Paul LaMasters

my bride is looking for "matchstick bamboo spars", ... can anyone offer assistance? here's the inquiry I am curious where you get your spars from for outreach events? Especially the matchstick bamboo spars that bow. I am new to the world of kites and am learning.

Handles have been "claimed" by someone, but the kite itself I still have... It's hard to imagine preferring those handles, but a good adjusting concept was explored

I've used the SLE tubes and 4 wraps in winds above 35 mph for team, but I prefer it more flexible with 3 wraps or green race when alone. I'd ship it to you for trials, but if not interested you need to pay for it's return back to me. If you think it's a great deal, then ship your Zen back to me, eventually I'll need to order a new Shook to replace this trade-in. Eliot is also rebuilding my first Zen, replacing the trailing edge as necessary. lamasters paul AT Gee-mail DOT com The Zen can be reworked to magnificent, you just need some new crap slapped on it. THe diamond frame and some magic sticks at least, I highly recommend swapping out the bridle as well! It becomes an entirely different kite for very little outlay of add'l funds. Mine is used to double digit winds and flies in a fart, no other kite can match it for low-no wind performance. That doesn't mean you can fly it laying on the ground or from a lawn chair though. It's a bus, big movements by you and time in between them for effects to take place, you're steering with a big wheel in your hands. Little movements are going to be ignored. But step back slightly and snap your thumbs to forward flight and it rockets out of your hands with supercharger force. You can slack line and re-power effortlessly. Tricks are timed with a sundial not a stop-watch. Lastly, field recovery is a pilot-less input for literally hundreds of feet. I'd recommend you not give up on such a beautiful wing as your Zen, but if you are serious then I guess private emails are next for us.

I might consider trading a Shook 100% Mesh for your Zen (It will be my 3rd one though!) It's patriotic (red/white/blue) with a french bridle and magic sticks,.... I'll have to get a picture up as I don't have any (seldom used, never at home)

I have no idea what the comparison is between the zen frame and a diamond Rev frame of equal size as a number on the postal scale. When I handed my bride (NOT a sport kite fan) a stick of each she laughed and said "Ah! that's why. This one is much lighter in weight AND costs extra" The magic sticks (or any other modifications for that matter) are just another flavor, you might have to get used to it (or them). You certainly should test by comparison across different conditions before forming a final opinion. Most folks like the difference mods make in flight performance, but it you have ten thousand hours one way, nothing else will ever feel right. I know that's how I am, when on other's equipment! The newer flyers always pick my kites as the best handling when offered a line of kites to choose from. More predictable, no bridle wiggling requiring opposite hand counter-actions, a direct connection, precise and responsive. Lessons begin with the cartwheel first and immediately progress to inverted hover and field recovery techniques. The magic sticks make these actions easier to master and they allow you to risk slack-line techniques without the walk-of-shame if you fail. They're also cheap to build (or acquire pre-made) and easy to install & remove. Compare for yourself and see what you think. Thanks Wayne for carrying on the mission out west!

When in doubt, ... add DOWN tuning first and see if that is an improvement towards your "neutral" expectations of flight. if the kite doesn't "lock in", then maybe the lines, leaders & handles need to be adjusted slightly. Drop the lines from the kite bridle onto a well-placed stake or fence post and pull the handles backwards tight. Align the two handles as evenly as possible, grip firmly and sight directly down the string towards the stake. The longer line will show itself (as you slightly give slack). Do the top lines and adjust, . . . . then the bottoms, don't be in hurry. I tune with the handles in the opposite place too (colored electrical tape marking one is in my left hand to tune, then flown from my right) This is a front-end alignment on your race car. You don't want to be going towards the wall EVEN as you're desperately trying to steer straight! No, you're after a set of control dynamics where the kite does all the work. You are just relaxing, giving it gentle commands to be instantly obeyed in flight. A few versions, each kite for different sets of specific conditions, insures you can always fly regardless of the wind. From none to bookin'!!! (or indoors up to when the porta-potties are being blown away). If you are working too hard, then it's time to change your tool to something more appropriate.

I was at the kite fest in Geneva. Also, I was at the DeKalb Fest yesterday which was well attended. Lots of interested people with questions about my Rev. And although I don't think I'd wish to hand over the controls of my Rev to a rookie, I may try to have a dual line kite set up next time for people to take a whack at. Bill hey that's my old stomping grounds, NIU (1976-79),... the Fife & Drum, McCabes, The Plaza,.... I've gotta' get back there one of these days and a kite fest is about the perfect choice for an event to attract my attention.

To tune your handles and leaders turn the kite upside down, keep adding down until it will reverse from inverted, that's how much you need assume 3 or 4 times the lengths comparing top leaders to bottom That will feel real weird in the beginning, move the tops in an inch if you have to, beyond that is counter productive

a more moveable/steerable single line kite,...like a low wind SLK or indoor-styled glider might be more to your liking. You can into it for under $100 and for a couple of hundred dollars you can fly almost any model available. I like one particularly called the Skate, it would OWN your local winds in the ranges you've defined above and flies in a dead-calm Will Sturdy makes a glider kite that can be flown on a "wand" indoors or outside. Now you arm is suddenly longer, so you can do more, as opposed to just watching it stapled into the sky. You could fly a delta-styled kite and use "line climber" which goes up and down the string after the kite is high and stationary. Call one of the shops above and talk to the owner, see what they recommend, or go hook-up with some other kiters and try-out OPKs until you connect with one.

I will offer the "interested spectator" a chance on the handles, but I didn't come downtown to give kite lessons all day on the mall. All the tricks and everything I've learned in 20+ years of quading can be shared in five minutes (if we have good clean smooth wind for the lesson) We advise locals to NOT buy a kite for the first 2 years, instead if you are truly that interested, acquire a properly fitting and fully functional Gortex rain-suit and appropriate all weather shoes. Just come down for the monthly flies and use our stuff, I know the weather is frightful, come anyway! We are happy to share equipment if you are truly committed. Eventually you'll know what you want and be completely comfortable with the cost for such a fine object. You see it having a "perceived value", something you'd be willing to save and sacrifice for. Something you have dreamed about and carefully planned for. Something we all want a turn on too! Don't buy used, beginner or intermediate, wait and get it perfect. You just don't know what that is (YET!) We have some kite club members who aren't decade long friends, but they are one of us nevertheless. They are volunteering to do those intro lessons now (that is so cool to me, when they used to be watching instead!) They are only fancy tricks if you can't do them yourselves, it's just slack and restoring full power moments later. I can't hardly fly without jerking and flailing all around, not that I want you to copy my poor example of control. Most spectators would rather watch us, but when we take a break, we split apart and talk to the folks individually. If we can get you out flying with us a couple of times, the hook is set deep enough to reel 'em in for club membership. Then your own desire and commitment of time come into play whether you cross-over and sell your soul to the sport-kite demons or vanish onto the next great mall activity.

you can change one aspect to gain another advantage, but every decision is a compromise someplace else if you push that change far enough. Frame light and get a bigger wind window, but it might be very twitchy in the powered-up center. Stiffen the frame and you might fall out of the sky if you go far enough to the edges Throw and catch is easier with some mass & frame stiffness, but then you have to work harder to maintain ordinary flight. All the slack line tricks work but one way might be more work than the other. If you want the full spectrum of quadlined activities you have to make some compromises. The bridle is another example, you could use one for low wind pressures, or remove it entirely, yet a different model might be best when it's howling outside. Does the factory model bridle suit all your needs or is it a compromise the suits most conditions pretty well? My conditions warrant ANY change that benefits low wind improvements in flight or how much less I need to work. The "feel" is everything, . . . that can't be purchased, instead it should be experienced. The more "feels you have", the more your can tune towards whatever objectives you judge as most critical. An interesting experiment in measurements, thank you.

Steve has no equal in my experience, (some can trick better) but none can match his abilities with two kites flown at once

agreed, keep it! Nick, it is something to grow into and the first time your click with the SS it will be so magical. You don't have to floor the vehicle's throttle to enjoy the ride, right? But knowing those horsepower ponies can come barrellin' out of the corral whenever your want 'em is comforting. Once you master the quad-line flight characteristics it's just another kite, with a supercharger & in-line laughing gas boosting for you both!

A slight diagonal thread wrap on the insert wall and a gentle epoxy overcoating could thicken it up easily, . . . . sanding it down if necessary. You can buy the ferules loose and just cut down old SLE tubes if they're too long as well. Then it fits correctly and it's light and strong, the carbon ferules are hollow in fact. I fly my Zen with a diamond frame all the way around and can't imagine using it any other way, but hey to each his own, I surely get playing w/modifications to see what happens! On the B-series full sail I prefer a travel frame (6 piece leading edge) Diamond so when I break a tube it's only 1/2 the cost, HA It's still snappy response stiffness compared to P-90s and you can really throw it around aggressively in zip wind. Honestly?, I think if Rev only sold the green race and diamond frames-sets that's all I'd ever need to be happy.

You have a Zen but with the Blast's leading edge tubes inserted? WoW that ought to "throw" like a javelin!

ten hours a week = 2-1/2 months Paul Dugard did some testing in front of us on the team line during a break in the action. He started off flying with 22 wraps in the Skybond

Mixing both brands on the line for a couple of years informally, no issues. The problem will always be someone's OLD lines

Dump that slack bridle slopiness altogether and add some structure to the frame, increase the response input speed and double or triple the wind range on your Zen, modifications are the secret not your flight technique to load the sail thru pre-movement, test and compare, see for yourself what is possible on this kite. No one wants a stock Zen after the comparison testing is completed, not a single individual yet!

I've heard "the stories" of Lee Sedgwick throwing a Rev out of a van's back doors and catching it again inside (during a storm), . . . heck, he probably invited those 3D tricks!

excellent production, flight skills and locations shown,... thank you very much for your efforts

we match that schedule Wayne I don't care what weather is being offered, if it's not lightning storm I am out flying (noT all 11 days!, . . . . pretend you hear Barbara saying that,.... And see my head nodding forward & back vigorously)

The zen was crafted to carry a diamond frame & 20" magic sticks, if you have not experienced it in this configuration then it might as well not be assembled at all! Every complaint, flexibility of the frame, narrow wind range, glide lacking, slack line tricks difficult, whatever. I hope anyone willing to try it out steps forward at WSIKF. I am close to wearing out my 2nd Zen, the most used kite in the bag. There is simply no comparison, as stated by those who have done trials side-by-side and they are NOT "sticks" users. A completely different kite. Don't assume you can just slap a set from the 1.5 platform onto your Zen, they need to be long enough that the structure is supported. No wind to double digits, glides that go to the horizon, ability to absorb the turbulence swirls and an effortless catch on long lines. Seek me out and try it for yourselves. It's a completely unfair advantage, a zen moment in your life!

I found the quads easier in no-wind & swirling conditions, but I know folks who can fly the stitching out of a dualie sail in any wind. So it's like anything else. If you practice enough, you'll make it look effortless too

Yes, don't give up, . . . . call or hang-out with the LSP Crowd. They will loan you a kite while you eat ketchup sandwiches to save your money. If you could get into a REV or make one yourself in your budget NO ONE would fly anything else! The fact is, you can get past the price of admission & they are a hellva' value, literally years of pleasure, alone or with a group. Only an hour away from Liberty State Park?, you have no idea how lucky you are already!

I prefer a dead calm, most of my experience with sport kites is in these conditions, really hoping for some day-break calm @ WSIKF I flew both days this weekend, only used one kite (Zen) and a couple of different line lengths, ~ shortest was 60 feet/90# LPG on 17 inch (measured across the gap) Titanium long throws, miracle set-up for 3D & flailing ~ I used both a set of 100 and 120s (one LPG and the other Skybond), each on 15 inch no-snags I can catch these lengths, but you have to hand-carry the kite most of the way back or the lines will become a tangled mess If there's a hint of wind at all, I prefer 100'/100# Skybond (for the Zen, it's not even fun to fly under fifty feet)