Thanks for the tips @RobB. Your response notification went to my spam folder and I just now saw it. Really good idea about using a leaf blower to experiment. I called Premier Kites and got some customer support. I was told to attach the front bridle (i.e., the nose and front paws) to a separate line to control the amount of pull to help shape the head. Still not as perfect as I'd like, but much better. And flying it down at around 15-20 feet altitude delighted a couple of toddlers at the beach -- which is why we do this, right? 🙂

I didn't want make a new thread on an old topic, so here's a thread revival question or two -  I read just most of the posts in this thread and I am left feeling like after 8-9 years of flying, I still don't fly with enough brake! I remember changing my style a few years back and finding what I felt like was more neutral space/control after acquiring new leaders... but learning that JB runs a 10" top/bottom difference or '10" of brake' is insane! 😳 Quite a few other guys mentioned closer to 5-6" of brake... which is twice or three times more than what Im normally flying on lighter days.  I just measured where my JB handles/leaders were after a relatively light 8-10mph wind day and im at 2.25" of brake on my vintage Rev 1.5 full sail. Lines are equalized. I had a fun day flying, all directions, clean hovers, good speed control, easy turns and spins, lots of inverted hovers, slides + backwards practice, tip drags & inverted slides in the ocean, etc... I did do a good bit of walking backwards to keep up in the lighter wind but - I always felt like pulling the top line in gave me a bit more power in light wind? but this thread makes me feel like I've got it backwards... It's gonna feel more challenging/different but that's what all you fancy flying pros are suggesting here. 😎 More brake (moving further out on the top line) would give me better control/sail on light days? (Once Im off the ground, sounds like takeoff will require more effort) Is that what yall mean when we talk about 'squaring up' to the wind? So the leading edge would be effectively higher/further away, allowing more air to fill the sail?  After reading all this and the mention of oversheeting above, which I have noticed a little bit of - I think I could benefit from more brake, which means a solid double whomp take off strategy and more mid-flight whompage as well.  My question for JB would be why not sell your leader kits with even more length on the top line? Allowing one to get out past 6" of brake? Is that realm just for alien whompers like you? 😉 I really enjoy understanding the technical side of tuning and flying so I appreciate all the amazing posts and information in this thread! Let me know if Ive got my head in the right place with this or I am missing something or confusing the strategy here. 🙏  

Thanks for the endorsement Rob! 

I like the tease picture with the Vapor in the back ground ! I see that Edward's profile here is new, he probably lost his old account and just signed up for a new one. I will say that I've known him for 15+ years and anyone can feel confident trading kites with him. He's one of you kiteheads that I've actually met in person & he's the real deal.  

Looks like some sort of Roto-Kite. Looks like it's setup right...