ucdcrew Posted December 15, 2013 Report Share Posted December 15, 2013 I got my first kite this week! I was following NWS's forecast and Mesonet Observations religiously, but not enough wind! Today looks like the day, I'm excited. Its a snapshot 1.2 - I got that one so there is nothing to break. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mystainedskin Posted December 15, 2013 Report Share Posted December 15, 2013 You will love this little kite. I used and abused mine for a year straight. Although it doesnt get used very often anymore...it is still a regular passenger in the every day bag for travels. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reef Runner Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 Yep, great kite to learn on, for sure. As you mentioned, nothing to break. I've got the older version, which was called the Stylus. I always use that kite if someone wants to learn. Once they've got the two line concept down, you can usually let them land, then hand over the reins of a regular dualie, and they are off and flying.........(hooked for life) Prism Stylus P2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tmadz Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 I still have my Snapshot 1.9 for when I want big winds to pull my arms. It's a good workout, but not without it's difficulties. The best part is the 1.2 can be flown by kids easily so they can begin to have fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparkieRob Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 I have a Symphony Beach 1.3 and it is a packet of fun! Dive bomb it to earth and BOOM! The kids love the sound. Throw a tail on and watch the show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ucdcrew Posted December 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 Well I tried to fly it yesterday, but I could not remember how to make the lark's head knot without the video. I was going to use a clove hitch and was almost ready to launch it when I decided that might not be the best course of action. I wasn't 100% convinced that the kite would not just fly away if the knots slipped over the ends. I may try again today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Australian Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 Snapshot 1.2 is a brilliant kite, great choice. It is fast, and virtually unbreakable. Once you have the lines on, leave them on. Mine has the lines attached all the time. I wind the line from the wrist strap end and never take them off. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHBKF Posted December 17, 2013 Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 Got a Snapshot 1.2 as my first new sport kite when I started flying again 16 months ago. Seemed like a great choice at the time & I still feel it was. Very fast fun kite & I would feel fine letting anyone give it a go. Hope it inspires you to continue. Wear it out. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ucdcrew Posted December 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 18, 2013 For tomorrow, NOAA says: Breezy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHBKF Posted December 19, 2013 Report Share Posted December 19, 2013 NOAA is the most helpful forecast for kite flying in my area. I especially like the charts. Wind speeds & direction with times & gusts. Also sky cover predictions are charted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ucdcrew Posted December 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2013 I got to go into the NWS (NOAA) office here in Tucson. They were really cool, and showed us how they look at all the models and make predictions. They say they just read data, I say they're brilliant. They also like to write us tongue twisters for the discussion we have to read on the radio. "Seemingly showery on Sunday"...and I'm tripping over my tongue on the radio. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ucdcrew Posted December 20, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2013 I flew it a couple times today. The wind died for a few hours while it switched direction, perfect for a lunch break and then back at it! My first first attempt was not so successful. I kept trying to get it into the air to launch. It wouldn't go, or it would automatically do a nosedive. Someone I didn't know even held it up for me but it crashed right away. Then I noticed the bridle lines were tangled, and had to unhook the flying lines, straighten them out, and reattach. I must not have been very careful when putting them on the first time. After that, it self launched with a water bottle fairly easily. It moves pretty quick! I think I figured out what the 'window' means. If I go too far to one side or the other, it slows down and starts to lose altitude. I got it making figure 8s pretty quickly. Then I started having to 'flare' (for lack of a better word) to keep it in the air - so I put it down and brought it home. When the wind came back up, I went back to the park. I can self launch it no problem, and even if I crash it I don't usually have to go and fix it (unless it gets really twisted). I started making ground passes as best I could, and got it to do some loops. For some reason, looping to the right is much easier than looping to the left. Then the air force showed up to play flag football and set up right where I could crash into them. So I went home, but it was so fun! I cannot wait for it to be windy again. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SHBKF Posted December 20, 2013 Report Share Posted December 20, 2013 Sounds like a great day. Now you'll be watching for waving flags, wiggling bushes, swaying trees, thinking "I could be flying!" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tmadz Posted December 20, 2013 Report Share Posted December 20, 2013 Check your lines for equal length. With pull on the foil (all kites really) the spectra fiber lines can lengthen up to 2%. On 85' lines that can be nearly a foot and a half. When lines start to stretch it can be easier to pull to one direction than the other because one line is longer than the other. Glad you had fun. It 's a great intro to all kiting. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captainbob Posted January 30, 2014 Report Share Posted January 30, 2014 The KIte shop in Atlanta has this site on their website for winds.. Works pretty well.. http://www.windfinder.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbailey49 Posted January 31, 2014 Report Share Posted January 31, 2014 There's also this site: http://www.caniflymykite.com/ The link came from this forum thread: http://kitelife.com/forum/topic/5322-personal-project-can-i-fly-my-kite/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ucdcrew Posted January 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 31, 2014 I haven't seen my MesoWest site pop up for wind. This one is preset for the Tucson area, but you can move the map around. It has all the RAWS and HADS stations on it, so you can check what the weather stations are reporting. It helps me pick where I'm gonna fly. If you zoom in, more stations show up. http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mesowest/gmap.php?map=twc 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ucdcrew Posted April 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2014 I redid the line length and am gonna try that today - I had a horrible rats nest last time I flew because it may have been too windy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_(on-light)110px.png.f871ac6915a5dfb149c2fb26bbaf0493.png)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.