Kite Fantastic - Beginners

	Sport kites are usually controlled by either two or four lines. Using the handles, you can steer/control the kite. Sport kites are available in a variety of materials, sizes, and price levels and can be best suited to a variety of flying styles; Precision, Freestyle, Trick and Power. Prices range from £10 to over £600. A typical professional and complete package (including lines and straps) will cost between £70 to £150. To get started with a sports kite you will need a few basic items; A KITE!, lines and starps/handles. Basic control of the kite in flight is achieved by pulling the straps forwards or backwards to turn the kite, eg. pulling the left line turns the kite left, pulling the right turns it to the right. Be patient, learning the basics of kite control may take several hours or even a couple of sessions. KITE MATERIALS Frames - Most sports kites are kept together by a frame made up of carbon spars (some cheaper kites are framed with fibreglass). There are many types/brands of spar; Pultruded carbon spars (eg. Avia) are typical of low/middle priced kites and provide a good balance between performance and cost, wrapped graphite such (eg. Skyshark) are more expensive, lighter and last longer, Tapered wrapped graphite spars are usually only used in top-end or ultralight kites and is considered "state of the art". Sail - Sail materials include; plastic, Nylon (rip-stop), and Icarex polyester. SIZE Size of a kite effects how it flys, particularly its wind range (ie, whether it flys with no wind or can cope with a gale). There are a few methods for measuring kite size.... 1. Height and width 2. Square footage 3. Wingspan The most common being wingspan. Most kites have a wingspan between 3 and 8 feet. By way of a guide, kites under 3' are considered small, between 4' and 6' are considered medium and anything over 8' large. Typically most popular kites are between 6' and 8'. WIND RANGE The wind range of a kite indicates the strength of wind it will fly in and is usually quoted as a range measured in mph, Bft (Beaufort) or kph. It is difficult to guess the exact speed of wind but a chart which equates visual signals to wind speed is of great help. Ultralight or UL kites will fly in very light winds (0-3mph) but a beginner should maybe wait a while before investing (they're usually more expensive) in an UL as they tend to be more fragile. LINE STRENGTH / PULL Many modern sports kite can exert a considerable pull even in moderate winds. Most manufacturers quote a recommended line strength for their kityes which can give an idea of how strong a pull the kite will exert. Line strength is usually expressed in Pounds (lb) breaking strain. Generally the manufacture will suggest using a line twice as strong as the expected pull to allow for gusts and weakening over time. As a rough rule of thumb: Most sport kites between 6' - 8' wingspan require a line strength of 80 - 250 lb and would be described as having a moderate to strong pull. Pull is closely related to wind speed, ie. in a light wind (4 - 10 mph) a kite may fly with very little pull but in a strong wind (15-30 mph) it may pull extremely stronglyand for example be unsuitable for a smaller childbecomes a different animal. In strong winds, large kites can exert a tremendous amount of pull and may drag a small/light person along the ground. SPEED Some kites have been clocked at over 120 mph (the Flexifoil Stacker holds the world record). Each model of kite has its own speed charcteristics and speed will vary depending on; bridle adjustments, length, and type of line. Some fliers and beginners prefer slower flying kites because they are easier to control. This might be a good point to mention one aspect of kite safety..... imagine being hit by a kite travelling at over 100mph! always be careful of other people when flying and remember it is your responsibility to avoid them, not the other way round!. HANDLING CHARACTERISTICS Precision - Certain kites (often chosen by team flyers) are selected for their slower speed and improved control, ie. balanced and not pulling right or left when flown in a straight line. Turns - The speed or sharpness of turning is a reflection of the skill of the flier but is also influenced by the design of a kite. Some kites have a wide sweeping turn whilst others almost spin on themselves (useful for Trick flying. HANDLING & "TRICK-ABILITY" Kites are often described by their ability to perform specific "tricks", eg. Axel or types of tricks (eg. Floating belly down or on its back). Many kites are designed specifically to make complex trick manouvres more easy (never quite as easy as the manufacturer makes out!!) SKILL LEVEL It is often difficult to state that a kite is suitable for a particluar skill level of flyer but some kites are definitely easier to fly than others. As a very rough rule of thumb, slower/less pull equates to easier to fly. Also consider how sturdy the kite is, an expensive Trick kite may be sparred with thin lightweight carbon and could break more easily in the hands of a novice SO WHICH KITE IS RIGHT FOR YOU.... It is worth investing your money in a kite slightly better than those typically found in toy shops. many potential flyers have been put off kites by their initial experiences with a cheap and nasty kite. The best route is to visit a specialist kite shop and ask their advice (The majority are extremely helpful and will not sell you more than you can handle/afford) You might find the following sections of Kite Fantastic of use:
		Index of Stores in your area select a postcode and list the stores in that area
		Listing of Kites suitable for various skill levels Pick a listing to view a database of kites with certain characteristics, eg. Price, Skill level, wind speed, etc