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.

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.

The stunt kite is a delta shape controlled with two lines. They are built a number of different ways, 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.

In the first video you will see the 180 Fade Wrap. In the second video you get a Stunt Kite Tutorial "The Comete". In the third the Stunt kite master is flying 3 stunt kites at once. One in each hand and then another navigated by his thigh!

One click to play one click to stop, while in play double click for full screen.

Strange Kites

Sport kiting acronyms and terms if you are new to the sport or even if you have been at it a while, you may not have the meaning to them all yet. After an exhaustive search the list of sport kiting acronyms and terms is very near complete.

1/2 Axel

The ½ axel or axel is a kite trick with a 2 line stunt kite that is an interesting way of changing direction rather than a carved turn. At the edge of the window, having done a ground pass, release the top wing and then pop the same side. The kite will make a half turn and then pull back on both lines to fly off in the opposite direction.

The 360

Is another kite trick that is performed in very light or no wind, you can fly your kite outside of the normal 180° window and complete a flight 360° circuit around the pilot.

Start by flying right out to the left edge in a nice straight ground pass, then as you reach the edge start to walk backward to power the kite around, keep the kite's speed up until you reach the beginning of your wind window on the right side.

Kites for Everyone: How to Make and Fly Them:

Access Power

This is the maneuver for a traction kite to give extra power

Active Bridle

The control lines that form the connection between kite and control line for active flight. The bridle passes the commands of the pilot to the kite. There is a number of specific points that make up the bridle. First is the tow point, this is where the control lines are attached. Next there is the (in-haul) this connection is from the center T to the tow point. Next we have the (upper out-haul) this connection from the upper spreader leading edge to the tow point and the (lower out-haul) goes from lower spreader leading edge to tow point.

Aerodynamic

This means a shape that is capable flying and not adversely affected in the wind.

A Gas

This acronym is used buggy slang with traction kites that means it is As Good As Skiing

Airfoil or Aerofoil

This is the name given to the shape of a wing or, sail whose shape controls stability, direction, lift, thrust or propulsion. The shape provides force when in motion to surrounding air and can lift.

Airtime

More buggy slang referrers to the amount of time spent in the air while jumping

Alee

This has to do with downwind or the leeward side

Angle of Attack

Sometimes referred to as the angle of incidence for short (AOA or AOI) is the angle which the kite flies in relation to the wind. This angle is adjusted from the bridle.

Angle of Incidence

This angle can mean the angle the kite takes compared to the wind direction

Apparent Wind

For short (AW) The wind imposed on the kite or rider as it passes through the air. Example, if the true wind is blowing North at 10 knots and the kite is moving West at 10 knots, the apparent wind on the kite is NW at about 14 knots. The apparent wind direction shifts towards the direction of travel as speed increases

Aspect Ratio

Aspect ratio of a kite is calculated from the height/width. Kites are referred to as having a high aspect ratio or a low aspect ratio.

Back of the sail

The side of the kite facing the sky

Dyna kites is one of the new challenging kite piloting fun going on in the world of Sport kites and stunt kites. Dyna kites are the best stacking diamond shaped stunt kites available. They are great for the kite flying pro as well as the beginner just starting out. The reason for this is because they are so easy to fly, very safe and a breeze to learn on.

Even though the Dyna kites are so easy to pilot you will never get tired of flying them. The reason for this is to make them more of a challenge to fly all you do is add more Dyna kites to the growing stack.

Building your piloting skills grows over time as you add more kites to your stack. You will also learn to do more tricks and maneuvers with them as you gain proficiency in you piloting skills.

You may want to go for the world’s record; all you need to break the standing record is 112 Dyna Kites. The standing record is 111 Dyna Kites in a single stack which should be easy for you to break.

Here are some kite videos the first 2 are Dyna Kite basics part one and part two. In the third video is a very advanced performance of a large number of stacked Dyna Kites that you will enjoy. In this video there are 34 stacked kites flying a Brenton Point Park in Newport, RI being flow to “Then And Now The New Deal” very cool!

One click to play, one click to stop and while in play double click for full screen!

Trainer Kite for Kite Surfing

Want to begin enjoying kite surfing right from the start? Then you must begin by selecting the best trainer kite that matches you.

Kite surfing has gained much popularity in the last few years. The main reason for the big rise in popularity for this extreme sport is the simplicity.

The power of the wind is used to pull a surfer over water at incredible speeds in this extreme sport. Many fail at enjoying this extreme sport because the kite they select does not fit the bill.

Always remember to select the foil because it is the best trainer kite.

New kite surfers will go for an inflatable kite thinking they can gain an advantage which is always a mistake.

Beginners like the lower cost of the foil kite which are constructed of nylon sewn together in squares.

The inflatable kites require an air bladder that makes construction more complicated and expensive.

The foil kites produce the very best trainer kite and the reason for this is the number of different variations they come in.

The cheaper version and the best to start out with is the two line control kite model.
Order your Trainer Kite Package Today only 2 left!

Here is what one happy owner had to say about the Best 3 Meter Trainer Foil Kite:

This is a great foil kite for learning if your an adult or over 100lbs.I wouldn't recommend it for children under that weight. The kite says the wind speed limit to fly is 15mph but I have flown it in higher speeds and it has been able to pulled me along the sand. My weight is 165.lbs and it was still able to jerk my body in the power zone of the wind.It comes with a very good info DVD about how to fly the kite. (TOMCAT)

Review paraphrased for size — view original review here.

But you can get versions with 3 line and 4 line control versions but they will cost more. You will find the inflatable kites only come in the 4 line control versions.

So there is no cheaper 2 line available. Foil kites do not require the harness like the inflatable kite requires for distributing the force over the body.

The extra cost in equipment for the inflatable kite is considerable. You also will need extra safety equipment for the inflatable kite. New kite surfers really like the durability of the foil kites and the lower cost making them the perfect choice. You will find a number of the best places to buy your foil kite on this site. You will also get a chance to check out some of the great videos of kite surfers. By watching some of these great videos you will be able to learn the best moves quickly.

Order the Best Trainer Kite Package Today, only 2 left!

Kiteboarding

The surfboards used by the kiteboarder and the kitesurfer are made with foot-strap or bindings. Some of the surfboards are used without the bindings and foot-straps. Next is the power of a large controllable kite which can propel the rider at some exciting speeds.

The extreme sport is becoming mature with safety features like quick release systems for safer innovations for the sport. Still kiteboarding can be dangerous for bystanders and learning on your own can also be a problem. To get the most enjoyment from the sport starting out it is advised the get some good professional instruction.

A good kitesurfing school can provide training for the skills needed to fly. Lessons will include how to launch and more important safe landing. You will need lessons using the safety devises and the proper use of the bar.

The beginner will need to learn important things like how to turn placing the kite in neutral, stopping, sinking backwards into the water and turning into a different direction and speeding off again. With more experience the kitesurfer will learn a heel turn jibe which is much faster and skillful. This turn is performed by slowing down flattening the board then reversing the board flat on the water. This is preformed when the rear foot brought around downward and then becoming the leading foot. It really makes a cool move the direction of the kite is reversed which swings the surfer’s path in a half-circle that is centered on the kite. At the end of the turn the kite returns to front of the surfer for a real cool move.

One of the important reasons for professional instruction is if the turn is not executed correctly it will cause the surfer to fly off causing the surfer to tumble if he is unable to put the board down in time. In cases like this safety equipment like the deadman system must be used for quick release.
The deadman system is a quick disconnect harness to remove the kite lines from the surfer. The power of the kite after a bad turn can pull the surfer under water and uncontrollable speeds. Safety knives need to be carried in case of entanglement after tumbling for emergency cutaways.

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In flight the control line is pulled to add tension and released. The release of tension will make the fighter kite flat and make it spin. The make for some interesting battles in the sky.

First you need to know just what a sport kite is to understand sport kite competition. Today’s sport kites are sometimes called stunt kites. In the most basic understanding of the sport kite the description is a kite that has two or more control lines used to do maneuvers in the sky. At some time or another you may have seen a sport kite doing strange things like bouncing around flying very low or even on the ground. This type of kite flying a lot of the time is intentional.

Sport Kites Come in Two Basic Types

You will hear it’s a dual-line kite! Meaning the kite has two control lines that give it the ability to do any number of tricks and complicated maneuvers in the sky. It takes a lot of practice to master the sport kite to do maneuvers like the axel, fade, lazy susan, comet, cascade, and a stall. Today’s modern stunt kites are delta-shaped similar to this:

With the more advanced multi-line kites you see as few as three control lines. The most common are quad-line kites meaning 4 control lines. The flight characteristics of the quad-line sport kites are very different than the dual-line stunt kites. You will see them flown backwards and forwards and they can be made to stop suddenly and hover. The quad-line employs two rigid handles with two control lines on each one. So what does the quad-line kite look like? You will see the quad-line kite in different shapes but the most common looks like a flat sail similar to these:

Very exciting to watch are trains which consists of what can be dual-line and multi-line kites linked together. These trains of 3 or more kites linked together are unable to the complicated maneuvers like single kites can but they are still a blast to watch.

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.

	Martin Lester's Legs Kite Sale Price: $49.95
	Get Martin's Legs without paying an arm and a leg. Always a showstopper, Martin Lester's 6 1/2-ft. Legs seem to kick for more altitude as they fly. Made of ripstop nylon, this unique kite has no spars, comes in a tiny 5" x 11" stuff sack, and flies in 6 to 18 mph winds...

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.

	George Peters' Indian Fighter Kite Sale Price: $49.00
	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”.

	Mini Sled Single Line Kite Patriotic Sale Price: $6.00
	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.