By Graham Armitage

In part one of this article we discussed the kites and methods used for deploying the bait. Now I will cover the terminal end of the kite rig. It is not as simple as just having a bait on a hook. Consider for a moment what would happen if your bait was floating out on the surface and kite hanging motionless in a gentle breeze. Then all of a sudden the wind picks up a little and the kite soars, dragging your bait 100 feet out of the water? It took a lot of time and effort to get your bait out there, so you don't want to reel it in and re-adjust the kite.

This is where a ballast comes in. A ballast will keep your bait near the surface when the wind drops and help keep it in the water when the wind strengthens. The simplest and most efficient ballast is a plastic soda bottle half filled with water. Out of the water, the water in the bottle adds weight to the rig, and in the water, the air in the bottle keeps the rig from sinking. The air also makes the ballast act as a large bobber that the fish will fight against. The size of bottle is usually determined by conditions, or by regulations such as in tournaments.

When I kite fished, it was mainly for large sharks off the coast of Africa. Sharks up to 1000Lbs were caught using kite tackle. There is no reason why you can't fish for other species, and I have caught other types of fish with the kite rig. When fishing for sharks and other toothy fish you will need wire leader just as you would fishing off a boat. Making the wire leader long enough to keep the biting part of the fish from your fishing line. The length of the leader form the hook to the ballast will determine how deep below the surface you are fishing.

On the line above the ballast, going up toward the kite, attach to or three sheets of black garbage bag plastic. Using clothes pegs, makes it easy to attach them. These are your strike indicators. When a big fish takes the bait it will pull the terminal tackle, ballast and strike indicators under water. If you are fishing several hundred yards out to sea, you will need these to know when you have a strike. A pair of binoculars (even cheap ones) will help you keep an eye on the indicators. Even with a big fish, it will be several seconds before you feel anything on the rod. But seeing the indicators go down, gives you time to prepare for the big pull that's coming. Why use two or three indicators? Well, sometimes a smaller fish will take the bait and not have the string to pull all the markers under water. Maybe only the lower one will drop into the water and this change in configuration will be enough to alert you.

Black plastic is the most visible color during the day. When night fishing (an this is a very productive time) you obviously can't use black plastic. For night time, simple tape a glow stick to the line above the ballast. It is very exhilarating to see your glow stick plunge out of site on a dark night. The placement of the indicator depends on how far off shore you are fishing, or the wave size. It must be high enough above the ballast to remain visible from shore. usually about 10 feet is sufficient.

The kite is usually several hundred feet up in the air and should stay there, unless the prey takes a really deep dive. If you leave you kite attached all the time, it will still stay flying while you fight the fish. If you are fishing with a double rig, then the strike should detach the fishing line from the kite line. There are several types of release clips available and are used for outriggers and down riggers. A double rig is often more convenient when fishing closer in shore. Whether fishing a single or double rig, your kite should stay up all the time - preferably all day or night. There should be no need to bring it back down to earth unless wind conditions change radically. A kite that ditches in the water is never a good thing. Pulling a kite through the water is a lot of hard work.

When fishing for really big fish, you will need a fighting harness and obviously a reel that can accommodate the harness and the big fish. Having a harness will save your arms during a long battle with a big shark. A basic marlin rig will work well for many big fish. An important safety note. With a harness you are attached to the fish. A big shark can easily drag you down the beach toward the water (been there, done that). Always have a knife on your belt to cut loose should something malfunction.

Speaking of safety, you need to be aware of others using the ocean where you are fishing. The black plastic indicators on your line near the surface will alert boaters who might otherwise ride right over your terminal tackle. Don't be surprised when watching through your binoculars, the puzzled looks a boater will exhibit when seeing a fishing line extending vertically up into the sky, as if attached to a sky hook. Often they can't see the kite way up in the sky.

I usually try and keep the kite as low as possible as planes, like those with advertising banners, often fly low enough up and down the beach, to pose a hazard. I have lost several kites to the props of low flying aircraft.

Kite fishing is not a simple science, and is definitely more of an art. By using the basic principles of wind power and a kite to deploy your bait, you can use your imagination to adapt the rest of the equation to match your unique conditions. There is so much more to kite fishing than can be described here, but hopefully this sheds some light on a method of shore fishing that is not very well known. Start simple and give kite fishing a try. You never know what lurks in those depths off shore.

By Lola Jones

You wouldn't believe it but summer has started in the UK and with that in mind those who are thinking of trying out kite surfing should read the following.

According to the British Kite Surfing Association (BKSA), the best way to get started is to take a 2-3 day kite surfing course at a BKSA approved school. The BKSA recommends that you be able to swim 200m in open water and a good level of physical fitness is required. The good news here is that you don't have to have super human powers of strength because it's all about technique.

Experience

Like all sports, there are risks involved but if you receive proper tuition to become aware of the hazards and talk to experienced kite surfers then the risks are minimized.

If you do take risks and go out in conditions that you can't handle (too much wind) then obviously you are increasing the risk level.

It's important to remain in full control of your kite at all times, and watch your lines, especially if there are other kite surfers out at the same location.

Learning to fly a two-line power kite before you take a course will help you learn significantly faster, though most people are standing by the end of the first day of a three day course.

Within three months you can be a competent kite surfer and within six months to a year you may well be pulling off jumps of 10 - 15 foot.

Equipment

You are looking at between £500 - 1000 for your start up costs, though it's nearer to the £500 mark if you buy some of your kit second hand.
You will need:

· An Inflatable kite. You need a kite between 9 - 14m depending on your body weight, but an instructor will be able to tell you which is most suited to you. Expect to pay between £200 - 400 for a used kite, with 5 line types costing the most. A top of the range current model can cost up to £850 but this expenditure is not required until you have convinced yourself that this sport is for you. Initially you will be able to use a kite provided by your instructor.

· A kiteboard and leash. Board-wise you are looking for one between 130 - 150cm in length. The twin tip wakeboard style is ideal as you can ride it in either direction.

For those with a windsurfing or surfing background directional boards are great for speed and light wind conditions, however, the fact that they can only be ridden one way may well hamper your learning curve. Expect to pay around £250 for a second hand board and between £300 - 500 for a new one.
A leash is also a pretty essential piece of kit enabling you to keep the board attached to you when you wipe out- you must use a helmet if you use a leash. Approx £40.

· Lines and control bar. Modern kites normally come complete with lines and bar so you don't have to worry much about the lines. The line length is dependent on the size of the kite and wind conditions, though most kite surfers use 25m - 30m lines to give the most versatile range for starting, pointing (going upwind) and for jumping. Whichever control device you use, make sure that it has a dependable safety release system, and a depower device. This system should be able to disable the kite completely even in the event that you become unconscious. Expect to pay between £100 - 250 for a control bar.

· A harness. This performs the basic function of attaching you to your kite. There are two types of harness - the seat harness and the waist harness.

As a beginner, the best harness for you is the seat harness as this is less likely to ride up when the kite is in the zenith position (directly above your head) where the kite will probably spend most of its time as you learn. Around £70-£90.

· A helmet. Pretty straight forward, useful for protecting your noggin while racing across the water at speed. Expect to pay between £30 - 50.

· A Wet suit. This is the UK not Hawaii, you will need one. Your best bet is a winter suit (3/5mm) if you plan to kite surf all year round, though the summer suits are cheaper, thinner and are guaranteed to give you hypothermia if you wear one in the winter.

A winter wet suit will cost you between £120 - 220, where as a summer suit will set you back between £80 - 180.

Finally I would like to reiterate that any BKSA accredited instructor will provide all the equipment you need and so the initial expenditure is limited to the cost of the lessons. If you do decide to continue with the sport you will then, after 3 to 5 lessons, have a much better idea of what to buy when you go shopping. My advice is that you should be prepared for this expenditure as 'once bitten you are forever smitten!'

By Tim Parish

The history of ancient Chinese kites is a very long one. Chinese kites have been made and flown all this time as a part of the national culture. According to historical records, this has spanned more than 2300 years. For the purpose of this article, 'ancient' means any kite constructed just like the original design, with the same materials and techniques.

Some of the traditional bamboo and silk hand-painted creations made today have hardly changed from those flown many hundreds of years ago. There is such a contrast between Chinese kites and those from the rest of the world!

Chinese kites are works of art, whether done by a master craftsman or a class of young children helped by their teacher. In both cases, the idea is to fly an artistic design on the end of a string. The traditional designs done by highly skilled craftsmen and artists have even been exhibited in museums, such is their artistic worth.

Traditional kite handicraft has flourished in three Chinese cities in particular. Tianjin, Beijing and Weifang are steeped in ancient Chinese kites history.

Types of Ancient Chinese Kites

It's interesting trying to classify these kites, since the Chinese themselves have come up with so many different ways to do this. Maybe that's not so surprising since it's a big country and they have had so long to do it. Perhaps the handiest broad classification for most purposes is the following list:

* Centipede (multiple flat sections stacked together plus a 'head')
* Rigid Winged (paper or silk tightly stretched over rigid spars)
* Soft Winged (flexible structures behind just one spar)
* Flat (just like the name says)

Spectacular Chinese dragon kites are an example of the centipede type. Other dragons are more like models of imaginary creatures, such as the modern 3D Dragon Kite. These are not necessarily made in China.

Kite classification can be much more detailed. According to one source I came across, there are no less than 300 varieties of kites in China! This system takes into account groups such as human figures, fish, insects, birds, animals, written characters and so on.

There is a range of standard sizes too, ranging from extra large right down to miniature. The biggest take a team of men to fly, the smallest are just the size of the palm of your hand.

Ancient Chinese Kites in Action

History aside, Chinese kites these days are flown for very similar reasons to everywhere else in the world. Making Chinese kites and flying them can be recreation for the whole family. But there are a couple of extra dimensions too...

Traditionally, kite flying was believed to be good for people's health, and this view is still held by some. A bit like some Westerners regarding laughter as being beneficial, who hasn't read something about that at one time or another.

For a long time, most ancient Chinese kites have been flying works of art. Real art, as proven by the fact they could be found in many art collections around China. A good example was when the Yanhuang art museum in Beijing ran a kite exhibition.

By Tim Parish

The modern single line delta kite is designed to be an eye-catching spectacle as it floats about on its flying line at a high angle. Most deltas are designed to fly well in light wind, so if you own one you should get plenty of opportunities to get out and fly. The ability of deltas to fly at very high line angles has helped to make them popular.

By the way, the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet looks like a triangle, and is called Delta. Hence the name of the kite!

Even cheap mass produced plastic or nylon deltas perform well enough to impress most onlookers! Kite shops sing the praises of delta kites, describing them as stable, easy to handle and wonderful fliers.

Despite the emphasis on light wind flying, the delta is actually a very versatile design that can be altered slightly to suit all wind ranges. For example, a high-wind delta is more sturdy and has its towing point more towards the nose of the kite.

Delta Kite Variations

Not all are the same, so how do they vary?

The first thing you might notice after walking into a kite shop, is that the smallest are about a meter (3 feet) across while the largest can be enormous in comparison. Large deltas which pull harder are useful for showing off long tails and windsocks or flying fancy inflatable objects from the flying line.

According to kite shops, 2 meter (6 feet) wing span deltas are the most popular. One of the biggest retail designs in 2008 is the Sweet 16 Delta, which has a span of 5 meters (16 feet)!

The shape of a delta kite floating high in the air sometimes causes people to describe it as a bat or bird kite. Or even a wing kite. This more likely if the delta has a curved trailing edge and extra battens in the sail. In fact the exact shape of a delta is open to much creativity.

Shop bought deltas tend to have fiberglass or graphite rods for spars and plastic or nylon fittings in which to insert the cross spar or spreader. Interestingly, the spars are not attached at the nose end. They float free in the sail material, which helps give the delta its unique and fluid flying characteristics.

Most deltas have a flexible keel attached to the underside of the vertical spar. This aids stability and acts like a vane, helping to keep the kite pointed into wind.

With the cross spar or spreader removed, a delta kite can be rolled up into a narrow bundle for carrying around.

Although most deltas you are likely to see have at least one tail, an expertly made one will fly quite happily with no tail at all!

Regarding sail decoration, strips of different colored material can be joined together before the outline is cut. On the other hand, the appliqué technique involves sticking light but colorful cut-out patterns onto the sail material. Also, printed sail material is used for mass-produced kites.

As mentioned earlier, deltas generally have keels. The keel doubles as the bridle, since the towing point is a hole at the tip of the keel.

Rip stop nylon is a popular choice for the sail material. Special spinnaker fabric is used for light wind them. These fabrics are light, strong and non-porous.

Delta Kites In Action

Here are 2 interesting ways of using deltas that you might not be aware of...

A light wind delta kite can actually be flown for extended time periods in thermal lift. Just like soaring birds or hang-gliders! The skillful single-line delta pilot can actually search around the sky for thermal lift, then let out line as the kite soars up in the warm rising air. This way, long flights can be achieved in almost no wind.

Unless you are a keen fishing person, you might not have heard of the delta fishing kite. Often, simple diamond or sled designs are used for fishing, but some of the most useful ones are deltas. That's because specially designed fishing deltas have extra large wind ranges and the best tacking ability of any other type of fishing kite.

Tacking is when a fisherman attaches a tail or drogue to one side of the kite to make it stay off to the left or right. This way, more than one fishing line can be dangled in the water at once.

Whether used for fun or fishing, it's hard to beat a delta kite!

By Tim Parish

What do the words 'Chinese Dragon Kite' mean to you? It seems that the most well-known variety is the centipede style of kite. This type consists of a large head and a long train of small disks that form the tail. Some of these are very big and very expensive, since a lot of labor goes into making them. Most are mid-sized, but still not cheap compared to children's kites.

The large centipede dragon kite is an amazing thing, whether it is hanging in the foyer of a large building as a piece of art or flying with its tail pointing at the clouds.

If you get up close, you can see great detail in the fine bamboo framework of the head in particular. Raw silk is used for covering, and this is precisely and painstakingly painted by hand. Like many things Chinese, bright red is used a lot but plenty of other colors are used as well.

The tail sections, which are really just a number of smaller flat kites are also constructed from thin bamboo strips covered with raw silk and then hand painted. Traditionally, each tail section has a thin bamboo rod running through it, with a feather attached to each end.

The craftsmanship in these kites is just mind-boggling. No wonder it can take a team of artists up to 2 months to create one, using traditional techniques and tools.

Probably the best known place of manufacture for these kites is Weifang, the home of traditional Chinese kite making. Dragon kites are exported from there to all around the world.

Prices

It all depends on the size of the kite! The smaller sizes, where the tail is only a few meters long can be bought for around US$50. The very largest, with tails that seem to stretch into the distance, can set you back around US$1000!

I've noticed that the available sizes can vary quite a lot from shop to shop, hence the price range will too. Usually, the price includes a good quality storage box, flying line and a winder.

Flying

What kind of wind does it take to fly these things? Surprisingly, just a soft breeze of 3 kph (2 mph) is enough for some of the best large dragon kites to stay off the ground! All those light little tail sections all pulling together generate a lot of lifting force. The head is just for looks.

However, you might need a decent breeze to get the smallest dragon centipede kites to fly. These kites are not as efficient as their larger cousins.

A flying dragon kite is an impressive sight, with the long tail snaking skywards, and tail section feathers fluttering in the breeze. Like a live creature, gently moving about on its leash.

The smallest ones are pretty easy to get into the air. Just attach the bridle and hold it up for the breeze to catch the tail and take it up. The larger kites, while still easy to launch, take a bit more organization with connecting things up, laying out the tail and so on.

History

In conclusion, a couple of notes on some aspects of the Chinese dragon kite that go back a long time...

Firstly, nearly all authentic dragon kites have the following features...

* a 'centipede' tail structure which represents a snake
* deer horns, which represent long life and good luck
* catfish whiskers, which represent wealth
* tigers' eyes, since the tiger is strong and rules over other animals
* a human beard, which symbolizes intelligence and talent

Secondly, many of the kites that are flown or displayed around the world today were produced by Imperial Dragon Kites of Shanghai, in China. This company is old by anyone's standards! Can you believe they have been manufacturing Chinese dragon kites for nearly 2 centuries!

By James Hunt

Kites are devices that are meant to be flown in the air at the end of a string. Building kites and flying kites is an informal pastime as well as a competitive sport in many parts of the world. In Korea, men, women and children fly kites during the first few days of the New Year. Kites’ flying is an important part of the boys’ festival held each May in Japan, and in China, one day each year is celebrated as Kites’ Day. On those days, thousands of kites shaped like fish, butterflies and dragons float over the cities and towns. There are also kite-flying competitions held yearly in the United States and Canada.

Types of Kites

There are many different types of kites. The simplest kind of kites is the two-stick single plane bow kite. It can be purchased ready-made or it can be assembled from do-it-yourself kits or made completely by hand. For simple kites the sticks can be of any strong lightwood with a straight grain. The covering material can be ordinary brown wrapping paper, or a lightweight clothe, such as silk or nylon. Plastic sheering of various kinds is also used. In addition, cloth is used for the tail and a string for the flight line. There are more advanced types of kites that can be made.

The box kite consists basically of two rectangular boxes, open on two parallel sides each and connected by a common framework. Lawrence Hargrave invented it in the 1890’s. Box kites are more difficult to build than stick kites, but they are excellent flyers and will maintain their position for long periods. Box kites also adjust well to changes in the wind, and they do not require a tail.

How to fly kites

Kites fly, like airplanes, on the aerodynamic principle of wind pressure against a heavier-than-air object. The motor and propeller of the airplane create a wind pressure as they move the plan through the air. When the pressure is great enough to overcome gravity, the plan is pushed up and allowed to remain aloft. The same effect of wind pressure is created by the kite flyer as he runs across an open field. As the kite moves against the wind, the string tips the face of the kite forward. The wind pushes up on this tipped face and lifts the kite, just as a wedge pushed under an object lifts it up.

By Robert G Murray

It's hard enough to shop for something as potentially confusing as a trainer kite is, but needing to wade through a slew of new and confusing terms just makes things worse. Likewise from my end, it's tough to write about and describe something without being able to use the proper word for it; so to clear everything up, here's the description of all the trainer kite terms that you might run into when looking for a kite of your own.

Leading Edge- The leading edge of a kite, as it's name might indicate, is the front part of the kite as it flies into the wind. Since trainer kites are designed to fly in one direction, there is only one leading edge, and that's the edge that's at the front!

Trailing Edge - Opposite to the leading edge, the trailing edge is the back of the kite, or the tail end of the kite.

Bridle - The bridles on all kites are the lines that attach from bottom of the kite to the kite's lines. While the lines of a kite can be detached, the bridles are actually sewn into the canopy and help hold it in the proper shape. On many trainer kites, the bridles look much like a parachute's lines because they are the exact same thing, just on a smaller scale.

Safety Leash - The safety leash is an attachment that connects to your wrist and a certain line on the kite. When you let go of the bar and activate the safety mechanism, the leash pulls on the line and kills all the power in the kite.

The Back Line(s) - The back lines on a kite can also be referred to as the third (or fourth) line(s), and they connect through the center of the kite bar to the trailing edge of the kite. The sole purpose of these lines is to act as the safety leash line, and to help re-launch the kite. On a kite with 3 or 4 lines, the safety leash attaches to the back line(s) and provides for a very safe and effective de-power.

The Front Lines - The front lines, also called the steering lines, are attached to the ends of the bar and connect to the kite's bridles. While third or fourth lines are optional, you will never find a kite that does not have steering lines since they are how you to steer the kite.

Although it might seem different at times, kites are very simply in design and don't have that many parts. Once you understand the terminology for one kite, you have 95% of all other kites figured out - even if they are a different style overall!

By Robert G Murray

When shopping for a trainer kite, some believe that an inflatable style kite is a better choice than a foil; after all, they are more like the kiteboarding kites that are used on water. Although buying an inflatable might at first seem like a smart move, there are key differences between the two styles that might change your mind. Here are the top three reasons why I recommend a foil trainer over an inflatable one:

* Foils are less expensive.

Foil trainer kites are less expensive than inflatable ones for a number of reasons. First, they are much simpler to make. Foils are composed of nylon squares that are sewn together - a simple feat when compared to the complicated air-bladder installation an inflatable requires.

Second, foils can come in two, three, or four line setups - ranging from cheapest to most expensive, respectively. Inflatable kites must come with four lines, meaning that you can't choose a less expensive, two line version.

Finally, a foil trainer does not require the use of a harness like an inflatable one does. In order to use an inflatable properly, including its safety system, a kiteboarding harness must be used. Buying one adds an extra $50-$100 on top of the price of the kite.

These three differences can drive the price of an inflatable trainer kite to more than double that of a foil.

* Foils are more durable.

Foil kites are very durable. Their construction is simple and easy to reinforce, making them very hardy kites. In addition, their open cell design allows air to escape when the kite is crashed, preventing a surge of pressure from damaging it.

Inflatable kites, on the other hand, have a delicate air bladder that must be pumped up to give the kite its shape. This bladder can burst if the kite is crashed severely. Considering that trainer kites tend to be crashed often and are used primarily on land, purchasing one with an air bladder can bring a lot of headaches - and added expenses.

* Foils are easier to learn on.

Launching and landing a foil kite is easy to do and can be done solo. In addition, three and four line foils can be re-launched backwards, eliminating the constant need for a helper.

At the trainer kite stage, safely launching and landing an inflatable requires two people. Also, every time the kite is crashed it must be manually re-launched - a time consuming and irritating process.

At this point some may argue that an inflatable kite gives beginners a more realistic start in kiteboarding, since they are identical to the kites they will use on the water. This is not necessarily true. A trainer kite's real purpose is to learn how to fly a kite properly - starting on dry land. A beginner's priority is to learn kite handling basics, and to master the introductory skills required to fly larger kites. Starting on a more fragile, difficult to fly, and potentially frustrating kite is not the best way to achieve this goal!

Starting with an uncomplicated and durable kite will save you money, and will help to develop your skills faster than otherwise. After all, a rookie jet-fighter pilot does not learn to fly a fighter plane on a smaller-but-just-as-complicated version of that plane. Instead he starts on a simple aircraft, one that might not remotely resemble an advanced fighter, but one that still teaches the fundamentals that he needs to know before upgrading to more complicated aircraft. Learning to kiteboard is no different, which is why I suggest that you start with a foil trainer kite.

By Tim Parish

Kite skiing is a new and exciting winter sport that's been popular for some years in Europe. It's also getting a lot more popular in the U.S. In fact, any country these days with a decent amount of snow has a few kite skiers skimming around somewhere!

The Americans thought of it first, with a few pioneers in the 80's experimenting on the frozen lakes of the U.S. East Coast and Midwest. Parafoil kites were used then, and they remain the ideal type of kite for this sport. However, Europe was where kite skiing really took hold and first became a recognized sport. Many of the people who tried it were surfers who already had the needed kite skills. These days there are well-established competition circuits. At the highest level of competition, riders from Europe and the US come together to compete.

What Exactly Is Kite Skiing?

You could call it a combination of sailing, skiing and kite flying. That makes it sound much more complicated than it really is. In fact, if you've got the basics of skiing down, learning to kite ski is relatively easy. Taking kite lessons is a good way to enter the sport safely.

It's nothing like alpine or downhill skiing. Funnily enough, ordinary downhill skis are the usual equipment though. The skier wears a kite harness to take much of the effort away. Handling the kite is a lot like using the mainsail in a sailing boat. In common with sailing boats, kite skiers can make progress upwind by tacking into the breeze.

However, snowkiting is not all sedate sailing along chewing up long distances. All sorts of tricks and stunts can be done while the snow kite is flown high, supporting the weight of the skier during a jump. It's not unknown for some skiers to find a snow-covered golf course and launch themselves off the bunkers!

What's a perfect day for skiing with kites? Try somewhere not far from the arctic circle, mid-year, where the sun shines for 16 hours each day, with an average temperature of -10°C (14°F) and consistent winds of around 30 kph (20 mph) or so. Perfect! If the breeze gets up a bit more, speeds of 100 kph (60 mph) are not unheard of.

It's probably worth mentioning here that not everybody kite skis on snow! There are such things as grass skis and sand skis. These are a lot less efficient than snow skis, so travelling upwind is out of the question until better technology comes along.

Amazing Places For Kite Skiing

Some kite skiers consider mountain ridge tops to be the ultimate playground. That's because of the open terrain and smooth consistent winds. Here's a roundup of some other awesome places that are being used by kite skiers.

There's a number of big lakes that are popular in the US. Two biggies are Lake Winnipesaukee in New Hampshire and Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota. There's some more near Madison, in Wisconsin. Lake Mendota to the north and Lake Monona to the south of the city. The long winters and heavy snowfalls of this area make it heaven for cross-country skiing, with or without a foil kite.

Canada, being further north and more sparsely populated, has many great locations too. For example, there is Frobisher Bay, Baffin Island. This area has a reputation for being one of the best spots for this sport in Canada. Here, it's possible to travel across sea ice for hours on your skis, taking in the coastline views and fjords of the Bay.

Joining Canada is the US state of Alaska, which is home to the incredible Bagley Icefield. An icy wilderness just perfect for kite-powered skiing. In fact, it is one of the biggest icefields south of the Arctic Circle. It's been used for a lot of training trips for learners.

What about Europe? Chamonix in northern France is famous for all sorts of Alpine sports. It has a huge flat area of glacial ice way up above 3500 meters (8500 feet), called the Col du Midi. At that altitude, there's always snow! Plus the usually windy weather, and you can see why it really suits skiing with kites.

There's another mountain plateau, this time in western Norway. In fact Hardangervidda is the largest high-altitude plateau in Europe. The weather is very cold, and often windy. The flat terrain and small hills are perfect for kite skiing! Particularly around the town of Haugastol.

By Tim Parish

Need a hand with knowing how to fly a kite? We've seen plenty of struggling fliers from time to time! If so, the information here should be very helpful. It's all based on our flying experiences with single-liners.

This is only about single-liners such as diamonds and deltas. The emphasis is on flat designs with solid spars and an adjustable towing point, but some of the info here will apply to parafoils and sleds as well.

How To Fly A Kite - The Towing Point And Tails

The towing point is where the flying line attaches to the kite's bridle. In most cases, you can slide or otherwise adjust this point towards the nose or the tail of the kite.

What if the kite doesn't want to fly at all?

Perhaps there's simply not enough wind for that kite, which is likely if you can't feel it pulling on the line. Just wait for better conditions, and go out when there's more wind!

Perhaps you can feel some pull in the line, and it moves left or right but just doesn't climb no matter what you do. That is the symptom of a towing point set too far back. Just shift it forward towards the nose of the kite a little, and try again. Keep adjusting by a small amount until the kite willingly climbs into the air. Learning how to fly a kite has a lot to do with understanding the towing point.

What if the kite takes off, but then just wants to loop around and dive into the ground?

Let's assume you're not trying to fly immediately downwind of your house or some other huge obstacle! Looping is usually caused by trying to fly when the wind is too strong. The first thing to try is to shift the towing point forward a little. This reduces the pressure on the kite and might be enough to keep it in the air.

If you have shifted the towing point several times without any success, it's time to add a tail. Or, if there is already a tail, double its length, at least. If the kite still misbehaves, pack up and wait for a less windy day!

What if the kite takes off and climbs, but then doesn't get very high?

In this case it sounds like there is enough wind, but the towing point has been left too far forward. No problem, just shift the towing point back towards the tail a bit at a time until you are happy with the flying.

If shifting the towing point doesn't help, then the wind is just not strong enough to carry the kite plus its flying line to its maximum height. The weight of the line does add up, as you let more and more of it out.

How To Fly A Kite - Gusty Winds And Hand Launching

What if the wind is gusty and the kite doesn't stay up long enough for you to let some line out? Let's assume the towing point is about right. The best approach here is probably to just let a helper carry the kite some distance away, while you let out the line. Then tell them to hold it up and let it fly out of their hand when the next gust comes through.

Eventually, with some practice, you will be able to get good at hand launches. You dangle the kite from your hand and then let line slip through your fingers whenever you feel some tension. Climbing a kite is a process of letting out line when the tension is strong, and holding on when the tension is light.

How To Fly A Kite And Not Get Bored

Some, maybe most, people just enjoy the relaxing aspects of flying a single-line kite. Just watching it fly, perhaps enjoying the subtle artistry of color and movement. However, if you would like to get a little more out of it, why not try the following ideas.

* Launch straight off the ground, on a long line. Pull in line to get the kite in the air, then let it climb up to full height.
* Bring your kite right down into your hand without letting it touch the ground. Pull in quicker from time to time if needed, to keep it airborne.
* Keep records. See how long you can keep it in the air, to the nearest 5 minutes.
* See how fast you can get 150 meters (500 feet) of line out, from a hand launch.

If you are not a frequent flier, I hope these tips on how to fly a kite have been of some help!

By Eddie Tobey

A kite is a lightweight, man-made object specifically designed to fly in the wind. The lift that makes this light object fly is created when the kite deflects the wind downwards; apart from that, the deflection produces a horizontal drag in the direction of the wind. The kite is generally held with just one line. Kites that are held with more than one line are maneuvered by using the different lines with different degrees of strength.

In addition to kites that are mainly made for the purpose of flying, there are traction kites and power kites. The design of these kites facilitates greater lift and pull, and they are used for activities like kite buggying or kite surfing.

Kite flying requires twine that is light but sturdy, and paper or cloth. Kites characteristically have one or more sticks that are used to hold the sail of the kite tightly. Traditional kites use rattan, bamboo, or any other flexible wood for the spars, and fabrics like silk or paper for the sails. The modern kite may have synthetic materials, such as nylon, for the sails, and carbon fiber or fiberglass for the spars.

In China, kite designs are often inspired by birds, insects, and other animals, which are either mythical or real. The best Chinese kites are made from split bamboo; often they are hand-painted and covered with silk. The bigger kites are made in such a way that they can actually be folded and put away, and restructured when the time for flying comes. Polyester is generally used as a substitute for silk in cheaper kites.

Kites that are flown by children are usually geometrically shaped. There is no fixed norm regarding the shape of the kite. It can be designed in any shape, size or form. It should be remembered that kites have been used for military purposes, as a way of delivering ammunition or a message. Also, they have been deployed for the sake of spying, through kite aerial photography.

By Alexis Jamison

Power kites are kites which are large in size and created to allow for a great deal of pull to the user. This allows them to be used for pulling people and things, such as surf/snow boards, roller skates, landboards and even small buggies. They are used for lifting people higher in the air to do tricks, stunts, or to help someone out of a jam. They can also be used simply as larger kites to fly in the sky such as for competitions. Power kites have their origins in the nineteen seventies when people began experimenting with power kites to create a new way to move through the sky. Nowadays, power kites come in several different varieties and in all shapes and sizes, depending on what you want to use them for. They come in sizes starting at one and a half meters square and going up to twenty meters square-the larger ones are best used in lower wind speeds. Power kites are also known as traction kites.

Trainer kites come in different types as well, and these types vary by usefulness in a given situation. Foil kites are used for land based kite recreation, such as snowboarding and landboarding. Leading edge inflatable kites are designed to have bladders with air to hold their shape. They are best used for water sports because the air cells allow the kite to float and they deflate very slowly. They are between five and eighteen meters square. Supporting edge kites are simply leading edge kites with more support so they are more easily steered. Power kites can also have different support structures, generally in the amount of guide strings they have (between two and five), handles or a bar, and control systems, such as whether or not they have brakes and how well they turn. All in all, power kites come in a variety of forms and you can easily find one to suit your needs and what you intend to use them for.

The use of Trainer kites should come with lessons, especially if you are going to be doing things like surfing or boarding. These recreational activities require a certain amount of training and instruction in order to use safely and it's a lot easier and quicker to learn how to use the kites with training rather than through trial and error. Many recreational centers as well as stores which specialize in power kites offer instruction in their use and they generally advise you take at least some instruction before starting out on your own. It's also advised that you spend some time simply flying your kite in order to get a feel for it rather than diving straight in. This way, you're prepared for your lessons and will be able to do a lot more with the instructions you're given.

Power kites are an excellent way to get extra hang time when you are surfing and boarding and power kite surfing is a popular twist on an already popular sport. Power kite boarding is a little newer, but no less popular for it. If you enjoy the thought of flying through the air with nothing more than a kite, then power kites may be the perfect thing for you to use.

By Dave E Lewis

Kite flying has been a pass time for many people for hundreds of years and it is still very popular today. If you go to the beach in the summer you will see many people flying kites and the kite designs can vary immensely.

For most people the classic kite design consists of two skewers or poles fixed together at right angles with the horizontal pole shorter than the vertical one. This is then covered with cloth or plastic and is flown with a single line and sometimes comes with a tail. This is the very basic kite design and is very easy to make. Many children start out flying this type of kite as it is easy to fly and can fly in a slight breeze.

Stunt kites started to become popular in the seventies and are still one of the most popular kite designs bought today.

The stunt kite can look very much like the single line kite but comes with two lines with which you can control the kite in the air. One line is connected to the right side of the kite and the other is connected to the left. You hold one of the lines in each hand and when the kite is flying you can control how it turns in the air by pulling on the lines. Pull the left line and it turns to the left and pull the right line and it turns to the right. If you pull on both lines together the kite will gain altitude in the right wind.

You can perform many tricks and stunts with these kites and that is why they are very popular. They do need a slightly higher wind than the single line kite does and you will need more space when flying as you don't want to hit any body that may stray beneath your flying area.

Due to their nature stunt kite designs can vary quite a lot form the single line kites. Because you have control over the flying of the stunt kite in the air the designs can be more unconventional and extreme.

Another variation of the stunt kite is the traction kite. This kite design uses a very large surface area which produces a huge amount of power or pull. These kites are for more experienced kite flyers as they can literally lift you off your feet because their huge surface area can capture so much of the power of the wind.

By Tim Parish

These tips assume the kite itself is in good condition and flies well. Even in that case, things occasionally get interesting. Oh yes! All sorts of unexpected things can happen when you're kite flying with a single liner. Part 1 covered 4 issues. Here are another 4, with a little discussion and suggestions for each.

Last Second Saves Or Cushioning The Impact

Sounds dramatic hey? This kite flying situation usually occurs when the wind is really a bit too strong. Most of the time it's OK, but then a stronger gust comes along... There goes the kite, looping and diving. Oops, now it's heading directly for the ground, and fast! Don't panic. One of 3 things can happen, if you know what to do. The kite will either...

* recover by itself, in the slower air near the ground, or
* recover with a little help from the flier, or
* hit the ground softly, with no damage done - with a little help from the flier!

Those last 2 points involve the flier, that's you, thrusting the reel or winder at the kite. You don't have time to let line out, you just shove the reel or winder at the kite, without letting go. You can take a step or 2 towards the kite too, which will make this action even more effective. The idea is to suddenly take all the tension out of the flying line. Kites just flutter and float if left to themselves for just half a second or so.

Getting The Kite Flying Well Above Tree Height

Always a good idea when kite flying in a park, provided the line is not actually near any trees. This goes for other obstacles as well, such as houses and other buildings. The air is much smoother up there, and your kite will behave much more predictably. About the only spot where this doesn't apply is on a wide smooth beach with the sea breeze coming in off the ocean!

Thermaling!

Oh yeah, make use of that rising air! Single line kites often get caught up in thermals, which float them up to very high line angles for a short while. However, it's fun to recognize what's happening and make more use of it. Some kite pilots have the opportunity to fly very high in places where air traffic regulations aren't as strict as they are here in Australia. Large delta kites are commonly used to explore thermals.

Even limited to 400 feet above ground, as I am, it's always a pleasure to occasionally bump into a thermal while kite flying. It's a buzz to let the string slip through my fingers just fast enough to climb the kite almost vertically until there is no more line to let out! There are some kite pilots who actively search the sky for thermals by maneuvering their kite. Single-liners aren't directly steerable, but there are some ways of helping them drift this way or that. Pulling a bit of extra tension into the line will help a delta accelerate in the direction it happens to be pointing, for example.

Winding In Without Tension

A must unless the kite is hardly pulling at all due to weather or the size of the kite. To be convenient, this requires 2 people. One to pull down the kite, and the other to wind on line off the ground. This way, the line goes onto the reel with very little tension, and the reel will live to fly another day! Don't try struggling to bring down a hard-pulling kite while winding onto a plastic reel loop by loop. The reel might be totally crushed by the experience! ;-) I once got caught out this way, while kite flying with just an average sized Delta. Despite trying to wind on with reduced tension. Even a small amount adds up with each loop.

If a second person is not available, it's still do-able but not quite so convenient. You have to lay out line as you pull down the kite. Not in one great heap, since that is a recipe for an enormous tangle! Just lay it out in a regular pattern. Alternatively, just walk out towards the kite, pulling it down as you go. After the kite is down, walk back to the reel and wind on all the line as you approach the kite a second time. Hey, it's good exercise! The older you get, the more you need it I'm finding...

By Robert G Murray

Trainer kites are a fantastic way to learn the kite skills you will need as a kiteboarder - if you master these ten points you'll get the most out of every dollar spent on lessons and minimize the time it takes to learn how to kiteboard.

1. Learn How to Find The Wind Window

The wind window is the only area where you can fly your kite, and every kiteboarding skill makes reference to it. To find it, face downwind with both arms extended out to your sides at shoulder height and imagine you are the center of a clock; 9 o'clock is the ground to your left, 3 o'clock is the ground to your right, 12 o'clock is directly overhead, and 10, 11, 1, and 2 are at their usual clock positions.

2. Understand the Two Main Zones of the Wind Window

Each zone of the wind window is used for a unique purpose. The edge or shoulder is where a kite has the least amount of power, and it is the furthest you can fly your kite into the wind. Unless you are doing something specific, your kite should be kept here, as it is the safest place. The power zone is where a kite has the most power, and is located directly downwind of you. This area is where you generate any power that you need to kiteboard, and it can produce a tremendous amount - your kite should never accidentally fly here.

3. Learn Where to Safely Launch and Land Your Kite

The proper place to launch or land any power kite is as close to the edge of the wind window as possible. Different types of kites require different positioning, but always start close to the edge; if your kite does not have enough power, walk a few steps upwind and try again. Repeat this until you have enough power.

4. Get into the Habit of Using the Kite's Safety System

A trainer kite's safety system requires that you let go of the control bar if you are overpowered, yet many people instinctively fight with the kite only to let go too late. If you start building good habits by practicing releasing the bar until it becomes second nature, you will save yourself plenty of grass-stains and bloody knees.

5. Practice Parking the Kite

Fly your kite to the edge of the wind window and keep it in one spot as long as you possibly can; it is considered 'parked' as long as it stays stationary. Much of your time kiteboarding will be spent with a parked kite, so it pays to practice this one!

6. Fly Your Kite Slowly and Smoothly on the Wind Windows Edge

Flying a larger kite too fast on the edge of the wind window will lift you off of the ground and can carry you away - and there's no telling where you might land! If you can fly your trainer slowly from 9 o'clock to 3 o'clock and back, you have nothing to worry about.

7. Learn How to Power Stroke

From water starts to jumping, the power stroke is found everywhere in kiteboarding. Start to get the hang of it by flying your kite back and forth through the power zone. Pay attention to how the kites pull changes if you fly it in and out of the power zone in different directions. Can you figure out which flight-path is used to jump?

8. Fly the Kite One Handed

You can't possibly tighten a strap or put on your board without taking one hand off of your bar. If you learn this skill on a trainer kite, you're less likely to crash and potentially damage a more expensive kiteboarding kite - which makes this skill more than worth it!

9. Simulate Water Starts

The more your practice resembles actual kiteboarding skills, the quicker you will learn the real thing. Start simulating water starts by sitting on the ground and using a power stroke to pull you to your feet. Adjust the power of the kite as needed by flying it deeper or shallower in the wind window.

10. Just Have Fun and Fly the Kite

Kiteboarding isn't about following a series of rigid steps; it's about doing something that you love. Have as much fun as possible when flying your trainer kite - experiment and try new things. If you do something that makes you smile, do it again! The more fun you have with your kite, the sooner you will master all of the small things that can't be written about - besides, having fun is what kiteboarding is all about.

By Tim Parish

These tips on how to make a kite fly straight should be handy for anyone making simple homemade kites for the first time. These general points only relate to flat or bowed single-liners, like diamond kites. So much depends on symmetry of the kite materials. That is, how closely the left and right sides of the kite match each other in various ways.

1. Symmetry In Sail Shape

This is important. In other words, sail shape on one side is an exact mirror-image of the shape on the other side. This also guarantees that the sail area is precisely the same on both sides. In practice, we can't be perfect, but there are ways to do a very good job.

For example, by folding the sail material down the center-line before measuring and cutting, a kite can be made very symmetrical in shape. This gets you off to a great start, although other things can still go wrong. Some classic instructions on how to make a kite employ this technique.

2. Symmetry In Sail Billow

If you are a bit careless in attaching the sail to the frame, it's possible that one panel of the sail may billow out a little more than other panels, when in flight. Try holding the kite by its tail end and swishing it through the air, indoors. If the problem is significant, you can actually see the uneven billow this way.

If you make a fairly big kite, this is unlikely to happen. However, with a very small design, all sorts of inaccuracies can creep in. If necessary, remove and re-attach the sail to even up the tightness of the panels.

3. Symmetry In Flexibility

How to make a kite loop out of control when there is nothing visibly wrong... This might happen when flying in fresh or strong wind. The cause is that one side of the kite is bending more than the other.

Synthetic materials like fiberglass or carbon fiber aren't likely to give problems in homemade kites, but natural materials are. The solution is to do a quick check of flexibility when selecting material for the horizontal spars, or even just match spars by eye.

In light winds, this factor is not likely to be a problem since the spars will hardly bend at all.

4. Symmetry In Weight

When your kite is complete, there might still be a small imbalance for some reason. Suspend the kite from nose and tail to see if one wing-tip seems heavier than the other.

From my experience, this might be the least important aspect of symmetry. It seems to have the most effect at the bottom end of the kite's wind range. Anyhow, balancing the kite is easy to do with a few small bits of tape added to one wing-tip.

5. The Lighter The Better!

Hardly surprising, but did you know that this can have a big effect on stability as well as performance? If there is too much weight near the edges of the sail and / or the spar tips, the kite will want to keep going around, if it starts to rotate for some reason.

How to make a kite light? Pick sail material that is strong enough but light as possible. Use a minimum of tape or glue or whatever other means you are using to secure the materials together. Use spars that are only just stiff enough for the job.

6. Multi-point Bridle Adjustments

Some bridles have lines going off to the left and right of the kite. I've found it's very handy to make some of these bridle knots shiftable, so if the kite goes left or right, you have another option for correcting the problem.

Another reason for making them shiftable is so you don't have to be perfectly accurate with tying a permanent knot in the exact correct position. If a shiftable knot is off a bit, it's easy to slide it to the correct spot.

That's it for tips related to flying straight. Here's a bonus tip to help your kite fly as high as possible. Use the lightest flying line possible, while making sure it is still strong enough to avoid losing the kite. A rough rule of thumb is to multiply the sail area in square feet by 3, which gives the required breaking strain of the line in pounds.

The more flying line you let out, the bigger the load the kite is trying to carry, in addition to its own weight. Hence the lighter the line, the higher the kite can fly before it reaches its weight limit.

That's about it for how to build a kite which flies straight and high over a wide range of wind speeds. If you have already tried making a kite, and it has a disappointing wind range, check it off against all the points above. The solution might be simple, like tightening the sail a bit. Or you might discover you have a bendy spar on one side, and therefore have to make a new kite!

By Jan Hazelton

Want to add a special touch to a room in your home? Maybe you are planning an event, setting up a display for a school or a library or just have the urge to do something new. How about expressing your creative aspirations with kites? The kite has become a respectable new member in the world of design. Kites have been used to decorate homes, doctor offices, clinics, libraries, classrooms, aquariums, lobbies, and a whole host of events. It is literally true that the sky is the limit.

In several healing centers kites have been used to brighten up the space for the patients. This year students and faculty at San Diego State University created the (1) "Visual Therapy Sky Mural". Student Lauren Holland spent long hours in the SDSU Fitness Clinic receiving therapy. The room was so dull and uninviting that Lauren dreamed of creating something wonderful for future patients to be surrounded by. The idea for the "Visual Therapy Sky Mural" began to blossom in her mind.

The Faculty/Student Mentoring Program in the College of Arts and letters took the project on. Professor Iisdro D. Ortiz Ph.D. helped to raise funds and a whole host of volunteers joined in to help with the project. The "Visual Therapy Sky Mural" is a childs dream-scape of a Pacific sky and sandy beach that runs the length of the 26-foot ceiling and continues onto the side wall. The ceiling is adorned with a beautiful arrangement of butterfly kites, ship kites and airplane kites that complement the mural. The results are stunning.

School teachers and librarians are using kites for special projects and displays. This year insects, butterflies and birds have been big hits. The kites make teaching and learning fun.

Aquariums use a variety of fish kites to highlight their themes. Imagine numerous Angel Fish Kites, Orca Whale Kites, Dolphin Kites, and even Octopus Kites decorating a major aquarium lobby. It really is impressive.

Grocery stores have even used kites as decoration. Hand painted Bali Butterfly Kites are stunning when used as wall art. Customers love to have the added touch of color during their shopping experience. The Bali Butterfly kites are available in several colors and the wing spans up to seven feet.

Are you planning a birthday party for a child? Little boys are wild about the pirate ship kite, the F-16 kite, the Red Baron kite and the ever popular Kitty Hawk kite. When the party is over, use the kite to decorate their room. You will be a hit for years to come. Miniature kites make great favors for kids of any age and make for wonderful entertainment.

If you are decorating your home, office, school or event, be sure to explore the possibility of using kites as art.

By Tim Parish

Why not take a delta kite or diamond kite with you on your travels? Modern flat kites pack down into a small thin carry bag. There are several good reasons to take a kite of some sort with you on your next international trip.

Firstly, no matter where and when you travel overseas, you probably aren't far from a kite fly-in or festival of some sort. These events almost always allow public participation. Depending on who you are, you might enjoy the opportunities to take great photographs, meet people, or just revel in the kite flying! You might even learn a bit about the traditional kites of the host country. Have something different to document in photos or video!

Secondly, most single and dual-line kites these days are lightweight and very easy to transport in their carry bags. Not only that, but some designs such as parafoils and simple sleds require no set-up at all. These flexible kites pack down into a small bag and only need to have a line attached to be ready to fly. Even other types such as deltas, diamonds and stunt kites are generally very straight-forward to setup before flying. For example, a delta kite is easiest, only requiring the ends of a single spreader rod to be plugged in.

Thirdly, the simple pleasures of kite flying are available just about anywhere, anytime. Any beach is a good spot to pull out a kite and fly. Sea breezes are less variable than inland. Parks and reserves also have wide open spaces, although you might need to fly high above the surrounding obstacles to find smoother air. Be aware that some countries are stricter than others when it comes to airspace regulations. If you keep a good distance from airports and keep the kite under 100 meters (350 feet), you'll stay out of trouble just about anywhere. Australia is one of the strictest countries in this regard.

On the subject of kite festivals, there are a number of large international events that can provide an awesome visual feast. See close-up everything from kids flying simple sleds to enormous show kites that cost as much as a second hand car! You might also catch performances by highly skilled stunt kite fliers and teams.

Major Kite Festivals Around The World

Consider passing through one of the following cities to catch an amazing event, and perhaps pull out that delta kite while you are there...

* Jan: Ahmedabad, India
* Feb: Basant, Pakistan
* Mar: Adelaide, Australia
* Apr: Weifang, China
* May: Hamamatsu, Japan
* Jun: Fano, Denmark
* Jul: Bali, Indonesia
* Aug: Bristol, U.K.
* Sep: Dieppe, France
* Oct: Coolum, Australia
* Nov: Santiago, Guatemala
* Dec: Sorry! Unable to find a major festival in December

Of course, you would need to confirm the exact dates of the event and the location of the city before departing. That's easily done online. Also, searching online for more information on say, Hamamatsu Kite Festival or Santiago Kite Festival will reveal breathtaking worlds of kiting you never knew existed! Spectacular large kites from many cultures and intriguing histories abound.

All the above events are large in terms of the number of kites flown and the number of participants and spectators. In many cases, international kite designers and fliers are present at the invitation of the organizers. This is often the case even when the word 'International' is missing from the title of the event.

The U.S. scene really warrants a separate article. It would be possible to travel around the U.S. all year and fly your delta kite at a different event nearly every week!

Conclusion

I hope the list of 11 major festivals with month, city and country are useful to you as an international traveler. There are incredible kiting cultures everywhere across the globe. Sizes, shapes, designs and colors you can't imagine until you see them. Even if you are not a keen flier, think of the entertainment value and memories gained for no extra cost! Bring all this home in your head and in the memory cards of your photographic devices.

Let kite flying add an extra dimension to your next overseas trip. Go on, fly a delta kite in foreign skies!

By Tim Parish

The Dopero kite has a well-earned reputation for being an excellent light wind flier. It flies at high line angles like a delta, and yet has very good stability and lifting capacity as well. The Dopero is basically two Pearson Roller kites side by side. The name was extracted from the words DOuble PEarson ROller.

This kite is a favorite of KAP (Kite Aerial Photography) enthusiasts since it lets them get a camera up even on very light wind days. Some influential kite photography people, such as Brooks Leffler, say it is the best light wind kite they have ever flown.

Typical Dopero Kites

The original Dopero kite was under 3 meters in span. The Maxi Dopero was made shortly after, and had a more impressive span of 3.75 meters (over 12 feet) Both sizes are copied today, with small variations. The basic outline does not vary much, with most people choosing to copy the original shape fairly faithfully. Also, quality kites are now available from a small number of kite shops and manufacturers.

It does not need tails. However, some like to add tails just for the visual effect. Also, KAPers often add tails to kites that don't strictly need them, just for additional stability.

Most of these kites are valued for their flying characteristics rather than their looks. Hence the decoration is usually limited to simple areas of color and straight lines. However, with such a large area of sail there's nothing to stop someone from getting arty with one of these kites!

The 4 point bridle consists of 2 loops, with a connecting line. The top loop connects to where the longerons cross the main cross spar. The other loop is connected at both ends to the longerons also, near the leading edge of the rear sail. The flying line attaches to the connecting line, and this 'towing point' is shifted fore or aft to trim the kite according to wind conditions.

Ripstop nylon sails are popular, but some of these kites are made with the more expensive Icarex P31 material for added performance.

Dopero Kites In Action

With the increased availability of these kites from shops now, many are flying with no KAP rig attached. It's a great kite to pull out on those nearly-dead-calm days! Even on windier days, a Dopero kite still comes in handy for flying 'line laundry'. For example, inflatables, spinners and windsocks.

On the other hand, a lot of Kite Aerial Photography is being done with these kites. The large Maxi Dopero is a useful lifter even in the lightest breezes. Even though the kite can take a while to assemble, at least shots can be taken when other kites won't fly at all.

Some Dopero Kite History

In a way, the history of this kite goes way back to 1909, when its ancestor the Roloplan was first sold. The Roloplan was a German design which was refined in the early 1970s to become the well-known Pearson Roller. The Roller was and still is a very good light-wind kite.

Finally in 1994 a young German KAP enthusiast, Ralf Beutnagel, made a kite like 2 Pearson Rollers side by side. This resulted in a somewhat bigger kite with 4 bridle points instead of 2. The extra lifting power was needed to get the camera gear aloft, the Pearson design being a bit too small for the job.

Driven by demand from the KAP community mainly, the Dopero kite has been produced commercially since the Millennium and remains a favorite light wind kite for that purpose. In fact, in 2006 a Dopero was used to re-create the famous San Francisco earthquake photo of 1906.

By Tim Parish

Traction kites first made an appearance way back in the 1970s, when the Flexifoil stunter became available for anyone to buy. This kite had a single flexible spar running the full length of its leading edge. This was a fast kite with plenty of power, and people still fly this design today.

Since the history of traction kites extends back to the 70s, using them to pull you along isn't a new idea. A small number of people soon started experimenting with the Flexifoil for traction. They found several ways to drag themselves along, for example over sand in a small wheeled buggy. Someone might have got the idea when the wind got a bit strong one day, and they found themselves slipping across the wet sand. Just a short step from there to actually sitting in or on something and covering some ground.

Most traction designs are parafoils, that is, flexible ram air inflated 'wings'. Some designs meant for use in water have inflatable spars built into them. Others are single-surface kites, for example some of Peter Lynn's designs.

Types Of Traction Kites

Over the years, designers have made kites for specific sports, so there's a lot of different types. Broadly though, there are just 2 categories - power and traction.

Some people lump all 2, 3, 4 or 5 line flexible kites into one category. Many other people divide these into 2 or 3 line for power and 4 or 5 line for traction. There is a big range of sizes available, and cost depends a lot on size.

Here follows a summary of both types, to help explain the real difference.

Power kites are at the smaller and cheaper end, and are used mainly for stunt flying or just having fun. They are really just another kind of stunter. A small one is pretty fast through the air, which is part of the thrill of flying it.

However, if they are 3 square meters (about 30 square feet) or bigger in area, they pull quite a bit. Naturally, people then think about using them to pull along small land buggies, for example.

Traction kites are bigger and more expensive, and are used mainly for pulling things along. For example, surfboards, snowboards, land kite buggies and so on.

However, depending on wind conditions, there's nothing to stop you flying one of these as a rather expensive and impressive stunter. The extra brake lines let you turn the kite with less arm movement than the 2-line variety. Also, the brake lines are handy for bringing it down onto the ground with a bit more control. With 4 or more lines dragging through the air, and other aerodynamic reasons, traction kites are a bit slower than the smaller power kites.

Some traction designs are built purely for speed, compared to other kites of the same size. These are 'racing kites', and are not as easy to fly as other traction designs.

Traction Kites in Action

How do people fly power kites these days? This type being so popular, the manufacturers have managed to cater for just about everyone. Young children can fly the smallest 2-line power kites under supervision while down at the beach. At the other end, top-notch athletes push the limits doing freestyle tricks over snow or in the surf with other kite boarders, using very expensive traction kites.

At the top end, these kites are more like aircraft than toys. That's not at all surprising when you consider that some are made by paraglider manufacturers! In 2007, the cost of some of these flying wonders exceeded 1000 US dollars.

'Freestyle' kite skiing and boarding have both seen big increases in popularity, as well as kite surfing.

In Conclusion, Safety...

The following list of advice summarizes the safety issues that are relevant to flying modern traction kites.

* choose the right kite, not too big for your experience, skill or wind conditions
* read the product instructions, safety warnings and flying tips on the packaging
* fly it in a large enough area, away from obstacles, including other people
* start flying in light winds, until you are used to it
* wear safety gear if you are getting dragged over the ground, for example in buggying
* a helmet is recommended when going for a kite surf in the ocean
* do a course, or get expert advice, before getting into the more advanced extreme sports
* get good at doing tricks with your power kite before thinking about doing extreme sports

By Tim Parish

Triangular box kites are not quite as well-known as the traditional square box, but they are nearly as old. Like the square box kite, the triangular design has been used for many practical purposes as well as for pure fun flying. The simplest type has just 2 cells. That is, 2 sets of sail cloth are wrapped around a set of long spars with a gap in the middle. Just like a traditional box kite, except there are 3 long spars forming 3 sides instead of 4.

Many big complex 'cellular' kite designs are based on this concept. If you look carefully at some of these, you will find that the triangular box idea is in there somewhere.

The Simple 3 Sided Box Kite

It might look a little simpler than a 4-sided kite, but triangular box kites actually need more parts in order to stay rigid. Like square ones, they can be made permanently rigid or collapsible for easy transportation.

One way to make a triangular kite is to make up 2 triangular frames from 6 short pieces of wood, all the same length. After the frames are ready, 3 long spars are fitted, running through each corner of the triangular frames. Sail cloth is then wrapped around and secured to each end of the complete assembly to form the sail panels. These panels should be about a quarter to a third the length of the entire kite. Finally, a bridle can be attached to each end of one of the long spars. Like the square box, a bridle is not strictly necessary since the flying line can just be attached to a long spar about a quarter of its length in from one end.

If you actually make a triangular box kite that is of similar dimensions to a square one you already have, it will soon become clear that it requires a bit more wind to fly well. That's partly because of those short spars. The extra weight increases the 'wing loading' of the kite.

The Triangular Box Kite Sprouts Wings

Just like the traditional box kite, the triangular type was eventually modified with wings to lift better. This was first done in 1902 by an American called Silas Conyne. This idea was also the basis for the French Military kite of the early 1900s. These kites had some similarities to the more complex Cody military kites, except they used 3 instead of 4 main spars for each cell. Kite enthusiasts still fly winged triangular ones today. Not surprisingly, they are often referred to as Conyne or French Military kites.

The wings of the French Military design were quite short. A single short spar extended out from the top of the kite on each side, forming the pointed tip of the wing. Eventually, as delta kites began to be developed, someone had the idea of merging the 2 ideas. The result was the Delta Conyne which could fly at higher line angles and also stay up in lighter winds.

In the 21st century, just about any kind of kite is available from a shop, either on or off-line. Various kinds of triangular box kites can be bought. They are made from the usual modern kite materials such as rip-stop nylon or mylar for the sails and fiberglass or carbon fiber for the spars. To keep costs down, these kites are usually small to average sized.

In Conclusion

The original simple triangular box with just the 2 cells is not seen much now. However, its influence is considerable. These days, triangular box kites are most often seen as...

* components of large complex multi-cellular kites
* lifters of photographic equipment, in various Conyne configurations
* colorful shop-bought Delta Conyne kites being flown for fun

By Tim Parish

Early in their history, the largest box kites were mainly used for lifting. Of course, many other smaller ones were constructed and flown purely for recreation. Kite enthusiasts, if they had several types of kites, tended to reserve their box kites for the windiest weather.

Earliest Inventors - Hargrave and Cody

Lawrence Hargrave, an Australian, was the official inventor of the box kite in 1892. Hargrave used to link several kites together and even hoisted a very trusting human under the largest of them! According to one academic, the idea of a box structure flying in the air was known here and there around this time. Hence, it's possible that Hargrave was not the very first person to fly a box kite.

The rather flamboyant Samuel Cody, of the United States, later built upon the ideas developed by Hargrave. Cody used a double box concept and also added small wings for extra lift and vanes for stability. These kites were designed for the military, and resulted in a patented man-lifting system in 1901. With this capability, an observer could be hoisted to a great height to provide an advantage on the battlefield.

How high exactly? There is a record of somebody once going up under a Cody kite to more than 600 meters (2000 feet) of altitude! Too bad the airplane was invented just a few years later... A large number of perfectly good Cody kites ended up in moth-balls.

20th Century Applications

On the topic of airplanes, notice how similar the oldest of biplanes were to box kites. These aircraft were just kites with a tail and an engine. Take for example, the Bristol Boxkite which is probably the most famous of these aircraft. The earliest plane inventors, including the Wright brothers, tinkered with kites while they planned and dreamt about what they really wanted to build! The early days of flight saw a lot in common between the development of kites and aircraft. The materials were similar, the methods of bracing for rigidity were similar, and so on.

Early in the twentieth century, box kites were used for measuring atmospheric conditions like wind velocity, temperature, barometric pressure and humidity. Large box kites were capable of doing this job over quite a range of altitudes. With their oiled silk sails and flying on steel wire, they were strong and stable, with great lifting power for their size. Eventually though, balloons proved able to reach even greater altitudes for this kind of work.

During the Second World War, another military application for them can be found in the emergency kits issued to pilots in the 1940s. The Gibson-Girl Box Kite could be flown by a pilot lost at sea, with it's line acting as the aerial for a radio transmitter. Some of these pilots might have waited a long time for enough wind to get a distress call out!

Radio enthusiasts have used box kites for hoisting up aerials to a great height! This was practiced over many decades, and probably since the earliest military applications. Who knows, there might still be a few radio enthusiasts out there who use a kite to hang up a really tall antenna! Ham radio isn't as big as it once was, but there you have it, another application for box kites.

Kite Aerial Photography, also known as KAP, is another application that has been going on for quite some time. Designs based around the box kite concept are stable and strong lifters so are ideal for suspending photographic gear. Mind you, weight isn't such an issue in 2007, with lipstick cams and similar tiny devices being available! There are even some kits around that include kite, camera and other necessary bits and pieces.

Into The New Millennium

Since the year 2000, the general trend has been for greater and greater variety in weird and wonderful kites based on the basic box cell idea. Spectacular, colorful, multi-celled, tumbling and rotating works of aerial art provide an attention-grabbing display in the air! Some keen builders do these from scratch, others are available in kit form from kite shops. The most popular materials are rip-stop nylon for the sails and fiberglass rods as spars.

By Kadence Buchanan

In many cultures around the world, the custom of kite flying has been passed from generation to generation almost as a ritual. Kites have been introduced more than three thousand years ago in China and from there the kite flying experience traveled throughout Asia, Europe, and later in America, Australia and other countries around the globe. From the years of Benjamin Franklin and Alexander Graham Bell to the World War II, kites have been used in scientific experiments or as lifting tools for military purposes. Today, kite flying and its contemporary successors, like kite buggying, kite sailing/surfing, or kite jumping, are considered to be joyful, relatively inexpensive and unique recreational activities practiced around the world, almost all year around.

The traditional kite flying involves flying a tethered man-made object with the help of the natural wind. The necessary lift that permits the kite to fly into the open space is generated when airflow over and under the kite creates the right amount of low pressure above the kite and high pressure underneath it. Those practicing kite flying state that running against the wind while holding the string that connects the center of the kite with the surface is a unique experience that one has to practice in order to fully comprehend. Typically consisting of one or more spars (sticks), made by bamboo, rattan, or other flexible but strong materials to hold the pressure powers exercised by the wind, classic kites use paper or light fabric sails, such as silk, and are made in different shapes and/or themes, such as birds or dragons. From the classic flat geometric form of a polyester diamond kite, modern designers have created kites that have three-dimensional forms or are made of sparless inflatable designs.

In recent years, kite flying has developed into a competitive sport where precision flying skills and artistic interpretation are required. But for the rest of the world, kite festivals have become a popular form of entertainment. These can be small local events, like traditional festivals, practiced by the local citizens for hundreds of years, to international festivities which bring in kite flyers from distant countries to display their techniques and distinct kite art forms. Moreover, with kite museums all around the world, kites are exposed to the eyes of the public and attract thousands of new practitioners every year. The world kite museum in Weifang Shandong China, the famous international kite capital, is the largest one in the world featuring a display area of more than 8,100 sq.m.

If you have never tried to fly a kite, perhaps next time you are out in the open you should attempt to have your own personal experience. If you decide to experiment with kite flying, please be very careful of the area you select to try this type of recreational activity. Remember that electricity polls or mountain cliffs can prove to be a rather disastrous and dangerous experience not only for the kite, but most importantly for you! Be careful and enjoy your new kite flying recreational activity with family and friends. Practice and see your kite flying skills "fly up high!"