makatakam

Which one? The Beaufort Scale or the one that I typed?

Your best option, IMHO, is to wait and save up enough to buy a ProDancer SUL, or something similar which is intended for very light wind. If you gotta have it now, you already know your options.

I started with a standard sail SLE, then soon added a full vent Phantom. Those were the only two real Rev 1.5's I owned for the first five years. If the wind was anywhere around 10mph or more I flew the f/v because it is so much smoother. When those are your only options, you learn quickly how to deal with it, and how to deal with it quite well. It's a matter of personal preference for me because I don't want the kite to pull hard, but when flying alone I usually fly with max brake. When you have to make do with what you have, you get better at it. You must push the edge to reap the benefits in anything you do. If the wind is too choppy or inconsistent at 10mph I'll pull out the m/v now that I have a full set. If the wind is really good (seldom happens) I'll pull out the f/v.

Not that hard, huh? Once you've tied in the upright to the horizontal a couple of times you realize how simple it really is! Double check for symmetry, and you're on your way.

Hey, John. Try some 1/16" or 3/32" carbon rod in the trailing edge. That will make it stop tip stalling and help dramatically with reverse. Other than that it flies just like a Rev.

It's an Oh, my God, before you start and a That Was Easy once you do it.

So far, knock on wood, all looks and functions well.

The LaserPro that Paul mentioned above will be fine. Most kite shops will have one or two colors. I believe it is available in black, grey, white and red. You can get it online if there is no shop near you. 100-pound test Spectra core in a 40- or 50-pound Dacron sheath. 100 feet of it weighs 3 or four ounces at most, so it can be shipped to you via first class mail.

WRONG!!!!! The kite is not kicking butt. You are!

Depends on the kite and your intent. Tell us what kite you're working with.

What is the length of your handles? Shorter handles like 11", or handles with more bend, will decrease the amount of input you give the kite. Definitely grab the handles lower if you're bowtieing. Remember, the kite is very unstable moving in reverse. Advanced flyers like JB make it look easy, but believe me, even he is on the edge of a bowtie at all times in reverse. Also, the kite's maximum reverse speed is only about a 1/4 of that in forward motion. When you initialize the movement you must start slow and gradually get it up to speed, just don't expect to break any records. <This last statement is not 100% true, but we'll get around to "whump" once you are comfy moving backwards without over-controlling the kite. Too much input, too suddenly, is over-control and is what causes bowties and other issues like falling out of the sky. Once you can control the degree of error consistently it's called a "trick".

I have only flown a ProDancer SUL once, but loved it immediately. If I had some money to spend I would buy one. It will fly if someone farts. In a steady 2mph breeze you can sit down and fly it.

John. Red, white and black? That is soooo Midwest! Nicely done, both of you.

Low wind flying is kind of a Zen thing. Even with a kite designed for it you will not be comfortable or find it easy to fly. I hate to disillusion you, but low wind flying is honed by experience. You honestly must "be one" with the wind and the kite, and know how and when to take advantage of what it does at any given time. Control inputs need to become smoother and more precise, or your kite will just slide out of the sky. Managing your flying space becomes a major factor. Watch the JB tutorial video on this subject. Although it is quad-oriented, most of the theory translates very well to dual.

Do you want to have your inverted hover down pat in one day? Of course you do! Try this: Set your lines for as much brake as you can handle, minus one knot. Launch, fly to the top of the window. Turn the kite upside-down and fly towards the ground as slowly as possible without wobbling. At ten to fifteen feet above the ground turn and fly back to the top. Repeat 150 times, going slower on each descent, alternating the side you turn to. Take a break and park the kite every 10 repetitions for about ten minutes. I guarantee you will own your hover if you do this exactly as described. This should take 2-1/2 to 3 hours to complete. You are aiming for descents so slow that you would swear it's not moving. Voila! you're hovering in control, steady as a rock.

Remove the tail weight and adjust the bridle accordingly. You should find it quite capable at 2mph if the wind isn't too lumpy.

Anything over 15, it's time to bring out a vented kite and put the standard sail away. Don't know if you are aware of it, but if you left click on images it will show you a magnified version. The Beaufort scale chart is kind of fuzzy anyway, but you can look at a crisper version of it if you Google it.

There's a dozen or more up and down the coast right there. They are all primarily kitesurfing oriented. Stop in at one or two and ask if they know where you can get a stunt kite.

MUCH quicker response with the Diamonds. If you're flying in 2mph that's what to use. When it drops to 1/2-mph, go with the P100s or P90s if you have them.

Yes. The question is: Do you want to fly, or do you want to watch? Every time you fly a kite you are stretching the sail material. It is inevitable. It's only a matter of time. What you have in your quiver, or borrow from others, determines what you will fly. The manufacturer's recommended wind range takes this into account. In time you will be able to fly in lower than recommended wind and this will keep the stretch to a minimum. In winds 30mph and up, those who are still flying are using holes with some edging material as kites. They are known as "Vickies" (Victoria's Secrets), and are not made commercially. When it's over 30mph I prefer a beer at the (indoor) bar.

You may find this helpful: As far as spars are concerned, the general rule of thumb is the frame that originally came with the kite from the factory for the kite's manufacturer-recommended wing range. The amount of variation, substitution and hybridization of frames for whatever existing conditions, are only limited by imagination and wind speed. You can find lots of info on this forum if you search the topics. Most of the spars available for Rev kites have been weighed, measured and tested for amount of flex and response time. The numbers presented are guidelines and not written in stone. You will eventually develop a feel for what works best for you. You would probably not like the setup I use, and I would probably prefer mine over yours. Wind speed, quality, intent and personal preference determine the ideal setup for existing conditions. Except for the obvious, like using spars that are too weak for the wind speed/gusts and will snap easily, it entirely depends on your intent and style. There is no "when this happens, use this" formula, only a range of possibilities for which you will develop a feel with time.

Add 3mph to the lower stated wind range of any kite until you have at least 150 hours of experience. The manufacturer generally states the capability of the kite, not the pilot. In JB's hands that puppy will fly in zero wind, with a boatload of work on his part. If the pilot is in a wheelchair, he'll need at least 6 or 7mph to fly with no issues. You and I fall somewhere in between.

Yes, with the tail weight removed and some minor bridle adjustments, which we can guide you through (also illustrated in the instructions that come with the kite), you can use it as a dedicated low-wind kite. I had one when I was just starting out and enjoyed it thoroughly. It was my low-wind go-to kite. I had an E2, E3 and some others at the time, but got into quad-line and didn't learn dual-line as well as I could have. I looked at his eBay listings and can see that he's a kite shop in Ohio, apparently closing his doors. Good prices on everything and all new stock. I would have no issues buying from him. The Zephyr is a popular kite, so I would check if he has other colors.

Be patient. Bargains on kites come up quite often. I just looked at the one in the Orca color that's on eBay right now. With free shipping I would be all over it at that price, despite it not being my first choice in color either. Don't worry about it being too "techy" for you. That's what the rest of us are here for.

@JaseRicco Not sure if you know, but this is a collectors' edition kite. You can get the same kite in standard production colors, used, on eBay right now for $60 to $80.