How to Choose the Best Kite for Kids

Today the choices are endless for the best kite for kids unlike when I was a kid we would tie two sticks together in across. Then run a string around it and glue some newspaper to it and take another piece of string and make a slight bow on the cross stick. Then on the center of the crossed sticks we would attach the string we would fly it with. We would add some of mom’s old warn out sheets torn in 1 ½ inch wide strips and tie it on for a tail. These were the simple delta shaped kites and sizes varied from 30” to 60”. They were simple to build and simple to fly.

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Today it is another story you need guidelines or some real help in deciding which on the best kite for kids. Choosing is a tough job because there are so many different types, styles and shapes. But most of all you want a kite that your child will be successful flying when he is just starting out. The later he can move up to some of the more complicated two lines and four line stunt kites.

The Best Kite for Kids is Not an Easy Question to Answer

So here are your guidelines to follow in making your selection of the best kite for kids. Instead of going for the luck of the draw here are the best tips for making an informed selection the first time.

Flying kites: Size matters because the very small kite may be very hard for a child to control. Many will require very quick responses for successful flight that young children are not ready for yet. Very large kites can be dangerous to kids exerting more force on the child than they can handle safely.

Kite Weight: Heavy kites require more wind than a lightweight kite. The lightweight kite will be much easier to get up into the air than a very heavy kite would be. For very young children starting out whatever is easier to fly is always better.

Kite Designs: The basic delta kite maybe the best to start with because it is controlled with a single control line and is very simple fly starting out. The stunt kite or sport kite in their basic design come in 2 control line designs. The more complicated designs have 4 control line designs that can be much larger. The delta kite can be made with supplies from a craft shop or what you have around the house. Buying them is not bad either because they can go for a couple of bucks and up. Flying what they build sometimes is a lot more fun.

Kite Colors: If you decide to buy consider flashy colors in your selection. Children a visually stimulated with bright colors and their attention will stay on the multi-colored kite much longer than the flat single color kite.

Kite Types: Should you go straight for the stunt kite as a first kite for your child? Unless you know how to fly one yourself I say no, start with the traditional delta kite first because it is the easiest to fly. Sure a stunt kite is much more entertaining and can do tricks and maneuvers that are as fun to watch as they are to perform. There is a bit of a learning curve that can discourage a child before he learns how to just get it in the air. Unless you know how to fly a stunt kite or plan to learn how to fly one first. Start with a kite your child can fly easily then move up to the more complicated types.

Kite Durability: This plays a part somewhat in the cost simple plastic or wood spars will be less expensive. But they are not very durable and tend to break easily. Moving up in price adds more durability with carbon fiber spars, rip-stop nylon or polyester and braided spectra line that has not stretch.

Kite Flying Location: Children need a safe place to fly a kite away from obstructions like power lines. Parks and beaches sometimes are the best and safest locations for kite flying. They do need an open field with no obstruction can ruin your day to fly safely.

Kites are loads of fun for kids and spectators so keep these tips and guidelines in mind when selecting the best kite for kids. We always want them to succeed and have fun because the hobby is fun for all.

What is a Stunt Kite will answer more questions and offer more information on learning how to fly one. The stunt kite is not always the best kite for kids that are just beginning to learn about them.

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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.

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

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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.

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.

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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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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Over the last few years developments of multi-line kites have given way to the sport of kite flying. The sport has spawned the competition between kite fliers. The performances are judged in a similar fashion as the ballet and figure skating. Performances have compulsory figures as in figure skating and artistic interpretation of music like the ballet.

Competitions are performed by individuals, sometimes pairs of pilots and also in teams. The most exciting competitions that create the most spectacular performances are the team kite flying. You can see as many as eight pilots stacking kites with tails inches apart and a deep breath away from a disaster. The team will perform all kinds of spectacular formations in the air.

International and national competitions are held under “STACK” (Sport Team Competitive Kiting). The annual World Championship was held in 2008 in Berck Sur Mer, France.

Sport Kite contests are held in the United States via the American Kitefliers Association an organization that oversees sport kite contests. A number of regions hold competitions and the winners get invited the the annual AKA Convention for national championships.

In the United States, the American Kitefliers Association is the umbrella organization for sport kite contests. Competition winners from the various regions are invited to the annual AKA convention for national championships.

Back in 1996 two organizations STACK and AJSKA (American Kitfliers Association and the Japanese Sport Kite Association) met to form what we have today. The IRBC (The International Rule Book Committee) standardized the rules and processes for competition kite flying.

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Stunt Kites

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

Artistic license at its best. Robert Brasington says that this "s stylish, sinuous design was inspired by minimalist structural architecture"s (and then apologizes for sounding "s artsy"s ). Graceful in light to moderate winds, the Evening Star has a soaring, delta-like flight. Made of ripstop nylon with carbon spars. 8's -0"s x 4's -0"s with 8-ft. nylon tails. Folds to 48"s (This product has a shipping length greater than 42" and can not be shipped to most international addresses). 5 to 18 mph winds. Includes 120's of 50-lb. polyester line on a handle. Longer line recommended.