ACrop

Speaking in general, not about this event: I find it pretty interesting that kiters are about the nicest, most patient group of people as a whole. However, the passion and skill level and nerdy level of detail knowledge involved in the sport can make it hard for a newbie to feel confident approaching the groups...and the established bunch can be so absorbed in the fun of the moment that they sometimes don't see the newbie at all. This is also increased by the long distance nature of it all...you never really know who really is a newbie and who is just from far way unless you are the old hand. It is a hard sport to be an introvert in because the best days come from getting out there and saying hi to everyone...and saying can I fly with you. Thank you to all of you who make it easier by going out of your way ob the flying field to be friendly and welcoming, your efforts don't go unnoticed. Acrop Maryland based purple quad kiteflier

I highly suggest two things: 1:small lights form on the handles too for when you have to stake it walk out and check your sail and come back to the handles. Having a light or glow sticks at the stake end makes finding the handles easier with out resorting to night vision ruining lights. I once used a tiny glow stick made for putting on a fishing bobber to mark my stake on a no moon night. 2: Figure out how to guage when someone is within the range of your lines. I find calculating depth and if people are in the "bonk zone" much harder in the dark. I like to put a marker, usually a gear bag or husband, under the kite end of the line as a guage of where others are in relation to the end of my lines. That way when beach strollers stop and stare I have a feeling for if they are in my kite lines or outside. Don't want the dive stop to be too interactive for either of us. Also, if no one has warned you yet: keep away from roads with night flying... You don't want to cause a "UFO sighting car accident". No kidding. Have fun, night flying is a kick. Acrop Maryland based purple quad kiteflier

I like the line yank and duck while it flys over head. Nice move. Acrop Maryland based purple quad kiteflier

Sorry you didn't get a response to you message looking for flyers. Flying with new folks is always fun. . You could always encourage others to think about fly in the area by documenting good area flying fields. Glad you got good wind! When you come to Maryland I will fly with you. Acrop Maryland based purple quad kiteflier

This post made me imagine @johnbarresi on ice skates flying his quad at he skims around the ice. He says he is always looking for a new thing to try with kites.[emoji6] Sent from my Nexus 5X using KiteLife mobile app

While I am glad for OC that the corvetts brought out a lot of people for a low season boost, I can't say that I enjoyed seeing their parade. Noisy, Smelly, Loud and too long. I should admit that the challenging weather on Friday made Saturday seem even more precious, and the interruption of the parade more annoying. Thanks to JB for doing Buggy Bunnny, that was cool to see a routine that I had watched on videos....it is my favorite vid to show others when I am trying to get them to understand that my kite flying is cool not crazy. Watching TKL was soo cool. Always more skills to aim for.

Someone needs to come flirt with the camera. Seeing someone out there flying right now is a bit of torture as I sit here watching g said. Team practice. Arg. Yooo whhooo...quad pilot! Come clooossseerrr!! Sent from my Nexus 5X using KiteLife mobile app

NovemBERRRR. It is winter down here in Chile, and while winter here is like early spring back home I am going. To be tired of clothes and wool real soon. As I type my nose and toes are cold despite wool long johns and some blankies. Our house here (like almost all here) has no real insulation, single pane loose windows and no central heating....and only occasionally small room heaters. I am gonna sit back and let others comment on dates. Other than Thanksgiving and increasing cold I don't have a strong opinion. My chilly nose makes commiting to flying in November harder to do just now than it might be if I was warmer. [emoji6] Sent from my Nexus 5X using KiteLife mobile app

Ok, cataclysmic weather aside, I did look at average weather for the OBX in the fall. I would say almost any time in Oct or November would be fine, but earlier would be warmer. I personally cannot do the weekend of October 20-22. The thought of major car trip two weekends in a row is also not overly appealing, but possible. I would also say not the weekend of Thanksgiving (unless you are bringing turkey and the fixings....I could be down for that) Sent from my Nexus 5X using KiteLife mobile app

When does hurricane season end? Man it is tough to think about a coast trip just now with the weather....don't bad things travel in threes? Sent from my Nexus 5X using KiteLife mobile app

If you start watching on youtube I highly suggest making yourself a play list. You are going to want to go back and rewatch some of them as you progress and a playlist makes life easier. Also, having a couple on there that are good for showing crowd pleasing stuff is good for when you tell someone that you fly kites for fun...you usually have a small window of time to show them why you are not crazy and quickly finding the right video for today's viewer can help make your case for sanity. Sent from my Nexus 5X using KiteLife mobile app

Hey East Coasters... I am sitting (for three more weeks) in windless Santiago. Don't get me wrong, I am happy to be here, but itching to really fly. Wish I had thought I about indoor flying before I came, I have a space for that. Oh well. That leads me to looking to arrange a meet up to get the happy back sometime soon if I can find folks who will fly with a me after 2 months off the handles. JB teased us earlier this year with the mention of a fall quad team clinic....but I haven't seen any specifics. @johnbaressi what is going on? It was mentioned (among spring clinic goers and Regallo fliers) that if JB didn't do a clinic we should consider a house off season rental for a "bring your family with you" flight gathering. Would be looking to keep it cheep, low pressure and fun. Anyone have thoughts? Hasta la próxima, April Sent from my Nexus 5X using KiteLife mobile app

Thank you for the follow-up. The easier the cleanup is the more likely I am to use them in the first place. Sent from my Nexus 5X using KiteLife mobile app

Beautiful pattern in the color use. Did you sew the pattern? I assume is was not a pattered material. Sent from my Nexus 5X using KiteLife mobile app

Low wind flying gets to be a lot more fun when you figure out how to regain ground without landing. The forward inverted glide/ float is essential and worth working on. I had a really hard time with it until I tried moving forward faster. Also axels are a trick best learned in low wind and trying them tended to move me forward. Short lines are best so you don't have to walk so far to reset failures. [emoji6] Sent from my Nexus 5X using KiteLife mobile app

That is right. The rain we have gotten here in the city shows as snow in the nearby mountains. The view from our front gate. Most wind I have seen this month? 3mph Gusty. Yuck. I need a good beach day badly. I even went to the beach and there was still a large hill between me and the wind from the south. Oh well, no fue la meta de esta viaje. Wasn't the goal of coming here. [emoji6] Sent from my Nexus 5X using KiteLife mobile app

What kind of excuse is that?? I'm in Chile....of course I have no wind to speak of:( and I am sure he has plenty. Sarcasm aside, I know...hopefully he will hit back when he gets back. Cheers from the Santiago wind free mountain valley. Sent from my Nexus 5X using KiteLife mobile app

I agree that $80 is very reasonable, $10 was an absolute steal. You can be in dire straights and still live near a nps park not use it because of cost. I am not in dire straits and still there are several parks that cost in my area and I have to choose which one to buy a pass for each year...national, state or local. I am glad to support our parks and hope that I can encourage others to enjoy them. Sent from my Nexus 5X using KiteLife mobile app

John can you share some of the tactics that you use? I used to raise guide dog puppies and found through experience that certain types of body language and certain verbal expressions got me a more positive and constructive response to the work I was doing. While flying is very different I am sure you have honed tactics that we could benifits from. Sent from my Nexus 5X using KiteLife mobile app

Hey all, As of August 28th the cost for a senior lifetime pass at the national parks will be increasing from $10 to $80. You can still get one for the cheep price....way too cheep in my opinion as I am still a young whipper snapper (although my greying hair contests this) but only if you act now. Details for how to get or order one today or tomorrow: Apply by mail. Fill out this application and send it in, along with a $20 fee ($10 for the pass, $10 for processing). It must be postmarked Aug. 27 or earlier. Apply online. Visit yourpassnow.com/ParkPass/park/senior/SeniorPassInfoCollectto apply online before Aug. 28. Cost is $20 ($10 for the pass, $10 fee for processing). Because the system is backlogged, you may not receive the pass for months, but you will be able to use your confirmation at the different sites. Purchase it in person. Visit one of the federal recreation areas where passes are issued to purchase the $10 pass before Aug. 28. Be sure and call ahead to see if passes or rain checks are available. Hope this helps someone. I have been fustrated for years that only seniors can buy a life time pass and that it is dirt cheap to boot. Me husband keeps reminding me that I love the nps enough to pay for a yearly pass to support them and what I didn't love was the inequity of price...and he is right. Cheers to all. See ya at the parks. Sent from my Nexus 5X using KiteLife mobile app

Come on John...I am waiting for you to lead the charge on a new record megafly....with enough forwarding that I can make it to fly. Please? Sent from my Nexus 5X using KiteLife mobile app

Wow, while I get what you are saying about the oblivious folks I have also seen a very positive response too - especially to team flying. Even while solo flying I have had people stop and watch and ask...and even take the handles if conditions allow for newbie crashing. Last time I was at the Washington monument with WOW we had really challenging wind and our "team" was struggling (likely would have struggled a bit with decent wind too;) and Fletch said to us: "lets land...just stick the landing...stick the rollover landing!" Something about the way he said it made us think of sticking a gymnastics landing and after landing one of us did the gymnastics girls exaggerated arms in the air move....and the tourist crowd (that we had been oblivious to the fact that many had stopped to watch as we struggled to stay aloft and untangled in intermediate cruddy DC wind) spontaneously clapped. We all grinned like goofballs. Sent from my Nexus 5X using KiteLife mobile app

This is what I use for a hard case: https://www.amazon.com/US-Art-Supply-Telescoping-Drafting/dp/B00PR9KYJQ It is not perfect, but it carries 4 sails easily and linesets and handles can be tucked in too. What is not perfect about it? The strap comes off the middle connection and the handle slides so it has to be slid into correct balance spot. But it is fairly sturdy, holds just what I need, and is easy to use. I have been allowed to carry it on domestic flights and not asked to check it yet. I stuff an extra shift at each end to cushion ends for trips. It got left at home for this trip...traveling light right now- one travel frame, two sails, one handle set and two line sets. Now where IS the wind??? Sent from my Nexus 5X using KiteLife mobile app

If you packed kites even though the place you are going is known for having no wind because it sits on a bowl of mountains.

Hey now...lots of us don't consider a $250+ factory kite slumming it! Sent from my Nexus 5X using KiteLife mobile app