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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.

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    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.

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  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.

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    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!

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    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!

      6.1k
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    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.

      7k
      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!

      14.2k
      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.

      241
      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!

      472
      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.

      4k
      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!

      2k
      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. 

      91
      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!

      616
      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.

      107
      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.

      554
      posts

    2. Polo Kites

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

      53
      posts

  • Forum Statistics

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  • Member Statistics

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  • Latest Posts

    • frob
      Troubleshooting reverse indoor quad flight

      By frob · Posted

      As the board is quiet, and it's been about 18 months since starting the topic, here's a current video: (I'm now regularly posting videos of my flying. Not all the sessions, but enough.) About the first 10 minutes of this clip are still focusing on improving the basic reverse 360s. I'm comfortable with my goal from 18 months ago, which is to be able to do it consistently on demand.  If I could go back in time and teach myself, here are what I'd do: The biggest #1 issue was keeping the sail engaged. There MUST be pressure kept in the sail. Even now, 18 months and about 37 actual-time-on-the-line practice hours later (and 4 performance hours later) my biggest source of problems is keeping the sail pressure up. Don't be afraid to take a few steps back or interrupting other motion to add sail pressure. Walk backward faster. Faster pace and larger backward steps. It may not look like much, but it must be much stronger than what I was initially doing, the precise speed is variable but must be strong enough to keep the kite under pressure. Even though it is "casual flying", I personally need to think of it as far more athletic than I initially was. Yes, this means dripping sweat, and that's okay.  When on the demo floor, the backward pace should be even faster. Not to fly faster, but for even more sail pressure to make sure you've always got enough. If you aren't sweating hard at the end of a 3 minute song, you weren't pushing yourself hard enough. Other performers were working that hard, you just were never close enough to see/smell it. There is a reason the actual demo sets are so short, not because they're just on for one song, but because they're in a performance mindset they're putting that much more athletic effort into it. Speed increases sail pressure, just like outdoor. Basically, it's Bernoulli wing lift. Going faster in reverse is often easier than going slower in reverse. Try to keep it even, but the motion itself is critical to help ensure pressure. The initial tuning I did myself was good, but after some tuning with Weider and Fletch, could be pushed just a little more to good effect. It absolutely needed it when new. The increased tension means less effort to keep it engaged, it is already under tension and pre-engaged. Keep the bottom hand tucked in. I'm still working on this. Even though it can feel easier and more relaxed to keep both hands out, keeping the bottom hand in keeps the kite more engaged. Stick with the pattern of forward drive, sweep up, then back down into reverse. To come out of it and go to forward flight requires significant drive, and therefore, even more reverse walking and sail pressure. Don't do that downward turn, you misremembered. Always be pulling something upward.  The wingtip pendulum (which I had worked on outdoors) works great indoors for changing direction with relatively little pressure. The dizziness will pass with experience and practice. Trying to be mindful of the compass points helps, but not as much as treating it like looking out the car window; focus on the kite being in front of me and stable, let the scenery pass.  My most helpful practice times (which include the first 10 minutes of the practice in this video) begin with trying to keep the sail under stable pressure regardless of air conditioning and walking through my own wake. If the sail pressure isn't there, everything else falls apart.
    • John Barresi
      Welcome sanewberry

      By John Barresi · Posted

      Hello @sanewberry, Welcome to KiteLife®! Although this is an automated message, it is written with heart - I love kites deeply, and I believe the KiteLife community represents this passion with a very friendly and helpful environment for everyone. Please feel free to browse around and get to know the others. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask. Need to tweak settings? Edit your profile here - View Member Edit your settings - http://kitelife.com/forum/settings/ Other than that, here are a few handy links that you might have a use for... Member Chat Member Map KL Shop And while it's never an obligation, we always love hearing about our new members if you'd like to share some of your kite stories, videos, and/or background... Tell us a little about YOUR kite life!
    • John Barresi
      Welcome barryged

      By John Barresi · Posted

      Hello @barryged, Welcome to KiteLife®! Although this is an automated message, it is written with heart - I love kites deeply, and I believe the KiteLife community represents this passion with a very friendly and helpful environment for everyone. Please feel free to browse around and get to know the others. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask. Need to tweak settings? Edit your profile here - View Member Edit your settings - http://kitelife.com/forum/settings/ Other than that, here are a few handy links that you might have a use for... Member Chat Member Map KL Shop And while it's never an obligation, we always love hearing about our new members if you'd like to share some of your kite stories, videos, and/or background... Tell us a little about YOUR kite life!
    • Mike Eibey
      Nitro Rods

      By Mike Eibey · Posted

      I think that's what I'll start with. Just do the lower spreaders and see how it reacts. Those nitro rods can be tricky to switch to because alot of the fittings don't fit directly with standard parts.  But I'll let you know what I think about it once I get some flight time. Hopefully this weekend.
    • midibot
      Nitro Rods

      By midibot · Posted

      Supplemental:  The idea of a stiffer lower spreader is a good one and I can think of a bunch of kites where this has been done, but many of them have something like .2100 or .2300 or 6mm pultruded frames, with say a skyshark 5PT or Dynamic 15/18 tapered in the lower spreaders for added stiffness/strength. Quite a difference in rods. For instance, the Prism Hypnotist, SkyDog Sweet Emotion, Flying Wings Insync, etc use this approach.  Don’t know if the difference would be as dramatic in 5PT upgraded to nitros for lower spreaders on a specific kite. Quite possibly. Be interested in reading your experience if you proceed in any case. .

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