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STARTING TO FLY
Learning to fly? - Then get the right kite
You wouldn’t jump into an F1 racing car to take your driving test and it’s just the same with kites. If you’re serious about powerkiting you need to start small before you think big.
Small powerkites are excellent entry level kites. They’re highly stable, easy to fly and great fun. The Stacker 6, Proteam 8 and Super 10 are a good place to start.
Get the basics right and the rest follows naturally ...
The first thing you need to learn is how to ‘brace’ against the pull of the kite, keeping your feet apart and leaning back against the pressure.
Next comes learning to skid – like bracing, except you increase the power until you slide forward on the soles of your shoes.
Once you’ve mastered the first two, you can learn how to jump.
Think of these as the three steps to kiting heaven. It’s essential you take things one step at a time - you need to learn how to brace before you can skid and you certainly need to know how to skid before you can jump.
All this takes time, so be patient. You can't expect to go from novice to expert in a few sessions. It takes discipline and practice, especially if you’re planning to go buggying or kite landboarding where you have to control a powerkite and vehicle at the same time.
Keep at it and you’ll learn to react intuitively to the kite.
Remember, there’s more to kiting than simply increasing the power. Try to set yourself goals like learning a new move or perfecting an old one. If you start finding yourself short of thrills then try pushing the kite and yourself before upgrading your kit – just don't push too hard and overstep your skill level. As Dirty Harry once said, a good man always knows his limitations.
Likewise, small ram-air, soft foil type power kites (such as the Buzz and Sting) can also be used provided you steer clear of any big winds.
Wind and safety
Start flying in winds around 8 mph / 12kph and build up to stronger winds as your experience grows. For those of you without a finely tuned sense of wind speed, 8 mph / 12 kph is a gentle breeze just strong enough to extend a light flag or put leaves and small twigs in constant motion.
Always use a safety system (now supplied with all four line kites as standard). A safety system means that the moment you let go of your handles (or bar) the kite will automatically come to the ground. Simple as it sounds, you should practise letting go of your handles/bar so you’ll be ready in an emergency.
Professional tuition makes learning to fly fun and safe
The best way to start kiting safely is with some professional tuition - something that’s especially true for kitesurfing. Ask your local retailer for further information.
KNOW YOUR AREA
Before you start kiting, get a feel for what the wind is doing. What direction is it? How fast? What’s the quality of the wind? Is it gusty, and if so how long do the gusts last? Does the wind change direction when it gusts?
If possible, walk around the whole of your flying site to feel for any variations in wind. If in doubt, don’t fly – if you’re a beginner and the wind is very gusty you might be better off flying another day.
Think about your surroundings. Where will your kite go if you do have to bail out? Is there enough room downwind to ditch your kite and still be able to retrieve it? Do you have enough room on either side to land your kite there if you should have to?
How much space you need depends on your line length. For a 30 metre (100 feet) line you should have at least 150 metres (500 feet) clear space downwind. That might seem extreme, but not if you take into account your line length, 100m (330 feet) or so of being dragged or lifted along and then space for the kite to come down in after you've bailed out.
Safety first
Never fly near overhead cables or in a storm. Never fly your kite higher than 60 metres or within five kilometres of an airport – you don’t want to be mistaken for a low flying aircraft. Finally, Flexifoil recommend that you don’t fly alone (this is especially true for beginners) and that you don't fly near roads, buildings, people or animals. Please refer to your product instructions for a full list of safety warnings.
Of course avoiding people is easier said than done. Kiting can be a magnet for the curious (isn’t that how you first got interested?). Just be pleasant and patient. If necessary stop flying and wait until they are gone. Never be rude - remember, you’re an ambassador for the sport and other people have just as much right to use the area as you.
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