Jeepster

John Chilese posted a picture of Dan in his photo album from KTAI. A couple of years ago I called Shanti to ask some questions about their product line. I was surprised when Dan answered the phone ... usually the "CEO" doesn't answer phones. After answering my questions, he carefully talking me into trying some of his Shanti line. I had never met the man nor seen a picture of him. His enthusiasm for his product and kiting was so strong that I hung up thinking I'd talked to a 30 year old guy. Imagine my surprise when John posted the above picture. Folks who are as enthusiastic and as helpful as Dan are a great credit to kiting. Cheers, Tom

--Pete, Go into the "Gallery" and find your picture. Click on it to bring it up to full size. Over on the right hand side at the bottom of the image information block you will find a button labeled "Mod Options" ... click it and you're on your way. Cheers, Tom

I seem to be obtuse on this topic. Can you please take a minute to distill the info you've posted down to an elevator speech. What question are you asking? Regards, Tom

This would be a great opportunity to really step out of your comfort zone ... do it early!!!! Cheers, Tom

If you've got a sewing machine, then use it with a zig-zag stitch or a 3-step sig-zag. Do use some good poly thread ... cotton is a no-no!!! If it's a more extensive repair, then you might be interested in this posting by Jim Foster on our IKE site. Jim and Lynn Foster make some very beautiful Rev-like kites. Cheers, Tom

Actually I live near Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti, and now I'm on KiteLife as well. If you (cgregurich73) or anyone else is in the area (on a day when it isn't 6F) I'd consider doing a bit of flying. It's been a while for me, so it would take a bit of searching to dig out the wherewithal for anything but my two new Revs. --Pete, Yep, my mistake ... but then, you already knew that!!! Sorry for trying to move you. Cheers, Tom

Hey John, why did I have to discover these honors over on another web site? David Gomberg's weekly update mentioned that at the KTAI banquet there were five awards announced. Two of them were centered around products that JB made/makes a great contribution towards: * Best Kite Promotional Effort: KiteLife.com * Kite of the year: Rev B Pro Congrats!! Cheers, Tom

With a full vent REV, winds around 25 to 30mph become work. If I've traveled to a festival then I'll hang in there longer and put up with being jerked around ... or get out the Rev II. If flying solo in the neighborhood ... I'll go home at 20 to 25 mph. I've attached a photo of an SLE full vent that was modified in England ... kite on the bottom. I had a chance to fly it in high winds and liked how it flew so much that I built the Rev-like kite in the top of the picture. Those two kites easily maintain the fun factor for an additional 10 mph. With the introduction of the XTRA Vent REV kite one should be able to move up in wind speed and still feel comfortable ... and not have to modify or make their own. Maybe Kite Party will give me a chance to try one out. Cheers, Tom

Very good pictures Komuro-san. Thanks for posting them. Glad to see you are enjoying your kite. @Duane ... -3 degrees isn't that cold ... remember that Komuro-san uses those wimpy Celsius degrees. Cheers all, Tom

Duane is more knowledgeable than that, so he must have taken a mental vacation on this one. The full vent B-series comes with a set of 3- and 4-wrap rods. If the winds are only about 10 to 15 mph, then the 3-wrap rod set is the best choice. After you've flown for awhile and are comfortable with the kite, the 3-wrap rods can be used up to about 20 mph. Let the kite tell you when to change ... when the leading edge starts to bow excessively, then switch to the 4-wraps. The 4-wraps will serve you well up to about 30 mph, when you'll have to start doubling up the leading edge rods or buy an SLE leading edge rod set. Actually, the fun factor falls off even with the full vent. Cheers, Tom

Oh yes, five weeks to Kite Party ... then the season officially kicks off me!!! Then Duane will start to get in the hot, hot, sticky season. You know, where he has to be on the beach when the sun comes up and can only fly for a little while? Then life will balance out again. Cheers, Tom

Have you contacted Dave Bush yet. Dave is the AKA regional director for your area. He has a good handle on who is where, etc. --Pete over on the Rev forum lives in Homer and flies Revs and flex foils. DarrylW over on kitebuilder.com flies large show kites. Popeye, from kitebuilder.com, also lives in Brighton. Any of those guys might be able to put you on to someone close to Lansing. I found all the folks (both of them) in my area who fly kites by flying in the front yard of a church along a major highway. They both saw me and simply couldn't help but stop and talk about kites ... If you make plans on going to the Grand Haven kite fest in May you'll get a chance to meet lots of folks in lower Michigan. Oh yes, call Jon or Marieanne Trennepohl at Sky Burner Products in Plymouth, Mi ... Jon participates in a once a week flying get together for folks a little further east than you live. Cheers, Tom

Please do post some pictures of the Ice Fly and a review. We talked about going to it this year, but I'm a little under the weather so will have to wait till next year. Revs and SLKs are what I'm interested in hearing about. Cheers, Tom

Rob, You're going to love flying Revs in the water. Good video! Cheers, Tom

Actually it's not bad ... at least it isn't a minus 19 degrees. Cheers, Tom

The closest IKE friend is 80 miles away. Most of us end up driving 1-1/2 to 2 hours to fly together. Three hours if it's up around Chicago. The weather stats on my home meter right now are: Temp 19 °F Humidity: 94 % Wind Speed: N 25 MPH Barometer: 29.77" Dewpoint: 19 °F Chill Index: 6 °F Visibility: 200 feet The weather forecast is for two feet of snow tonight ... we're well on our way already. The only flying I'll be doing is in my dreams! Frozen, Tom

Duane, You're not the only one at TI who was giving away kites ... you're in good company ... keep doing it!!! And no, it wasn't me this time. Cheers, Tom

Rob, you made a good choice ... I agonized over the SLE vs the B-series for my first REV. Ordered the SLE on a Sunday only to call up the kite store as soon as they opened on Monday to change the order to a B-series. Although I now have three SLE's (SUL configuration) in my kite bag, my first B-series kite is still a main stay. Oh yes, want to see it? It's the purple full sail in the GWTW calendar for November. You'll notice that JB and TK are following my lead ... trying to learn/duplicate some of my more interesting moves. They both know that it's always a good idea to stay behind any pending disaster!!! Welcome to the dark side. I'm betting you'll own at least a second REV before the end of the year. Cheers, Tom

I absolutely will not put up with your whining!!!! How would you like to live in the mid-west where kiting is an oddity? And beaches, well, there is Lake Michigan, but only about two festivals that take advantage of the beaches. The winter weather around here is simply rotten ... IKE hasn't gotten together for a club fly in over three months. Mumble, mumble ... Grumpy, Tom

Huntington Beach, California is along the coast just below Los Angeles and Long Beach. The Kite Connection, on the Huntington Beach Pier, has sponsored Kite Party in the early spring for the last eight years ... this year is Kite Party 9. At Kite Party, festival is considered a dirty word. Folks simply come to Kite Party to hang out and fly kites with others of like mind. Several of us (mainly IKE members) turn it into a six day event. During the week you have to contend with the surfers and sun bathers, but on the weekend there are several huge areas roped off for "official" Kite Party participants. There are some demos ... iQuad, To Much Fun, Ron Desperado, and others ... but, for the most part it is simply what heaven should be like. Cheers, Tom

Well Duane, got to say that I like your new avatar ... I'm partial to the warm colors too. But, that fuzzy kite in the center looks a little too heavy to fly well. What kind of a bridle do you use? And, is it a SLK, DLK or QLK? The only kite flying I'm doing right now is in my mind. Less than 40 days and sand will be under my feet again though ... Huntington Beach is calling. Cheers, Tom

Hey Rob, One of the great things with a Rev is that it will "fly" in the water!!! Maybe JB will be good enough to post a couple of links to some of his water flying. The real secret is to not panic when the kite goes in the drink. Simply picture the water as "thick" air and literally fly it back out. The water is much heavier than air and the kite slows way down, so be patient and don't try to rush it by pulling hard. A hard pull is guaranteed to break rods. The only caution is to not try it when the waves are high ... "catch a wave" was written for surfing not kiting. Cheer, Tom

OK Jeepster...What's an SLK...I know what an SLE is, I know TI is Treasure Island! It isn't "Super Leading Kite"??? That doesn't make any sense...OK...I give! I remember when I first came to the kite forums...All these initials..."What the hell are these people talking about??" And I still go blank at times on some of them! Keep It Up! Duane A SLK is the foil kite you were flying at TI ... it stands for "Single Line Kite". Cheers, Tom