Rookie flyer...what the best "trick" to learn first?

[Jeff]

I'm pretty new to this, only been flying for about a month. I have an Acrobatx.

I'm getting pretty good at general flying...launching, turns and loops.

As I progress into "tricks," I was wondering what might be the basic one or two moves that I should practice and get down as fundamental building blocks. I've been reading about lots of tricks that are still way beyond me, and I'm itching to try, but I know they build on other skills.

So what's the best thing to start working on?

Thanks for any input.

[Dorsal]

First "trick" to learn is the ground recovery moves, so you don't need to keep walking back to setup the kite. Then learn how to stall the kite - first at the edge of the window and then anywhere else you'd like.

The stall is the first maneuver in nearly EVERY "trick" and if you can't get the kite to stall, you won't get the rest of them to work.

There have been other threads about where to find "tutorial" videos - Do a forum search on that term and you should find a bunch of links.

[John Barresi]

I'd agree... Ground recoveries are very important.

Also, stalls... Landings, corners (squares), etc.

Far too many people get hooked on tricks and never learn the rudiments, leaving them 1/2 baked.

[windofchange]

Stall Stall Stall Stall......oh yea, then work on the Stall.

[ant man]

start with doing stalls and once you get the feel for the windows edge you can learn axels their pretty simple and so are fades the acrobatix is a good kite for those tricks and many more

[Bram]

I also think ground recoveries and stalls are very good to start with. I see that a lot of pilots have problems with "basic" tricks because all new flyers want to start doing yoyo's and more advanced tricks.

I started with stalls and axels and after that ground recoveries (yes, i had to many walk of shames...)

Also a nice tip is trying to practice tricks both ways around.

[John Barresi]

Great point Bram... Often fliers are better with their prevailing hand (i.e. right handed, etc)... It's GREAT to practice both directions of any trick.

[Bram]

It's something Lars Fakkeldij always said to me, and it really helps. When you learn a tricks, start right away to practice with the opposite hand.

The advantage is that you can do better choreography in your ballet and it help on some tricks like a backspin-cascade