Breezin

Welcome. You are fortunate to be able to fly with those people. Someone in that group has taken a bunch of very cool kite photos over the years. The kite history lessons you'd get would be just as good as the flying lessons. Fly it, break it, fix it and fly it again.

I've acquired the quiver for 0 to 30. Skills, ahhh getting there slowly but surely. Had to go to town today. Got back and winds were over 20 and later hit 30 for a bit. Didn't have the poop to fly . Feel ya. I used to not have the choice. Yesterday winds were 0 to 4 for a good while.Had the choice. Chose to fly.As long as they're not in direct sunlight I don't see a problem. It'd make me paranoid though. Thieves and such. Mine are kept in a barn guarded by 2 Akbash Shepherds and 7 booby traps. 1st ones a fairly painful stiff blast of sand and small debris as a warning. Progressing to leg traps, amputations and ending in decapitation.Maybe the next 6 are getting a little extreme but hey the warning is there. Love my kites. Heard that Kaiju will fly if you do what Acrop says 🤯. Might be well worth the try. Did that to my Pro Dancer once. Passed out hurt my head and haven't done it sense err since.

The Kymera is the same quality as my ITW Hydra. I think my Hydra is really tough and built really well. Iv'e only broke it once and I'm not very good yet.Broke the LS smacking the kite onto it's side in a epic failure resulting from a tip wrap close to the ground. Broke a center tee on a different kite when launching with one side of the bridle under the LS. Yanked real hard trying to adjust flight not knowing I had assembled wrong and pop. Broke the LS on a Widow ng and my Zephyr while trying to cascade. Got the lines wrapped around the kite both times, yanked real hard and crack.I still fly just as aggressive but my timing is better and can see when I'm in trouble easier. Now when in doubt on how to get out of a wrap I'm more apt to take the kite into a softer (hopefully) controlled crash instead of cranking on the lines. Iv'e broken 2 other LS that I was in doubt about the other side so replaced the whole thing. Better safe then sorry I figured.I'm assuming you have the screw type connectors. Take a micrometer and measure the width of the broken stand off. You'll have to get a whole rod and cut to size with a tape wrap to keep rod from splintering. Measure the counter part to the broken one. Some kites with 4 stand offs have 2 different lengths per side. If the stand off won't come out of the connector fairly easy do this.Take the sail connectors apart. Measure from the bottom of the top piece of connector to the top of rod without the end cap. Take the new rod insert into new connector to measure for cut. Some use fine tooth saws. I use a Dremel. I broke the sail connector when replacing a stand off on my Black Dog. Buy a few extra. Around a dollar but a pain in the neck when you don't have them. Shipping will cost as much as a sail connector and a 2 or 3 mil. rod.Fun With Wind will ship for free on orders over $20.00. Jim will help you put together a kit that fits your needs. If the Kymera has Dynamic tubes I don't know if he sells them though. I've gotten my Dynamics from Wind of Change. The stand offs will be a standard carbon rod. I don't think sail connectors get broken often so if you buy a few extra you got a pretty good chance of never using them. Some people will replace them every so often to avoid problems of corrosion. If you live near the ocean or in high humidity something to consider.

Can't help I don't live near saltwater. Got sandy soil though. I just fly at the top of the kites wind range and they get dry cleaned LOL. Seriously though I use mild dish soap pretty diluted and rub gently. I don't scrub at all and air dry. Made the mistake of putting a damp kite away after a snow day. Thought it had dried but no. Got a little bit of staining on the sail from the bridle. Had to get close to see it but still.

Yeah me too. They make it look so effortless but then that is the goal. Some with 20+years of A grade flying and they're still trying to improve. Pretty amazing . I didn't have much discipline to start. Just went for it. Finally starting to practice precision with some consistence. For the longest time I'd tootle along, perceive a setup, go for it and most of the time lose control. Have learned the art of crashing softly pretty well though. We have to get good at precision or there is no flow. Every thing looks lumpy and stunted. When first learning control it was like okay another square, circle ,triangle or something. Dang this is boring and off I'd go. Now I'm starting to hone the precision flying and it's making things a lot better. There is a thrill when you hit the marks. When you get center window flying horizontal in 10 mph winds spin the nose down, reversing direction dragging the wing tip (shark) for the 1st time you'll get the thrill of precision. Probably be a accident. Just pretend it was on purpose. That precision move leads to the cartwheel (not the take off one). You angle the nose till it bounces off the ground doing a 360 back to the shark. One of the tricks that's easier in 15 then 5. Learned it by accident and have replaced 2 leading edges repeating it so far. Not something I try every time out. When I get in a really good groove it's irresistible. Wing tip drags will convert your end caps into electrical tape . I don't always remember but the advice I got to start the day with slide stalls and end with slide stalls is gold. Seemingly easy trick but not so much.It demands finesse and patience. Like that red, black and white combo a lot. When I get a Addiction Pro that'll be the color combo. I guess what I'm try to say was already put into a song 🎼 It's hard to be humble when you're perfect in every way 🎵. HA 😺

They all have nocks to tension the sail. Your arrow shafts I think would be heavier. Carbon fiber in different configurations are what is used.Fiber glass in stunts has gone away for the most part. In the upper end kites Sky shark and Dynamic tubes are most common. Paul Debakker the guy who designed the Hydra is working on new tubes. He works at Good Winds. Jon T at Kites and Fun Things is the man for Sky Shark tubes. OSK I think has Crystal tubes made to their specs. Doubt they'll share their newest secrets but all 3 would probably answer a lot of your questions. Jon T made my Pro Dancer and framed my Widow Maker. He seems to prefer the stiffer frame. He does most if not all of the Premier stunt kite designs. Lam uses softer connections and mostly Dynamic tubes because he likes more flex. The Hydra has Dynamic but the stiffer connections. Had a Jon T designed Addiction that was very flexible. Kite is a absolute blast to fly. My grand kids have one. I'll be getting another before the year is out. I know very little about tube construction but there are quite a few here who will educate both of us . Very cool about the bow and arrow thing. I haven't competed in shooting sports since I was a kid. My dad still does at 77. Still drag races too.He's been a firearms instructor for a long time. He took 1st in the Idaho state obstacle shooting range course when he was 72. One of his lifelong buddies who was 69 took 3rd. Those old farts shocked the heck out of a bunch of 20 and 30 year olds. Were slower on their feet but better shots.

I would love to get to a festival. No kite flyers but me around here. I had a micron but it was part of the sell off for the Widow Maker. Not very wealthy so being a collector is out of my league. Micron is small and really quick on the 50' lines. Winds above 15 I flew it on 82' or 100' lines.Very tough and lots of fun. Hard to launch for me in winds above 20 but it is doable. It will trick just really fast. 20 plus gets the shakes but it never broke. Haven't replaced it cause after I get some better skills I'm going to learn to build my own kites. Already got most of a frame, sail material, sewing machine and thread. Now I need to know how to sew LOL.

If some collectors are interested quite a few new Jalbert para foils came up on flea bay.Seem like some nice prices for a bit of history. Domina C.Jalbert invented the para foil in 1957. Anyone reading this has probably flown some kind of para foil. He built a massive one and flew it in Seattle in 1980.3640 sq feet, 300 lbs with a 10,500 lb lift capacity 😲. Had no idea who he was till today. Lived to be 87. The listed age range on a lot of his kites says 3 to 99. Guy must of had a great attitude cause that's just cool.

The GWTW forum is a great place. Got my Widow ng never flown, Widow Maker Pro never flown, new Zephyr (info from a member) and Tekken from there. There was a Benson Superfly that sold today I think. Not posted sold yet. Was pretty sure a Benson was going to be my next kite until the Tekken showed up. If the Lam and Benson would have been for sale at the same time I still would have got the Tekken. It's a upgrade. The Benson would be another real nice standard.

Got less now than I did in Jan 😊.Got hurt real bad in 2012. Last Oct I was looking for a cheaper durable kite for my grand kids when they come to visit. Seen a bad ass dude in a wheel chair flying a duel and was totally inspired. Kiting for me started as rehab and is now much, much more. The rehab is working. Stronger then I've been in a long time. Can even dog trot to the kite a bit after a crash.Really got into the swing of it in Nov. and I get to fly just about every day. Got a pretty big yard so it's just a short walk to the flying field.Got a 8.8 meter to learn to buggy. Put it up twice and it was more than I could handle without proper training. Sold it.Got this for family gatherings and it's just so cool seeing tricksters flying with a big single flying along with them. RobB videos are a fine example. Started to put it together and wow another way to much kite for me to handle right now.There are so many cool aspects of kiting. I want to experience as many as I can and I keep losing focus . Cart before the horse so to speak LOL. Can't really get a good pic without it being assembled. Lots of 19 ft kite pics on the web.

I moved up the food chain pretty quick. Did my research and have not gotten a poor kite yet cross my fingers. The best all around most rewarding kite I've flown is the Sky Burner Widow Maker Pro. Hopefully they'll start making them again. I'd try to describe it to you but I'd fail.You just have to fly one . If you can find one I'd say don't hesitate just get it.

I got a Prism Zephyr going up for sale later today. Its classified as a UL.Some disagreement as a lot of people think it's a light standard.I have tricked it pretty well in 2 and 3 mph winds. Rated to 18 mph but over 10 I'm flying something else.I also have a Sky Burner SUL Pro Dancer.Not very tricky but a very smooth precise flyer.Pricey. For a high wind vented kite the Flying wings Silver Fox vented seems like a good deal. The HQ Delta Hawk is a extreme high wind kite on the cheap. Rated to 48 mph and people have flown it in more. More of a speed kite than trick kite. I have a Lam Houc Mind Trick vented that I fly into the low 30 range. Gets hard to trick above 25 as I'm not very good yet. 3 hours on it yesterday till winds went over 30. Great day and I didn't break anything.Have a lower spreader for lower and high winds. Kite flies real well in 6.Lams kites have the widest wind range that Iv'e read about.Bought another of his kites Wednesday. The Tekken DOA SUL(reason for the Z leaving). Expensive kites but I think well worth the money. Your Kymera is one of the best standards out there. Bang for the buck the sale price for the Hydra or Kymera would have to be the best new kite buys right now. Research the Prism 4D. Lot of peoples 1st SUL. Just about got one myself.The more research you do the funner it becomes. Kites will accumulate .

Kite has a pretty nice wind range. Try going out in at least 6 mph and not flying in +12 to start. The higher winds the more likely you'll break something. The lower winds will frustrate which also leads to damage. As you get better try popping the kite up and letting it come back down in very low winds. Taught me a lot. Then I got a SUL and a UL.

Dang I watched the whole thing.

I think it's fantastic that you're starting with a top notch kite. I got a ITW Hydra and it was hard to choose between that and the Kymera. When starting out I took the advice of a lot of experienced fliers. Get the best you can and grow into it.Started on a Premier Widow ng and never regretted it. Hope you have more patience then me learning the basics. Started trying to trick on day 1 and got the broken parts to show for it. I started researching kites last Oct. and the fascination continues to grow. Staying focused on duels but it's difficult. Those quad fliers are amazing. Then there are the gliders and so on. When you break your kite for the 1st time completely freak out, get over it, get on the forum and you will get all the help you need to fix it. As much as it sucks breaking things it has made me a better flier. Doesn't happen as often now but even the best have to do a repair now and then. Be cheaper than repairing your RC. With the RC experience you have these kite repairs will be a piece of cake for you. Welcome. You and yours are going to have a blast.

I gotta stop watching this stuff. It looks like so much fun I start getting ideas . One day in the not to distant future though I think I'm going to have to go a little 🦇 💩 crazy.

Still for sale. Open to offers or trades.

I got a nice wind meter off Ebay. Took close to 2 months before I won a cheap enough bid on a really good one. Cheapo will work good for a start too. The online wind forecast here is close but usually off a bit. As much as it will be a good starter kite I am not a Quantum fan. As good as it is it's a lot of money for a starter. You got a Ferrari coming and the Quantum is maybe a turbo charged Beetle. Prism Hypnotist will serve you better in the long run. The only kite that I know of that will go from beginner to advanced flying is the Sky Dog Black Dog. Not made any more. Still a few on E bay but a little pricey I think. I got one for my grand kids and newbies to fly. Very smooth flier. Smaller but not to fast. Like it a lot. Look at the Into The Wind Kymera. Been about the best bang for the buck deal Iv'e seen in the last couple months. Iv'e got their Hydra but it's a pretty precise kite and can be a handful. Waiting for the glue to set after yesterdays debacle so I can fly it later today.All 3 are right around $125.00. The Black Dog would be cheaper to repair. When researching for my 1st kite I chose Premiers Wolf ng.$100.00 at Kites and Fun Things. While checking out a fella offered me a new Widow ng at a great price so I got it instead. Had their Nighthawk which is real close to the Wolf. Miss them a lot. Jon T is the owner of Sky Burner kites and Kites and Fun Things.Jon and his wife are very cool people to talk to. Iv'e had 4 Premier kites designed by him . Not a dud in the bunch and the Addiction will be replaced with another. I'm a big fan of his stuff. All are gone to fund the Sky Burner Widow Maker Pro. It's a Ferrari 😁. My opinion is get the Wolf. It's a very nice Cadillac.

Once I got over the initial sticker shock for a freaking kite I learned how inexpensive it really is bang for the buck wise. The Freestylist sold new for $199.00 in 2006.Your pretty far ahead of the game as far as cost go.I'd say do some research and get a standard next. Don't think it's wise for me to start interchanging frames on duels until I learn more about how and why a kite is constructed. My intent is after I get better at flying build my own instead of changing someones designs on a stock kite. Some people seem to really have the knack for it though (you might be one)and their experiments are good reads. Riffclown ,Kareloh, Krijn, Sugerbaker to name just a few and they will respond to you. Kitebuilder.com will give you sensory overload in a very good way. Haven't been there in awhile cause I'm trying to stay focused on flying for now. From what Iv'e read Quads are the way to go for interchanging frames. Some come with 2 frames. Some vendors will give you a choice between light, medium or higher wind frames.4 mph is sweet wind for a ul or sul. Iv'e gotten good enough to fly some standards that low but that's mostly hunting the window for higher gusts. It's good practice on a standard trying some tricks as the kite is losing it's ability to fly and coming to the ground. Keeping wind in the sail in the low range really hone your timing skills with out to much risk to the kite.The 140 will start to fly pretty good in 10. 15 plus and you'll be whooping and hollering.

Got a decent deal on a 8 meter power kite. Want to try to buggy and ski someday. Way to much for me to start so kites gone. I'll find some experienced people to learn from hands on before I ever do that again.Welcome and keep us posted.

Welcome Jake. Never flown a quad.Will be following your journey into the Dark Side with interest. Quad I seem to keep looking at is the Freilein Transeye vented. Top of it's stated wind range is 40 mph. When first starting out a lot of people advised me when above 15 mph fly a vented quad. Got a vented duel that the more I fly it the happier I get up to 25 . Top of the line kite but I don't know if I'll ever get good on it in +30 winds. Intend to have the builder make me a different vented kite to try and achieve that. Would be nice to have a speed kite, vented quad and duel that I could become comfortable with in 30+ winds. Then my mood would be the deciding factor of what I fly. Not the wind 👹. Got to hold a OSK Freilein Exodus at a shop awhile back. Don't know much yet but the build quality was very obvious. Thought it was a really nice kite.

That's a good read Esinger. Fascinating kites. Spent today in winds going over 20.Yeah I'm 57 of course I'm tired and sore. Had a great time but I'm going to have to experience something like a Horvath too. Would be so very different but looks so rewarding.

Man o man I want to do that. Next time I'll get a smaller then 8.8 meter kite to start with.

Getting ready to go fly and I just needed to add a little more.Only been at this 6 months but you have got be having one of the most fortunate experiences Iv'e heard about. I would trade you my Zephyr + $50.00 and feel a little guilty for doing the deal.Till I got the kite LOL. You have scored a AWESOME kite!!! My Sky Burner Widow Maker Pro is my favorite kite for a lot of reasons.Sold 1/2 my kites to get it and as much as I miss them it was worth it. I'll be getting another Sky Burner in the future.

Wow that is awesome !!! Sky Burner is top of the line stuff. Another kite designed at Kites and Fun Things. The 140 doesn't have very good lines. Go for the 170. Lines are better and you'll use the lines on other kites. Do some more research on the Freestylist. You are going to be blown away on what a great kite you got coming.