get the slack to slip it on. Now the sail is taut even at rest.  The effects are dramatic. In order to fly there must be tension on the sail. For a loose sail you must be supplying effort not just to keep it moving, but also to keep it tight. When you drop pressure the leading edge recoils a bit requiring a burst of extra energy to recover and get back flying. You can do it, but it takes more power so subtlety is out. This gives a burst flying effect, which matches what happens when you first fly: big tug, stall, tug, stall, versus low continuous pressure.  I also have 1/4" internal diameter nylon tubing over the lower endcaps so it stays put on the ground. I replace the little nylon nub occasionally, just a half inch or inch of tube. Without anything it will slide around on the gym floor. It needs something to give traction as the stock caps are slippery on hard floors. 
    • Exult
      What are your current most rewarding indoor/outdoor “negligible” wind short line drills?

      By Exult · Posted

      I think that your windless video gives a very relaxed effortless impression that plays well with the soft music. Smoooth!! Agree on feeling the pressure when backing the kite is important – Comment aimed at breaking the silly-analogy-barrier of the initial post: I for some reason at an early stage of indoor piloting imagined the backing kite being a slowly moving powerful locomotive. Also did the “Watty adjustments” at an early stage. I can’t compare/remember/refer to how it was before them because I knew too little no wind piloting at the time after the first few sessions. I think initially, the first sessions, everything goes wrong no matter what the adjustments. So therefore I wonder what are the effects of increasing the tension of the LE? Easier to reverse the kite and more? That’s nice when gaining experience by transferring drills to other circumstances. Yesterday I went the other way and tried an no wind “mini-figure” on 25m lines (82ft) using and 1.5 B-series mid vent. Since the context was so different the mini-figure turned out to be more difficult than expected (and therefore good as an exercise). When switching to 15m lines (49ft) it felt more familiar and was easier again. I think it is worth mentioning in the context of reversed 360-ies how to initiate reverse flight by turning upwards from horizontal flying to having the LE horizontally and then start the backing downwards first. A variation of the theme (as displayed in the video) is to fly horizontally forwards and then change direction while just maintaining the orientation of the kite.
    • surf
      WANTED - Joel K Scholz - Raptor 8 / 20

      By surf · Posted

      I have a Raptor . Never flown - Dave Colbert kite maker put the spars back on her , asking 600 $       surfjerr@yahoo.com 

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