Brettgrant99

Welcome! Many, many years ago I lived in Hofstetten bei Brienz. Didn't fly any kites, but I was able to go sailing across the Brienzer See, so I feel like there should be places where you could kite. The one thing that is missing are some quad line kites. Try and make it to a festival or to where other kiters are. The amount that you can learn from others is so much faster than if you have to figure it out yourself.I I wouldn't worry too much about specific kites, you might just have to fly what is available to you. Good luck!

I don't think that I would like those straps because it looks like to me that they will get tighter as the wind increases. What is important is that you like them I generally put my wrists through the straps and then hook my pointer finger through the D-ring. It puts a lot of tension on my finger, I can always release if I want to. Mostly I think it is a personal preference.

I pretty much fly for fun and don't really worry too much about the lines. My current go to set I made in 2002, flew it a lot back then, and then started using it again about 3 years ago. Five years sound kind of young 😉

Prism has some instructions on their web site for equalizing lines. Personally, I would do it the way that you did, undoing the knots and sliding the sleeving, if I am using sleeving. Sometimes I don't use sleeving. I also always tie figure-eight knots, never overhand. Somewhere I picked up a somewhat large needle that I use to pick apart knots. I'd guess it is 2 mm in diameter and four three inches long. It isn't super sharp, but it isn't blunt either. You don't say how new or old the lines are. New lines stretch quite a bit, and you may have to re-equalize once or twice more, so just keep checking especially if your flying seems "off". I tend not to check my dual lines very often, quad lines I check more. Have fun out there!

Well, I'm bummed out, but hopefully whoever got it will enjoy it.

I do. I've sent multiple messages to you on two threads, maybe there is something up with the messaging system. Maybe email me? kites@grantb.org

I tried to send you a message, but the system wouldn't let me send one to you. I'll take it.

Have you checked with Elliot?

Sounds like a great way to start. Good luck, and have fun!

Sorry if I made the impression that I am Swiss, I had the opportunity to work at the Museum outside Brienz for the summer and then I returned to the states. I started out with some Trlbys that my father purchased while we were on vacation at Pismo Beach, California. I dabbled in kites off and on until 1996, where I bought a Revolution Backtraker. I didn't really fly much until I graduated Uni, and got a job in Sunnyvale, Ca, and could fly a lot and had some money to buy a bunch of kites. There I picked up a Utopia and a few Tricktails, which I still fly today. I also got some Deca quad lines, which I really like. I then moved to Tucson Arizona, where flying was like sticking your head in an oven, it was hot all of the time. A few years ago, I move back to Washington State, where I went to Uni, and started flying a lot more again. I mainly fly dual lines, but I also enjoy quad lines kites to. I pretty much fly for my own enjoyment and peace of mind. You can see some of my kites at https://kitelife.com/forum/gallery/album/490-brettgrant99/ I also lived for a bit in the Netherlands. Isn't the area that you are in a flat section of Switzerland? In the Netherlands, I was able to fly in a farmer's field a bit and at the beach. It was pretty good flying, but then again, the Netherlands is pretty flat and windy. That Drop Kick looks pretty cool, I'll have to keep a look out for one over here. Have fun!

Where are you at? When I was younger I lived in Brienz for a bit. Lovely place, I enjoyed it a lot. What kind of kites are you flying there?

That's a bummer for kite flying. Hope you had other fun. Its been a while since I have been to Ocean Shores, I should plan another trip sometime. Where are you located? I have a Team Hawaiian somewhere. Yesterday I took out my Utopia again. I need to see about taking out my Trlbys, I've got a stack of 4.