The Quad community

[So-Cal Quadict]

I am new to this forum (since this week) but I am impressed by the wealth of information anyone can get here. Both John and Penny's helpful suggestions and encouragement (and those of you other Quad Heads too!-John and Penny are so prevalent so don't feel left out ) go a long way for those new to Quads.

I wish I found this forum much earlier, flying by trial and error, near misses, crunched frames, and torn sails are all part of the learning curve; but if I had the great coaching I see here well, it would not have been so rough.

I would like to thank Patricia Massaro at Windborne Kites located in Pacific Grove Ca. She and her daughter got me started in sport kites. So if any of you happen to be in the area please give them a visit. As a small business owner myself, I know Pat would appreciate your interest.

I usually fly here in Ontario and go down to Doheny (by Dana Point) to fly. Are there any of you who fly in my area? Seems that I am the only Quad head that flies at Doheny although it sure is a lot fun to show off in front of the crowd that gathers around ( mostly running for their lives ...just kidding).

I just purchased a Blast while on vacation up in Carmel last week. What a challenge compared to my EXP.

I am never far from my kites as they are usually in my truck and whenever there is a wind well....I am out flying.

I hope I did not bore you...just thought I share my passion for kites as I am sure you all have

[John Barresi]

Our pleasure! Anything we can do to help... This is an amazing pastime, and well, it should be accessible and enjoyable.

Post anytime, challenge the "panel" if you will.

[Penny Lingenfelter]

We want to hear more... Not about us. About you.

How long have you been flying. Which size blast did you get? (I buggy with my super blast)

What moves your working on. etc.

John and I are called pioneers in this sport because we've been at it almost since the beginning. But everybody who learns to fly is a pioneer in kiteflying. Not only is it all new but you might come up with something new to the world. You never know.

Seriously, the first 5 years are the funnest and there is still no end to how much you can learn and improve.

So if you want to share the day, expreriences, frustrations, highs and lows.... inverted or 12:00? with us we'd love it!

Before I went to bed last night I thought....

3D Flying~ A place where none is better then some.

I'd like the bumpersticker.

John.. my buggygruven kitelife, and several other bumperstickers bit the dust. OH dear.. that just made me think of Mike. He would have loved to have been at World Cup. I need my bumperstickers!

I'm going to go fly tomorrow and put slip knots on my single handle and adjust one shorter. I think that made it easier to change direction without the swivels. Ok... long hard day moving my brother in lawinto his new condo.. I'm babbling.. Sorry..

WOO HOO! Cutting Edge Won!!!

No words can describe how they must be feeling.Yeah!!

Best Breezes,

Penny

[So-Cal Quadict]

We want to hear more... Not about us. About you.

How long have you been flying. Which size blast did you get? (I buggy with my super blast)

What moves your working on. etc.

I have flown single lines off and on my whole life but it wasn't until I went in to purchase kites for my kids a couple of years ago while staying in Carmel, that I found sport kites (Windborne Kites) and was instantly hooked. I started out with the Igniter and went back the next day moved up to the Addiction. My wife bought me my first quad, an EXP from Kite Country down in San Diego during a business trip. And just last week, I purchased the Blast (9.5' leading edge). I wanted power and power I got whew... After reading and watching videos with John and other flyers using SLE's and Rev1's I realize that maybe I went too far too fast. But oh well...I can always go back and buy one or the other.

I like the typical stunts (figure 8's, axels, reverses ect) but after watching the both of you in action, the slow precision moves are something I would like to work on more. I can do spins but I need to get better control to maintain alitude while performing slow motion spins ( I have tried the "bicycle pump" with moderate success) but I sometimes fall instead staying steady.

Right now I guess I am still working on getting a better feel for the Blast. It moves a heck of lot faster than the EXP and is very sensitive even in the most light wind conditions. I would like to incorporate some of the moves that you and others do in indoor flying (maybe by purchasing some line and making a "short set" about 25' which will allow me to fly in absolute windless conditions).

I also have started flying Dual Stacks in last couple of months and I know I will have to try Quad Stacks as well.

One thing I have found about flying especially the Quads, is the amount of patience and persistence one must incorporate (this is helpful to my Keyboard playing I am in a band too!) in the learning curve of flying. Flying kites relieves stress and is a great way for me to unwind from the stress of my business.

I do appreciate that even though you, John and the other experienced flyers have achieved much success and notability, and yet to still share your thoughts and advice with those of us who are either novice or not quite as advanced with the utmost patience and respect. That speaks volumes of the caliber of flyers such as yourselves and the rest of the kite flying community as well.

[Penny Lingenfelter]

We're glad your here.

That bicycle move to pivot on spot will take practice. For me it helped to concentrate on pushing down on my thumbs. That gives the handle it's bicycle movement and gives the inverted Rev it's lift. Pushing right thumb down, left thrumb down.

Then once you can pivot, move your arms or body to take the pivot wherever you want to. A Circle of Circles, Diagonal Pivot UP,

Can you reverse the kite in any direction? Draw a figure in reverse?

Reverse Wing tip Circle? Reverse 1/4 window circle.

Snap Turns?

Up/Down on Tip (Kite facing 9:00 or 3:00)

Pull that kite out of the sky to free fall and save it within inches of the ground.

There's so much more to do with a Rev. It's like they say. Once you get it up, can you control it?

I like to practice with a dollor bill folded in a twist to look like a Rev. Then I have a model to work with. What does it take to make the kite do the move you want it to do?

A "Reverse Walk Across" takes 3 moves for each step. Example: Facing 6:00 Clockwise to 12:00. Reverse up, reverse down, stop,hold. Next step Counter clockwise, 12:00 to 6:00. Reverse down, Reverse up, Stop (inverted) hold. Practice your reverse so you can learn to do tricks that require it.

It's not just learning to fly a move or make the kite do what you want it to do. You'll have to learn to improvise for different wind ranges.

Laying the kite out to milk the breeze.... If my kite is layed out, so are my arms! My hands are not near each other as some kiteflyers will say to do. That's false.. they should be together for some things, but not for everything. Since it's just like your holding the kite when it's in front of you. When the kite is laid down your Right arm is extended, and left arm drawn back (like your scatching your shoulder. I think.. not sure.. .it's like Shoot the Tiger move in Tai Chi. And if you know Tai Chi, that's pretty much how you change the direction of the laid out kite too. Left arm out, Right arm to shoulder. That's laid out while you are walking slowly forward to keep it up. To fast and the lines are loose and the kite drops out.

In light wind in the beginning you might fiind yourself walking backwards and pumping the kite up.. whatever works. After you learn to lay it down and walk forward it's much easier. And don't forget to click your heels 3 times and say, "there's no place like home, there's no place like home" while you try to make your way back to your starting place in light wind.

Now what was your question? Happy Easter!!

BB

Penny~

[Mousie]

wow... great post Tator,

I need to read this again when I am not dashing out the door.....

hugs to ya

mousieo

[So-Cal Quadict]

Wow!!! I asked for help and advice and well thank you so much. I am going to print this out.

Thanks again

Ron

[Penny Lingenfelter]

I'm so sorry. I get carried away and it seems to be a great way of unloading for me. OOps, Hope it didn't feel like a 1-2 punch.

You had so many interesting ideas we hadn't touched on yet.

The Rev. Blast! 25 ft. of line. Kewl!! I can fly my Super Blast down to about 2 mph on long lines. 60-100 ft.

Do you use adjustments or a slip knot on your handles? Do you need to with the Blast?

The Super Blast has two settings. Luv to Buggy with it too~ I've flown ballets with it and people said they cried. (All good.. I didn't hit them with it or anything.)

One thing I have found about flying especially the Quads, is the amount of patience and persistence one must incorporate (this is helpful to my Keyboard playing I am in a band too!) in the learning curve of flying. Flying kites relieves stress and is a great way for me to unwind from the stress of my business.

There are quite a few kitefliers out there involved in different aspects of music in their lives. If you compete, that must be very useful.

Advice.....

Look to your handles. What did it take to do that move? If your facing 6:00 and want to lift that (M) left wing, what do you need to do? Push down on the right thumb. Not up/down.. that doesn't change the plane of the kite. Use your wrist to push down... at the same time the back of the handle is pulling back on the top of the M.

Just remember to step back if you need to in the beginning or anytime... but practice...."Milking the Breeze" to walk forward and gain ground.

I guess the main thing I could tell you is to take kiteflying advice with a grain of salt. We all have different fly styles which makes it so kewl. You'll learn and create your own style. And you'll move your handles to make the kite do what you want it to do. With a Rev. you'll always have a dance partner too ~

Kiteflying without music is just kiteflying.

I always play my toons.

There's a buggy bash at Seaside this Weekend. Hopefully, everyone will get there. I can't get down there till Saturday night at the earliest. Sunset Beach Bum Buggiers Rule the Road At The Edge Of The Sea. Buggy ON!

Enjoy!

BB

Penny

[ant man]

i too play the keyboards and guitar kite flying is another way i found to love life as for the quads in the years ive flown them i always find something new there is never a same ol thing with a quad line fly every day its new fun