kite-head

I use a Cannon Optura Digital Camcorder. I records video (pretty high res, I'm not sure of the specs off hand) onto miniDV tapes, and also has a built in 2 megapixil still camera which saves images onto and SD memory card. You can also shoot lower resolution video (320x240 - I think) onto the memory card. It plugs straight into my computer via firewire or USB2 connection and imports images and video into my appropriat software quite easily. I have been extremely pleased with the quality of video when shown on the TV. But like with many things, part of your decision process will be based on cost...so how much do you want to invest in a camera.

Thanks for the resouce links, I will be going over that material for a few days...with a quick glance looks like some great info. Another thing has occured to me to ask... I know that balet is a choreographed routine set to music, but do you fly to anything (music wise) when performing a precision routine?

Please forgive my "broadness", I suppose it would be much easier to kick this off if I asked more focused questions... Let me start by saying that I have yet to attend a Kite festival or competition, but I am eagerly looking forward to my first! Needless to say I'm really not sure what to expect...now that aside, let me start with a couple of questions that are more to the point. I know precision routines are comprised of several compulsery figures and a technical routine. What type of maneuvers should I focus on for the technical portion of the routine? What are the different aspects that judges tend to look for in a technical routine?

I was first introduced to dual line kites about 20 years ago. I was very interested in it for a couple of years and flew as often as I could before eventually setting this hobby aside to free up time for my other interests. Well, about 8 years ago, I had been bitten by the kite bug again while looking at a friend Into the Wind catalogue at college. I ordered my own copy of the catalogue...then spent the next 8 months drooling over the pages. My pops suprised me that christmas with a Progressive Line - VooDoo (which I still love to fly). Again I flew when time and conditions permitted for a couple of years...and again my kite hobby got pushed to the back burner. Since then I have gotten married, had a child, bought a house, taken on several more hobbies, and setteled into a great graphic arts career. So with my time at its most premium, I'll be if I didn't get bitten by that *!#* kite bug again. Only this time my reaction to the bite is more serious than it has ever been...I don't think there's any turning back now. I'm back out flying at every opportunity (even if it just 20 min. on my way to pick up my daughter from the babysitter), and my kite bag is growing (my wife gave me a Prism Flashlight for our anniversary, what a woman!) Now I want to get into competition flying. And I guess what I'm asking (after the bit of my kite history) is for any advice on getting into the competition side of things (eg. things to consider for both technical and ballet, choreography, what to expect my first time, etc.). Any insight will be appreciated.