ACrop

Sounds like you did fine for a first time alone without any previous experience. The fact that you managed to keep it up and moving for long enough to worry about over starting is great. The arc launch is most likely a result of dominance of one hand/body side over the other. It doesn't take much of a difference between hands to cause that. Next time: Always stake it when ya need to walk out. Top of handles against the stake (if it does self launch before you get to it it will be much more controlled). Form a good habit - always put your stake on your body when you fly. If not you will quickly find yourself 20 feet from your stake in the ground and needing to park your kite. Breath, relaxed erganomic body position. Small hand motions. Glad you did so well. You may not see us out there next to you but we are rooting for you. Sent from my [device_name] using http://KiteLife mobile app

IMHO just because the eyes are not copyrighted doesn't make printing a sail with them OK to do. Rev proudly called the eyes a masterpiece and I feel that if you are going to call something artwork copying it with some small changes doesn't honor the artist and seems slimy to me. Yes, the eyes are cool, but they are a Bazzer creation and known that way. I would have had no problem if rev had come out with a whole line of printed sails with new eyes artwork. I am thankful for the revs o have and the fun that they have provided me. However, I don't like some of what I have been hearing of how they have treated some of thier partners- and that will be considered as I make future kiting purchases. Sent from my [device_name] using http://KiteLife mobile app

The indoor gliders are the first thing to even tempt me that is not a quad. Love the float! Sent from my [device_name] using http://KiteLife mobile app

I believe I am in for wskif 2019 if you will put up with me. I too am interested in a group option to have more fun and less cost. Sent from my [device_name] using http://KiteLife mobile app

I agree with advice given, especially looking to find time with other pilots as often as reasonable. Hey you could always ask a friend to help you by holding a cell phone for a Waze video call from Mexico if you need help. There is always a work around if needed and an experienced pilot could look at what you are doing and give pointers that help you step forward faster in your skills. That said what I would add is this- if you don't Ave a lot of real estate to work with then I suggest markibg in the sand your limits. A "if I cross this line I will hit the _____", or "If people walking towards me pass the bag I left at the kite end of my lines I will know they are in my danger zone. It can be hard to judge distance with the kites, and other people are oblivious and or rightfully don't have any idea what our kites can do, so they can get into the flight area easily and keeping them safe is your job. For months I landed whenever anyone was in my danger zone. Also, semetry is important, check your kite setup and your hand position. Focus hard at the start on equal and symmetrical hand placement and movements. We naturally tend to favor or over power one side and knowing and correcting for that is key. Start with focusing on launches that go straight up to the top of the window and come straight back down. If your launch always arches in one direction you are not being symmetrical and even. Getting good at this is ALL ABOUT building good and consistent muscle memory, which is all about consistentancy and repetition. Check your hand position frequently and keep your hands relaxed in front of your center of gravity. No wind in the arm pits man. Lastly, keep breathing. Don't hold your breath, that loads tension into your body that you don't need. And imagine clearly what you want the kite to do- "Use the force Luke!". Thinking about what I want it to do and not about the mechanics of my movements helps to keep me from overthinking. If you ever need help I am just a Waze video call away. Sent from my [device_name] using http://KiteLife mobile app

I think you meant the sound we all make just after the kite bounces... Or just after I fly through your lines, just one line of course not a clean fly through that we could have a prayer of reversing in the air. I would go for purple with lime dorts please. Sent from my [device_name] using http://KiteLife mobile app

Maybe this is a quad head question- but is dort a real word/thing? Also, after clinic where I actually tried a few minutes on a Kaiju dual if win this I am gonna suspect the universe is conspiring against me..... But it is not purple so the odds are short on that one. Sent from my [device_name] using http://KiteLife mobile app

Hey all, Anyone know of a good flight field in the Chincoteague VA area? (town of not just National Park) I am headed there with friends the first weekend of June and can't resist coastal winds, which even my non-kiting friends know about me by now. Any advice on area fields for flight would be great. I am a little worried that the wild pony situation may = a no kites policy in some areas, but have not managed to find references to kites on any of the area web pages that I have read so far (including NPS ones) I don't want to be scaring ponies and making people mad. And, I gotta ask - Anyone fly quad around Chincoteague and want to fly with me for a couple of hours???? Can't ignore my friends for long, but we could amaze them nicely for a little while.

Man, advice should make the learning curve shorter for all. Been thinking I should jot down notes to myself on what I learned so i remember the little things for next time. It is tough watching $18/yard material get you mistakes knowing that needle holes are forever on this type of fabric. Sent from my [device_name] using http://KiteLife mobile app

Man, that sucks. Good thing the kites didn't get taken. I would put out the word out about the theft in your area...there is always the chance that the thief opened the bag and thought "what the heck is this??? This is worthless to me!" And then dumped it somewhere. I feel for you. Theft always sucks, and when it is your the items that make your happy pastimes possible it double sucks. Are you near other fliers? I would lend you lines to use if you were close. Sent from my [device_name] using http://KiteLife mobile app

I was quite happy with it lit up in the sun. Elliot had talked to me a good bit about looking at the fabrics in the sun lit from the front and back and where they overlap a. He said they would often look different in different light conditions. Scraps hung in my windows for a couple of weeks so as to contemplate the way they would look. However none of that prepped me for how distance would blend and change the look. The effect is much more blended than I expected, probably due to the shook mesh weave color overlaps. I will have to think on that for my next kite. I like blended, but I also like contrast. The effects of distance on the two properties is interesting to contemplate. Sent from my [device_name] using http://KiteLife mobile app

I recently finished my first kite build, and I wanted to throw a public "Thank You!!" out to my kite making mentor: Elliot Shook, who allowed me to follow in his design footsteps, gave me guidance, techniques and encouragement. Without Elliot's generous mentorship this kite would likely still be flying only in my imagination. Holding my kite up to Elliot's work I still have a bit of fine tuning to do, but hey I still need an xtra vent, so I will get better. Elliot's eye for detail and build quality is definitely masterpiece material. I finished it just in time to take it to JB's OBX quad clinic and got to show it off to Elliot and all my best flying buddies. When the wind let up a bit (should have made an xtra vent for that weekend!!) I got to put it up with the sun behind it and it sparkled in the sun beautifully, and seemed to fly just fine. Nothing like seeing your own work flying and keeping up with the others in the sky. it flew just like a Shook should fly: smooth and un-phased by the bumps, in higher winds than I should have put it up in, and pretty as a can be. Also, Thank you to all of the folks who have pulled out kites to let me examine and photograph them, lent me your sails, and answered my questions about sewing and techniques - many of you were generous with your time and knowledge. The generosity of this community never fails to warm my heart and add lift to my efforts. To anyone thinking about taking the sewing plunge....I encourage it. I learned a ton, and kite making materials are not forgiving, so give yourself plenty of practice scraps and time. Oh the joy of flying a kite I built can not be described adequately. Thanks Again Elliot!

Me too, but I sure am glad others like the big kites enough to raise them so I can enjoy them too. They are stunning to see. Sent from my [device_name] using http://KiteLife mobile app

If you can, fine someone with big kite experience in your area (or visit a festival) and do a day of big kite flying with a veteran flyer. While the big slks are awesome, they come with a bunch of safety issues for you and the public. Learning hands is the best and safest way. I love that you are going to get great advice here, but fly time in person with an experience flyer will get you knowledge that you may not even think to ask about. I have had great results with asking around for someone to fly with for what I want to learn- you may have to drive a bit to meet, but I would likely be worth it if you can swing it. Sent from my [device_name] using http://KiteLife mobile app

Or should I just say - can one of the themes be heavy on purple??

Oh man....I don't need any more quads...well, maybe an indoor.... All I ask is can at least one offered color scheme NOT be dark/menacing/aggressive? Any chance of getting a sneak peak at clinic???

One spot left - I grabbed one just now. Hey all - long time no see. I have a nice "high wind quad day" muscle burn and raccoon eyes from a good day at the Washington monument yesterday - had to polish my skills back up a bit to get ready to play with y'all. To chime in on recent comments - I too am interested in a bit of indoor time - but have no indoor kites. Night fly - of course as long as I have any brain power. Happy to see the community thriving and excited.

Happy birthday. Acrop

Sorry, should have said this before. I like to buy local and support local whenever possible...but is something this $$ it is important to drive the purchase with what is right for you...not by what is in stock. Pick what you think you should have and ask the shop to help you get it- give them a chance to source it for you... If they can't then look elsewhere. You can always buy your stake and lines and kite bags local....but get the sail you actually want to own. Acrop

One other thought...if buying new: the b series gives you two frames with each sail...and the reflex just one for similar price. Having the frames gives you backup pieces and allows you to think about buying sail only later...or sewing your own. Having options included extra is worth thinking on. Acrop

Sorry ...Kaiju. Acrop

What you said about kanju almost makes it sound like it should be the name for a series of kites not a single kite. Acrop

Telling us about it's personality / flight tendencies might help guide name suggestions too... Acrop

Aurai- Greek nymphs of the breezes Acrop

Qwill Acrop Maryland based purple quad kiteflier