Paul LaMasters

SKB hard sided golf club case, it's on nice wheels and with one single golf club in there,... no weight restrictions from the airlines apply either. If questioned, your reply shall be "contains golf training equipment". The spars and kites included are for alignment, swing training and wind (forecasting it's impact on the golf ball flight path and distance) it's super tough, you can sit on it, kick it around and drop it, just like baggage handlers do! Holds a Rev roll-up kite bag or a hard-sider like the Orvis Case, all the sharp implements & line-sets, handles and tools, shave kit and rain gear, boots I like the double sized for the baby ryvs ,..... http://www.skbcases.com/sports/sku.php?cat=16&pid=73

The kite MUST back-up from an inverted position, regardless of wing or wind (configuration/conditions) indoors or outside. "That is the quad-line effect". Show me, simple as that, the better demonstrated the more impressive it shall be. Control, that is the soul of a quad flyer. Just keep working on it, I start every pilot upside down, the sooner you are comfortable an inch high/inverted, the sooner you are one of us. Land/balance on the trash can lid too, (when it's a soda pop can instead, that is the control being displayed that impresses other quad-heads) Then you're ready for team or group flies as well, you "stay in your own lane when driving and are welcomed into our traffic patterns!" Don't think about the flight actions (did you envision water pouring from the faucet this morning, brushing' teeth?), Nope, just felt it happening unconsiously. Hold the handles so softly you drop 'em occasionally, think "move two feet and stop", then 2 more. Control, the music happens on the stops.

didn't a damaged mandrel played a role too,.....?

Catches on 120 feet, that's the Zen. Release the handles entirely from an inverted hover at the top of the window and it goes 300% of the height away from you (all by itself!) You keep working that darn thing,... see my pix in the lefthand corner? That's a Zen baby

axel a Zen is the act of stepping forward AS you do the hand technique,.... so much slack you can walk into it, not just catching a shirt button or wrist watch, walk towards the kite at the edge of the window, then practice closer to the center as you gain experience. you are after a slow rotation, which changes lanes during the transition, timing it with a sundial! Flick flak (I use a French Bridle and sissy sticks, Flying Smiles Kites), insure you have "sufficient down"/reverse tuned into your set-up, snap your thumbs together, ~ evenly ~ towards the kite, it will flip inside out (this is a violent action as the kite's 3 feet tall), wait a second and step backwards away from the kite, it will return to upright without any further action required by the pilot. This is done directly downwind and your hand actions must be equal and centered. If you can do a flick-flak you are only "steps away" away from the Falling Leaf. Now when you flick, you'll step violently towards the kite also, not just the hand action alone, No, a total body commitment. There's huge slack in there now, you must wait until the last possible second as the kite falls towards the ground (the string is over the LE) and then step-backwards aggressively to unwrap and remove the acres of slack you placed in moments ago. Snapping the kite back to upright, powered up again flight possible. If you can half axel (stop the kite flat, leading edge facing you, bridle below the kite) you're set-up to do a clam-shell roll-up. Do the 1/2 axel low to the ground, at half way around snap those thumbs violently at the kite and flick it over, it's four beats of music if you are ready to demo. The Zen can do anything and everything other Quads can do, just slower, more gracefully, actually it's the easiest size to teach lessons on, it's responsive feeling down the strings which folks immediately connect to...... I am working out my fourth Zen, it's a personal favorite kite of mine. Still available too, if you want to chase Bazzer and Shook to make it happen. Ask for something unreasonable,... HA! you won't be the first one to do so. Mylar-backed SUL leading edge sleeve made of nylon, built tighter to the tubes too, magic sticks, French bridle, hybrid framing, covers sewn over the elastic knots, additional reinforcing patches I forgot to address line lengths, the Zen is a big kite, it needs time to do it's thing, I use 60 feet or 100 feet of 50pound Skybond on long throw handles. 30 feet is an indoor length and not recommended at all on this sized format

Shook's mesh masterpiece kites have been around a decade or longer too, he's another vendor making a profound impact on the industry,.... three hundred times at least!

back in the old days (HA!) folks would "wet their sails" to slow 'em down before competing, or pretensioning the leading edge (adding a curvature thru the use of string down the tube's length that can be tightened ~ like Rok) venting and mesh kites now, better design overall of sail panels and shaping too bridles and framing choices We are so lucky now!!!!!! There's no bad weather, only a poorly equipped kite flier -plm

Ha, the B -series pro kite WAS available as an SUL, you just had to request it that way ( regardless of venting desired). Bazzer always made em "my way", even unfinished leading edges when cooperative endeavors were called for.... ask for what you want

under 180, okay

my outdoor suggestion is to practice inverted a couple of inches above the ground, I start All novices upside down, doing the cartwheel to roll over (no dragging the leading edge like a dualy kite) to up-right. Work on landing in the same spot on the ground or on a PICNIC table, upright, left, right, inverted, imagine you have a trash can top to land on,.... well when it can be taken away and replaced with a soda pop can, that is the control required for a stationary hover in low/no wind outdoors or with indoor conditions. YOU aren't stationary ever and the kite only is to your own perspective. If the kite will not back-up from an inverted position (on the ground) something is wrong with the bridle, or the handle/leader tuning. It must back-up inverted to engage the quad-effect, not every kite design can do this, some work better than others. Johnny B hated the indoor Rev, he has forced himself to master it fully because other pilots have used it so effectively for decades. It is not "my cup of tea" either, I have found other solutions better for my preferences indoors and outside. That ideal line length indoors is very personal and will change like your sock colors over time.

downward 180 turns are a dual line technique, .... it drops your altitude and sends you back towards the center of the wind window. None of those are beneficial with a quad!!!! No, you "Back the bottom wing up" instead of having the top wing power downward. Say you were the bottom guy in a whole line of kites stacked above each other in a column. You are as low as you can go already and now it's time for a 180 turn. You want a stationary turn, slow and remaining rock solid in position. If I witnessed you doing a downward 180 turn with my equipment loaned we'd stop and talk about it. I don't want to see that, you don't want your peers to see it and you surely don't want spectators to know that type of movement is even possible. Use the "quad-line effect" or cut two strings off and fly dually

check one more vote for Brianne Howard, capable (if you can define your own needs adequately!), reasonable and fast!

does the kite have enough "reverse" (tuned into the handles &/or leaders)? Does it barely go forward at all, under only the most demanding of your commands? How long are your lines? Does the kite use a bridle? Walking in a circle should allow you to go forward half way around and in reverse the other 50% the "up &over move" should be forward flight until you are comfortable walking around, .....then work on doing it in reverse, reach out (extend your arms) to get it moving towards the apex and then pull your arms downward, almost like you were squatting down to reach the highest point and float on down the other side. This will take time and then suddenly happen, wondering what all the fuss was about thereafter a lesser action will initiate the action desired.

concur totally!!! My bride and I had a great time at the SPI kite fest for the past week. WoW put on a good show too, Cosca did great as the MC on the mic! Fletch and I supported him thru sherpa duties, then did our own things when possible. We picked-up and incorporated stragglers (who fit our selection criteria "must be misfit material") as a part of our team. I would have loved a couple of hours of dead calm outside so we could abuse the AUAs acquired recently And,... we didn't use the mylar holographic tails either! Everyone was so friendly, we were recognized thru-out the weekend walking the island, felt like rock stars on holiday. Lots of folks were repeat spectators, both indoors and outside it seemed. They'd set-up and stayed all day too, beeping the vehicle's horn if we did something profoundly entertaining. We had folks stop us in the airport, during meals, just an amazing feeling to experience. (I AM the worst pilot in attendance, they still knew MY name!)

then you are left with the acquisition of tougher, stiffer spars to prevent breakage in big wind or against hard commands of flight, an inch of bridle line (looped extension) seemed easier, quicker & cheaper to test

lay the kite flat on the ground, (no flying lines) is it flat? now suspend it in the air by the top two attachment points (ONLY) of the bridle. A "OFF" ceiling fan or a personal helper in the den holding one side? If the bridle "cups" air pressure ( a curved surface as in photo 3) that is good for low wind, slack line tricking, maybe even giving a lesson. If the frame is more flat/stiffer it will track better (stay on the line you've placed it upon) **** Make certain the frame has no distortion when suspended by the top two points ONLY. Move or adjust legs to fit this objective. In photo 2, it appears to me, you can add some little loop bridle extensions (on the corners/ends of the leading edge) between frame end-cap & the actual bridle, try an inch diameter loop first, .... objective is to restrict or NOT move those end caps on the corners of the LE towards the pilot during hard forward flight commands (or in a big wind). Conversely, you could let out the center of the bridle instead, longer, try a few various lengths in an effort to dial it in. Watch out for excessive wiggle at the center bridle attachment point on the LE, that is making "slop", or smoothing out\diluting pilot commands, necessitating a pre-load (Whump) It will be harder to break a spar with everything on the bridle legs pulling up tightly but still flat! It will also impact the low end of the wind range (gone or lessened) and alter the flight dynamics of your flailing actions,..... (more pilot effort necessary to refill the sail or dump the air) Everything is a balance between your ultimate objectives and some awful bad crap you didn't want happening at all!!!! Alter the bridle to save the frame?

I have a B2 full sail and the Shook mesh CR2 version, both are a hoot. Different wind ranges for sure. Lightning fast slack and repowered back up fully as quick as you can think it. Here's Fletch spanking it for the first time. All the actions of tricks and precision are the same, just things happen quicker. I challenge folks to fly it slow and with great precision BEFORE spanking it hard. Just show me , so here's

four hundred bucks, you can have any of your selections inquired about above for a used set of lines, 13 inch handles and a full sailed kite

Brianne Howard makes customized kite bags to your exact requirements

Eliot shook quadlined mesh kites are exactly as you have described, four line problem solvers for indoors and outside. Lam Hoac makes superb two line kites, competition worthy or just max pleasure spanking the wind alone in the park custom crafted, powerful tools built to enjoy the flight on string, by dedicated masters best workmanship, raw materials and design standards, ability to deviate from the approved final plans too,.... know what you want and need it done "your way"? You can have it! there are others which will be recommended too

I'll stand on the sand dunes by the hotel if the misses is up for it,..... we'll bring theLED stuff and see what happens each day

Choices and preferences formed by experience

I'm with the misses, (but we will certainly have lighted kites), just not sure of our commitment to all day AND the nighttime too.

Misses and I are Tuesday to Tuesday, staying at the Pearl. I am not a positive role model, but can teach you some slack lined tricks if given five minutes

feel your pain bro, the wrong frame is like the wrong tires,.... (in a hill-climbing competition, but that wildly powerful vehicle only has drag racing slicks!)