John Barresi

Welcome Tammy, looking forward to reading about your adventures.

Ultralight or super ultralight?

That's what we like to hear rusty, congrats to you both - keep the curiosity flowing!

Ya, with KiteMail being effectively out of my hands for a while now, it would be a good time to migrate out of the service.

Added #'s to the lead post, will update it as time allows, up until the drawing.

So sorry guys, wish I could do more about this but as others have eluded to, we're subject to extremely limited support (from Everyone.net) on a product that was phased out a long time ago. Logging into the minimal admin account we have for KiteMail, we saw this message: Sadly, there were none there to recover... Searching for "jynx", I did find an account, but trying to look at it gives me this message: Your sole point of resolution, for better or worse - http://www.everyone.net/email-company/contact.html

Note, I did edit my lead post to add the bit about paying it forward in a new drawing should you win (item 3). If this previous omission confused anyone and you want out, just reply say "I'm out." Thanks for your patience!

Bingo, festival or two.

Hehehehe, that's right buddy - sorry!

Awesome, thanks Theresa! Blue please.

Oh yeah baby, it's finally my turn to throw some Karma around! Straight out of the KiteLife kite room, this used Benson Gemini (STD, not a UL) has seen some fly time already but is in very good condition. (sorry for the photo rotation) Video of the Gemini in action... This kite will need a little love (re-glue stoppers and a damp cloth), but it was given to me a couple years ago and it's ready to find a new home where it will see a little daylight... Which one of you will be this kite's proud adoptive parent? All you need to enter: 1 - Must be a resident of North America. 2 - Post a reply below with a clear "I'm in!" 3 - If you win, return the favor by putting up a prize (any value) for someone else to win. Using the preferred RNG method, I'll be drawing a winner on September 5th. Numbers will be assigned in the order you announce your participation. Let the cajoling begin!!!! == Entries this far (posted with "I'm in": bbailey49 Dayhiker Joespickles makatakam lmoaks Michael E Allen elmo264 zachprism01 Reef Runner Drawing #'s will be the same as above.

YEAH BABY!!! I FINALLY KNOW THE TASTE OF VICTORY!! Really, thanks a lot for the chance to win... The Nexus will go to a good home, maybe at WSIKF. Stay tuned for my Karma-in-turn, will try and dig something up today, tomorrow at the latest. (FYI - you can ship that bad boy to the address at www.kitelife.com/contact ) If it's coming from The Kite Shoppe (unsent), they can also relay it to me at WSIKF.

I know - no worries sir! Keep it coming.

No "Mr" here, I prefer anything but late for dinner. To answer your question, it depends on what you're doing. First, you should know we're talking about a derivative of French dual line flying, watch these arms... http://youtu.be/I_xGG-kN2dU Compressed into a single fluid sequence, here is sort of what happens in one example.... Kite is loaded (LE slightly more curved) and traveling forward... With that drive, use the power to initiate a square turn... At that key moment when you've thrown inertia into the turn, push your hands out slightly to unload the kite and let it rotate more freely... At the moment you've reached the new direction you want, draw the hands back slightly again, with authority, to reload the frame and lock into your new flight path with drive. Here is some of my bodywork, you may be able to pick out what I've described... http://youtu.be/xXESxHvDFmM Bear in mind, that was 2007 - I've refined my approach a lot more since then. Next question(s)? We may have to go back and forth across this concept a bit, as long as you'll be patient with my response time.

I'll be the guy with the big mouth and matching grin.

Yeah, come to daddy! (this is fun!)

Arm and leg length may make it easier, but control and determination are the real keys.

I know a few renowned fliers who don't like that much brake, really matter of style - how you want to fly. I do a TON of sail loading and the trailing edge flares out (creating forward drive) every time I bend the leading edge, then it stays that way as long as I'm in motion which compensates for the initially "heavy" feeling settings. That's that little "whump" you see iQuad pilots put into their kite just before initiating a turn or forward flight, creating pressure and changing the angle of the sail itself through frame flex. Get all that? Looks like Greek to me, but I hope it's clear. lol

Thanks! I really just can't get enough flying, the rest happens. Looking forward to hearing about your bridle play!

Bottom attachments are at the end (last knot) by default, I only shorten one to equalize if needed. But remember, I can also immediately feel unequal lines when flying, down to about 3/4".

Hi rumpy - I definitely encourage other folks to chime in with their experience, but for high wind I'd suggest moving the top spreader bridle attachment to the to 2nd knot from the end (pulls the nose toward you)... The should make the kite less "flat" to the wind, sheeting the sail a little to reduce pressure and frame torque. I fly a stock Kymera stock (right out of the bag) using all the weights, bridle on the end knot in it's sweet spot, which is roughly 4-15 mph (although it will fly in lower and higher wind ranges), and I never move the central bridle point. In lighter wind, you might try pulling the nose back in (2nd knot) and removing the two additional brass weights... But the real key to light wind flying is keeping smooth tension, so a trick kite like the Kymera doesn't go totally loose when it needs sail pressure. All that being said, experimentation and personal style are what it's all about - just make sure you have clear markings or notes for your original set up, and see for yourself - better yet, let us know all about it. <grin> Also, be sure your wing tip tensioners are good and tight - makes a difference in the performance.

Honestly, I'd probably have to insist on a cap of 5 - just to keep good chances for all.

This puts me out around 13"-14" (out on the top knots) using fully equalized lines, 13" Pro handles.

Just came across this website... http://fixmykite.com/ It's run by long time kite guru and all around stand up guy, Jeff Howard.

Addendum: my bottom leaders are generally about 5" long, with 1/2" knots. I use these strictly to equalize R-L unbalance as I switch from line set to line set in a hurry. All tuning (throttle/brake) is done on my top leaders. Re tuning for newbies - the best approach I've found for folks trying to find their "feel" on the settings... 1 - Start with good, long top leaders (maybe 12" long with knots spaced 3/4"). 2 - Let your top lines all the way out on the leaders, and try to launch. 3 - If you can't launch, pull in one top knot and try again. 3a - If you can't launch, pull in one top knot and try again. 3b - If you can't launch, pull in one top knot and try again. 3c - If you can't launch, pull in one top knot and try again. Eventually, you should hit a knot where you are *just* able to launch - practice on that knot, and the knot on either side for a minimum of 45 minutes (takes a while for our physical technique to adapt and stick). Every 3-4 months, repeat the same "seeking" process and I'll bet even money that your "happy launch" knot ends up further and further out each time. Note, your "happy" setting may vary as you change kites (different bridle stretch or tying) and lines (top lines stretched more or less), don't get stuck on one setting - it's best to stay dynamic, testing and adjusting as needed. Other posts in this same thread that may be useful in utilizing your new settings: How to "whump" or load and unload your turns: http://kitelife.com/forum/topic/5530-pigtails-tuning-your-rev-with-knotted-leaders/page-5#entry37769 Relevant tutorials on KiteLife: http://kitelife.com/forum/topic/5530-pigtails-tuning-your-rev-with-knotted-leaders/#entry37572