Untitled - KiteLife

passDear SKQ,I recently returned from a tripfrom U .S. As usual my shoppingsconsisted of a lot of kite stuff - includingSKQ Vol . 1 #1 . My English isnot good enough to express myenthusiasm for the magazine .P .S. Please, an article aboutstunt kite lines :- properties, theory and practice- which line, when- handlingP.P.S. Could you have a novicedepartment explaining ("trivial")things like :-velcro?- 360?Simo SalanneFinlandThanks for the note, Simo . We'lldeal with the stunt kite line articlein subsequent issues, to be sure! A360, is a maneuver in which theflyer, by running, causes the kite todo a complete circle around him .It's kind of like an all-the-way--around .Obviously, groundthis is a very low-wind maneuver.Velcro is a trademark of Velcro-USA, Inc. It is basically composedof two pieces of material, the firstof which incorporates very smallhook-like barbs which protrudefrom it . The second piece ofmaterial is fronted with an extremelycompact "knitting" ofloops . When the two pieces arepressed together, the hooks catchthe loops and the joining processis able to hold. Hope that the informationhelps!!Dear SKQ,Thanks for your effort!I'm eager for my first issue to arrive.I hope your articles will tell howtwo people flying "squirrels" canget them to lock together inmidair, fly like a train, and thenpeel apart! I witnessed this spectaculardemonstration of kite skill(man and wife flying, I understand)at Corey Jenson's "Hair ofthe Dog" event on the beachnear Monterey on Oct . 8, 1988 .Also - how about the man flyingon 4 (count 'em) lines .Is it true that the hotel for thenext AKA conference is going tohave a bridle suite?Carl E . WellsPierson, IAThanks, Carl! We've alreadystarted researching the mid-airlocking (also known as re-fueling). . . more on that in issue #4 . Quadlineflying will be covered in anupcoming Sedgwick Tape. Watchfor It!PS. I suppose that the gal thatcleans up the bridle suite is goingto be the maid of honor? Or isthat just some kind of line?Dear SKQ,I'm not the number one dualline flyer in the country (not evennumber two) . In fact, I don't evencompete at all, but . . . I do fly dualline stunt kites .Personally, I'm not too competitiveby nature . More than that, I flyfor my own enjoyment and don'tseem to need the recognition offellow flyers, nor the approval of acrowd, to get the most out of myflying. Not to say that one way orthe other is good or bad .After several years of flying andwatching many competitions, arepeatedly asked question comesto mind . "Why aren't more ladiesflying or competing in dual line?"The answer is that a lot of us AREflying, and more ladies are enteringcompetition each year.Competition requires hours ofpractice, if you want to do well .Simply, "because of the ways ofthe world," many ladies don'thave the amount of "free time" tospend on their hobby that isneeded . The well organized"super-woman" can fit practice inher schedule the same as her exerciseclass, running the kids totheir activities, and all the otherthings required to take care of thefamily and home . With some helpfrom her family, a lady can evenget in more practice time .However, this is not about organizingtime well, or the duties of theaverage woman .As I walk around at a competitionor event, I hear ladies commentsabout wanting to dry dualline flying, "but Why don'tthey?? Power flying and stackslooks like it requires a lot ofstrength 4C weight do both . That'swhat they see at a lot of events .NOT ENTIRELY TRUE!My collection of dual line kitesincludes : several different sizes ofFlexifoils, Hawaiian Team Kite,Hawaiian Spin-Off Free Style,Hawaiian Ultra-Light Spin-Off, ActionKite Action Combo,Rainbows, and one of myfavorites, a stack of ten Trlbys .Many times, it's not entirely thewind condition that determineswhat I fly. It might just be themood I'm in, or what might be themost fun to fly . A purely feminineemotion? Not necessarily . A lot ofdual line flyers feel this way .Some thoughts about competitionand choice of kites . If youdecide to practice for competition,it is best to choose one kiteand always practice with that kite .A wise choice of kite is a light tomedium wind kite . Why? For someunknown reason most competitiondays end up offering light winds .Many competition organizers willtell you of many times when, theday before competition, the windwas "up ." Then the day of theevent, light to nearly j wind . History(of delayed competitions)and rules (the "at least XX MPHwind" rule) illustrates that therehave been wind problems forevent competitions .That's not to say you shouldn'tbe prepared for heavy winds . Younever know! Like many othercompetitive sports, you should bewell prepared physically, mentallyand well equipped for changeableconditions .Don't forget how manycategories are available atevents . Precision figures not yourstyle? Okay, put your Walkman onwith your favorite music, anddevelop a ballet routine .