Search the Community

Registration for one person, provides full access to instruction at this fun and educational workshop covering the most important aspects of QUAD LINE flying on The Flats in South Padre Island TX (capped at 20 students total) following the SPI Kite Festival. Exact location https://goo.gl/maps/Wf5NZPu4wfo Skill levels from first time flyers all the way up to masters are welcome, there is content for everyone and four instructors (ratio of 5 to 1) available all day including Team KiteLife members John Barresi, Scott Benz (@mystainedskin), Eli Russell (@windpoacher) and Brett Marchel (@Flight Risk). Schedule is 10am to 4pm - we cover an incredible library of important fundamentals in the “Quad 101” starting presentation, so please do be on time and consider something for taking notes - this is also a bring your own kite affair, but all types are welcome. We will break for a one hour lunch around noon, but some of the instructors will still be on the field assisting with remedial skills. By early afternoon we should be introducing folks to how easy team flying can be with a little information and understanding of how it all works - those who feel ready will also participate in a mega fly all together... NOTE: Team flying participation does require 120’ length lines and a 1.5 comparable kite of any brand. Signed up so far: @chucka @frob == Signup link http://kitelife.com/forum/store/product/72-tkl-clinic-spi-quad-line-feb-4th-2018/ Registration fee - $80

Join us for two very full days of quad instruction on the beautiful shores of St Annes Beach in Lytham St Annes U.K. on Aug 31 and Sep 1, 2017 immediately before the St Annes International Kite Festival! Instructors will be @John Barresi (http://www.johnbarresi.com) and @Josh.Mitcheson. DAY ONE - AUG 31 Quad 101: We'll be covering everything from absolute basics (pure beginner) all the way up through advanced techniques as well as the "weird stuff" like dogstake, short line catch and throw or any other quad line flight styles that may be of interest to the students, this first day is primarily focused on a full range of individual skills. DAY TWO - SEP 1 Team Flying: Actually easier than it looks, team flying is proven to help your skills along much quicker while having a ton of fun at the same time in a very forgiving social environment - after having done 100+ clinics, it's very very rare that fliers didn't find a fair measure of success on the line with others - come on, pave the way for participating in a mega fly at your next event. Testimonials - http://tinyurl.com/jb-testimonials Sign up link - http://kitelife.com/forum/store/product/51-uk-quad-clinic-aug-31-sep-1-2017/ (must use browser to sign up, link above won't work with Tapatalk or KiteLife App) == Ideal choice of equipment for this class is any model of Revolution 1.5 (includes EXP, SLE, B-Series, printed specials, etc) or similar "1.5 platform" models (like Phoenix, Freilein, Los Hermanos, etc) - we'll go through painless equipment set up, good tuning and all aspects of flight - this clinic is not brand-centric, the goal here is to demystify quad flying and set you up to win at your own game. If you want to be able to try team flying, 40 metre / 120 ft lines (Skybond or Spectra material) are strongly suggested as the international team standard. Registration is $125 (approx £100) per person and includes full access to the clinic on both days (Thu 10a-4p / Fri 10a-3p)... Please note, there are ONLY 20 SPOTS available and we expect them to fill up very quickly. If you want some homework, you might also check out the tutorials available at http://www.learnkites.com/ If you're coming, we start the "Quad 101" portion of this class at 10AM SHARP on Thursday morning... It's jam packed with invaluable information and first time attendees are encouraged to consider attendance mandatory, lots of little details that add dimension to your set up and flight experience. RSVP so far: @Flintfootfilly @Steve SLF @Caroline Senior @keithgrif (Mr) @keithgrif (Mrs) @Mark Jones @drdante @BarryS @FlyingHigh @sra7913 @gekko @JohnE @Stephen Sunderland @Simon Cooper @Ian Brayshaw @HippyChippy @SKS65 @JWharton @DaveJ Directions - https://goo.gl/maps/siw9CnN9AN32

Join us for two full days of hard core TEAM QUAD instruction on May 13-14, 2017 with three members of Team KiteLife including @John Barresi and Scott Benz (@mystainedskin) on both days with Brett Marchel (@Flight Risk) joining us on Sunday at the Munson Soccer Fields near Detroit MI. Location - https://goo.gl/maps/iszmxLfeQzT2 NOTE: This event has been reformatted - it is open to intermediate fliers or better only, focus will be on team flying and certain skills are required including basic hovers, figure 8 flight and fundamental speed control. Please also note, there are only 8 spots available! Saturday morning we'll have a rountable about team philosophy and dynamics, this covers a metric ton of stuff that even the "pros" think they know, but don't... Then we'll break up into two teams, rotating students between the two groups to work on team maneuvers and basic skill improvements, then we'll do a mega fly to close out the day, wind allowing. I'd also like to identify who, if anyone is interested in learning how to call a team on their own... This is a great chance for warm hearted coaching and friendly cohorts, really as painless and fun as it gets. Sunday will be more of the same, turned up few notches. Ideal choice of equipment for this class is any model of "1.5" style kites (includes EXP, SLE, B-Series, printed specials, Phoenix, Shook, Swiss Made, Freilein, etc) - we'll go through painless equipment set up, good tuning and all aspects of flight - the goal here is to demystify quad flying and set you up to win... Again, ANY type of basic "1.5 platform" quad line kite is acceptable for participation. Students will use their own kites, 120' length is REQUIRED for all team exercises. Must be Skybond or spectra lines for team flying. Testimonials - http://tinyurl.com/jb-testimonials Registration is $175 per person and includes full access to the clinic on both days (10a-4p), a discounted rate of $150 is available to KiteLife subscribers. KiteLife subscription info - http://join.kitelife.com Clinic sign up link: http://kitelife.com/forum/store/product/54-motor-city-squad-clinic-may-13-14-2017/ RSVP'd so far: @ru4camping @Jason R Hope to see you there!

I've been looking for 2" wide tails to use with team flying (one per kite), but I've been having trouble finding anything with these specs... 1 - No raw edges if it's fabric (to avoid fraying), all hemmed. 2 - If not fabric, some sort of strong cellophane maybe. 3 - Light enough to flow out downwind from the kites. 4 - Color, either all black or all white preferably. 5 - Each 45' to 50' in length. Have you good KL folks come across anything that might do what I'm looking for? I have used the 48' transition tails from Gomberg, but they are just too darned heavy.

Team KiteLife @ WSIKF 2016

*****EVENT CANCELED***** This workshop is specifically tailored for first time, beginner and intermediate quad fliers who want to try their hand at team flying - if you're able to launch, hold a basic upright hover for a few seconds, fly a little left, a little a right and back down to the ground (land), you're ready for this class! It is strongly suggested that you have attend (or have attended) one of our past Quad Clinics or Rev 101 sessions, as there is key equipment knowledge (set up, etc) that really should precede team flying. Fliers MUST bring 120 ft lines to participate, as team flying requires everyone to be on matching length lines. Registration is $175 per person ($150 for KiteLife Subscribers) to participate over the full weekend of learning. Schedule is 10a-4pm on both Saturday and Sunday. == KiteLife Subscriptions - http://join.kitelife.com/ == Fliers bring their own equipment, and we do generally break for lunch in the middle of the day - DO bring some rain gear in case we get sprinkled on. Before then, I strongly encourage you to browse these FREE video tutorials for some pre-workshop study... Hope to see you there!

Well....a lot of you have probably heard the news. For those that have not..what better place than here. It is official! A new pack of pilots forming a team of which the likes have never been seen! Team KiteLife John Barresi Scott Benz Eli Russell Brett Marchel Be sure to stop by the FB page and show us some love if you have not already. https://www.facebook.com/teamkitelife/?fref=ts Also the first performance booked and ready for action. https://www.facebook.com/events/1016068875103542/ Enjoy the fun along with us! Look forward to sharing the sky in your neck of the woods soon

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP'16 COMPETITORS LIST China: The China Dolls, Dalian Storm, Team Win Sky Shanghai Colombia: AndeSky, Atemoc France: CV Folie, Les Mademoiz'Ailes, Panam'Air, Start Air Malasia: Team Silat Russia: Red Alert UK: Team Flame USA: Air Zone Flight Team, FourCE official site FB page - the best source of information

After officially joining the dark side with the gift certificate I won here last winter, I had my first chance last weekend to fly in formation with a group of other (much more experienced) Rev. fliers. What a blast! I was kite number 10 of a 10-kite flight at the third-annual Illinois Kite Enthusiasts' weekend retreat. We did some follow-the-leader and a couple of static formations. I had more trouble than anyone else staying in position, but part of the time I did OK. The other fliers were very gracious and encouraging and I got a great deal out of the experience, which is why I'm writing. If you're a novice (like me) or future Rev. flier, take heed: If a group of experienced fliers invites you to fly with them, do not hesitate! Don't worry about whether you're good enough. They've been watching you fly and know what they're getting themselves into. Do realize that group flying can help improve your precision more than solo flying. This is especially true with speed control. Flying solo, it's really hard to know how well you're really controlling your speed. In a group, you know exactly how good your speed control is! And these training benefits, I suspect, are big part of what prompted the experienced fliers to invite the novice in. They knew what it would do for my flying, because they've been there. If you haven't had a chance to fly with a group yet, I recommend that during your solo flying, you work on holding hovers more than just zipping around the sky. Then, fly horizontal figures 8, slowly, without allowing your kite to speed up on the descents or slow down on the climbs. This is particularly difficult to judge when flying alone, but work on it anyway. Then, find some experienced people to fly with. I'm lucky that the IKE retreat happens only a couple of hours from home, but there are plenty of other kite clubs around the country who have fun flies, so find one. Believe me, you'll get a lot out of it!

What measures do you take to get people together for just some plain old fun? I have tried several times to get some locals together...and it always fails for one reason or another. I am in no way stopping my efforts, just wondering what steps others take to make it happen. I work funky hours on days when most are relaxing..so it makes it tuff sometimes. Most of my flying is in the weee hours of the mornings now...but still want to make it happen. I have heard some horror stories over permits and city participation from not far away...but I'm looking for more fun then festival for starters. Anyways, input and thoughts are greatly appreciated