Selecting Your Kite Style
Kite Style
Your kite style selection can be a tough choice because the styles vary dramatically along with the skills needed to fly them. Here we will break down the categories of the single-line kites available to fly.
Flat Kites
Used today for fishing flat kites may be the earliest of known kite types. They are really flat and remain rigid in flight are remain very stable which also makes them great to use for fishing today.
 Dragon Mini Kite - $ 8.59 Designed by kite artist Buteo Huang, he has adorned this beautiful mini-kite with an exquisitely produced pattern of a dragons head. This series of kites was inspired by Huang's interest in transformint the illustrative images of Taiwan into easily manipulated kites for people of all ages. With a thin string any flyer can have their dreams take flight! |
Bowed Kites
A bowed kite will face the wind with a curve. Stability is gained from the dihedral. With a bowed kite a lot of times do not need tails.
Figure Kites
You will find figure kites in many different shapes and sizes. There is almost no figure that cannot be made into a kite. Some of the most popular shapes are bats, bees, birds, butterflies, fish and dragons. But you will see many more shapes like cartoon characters, animals and people.
Rokkaku Kite
The rokkaku kite is a Japanese word that means there are six corners on the kite. You will see them bowed with two tension lines and range in size from 4 to 7 feet. With the large surface makes a lot of room for some very creative artwork. The kite is used for a kind of demolition derby called The Rokkaku Challenge. The object is to try to knock the other pilots out of the sky.
 Sea Turtles Rokkakus Kite - $ 34.59 Did you know that the Rokkaku ( pronounced "roke-cock-coo" ) is a traditional Japanese design flown in its native country in aerial kite battles. Many teams of opponents try to knock or cut each other out of the sky to claim victory. Often a popular event at kite festivals the Rokkaku which not only has a low cost but, excellent flying performance and spectacular graphics. |
Dimensional and Cellular Kites
The dimensional and cellular kites are the derivatives of the box kite. They consist of a three dimensional shapes. The Hargrave is a triangular box kite that has wings. There is also a Cody which is a full box with upturned wings. The cellular kites may have fins, wings or vanes. The cellular kites can be stacked on a single line and used to carry heavy payloads.
Soft Flexible Kites
The soft flexible kites are very different because they do not have any frame. They gain their flight characteristics by filling with air in multiple cells. Also able to lift heavy objects as big as cars because they develop large amounts of pull.
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Delta Kite
The delta kite invented by NASA the shape is the same as the 4 letter of the Greek alphabet. A favorite of beginners and the novice the shape can automatically adjust to changes in the wind force. Even the more experienced kite pilots enjoy the Delta Kites.
 Wild Horses 56" Delta Kite - $ 18.99 Just one of our huge selection of 56in. Delta Kites. The kite of choice for many first time flyers, these Deltas are easy to fly and have the ability to stay aloft in abroad range of wind conditions. |
Fighter Kites
Fighter kites are believed to be the kites that require to most skill to fly. They are diamond shaped and have a two or three point bridle. Their construction consists mainly of paper and bamboo. They are controlled by a single control line. What happens in flight is the spreaders flex which cause the kite to change directions. The release of tension makes the kite flat which causes it to spin.
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George Peters' Indian Fighter Kite Sale Price: $49.00 |
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Back and better than ever. The result of the world's longest running fighter kite design competition, the Indian Fighter is fast spinning, straight tracking and hard to beat. George Peters' beautiful version adds the strength and durability of ripstop nylon and fiberglass to this all time favorite... |
Sled Kite
A sled kite is a very simple and flexible design and a very flexible flier. Back in the 50s at the time when the sled kite first appeared there was a sled with the name “flexible flier” so the inventor named the kite the “Sled Kite”.
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Mini Sled Single Line Kite Patriotic Sale Price: $6.00 |
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Mini Sleds turn kids into kitefliers.Made of ripstop nylon with flexible fiberglass spars, these little kites are reliably easy to fly and nearly unbreakable. Handy for party favors, birthday gifts and unexpected occasions, they're Ready to Fly with line on handles... |
Arch Kite
Arch kites get anchored to the ground and connected side by side. A specific theme can be created with arch kites of words or phrases spelled out with them.
Train and Centipede Kites
The centipede or train kites are connected to each other to form a train or centipede. It looks like they are all flying on a single line. But remember that doing this will create a lot of pull in the group of kites.
Sport Kite Competition Skill Levels
Sport Kite Competition
Understanding event types and skill levels for competition consist of pair or individual. They will fall into classes or groups that are Novice, Experienced or Masters. In the good old USA your only requirement to compete is to be a member of the American Kite-fliers Association.
The event types you will hear referred to as a discipline like “individual ballet” or “precision”. There are 20 different disciplines recognized by the American Kite-fliers Association. When you get your program for a competition you will need to understand the three letter designation for the disciplines so here is a little chart to help in your understanding.
Discipline Abbreviations
First Letter Second Letter Third Letter
E = Experienced I = Individual B = Ballet
M = Master M = Multi-line F = Freestyle
N = Novice Q = Quad-line P = Precision
O = Open P = Pair T = Train
T = Team
In a program you would see examples like the following:
MTB = Master Individual Ballet
OPP = Open Pair Precision
NMP = Novice Multi-line Precision
Note: When you see “Open” as a discipline it means that competitors can be Experienced, Master or Novice.
Where is the Best Place to Watch a Sport Kite Competition?
Always check to see where the judges are sitting. They will be positioned somewhere behind the competitors for the best view. Somewhere around this area will give you the best field of view. The competition field will always be roped off for two reasons. One for the safety of the spectator’s and two for the competitor’s because if they fly outside the ropes they are disqualified.
Why Music Sometimes and Sometimes Not?
One click to play one click to stop, while in play double click for full screen.
The two main types of competition include the Ballet and Precision. The Sport Kite Ballet is always choreographed to music and a routine will run from about 2 to 5 minutes. Watch The Mystery Ballet and Light Wind and don't forget to turn up the sound!
Precision Competition
With Precision competition there is no music used. The requirement here is for the competitor to fly three different figures and a technical routine of their own design. It is broken down into 4 classes of competition which are as follows multi-line individual, dual-line individual, dual-line pair and dual-line team. Each class has 12 possible compulsory figures that can be flown in Precision Sport Kite Competition. In this video see Stack Sport Kites Eurocup 2008.
Kitesurfing Rules of the Road
Kite High Rule
The kiter who is closest to the wind or (upwind) must keep their kite high to avoid their lines crossing the downwind kiters. The reverse applies for the downwind kiter, they must keep their kites low to avoid their lines crossing upwind kites. This rule applies on the same, or opposing courses for kiters.
Clearance Rule
The kitesurfer must have a clear safety zone of at least 50m downwind because they move downwind during a jump. A rider must also have a clear safety zone of 30m upwind to jump as his lines could touch the kite or the lines of another rider kiteboarding close by, refer to the Kite High rule.
Kiterboarding is Considered Sailing
The rules of the road apply as in standard sailing such as:
Starboard Rule (Sailing Rule 12)
When vessels (e.g. kitersurfers) approach from opposite directions the kiter who has the wind on the starboard (right side, right leg/arm leads in direction of travel) has right of way. The kitersurfer who has the wind on the port side (left side, left leg/arm are leads in direction of travel) shall keep out of the way of the other kitesurfer.
In sailing terms, a sailor or kitersurfer with right of way is entitled to "insist" on exercising that right (warning opposing kiters) by shouting "starboard" very clearly and in good time. But remember any vessel accident on the water whether you have the right-a-way or not both parties are considered at fault. Standard boating rules such as no-go or no-boat zones, distance from shore and swimmers also apply.
How to Kitesurf the Waves
One click to start, one click to stop and double click for full screen.
Rokkaku Kite Videos
Rokkaku Kite Competition
Here you see a short video describing the Rokkaku Kite competition where the main object is to be longest in the sky. The name Rokkaku is Japanese and means the kite has 6 corners. The kites are 4 to 7 feet in diameter giving a nice foot print in the sky for some interesting art work.
The Rokkaku competitions are more like a demolition derby in the sky and sometimes called The Rakkaku Challenge. The first video is a Rakkaku kite fighting battle it out on Capitol Mall during the Annual Smithsonian Kite Festival. Video two is a Rokkaku Challenge between three Rokkaku competitors. In video three is an example of a Rokkaku Challenge with a nice big group of challengers.
Controls = One click to play one click to stop and double click for full screen.
How to Select Your First Sport Kite
Select Your First Sport Kite
While surfing the Internet for your first sport kite you will be amazed at the variety of kites. Many shapes and sizes and different types, so what do you look for to make the best kite selection.
Materials that are used to make some you will find to be more durable than others. The cheapest are paper sails but they are very fragile. The stronger and water-resistant types are made of rip-stop nylon or rip-stop polyester. You will find that carbon fiber tubes and fiberglass rods outlast the wood type many times over.
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The light-weight kites are the types that fly the best. The cheapest or most affordable kites you will find made of wood and plastic. Sail is made of plastic or paper in very light-weight material you will find are not as durable as the nylon and fiberglass types.
Size matters! Shape matters! The larger kites fly much better than the smaller ones. Remember the larger the kite is going to pull against the wind a lot harder, so stronger control lines will be needed. The shape determines also how well it flies. No matter what the shape birds, fish, people or any kind of geometric pattern the finished kite will have to be balanced.
All kites are different in some way and will require a specific wind range in which it will fly the best. The very light kites prefer the very light winds. Flying in very strong winds requires stronger construction materials and control lines.
For a beginner or the novice start out with a simple kite like a nylon delta kite, the eddy kite and sled kites you will find the easiest to set up and fly.
For the novice adding a tail adds two things a very dramatic flair and stability to the flight characteristics.
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Kites: Flying Skills and Techniques, from Basic Toys to Sport Kites List Price: $19.95 Sale Price: $0.01 |
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The perfect handbook for every kiting enthusiast More than three thousand years ago, the Chinese used kites to spy on their enemies, send messages and lift themselves up and out of hostile situations... |
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What is a Sport or Stunt Kite?
The Sport or Stunt Kite?
In its most basic configuration the sports kite is a delta shape controlled with two lines. Construction will vary, but mostly you will see them in a lightweight rip-stop nylon or rip-stop polyester. The spars will be made of light weight carbon fiber tubing.
Control lines for flying are made from a braided spectra, it is very light and has no stretch. It stays very slippery even when being wrapped up many times.
Controlling a Sport Kite
With the two lines one on the right hand and one on the left hand. A pilot will just pull on the right hand line to make the kite to go right and if he wants to turn left he will just pull on the left hand line. To control the pitch requires different amounts of tension on the control lines. This accomplished by running or walking backwards or forwards.
To create tricks and different patterns in the stunt kites flight a pilot will use a combination of pushes and pulls on the control lines to create complex flight patterns. The flight patterns are just amazing and very in difficulty from loops, flips turns end over end to simple turns. Sport kites can reach speed as high as 60 mph in a dive or perform a stall and just drop out of the sky. Flight characteristics of your average sport kites are just incredible the maneuvers they can perform.
Stunt kites are designed to fly in many different conditions. The standard kites are best suited for 3 to 9 miles per hour. But some designs of sport kite will fly in winds of 30 mph or more. There are even some designs of sport kites that are made of very lightweight materials. Very delicate and will fly with the lightest breeze and some will even fly indoors.
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