stunt kite

Two dual line sport kites manufactured by Prism Designs flying in formation.

Commercially made dual line sport kite on display, ready for launch

A sport kite is also commonly known as a stunt kite. Not to be confused with a traction kite, also used for recreation.

Developments in multi-line kites in recent years has allowed forms of kite flying to develop into a sport. Kite competitions have much in common with figure skating, with competitors being judged on their performance in compulsory figures as well as a "ballet", which involves artistic interpretation of music. Performances are done as individuals, a pair of pilots, or as a team. Team flying is typically the most spectacular, with up to eight pilots and stacked kites with tails flying within inches of each other and narrowly averting disaster, while performing all manner of figures and formations in the air. Competitions are held nationally and internationally under the auspices of STACK (Sport Team and Competitive Kiting). There is an annual World Championship which was last held at Berck sur Mer, France on 08-10 April, 2008.

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.

In 1996 the AKA (American Kite Association) , STACK, and AJSKA (All-Japanese Sport Kite Association) formed the International Rule Book Committee (IRBC) to standardize rules and processes.

The most common configuration for a sports kite is a roughly triangular "delta" shape, with two lines for control. These kites are normally constructed from lightweight ripstop nylon or ripstop polyester with spars made from carbon fiber tubing. The flying lines are made from braided Spectra, which is light, doesn't stretch and stays slippery even when wrapped many times. To control the kite, the pilot pulls on the right hand line to turn right, left line to turn left, and so on. The pitch can sometimes be controlled by walking/running forward or backwards, giving the lines different amounts of tension. Using a combination of pulls and pushes (to give slack to the lines), complex tricks and patterns can be flown. These range in difficulty from turns, loops and landings, to maneuvers where the kite is flipped and turned end over end, wrapping the lines or floating on its front or back. During diving maneuvers, sport kites may reach a speed of 60mph, while in stall type maneuvers, they can be just about to drop out of the sky.

Sport kites can be designed to fly in a wide range of conditions. Most standard kites fly best in winds from 3-9 miles per hour. High wind kites can be flown in very strong winds of 30mph or more. There are kites made from the lightest materials that can be flown in the slightest breeze or even indoors.^[1] Novice or first time fliers may have difficulty flying a dual line kite. For smooth and consistent flying, a steady breeze is required, uninhibited by trees, buildings, hills, or other tall objects which may block the wind.

A dual line stunt kite can range from anywhere from $50 for a beginner kite, to over $300 for specialized competition kites made from high grade materials such as carbon fiber and Mylar. Some high performance kites have optional tail weight attachments, which change the flight characteristics of the kite, making some advanced maneuvers easier or more dramatic.

Two line sport kite shown from below. The control lines are visible from this vantage point.

Some pilots also fly four-line (or "quad-line") kites, which are controlled with a pair of handles, each with two lines attached to the top and bottom and attached to the kite at the top and bottom. To control the kite, the pilot pulls on the lower line to turn the kite in that direction. Skilled use of these handles allows a quad-line kite to perform in ways that are difficult or impossible with a dual-line kite. Unique quadline maneuvers include reverse flight, axis spins, hovers, and side to side flight.

Other aspects of sport kiting include power or traction kites, which can be used to tow wheeled buggies (kite buggying) or surfboards (kite surfing). Power kites vary in size from "trainers" which often have dual lines and a small sail area, to large full size traction kites with four lines, designed to pull people on kite boards or vehicles.

Accessories

A molded kite case with line and accessories.

Many sport kite pilots have a variety of line sets, in different lengths and strengths (Measured in Lbs) to suit the wind conditions. Specialized kite bags are designed to tote a collection of kites, along with line sets and repair materials such as tedlar tape (for fixing punctured sails) and spare parts. Other accessories include hand-held (digital) anemometers for accurate wind speed information and LED lights that attach to the frame of the kite to allow for night flying.

External links

• Sport kite organizations at the Open Directory Project

References

1. ^ http://www.prismkites.com/k_3d.html