SHBKF

Bought my first big 3 meter delta this summer. Can't wait to go to the beach & put her up with a big tube tail I have. We've been too busy playing with the old street rods to get to the beach but we were just speaking of flying kites, racing slot cars & cruising the boulevard. I'll be watching this topic for inspiration. Wow, gotta love the KiteLife.

Way to go Rob. Hook 'em good. The force pulls hard for all that can feel it.

Count me in, again. A modern classic. Maybe it will like my style or perhaps lead me to a new one. If it comes my way I would ask for a signature and a date to make the karma even stronger. This has been a very positive year & my optimism is quite high. Best wishes to all who join in. When I used to fish it seemed like the individual that needed the biggest encouragement would catch the best one. I think this may be the outcome for this fine kite. If you are just ghosting this forum please join up & enter.

This lengthy discussion has broadened my thoughts & inspired me to keep with the program. My item to pass on, if I'm selected to add to the Karma stream, would be a non-kite item that every kite bag could use.

I think six blue Nexus would look nice so I'm in. Five really pull & six couldn't be that much more I suppose. These kites were the ones that got me fired up enough to start posting on a forum I used to be active on. I got a bit carried away with my lengthy posts about linking but I'm a bit wordy. Here they are staked out & ready to launch for the first time as five. It was a great day. Flew my TRLBY stack for the first time that session also.

Tried that but doesn't work with my genius wife, she says, "So you bought one with holes in it so it will fly slower?" Can't gettaway wit nuttin... Really she is brilliant, gives me advice based on thought & observation that actually works. That is if I swallow my pride & listen. Did I mention that she's a crack shot & has also been banned from playing skill games at amusement parks for winning too much. Claims she's going to take up serious kite flying next time we go to the beach. I'm thinking Ocracoke Island in a couple weeks. Last time I was there you could have flown a mid vent at our table on the porch inside Howard's Pub.

I resemble that statement. My kite collection will become the hoard at some break over threshold in the near future. Then there's my other collections. But I did manage to sell two vehicles & only buy one recently. Then there's the Swiss Army Knife room to consider. 9/26/13 update - my wife eventually made up for it & purchased an extra car for her collection

I was wondering about the tails on the little big stack, beautiful. Love those little Microns. I only have two & have flown them stacked but will add five more next time I go to the beach. Bought my first one before I was really ready to try a fast kite but when I finally did the smiling was non-stop.

Amazing! Inspiring! Congratulations to all involved. Quite a feat to assemble the stack & what a great pilot.

I have the Cool Sedgwick Rev 1 also. I think it looks spectacular in the stormy skies of winter here in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

You are right on, this is the place to keep the flame burning bright. The emotional feel of kite flying is a tremendous part of the pull of the kite & the mysterious attraction of the Darkside surprised me. I don't open up about the feelings involved too often but you struck a chord with your post. Welcome, look forward to following your posts.

Welcome to the KiteLife! It took me three sessions, each about an hour long, to get my Rev to stay in the air successfully. Many how to fly videos & instructions are on this site & the Rev site. Poor wind will make things tough. I also had to learn how to find a good site. Do you fly two line kites? I flew my duelies & tried my Rev for a bit each time I had good wind. Many good instructors will post help for you shortly I'm sure.

Thanks, it's really great to see what other people are using, both new ideas & very developed ones. It's these discussions & pictures that make me anxious to see what's next in the KiteLife.

Been a bit over forty years since I went cold turkey. Well there was that one time in '87. But I blame it on the moonshine. To this day I don't mind a little second hand Marlboro but if you want to try something pretty difficult give up wheat. The comments on feeling better hit home because I no longer have the sinus issues that were life long previously, but I digress....The hard core hikers always say "You've got to hike your own hike."

I've just ordered some spare parts for my 4D from the Prism shop. When I got to the online checkout their system wanted over $30 to ship $12 worth of parts to me here in the UK! That seemed like a lot ( my wife regularly get craft stamps from the States and only pays $12-15 shipping at most for a much bigger package). I contacted Prism who explained that the online system quotes postage based on larger items and while small stuff costs less, the system can't adjust so Prism will amend the charges at shipping. I placed my order with the shop - final amount with the higher shipping was around $50. I have just had the payment taken from my bank today - a total of under $20 in total! so shipping charges were about $6 to the UK! I'm happy enough with that! That has been my experience also. Calling in your order is best IMHO. The shipping charges are actually okay but the web estimate will tend to scare you off. All the various kite vendors I have purchased from have been great to deal with.

Wow! 0.00354", super ultra light stuff like that is probably hard to even see!

I'm anxious to hear the responses, thanks for asking this question. I have very little indoor experience but one thing I have found that helps me is to try to fly the kite as slowly as it will fly. This keeps me from overpowering the sail & gives me more time before I have to turn again. I started out running around like crazy like I did as a kid. When I slowed down & watched the kite it was much better. Add fast moves after you get more comfortable with slow ones. There are other things I could mention but I want to hear what Wayne has to say, he is hard core.

I have been watching for the changes that happen automatically but I am not sure the number that gets you "promoted" at each level. Some careful observation would show the range. It is also cool that I had not seen it mentioned & just had to wonder. But now it's in the KiteLife discussion. Actually Newbie is still quite appropriate for my skill level compared to the masters of flight. It does surprise me though when I fly at a seemingly simple level that was quite unknown to me a year ago. You all have helped me in so many ways, you have no eye deer.

Had never occurred to me to ask about a Zen for sale. I figured they were keepers & much prized by the advanced "Masters of Rev". But I too would love to have one in any condition. It's high on my list of next ones. Hope one finds you.

When I first started breaking kites I ordered spare parts from Prism several times, four I believe. I noticed a special clearance of the old 3D case for $5.00. I hoped the 4D would fit & ordered one with my next batch of spares. It's a nice slim case of typical Prism quality & the 4D fit without having to break down the leading edge. I put the line set on a little bigger winder & it still fits. Don't seem to need a kite stake with 4D but a small one would also fit in the nice little case. Don't see it on the site any longer, sorry. When I would normally use a kite stake for a larger kite I don't with the little kite. In higher wind I launch it with the line slipping through my hands while flying around until the handles arrive at their more typical location. I usually just hold the lines & don't use the handles. This technique is a little harder to do with the Micron but I haven't burnt my skin yet...

Shorter line sets can be helpful in that you are closer to the kite & can see what is going on a little better. The window is smaller & it seems like the kite is flying faster. It actually may be a little faster due to less line drag. But conditions are so variable that it doesn't really become a factor. Super short line sets can be a challenge because you are constantly running out of flying space. But if you are learning ground maneuvers short lines allow you to learn more quickly. I learned on 150's back in the 80's & did not think they were too long at the time. You will have many line sets to choose from after a bit. Many non kite flyers think I'm crazy for spending so much on "string" but quality lines are a huge advantage no doubt. Be open to flying different line lengths & weights. Your kite will let you know what it likes.

I will try Rob's suggestion, sounds good to me. By the way, 3M & Ford came up with masking tape. It should also work if you remove it in 24 hours or less. I have cleaned adhesive from previously repaired kites with lighter fluid. It is pretty much the same thing as Coleman fuel. Of course it's a good idea to try any solvent on a similar fabric or small spot first. But my approach to a repair is I can't lose if it saves an otherwise useless item. There are excellent "Moonie" tapes available for permanent repairs. Honor our roots "Keep the old ones flying!" gray tape trailing edge repair

Yes, I've been watching & suspected 100 was a threshold. I noticed your "Fair Weather Cruiser" & thought maybe it was some kind of special honor you had been given. Now I'll have to ponder what mine might be, perhaps "no eye deer" or "May the forest be with you".

That's a skateboard isn't it? (Hmm, seems I just made "advanced member" upon hitting 100 posts, yippee!)

My first kite bag is very simple Cordura bag, one large compartment with a full length quality zipper & two handles. It is not long enough to carry a full sail kite with the leading edges assembled so that limits it to kites the size of an HQ Shadow or smaller. I carry SLK's, foils, & Revs in it plus any smaller kites. It is still very useful. I can load a dozen kites & accessories in it. There is no maker's name on it. I have a Prism Speed Bag which is very well made but quite long. I carry six kites plus line sets but it is rated for four. I carry any extra accessories in a matching waist bag. Many will say the Speed Bag is too small. But I usually only fly three kites in a three or four hour session so it works well for me. I would like to have the bigger roll up bag they used to make also. Revolution markets a Rev specific bag that is on the buy list for the future also. Have not heard any real complaints about that one. My experience is quite limited as usual. Part of the fun is the search for what suits you in particular. The blown out seam is a bummer but not too tough to repair.