Silverfox Tricking

[Chikokishi]

Hello again,

Its been a while since iv been here. I bought myself a Silverfox ultralight some time ago and iv been trying to fly it. I still cant figure out the wind though. Should i have enough wind so that the kite flies freely, or do i need the wind to be just enough to hold it up? When i try to tricks the kite usually darts around half way though and i have to chase it just to keep it from lawn darting. But when i try lighter winds i cant even keep her in the air. When i watch videos of people doing tricks their kites seem to just stay in the sky right where they have them.. mine always flies up or sideways.

Tips or leads to a website with videos and such would be helpful! Thanks

Chikokishi

[Hedgewarden]

I can't help a lot, because I am not a trick flier .. but a few observations that might help you.

The Silver Fox UL is not a true "ultra-light". I have a few (not expensive) ultra-lights, and I have all three 2.5 Silver foxes (ultra-light, standard, vented). The following is my personal opinion. The standard and the vented fully live up to their expected wind range - I totally love how the vented behaves in 20+ mph winds. The ultra-light, however, extends the wind range only a little bit below the standard. In light winds that the standard would become uncomfortable to fly, the ultra-light is a better kite. But it does not take you down to 2-3 mph unless you are quite skilled in low wind flying.

That said - the SF series are a great value for the price, and should be great kites to learn tricking. If you have not already, check out JB's demo on the SF UL http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xneIMNyBJM. Of course John could probably fly an ash-can lid better than I could fly a custom high-end trick kite.

However, from your questions I'm guessing that you have not yet mastered normal flying. It is important to learn to control the kite across all areas of the wind window, and to be able to stall at the edges, and stall in other areas of the wind window depending on wind speed and kite model. This can become fairly athletic if the wind is higher, which is why this old bod hasn't pursued dual-line tricking. I like dual-line ballet, and quad-line everything because those are less athletic - I don't have to "run like the wind" to hold a stall.

An excellent tutorial video for dual-line tricking is "Freestyle Pilot" from Prism kites. It will lead you through the skill sets you need to develop for trick flying.

I can often axel at the edge of the wind window (some kites always, some never, SF kites are great for me), which I learned from an on-line instruction "easy-peasy axels" I believe. I can also generally turtle and appreciate how the SF floats stably in this configuration, and do side-slides when I have the energy. Beyond that, flick-flacks, lazy-susans, etc. ect. are not my bag. The dual-line tricks are generally "slack-line", meaning the kite is "stalled". This is easiest to accomplish at the edge of the wind window. Once you have the timing down pat, you can move toward the middle of the wind window, which requires you to move forward more aggressively to achieve the stall condition.

I will now turn this discussion over to the fliers who actually know how to do tricks... But I repeat my endorsement of the excellent Prism DVD - which should be available from many kite shops, or from the Prism web-site.

Enjoy the wind, friend.

[Chikokishi]

Edge of the window huh? Iv been trying to trick directly down wind. I also live in montana... its more mountains here than fields and beaches... MAkes a constent wind hard to find. (less i drive like 40 miles). My problem with the edge of the window is how to i get the kite to fly like ^ in the edge of the window instead of like < or > ? My tricks are more to the extent of i yank a line and run toward it and hopefully recover before i hit the ground. =)

I have been watching the prism video.. its kind of like "here is an example... do it" I understand how to do the tricks, im just not understanding what wind i should be attempting to do tricks in =(

I saw that video! Thats one of the reasons i bought the SF. I love my kite, i really do. I want to fly her to her best but im kind of by myself up here, so i feel like im pioneering the sport instead of learning how to do it.

Thanks for the reply!

[RobB]

hey Chikokishi,

I have to agree with everything stated above. Tricking is the balance between flying and not flying. Much easier to do on the sides of the wind window, unless the wind is really light. Bumpy inland winds are probably your biggest problem, even though you can feel wind at your level, the wind is different at the ends of the lines, 75' away from you. It's different at different heights, too. If you've got a spot 40 miles from you that has clean wind, it might be worth the drive if you're serious about learning to trick. You guys don't have a speed limit in Montana, right ? It shouldn't take that long to drive 40 miles...

Here are the online tutorials...

http://v2.1.kiteclique.com/wordpress-3.0/wordpress/tutorials/randygs

http://kitebox.net/mama74/

Watch any videos you can find, especially the ones that show the pilot and kite in the same frame. The Dodd Gross Flight School video will also be helpful, maybe more so than the Prism one. I think Chico kites is selling it for $10.

I don't have anyone by me to learn to fly from, so I learn whatever I can from videos, and written tutorials, like Reggies 'lessons' on the Prism website, and go out and do my best. It takes a long time, but when you do learn a certain trick, it's very satisfying.

Good Luck !

~Rob.

[Chikokishi]

Must 86:

Thanks very much! I remember these videos, i couldnt remember from where. I really enjoy watching them. And yes we do hava speed limit.. its 75. Sadly, my toyota wont go that fast up hill. =)

Im going to try to go kite flying early midday, as it becomes choppy in the evening.

Chiko