Wayne Dowler

No issues on my desktop.

Moved knots out = more effort? Exactly!! The reward is in the added control you will gain while airborne! Had to add a step back into my launch sequence, but now gusts don't make my kite go crazy when they hit! It is all a trade off on what results you get. Leader settings, sail choice, frame choice, etc. Change something to gain something, even if it's just the knowledge that something won't work! My own suggestion would be to look for a standard sail.

Start out on the ends also. Most bottom leaders have knots to make field adjustments to uneven lines.

Just asking - but - are you winding the lines with a simple over the top straight wind? And do you just hold the winder by the center hole and let it rock back and forth as you let out line? I was very apprehensive at first, so I did a 50' set in case I screwed up. That came out fine, so I tried 80', again fine and on to 120's, til now I can do/have done, it in the dark!! Again find that way that works for you and do it EVERY TIME! Establish it as habit!!

Longer pigtails really help keep things controllable. Put as much "brake" in as you can stand., One test is the "take off" rule. Move your lines on the top leader, out as far as you can - try launching. Keep moving them in til you can just get things airborne, should put you pretty close. You may find you will need to incorporate a step back into your launch sequence. Tames the kite's desire to surge off in gusts. One way to learn inverted - start with the kite upside down on the deck, with your hands in neutral. Slowly point your thumbs at the kite and watch it rise (you may need to step back depending on wind). Now find a neutral position again and hold that for as long as you can. Things start breaking down, step forward to land and gather yourself. You are only trying for a few feet off the ground to do this, that way settling it back down has no severe impact. Gradually add height as you feel comfortable.

For full disclosure - I do a lot of what I do because I am a recovering stroke survivor. While not OCD, patterns and doing things again and again, over and over the same way, help me feel confident in what I'm doing. I can say this without any question - once you find a way that works - DO IT THE SAME WAY EVERY TIME - from then on! I can say that JB's method works - I just tweaked it to suit my tastes. The color code suits me, knowing I'm doing things the same way every time. Removing the handles frees me up to switch between the 3 different sizes I have - 13", 14", 15". All depends on wind conditions, which I use. Have any questions - feel free to pm me.

1 - Lines: I also follow JB's method, but with a few personal twists. A. - I color code all 4 lines with a Sharpie,. Hook them to my handles the same way everytime, same on kite end. Tops and bottoms, left and right, all have their code. B. - Now I am one of the few that still use Joe H.'s original method of putting the kite over your lines. Reason is that the sides line up, right is on the right, left on left side, in relation to my handles. I also use 2 stakes, one for each handle, separating them a foot or so apart. Are you "pairing up" each side by larksheading? I have a saying that helps me - at the kite it is bottoms thru tops and at the handles, it's tops thru bottoms. Everytime!! Reason is I take my handles off every time I fly. C. - Try putting a finger between the pairs as you unwind. Again keeps the sides separated. D. - When you get the lines laid out, if still twisted - open your arms as far as you can and shake them. Most are just false twists and fall right out. At the worst, go back to where the lines are clear and walk the pairs out, a pair in each hand. Reading your description - I would bet that your handles are twirling around and doing those "pass thrus" you're describing. With my methods, the lines never have to leave the ground except to larkshead them together as pairs. Taking down is the reverse - land inverted, stake each handle, walk up to kite, turn it right side up to clear lines, lay on top and disconnect (being sure to larkshead those pairs together), roll up kite, roll up lines, disconnect handles (remember to larkshead here too), gather my stuff and leave. 2 - Recycling your ground: A. - a trick - try marking where you start and where you want to stop. (My 2 stakes were handy for this!). Launch and fly til you run out of space (your rear mark). Take your kite up as high as you can, invert it, and riding the brakes as much as you can, start walking forward towards your start mark. With a bit of practice, you'll find the correct amount of braking and speed of walking, to regain most, if not all, your original space. May take you more than one go! But learning to "recycle" your ground will go a long way to helping you discover that control so sought after! 3 - Can't help you on that, still walk myself at times!! (SHHH - don't let anyone hear that!!!) LOL!! Remember to land inverted as much as possible - easier position to recover from IMHO!

All Revs so far: 2 Indoor 1 Zen 2 SULs 2 std Pros 1 mid Pro 1 f/v Pro 1 x/v pro 1 100% Shook #6 in their pix album 1 SUL, 1 std Pro, 1 mid Pro are in my street bag (included in count) - beat up badly and borrowing a team mate's mid Pro til I can afford/decide on a replacement! Total = 11 On this earlier post I forgot my oldest Rev - a Rev 1 - list = 12 Just added 5 Phoenix sails = 17

Unless schedules change, several should be in that area on Saturday. Exactly where I'm not sure, but I think they go just north a bit from the turn around (main beach), to avoid the crowds. I'll see if I can get clearer info and get you all together. Slightly on the north end of town - look for Manhattan Beach State Park. People should be there around noon til ?? Looks to be anywhere from 4-6 people coming!

I have several sets made by Mikey D., from 180GO. You might get some info on the bending angles and point from him?

Andy can take care of any repairs needed on the kite.

For those that like a more "active" glider - the Urban Ninja is pretty hot. Open plans to make them yourself or if you know someone that will make one. Kind of a mix of fighter and glider, you have to fly it all the time. No "set and forget" kite !

I also have used the "magic sticks", got them in kit form from the Shook's at Flying Smiles Kites. Stiffened the frame up even more, plus made "flipping a wing" impossible to do. The truss lines won't allow the kite to do that! Also why they get called "sissy sticks", you can let the truss works prevent it, or learn better control without them! LOL!!

Flipping a wing usually is a sign of over control. Kite might fly in light winds, but you still have to learn to be gentle. Big kite too, not everyone likes it. Fits my style well and I'm one of the few on the West Coast that loves mine. Still takes a gentle hand. Try under controlling and adding more as needed, instead of too much and needing to back off. If you can - try a stiffer frame. I use a hybrid of mixed rods - 2 wrap center, race wing ends, Zen rod verticals. The wrap/race LE keeps the sail from deforming at the center so much. Plus side - my combo dropped about 12-14 grams of weight! As soon as the winds get to 5-6 mph - time to reach for a standard sail! Any of the Rev 1 rods interchange with the Zen.

Last time I looked in the shop to compare prices (2 years ago), they averaged out at around $400.00 each and there were 4 or 5 models. So that meant they were roughly the same price as the then "B" pros made by Bazzer. At the time it was only $100 difference in getting a full set of them vs the Revs. Not sure of any current pricing or availability.

Explain? Do you mean it likes to "flip a wing" when reversing? Still use the stock frame?

Rods are now identified by the # of feathers on the label, as well as the text description. 2 wrap frame = 2 feathers, 3 wrap = 3 feathers, etc. LE means Leading edge - the 3 pieces that form the long edge, not a complete frame! SLE was a descriptive term used for a different sort of LE - Super Leading Edge - fatter in diameter than the regular 1/4" rods (7/16" I think). Anyway not being used on logos anymore. A sail with that on it is older and been in stock a while. On the frame names - Professional Use only = 2 wraps, UL (ultra light) = 3 wraps, Rev equipped = 4 wraps. Race frames have a flame on the label.

No - just expensive!

Update - Tried my diamond frame - worked fine! Still waiting on the SS rods.

Nice having rod interchangeability! As a team flier, we are always trying to come up with a common setup. That way one kite doesn't rocket off, while the others are dragging behind. Using different frames is one way to customize the setup for team unity. Just remember that any 1.5 frame will fit in any 1.5 sail!

I do both - as I am a team flier, but also do solo and duets., So my "style" is always a mix of the 2. Team + duet is very controlled and choreographed, solo - I just let it hang out.

Since I've really only flown Rev rods for years, I can't compare the SS rods to them yet. Getting some P-100s to put in it in a couple weeks, then I'll have a better idea of what they feel like. Until then, all the Rev frames I listed will fit. If you have any of them, they will fit and work just fine. PS: Awesome kite BTW!! PSS: I flew both the Ashes and std this last weekend, both on race rods - SWEET!!

Are you getting it as sail only? One of my team mates has 2- one framed in P-90, one in P-100, both SkyShark rods. I have used my Rev Bl. Race rods in mine and will try my diamond frame if conditions allow. Probably could even use a 2 wrap. All of them seem to work!!