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

Kiteboarding

Extreme surface water sports kiteboarding or kitesurfing uses the power of the wind to propel a rider through the water at extreme speeds. This sport requires a kiteboard which is like a wakeboard which is a small surfboard. There is a slight difference between kiteboarding and kitesurfing. When talking kitesurfing this name refers to wave riding. When talking kiteboarding this refers more to a style of riding referred to as wake- style or freestyle. The surfboards used are even different. And there are different performance kites used each.

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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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!

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.

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.

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 Kitefliers Assocition.

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 Kitefliers 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?

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.

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:

	XL Sport Dual Control Nylon Kite: Orange by X-Kites List Price: $21.99 Sale Price: $18.97
	Dual control nylon sport kites. Dual control, high performance, fiberglass airframe, handles and line. wingspan: 70 " height: 33 " sail: Ripstop polyester frame: Hollow fiberglass wind rating: 7-20 mph age rating: 10 to adult

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:

	Revolution 1.5 SLE Quad Line Stunt Kite Lime Blue Made in the USA Sale Price: $199.00
	Join the quad-line revolution. The original quad-line design, Revolutions are controlled purely by tilting their handles. They can be challenging to master, but their unmatched control and precision will revolutionize your kiteflying...

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.

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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.

	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.

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.

Cherry Bomb Sport Kite - $ 42.90 The Cherry Bomb Stunt Kite is built tough to handle the serious demands of learning. Responsive to give you maximum control, the Cherry Bomb is fully trick-able.

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 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 to Expect in Prices for Stunt Kites?

For the beginner dual line stunt kite a novice can expect to pay in the neighborhood of around $50 dollars. For the more specialized competition stunt kites made of Mylar and carbon fiber materials you can expect to pay $300 dollars and more. With high performance stunt kites you will find some have optional tail attachments. What the tail attachments do to the flight characteristics of the kites is make some of the more advanced maneuver easier to do.

The More Advanced Stunt Kites

You will find four line controls on some of the advanced models; the pilot will control the kite with a pair of handles each with two lines attached to the top and bottom. The two lines are attached to the kite on the top and bottom.

Flight Characteristics with Quad-line Control

With a quad-line control kite the pilot will pull on the lower line to turn in that direction. The quad-line control will perform maneuvers impossible for the dual-line kite. Maneuvers with quad-line kites include reverse flight, axis spins, hovers and side to side in very unique flight.

The Spirit™ Quad Line Kite - Ghost - $ 155.99 The Spirit Quad Kite Transitioning from 2 to 4 line flying is eased with the Spirit™ Quad. It smooths out the learning curve for those who my want to jump right into quad kite flying. Innovative framing and a top-grade polyester sail make this kite highly desirable at our affordable price. The Spirit™ is a must for those wanting to experience the most possible in slides, inverted flying and flat spins. see the Sprit Quad in action! Click twice on Start

Advanced Sport Kite Pilots

Advanced pilots will keep a variety of control line sets, that vary in lengths and line strengths. A sport kite pilot will keep the following supplies on hand with specialized kite bags to carry kites and supplies. Repair materials like tedlar tape and spare parts. The tedlar tape is used to fix punctures in the sails.

Specialty accessories include LEDs to attach to the kite frames for flying at night. You also need a digital devise to measure the wind speed accurately. The devise is a hand-held anemometer for wind speed.

	Jazz Fire Prism Stunt Kite List Price: $49.99 Sale Price: $46.99
	Smaller stunt kites in the 4-6 foot range take longer to learn with because theyre quick and easier to over-control. But if you want to check out sport kiting with a minimal investment, treat yourself to the very best little trainer on the market: The Jazz...

	XL Sport Dual Control Nylon Kite: Blue by X-Kites List Price: $28.99 Sale Price: $21.99
	Dual control nylon sport kites. Dual control, high performance, fiberglass airframe, handles and line.KITES SPECS + wingspan: 70 " + height: 33 " + sail: Ripstop polyester + frame: Hollow fiberglass + wind rating: 7-20 mph + age rating: 10 to adult