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!
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!
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