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Flying the WidowMaker... July 2015


RobB
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Finally... some good wind for once. It seems like every time I show up at the beach, the wind is too high, too low, too bumpy, or the wrong direction. Not the case a few days ago. I got lucky this day, got out of work a little early and found an on-shore breeze around 3-5mph. Not only nice wind, but the mysterious disappearance of the summer crowd.... I mean, this is July, right ? Where is everybody ??? Just kidding, I didn't miss them one bit !

If you have a few minutes, Full screen, HD & enjoy... Thanks for checking it out !

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I think uToob is blocking certain countries from seeing it, possibly a content issue (music). I have to re-produce a copy in a lower quality and upload to Vimeo... you should be able to see it from there, although it won't be true HD.

And thanks, Dave, glad you enjoyed it, I certainly enjoyed the first decent wind in a while. Didn't get to try the Taz or Slot, though. Half of the tricks in the video are just keeping the kite flying !

*update... for those trying to watch this video, but can't, I posted it to Vimeo... but their content filter caught the music, too. I swapped it out with some generic instrumental, so it's at

If you can watch the original on uToob, the quality is much better...

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What's cool is the 540s you're doing without a dive for an entry look very Taz like and have the same effect. I stole that from you, by the way, and have been doing it all the time :matrix:

Its a very effective move, Nice goin'!

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I gotta get my duals in the air again and actually do more than just fly around the sky. You guys make it look so easy. Every time I try something -- well, let's just say I could make a lot of "FAIL" videos.

I agree, there are those who make it look easy. Learning tricks is not easy. I thought I'd know how to do more than barely an axel by now, but I don't. Although, admittedly, maybe I haven't had as much time on two lines as I thought I would have by now. The darkside keeps calling me. :cat_evil: Oh, and I can cartwheel....is that a trick?

Nice flying Rob. I'm amazed by those who can fly trick after trick after trick.

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Thank you all for the kind words... this is where I've gotten, back to my basic 'core' tricks. I gave up trying to learn new tricks a while back, and just worked on having fun and trying to make my flying look like I was doing things on purpose. With all the talk & success on the Taz Machine trick, I'll be out there trying to put that one under my belt, but probably not until the beach crowds clear out & I have a few hours to spend on an empty beach. This was just a serendipitous after-work fly, the whole session lasted maybe 1/2 hour. Not enough time, and the wrong kite to try to learn new things with !

@Dave... yes, the flat entry 540... the root of my frustration that the Taz still baffles me !

@Mark... I have plenty of 'Fail' video... maybe I should post that, too...

@Joanna... yes, the Cartwheel is the most useful trick you could learn. Without that, learning any other tricks would be miserable !

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Finally watched it. Loved it. Super floaty and the combos really link nicely, great job Rob. BTW, I think the restriction on YouTube was device related, not country. I tried to watch it on my tablet first, with no luck, then watched it on my PC.

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OK, about at what time is the flat entry 540?

You know, there really isn't a good example of the 'flat entry' 540 in this video... around 3:00, that one comes close. The 'flat entry' 540 is something that I've talked with Dave about in the past, and I know I've caught better examples of it in other videos. I'm sure it could be one step away from cracking the Taz or Slot Machine trick. I think it's the double input from either the right or left hand that throws me.

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Thank you, John. That's what the Widow Maker is all about... a smooth, forgiving kite. It might not trick as fast as a more radical kite, but it has a way to make tricks look good...

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Thanks for that, Dave. Light wind dual line flying is my favorite kind of flying. For some reason, I got out a standard that day, even though I should've gotten out a lighter kite. But it turned into a really nice low wind flying session. It's funny, I watch it and see lots of stuff that the timing is off, but covered by transitioning into another trick. It's like a happy accident sometimes...

I will be getting out a trickier kite the next time I'm out in good wind and working on some variety !

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Thank you, John. That's what the Widow Maker is all about... a smooth, forgiving kite. It might not trick as fast as a more radical kite, but it has a way to make tricks look good...

I didn't really like the Widow Maker for quite a while, but recently had a chance to throw the nose further back than usual (lowered bridle point) and had a really good time with it.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Thank you, John. That's what the Widow Maker is all about... a smooth, forgiving kite. It might not trick as fast as a more radical kite, but it has a way to make tricks look good...

I didn't really like the Widow Maker for quite a while, but recently had a chance to throw the nose further back than usual (lowered bridle point) and had a really good time with it.

Good to hear that... glad I'm not crazy, I think the WM is a great kite, one of the best I've flown.

Good news... I got the Kymera back in my bag, I think the next video will be K-kite all the way !

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