Kites 101

Sport Kite Tips

Kite Safety

Your sport kite can travel at very high speeds and could hurt someone if you where to hit them. The kite lines are under a lot of tension and can also hurt someone if you hit them with the lines. Please make sure that there are no people in the area you are flying your kite. If someone walks under your kite, keep the kite high in the sky till they are clear of your kite. You should never fly your kite around thunderstorm, trees, power lines, or people. If you keep all these safety precautions in mind, everyone will have a blast. Spectators, provided that they're in a safe distance, can even take photos of the kites using their digicams and camera-equipped business mobile phones.    

1.      Read the instructions that come with your kite to make sure you assemble your kite correctly and to learn about any special features your kite may have. 

2.      If your kite comes with handles or a winder and wrist straps, you should always let out ALL of your line before flying your kite.  Sport kites are not like traditional one-line kites and the line should NOT be let out while the kite is in the sky. 

3.      To attach your kite line, use a larks head knot.  See diagram #1 for directions on how to do the larks head knot.  When you are done flying simply undo the larks head to take off your lines. 

4.      Once your lines are all the way out, make sure your lines are EQUAL.  This is probably the most important tip.  If you have plastic handles you will need to make sure you lines are equal.  If you have a winder and wrist straps your lines should be equal.  However sometimes they may not be so it never hurts to check.  If your lines are not equal the kite will just spin or turn in one direction and be very difficult to learn on. 

5.      With the lines all the way out and equal make sure you are standing with the wind blowing on your back and the kite downwind of you.  You are now ready to fly your new kite.  Most delta, or triangle, shaped kites will rock up off their backs if you pull on the lines.  Once you have the kite standing on its tips; you can take a step back and pull on both lines evenly and aggressively.  The kite should launch into the sky. 

6.      Basic flying skills are with both hands out next each other is called neutral and the kite should fly the way the nose is pointed.  If you pull on the right line, the kite will turn right.  If you pull on the left line the kite will turn left.  If you pull on one line and hold it, the kite will turn in that direction and continue to turn in that direction doing loops.  When you put your hands back equal in the neutral position the kite will fly the way the nose if pointed, so come out of the loop pointed up!  If you do 2 loops to the right, you need to do 2 loops to the left to untwist your lines. 

7.      When you are done flying, land your kite and roll up your lines.  If you have a winder and straps, make sure you wind your lines in a figure eight motion and not hand over hand.  Fold the kite up and you are done! 

 With practice there are a wide array of exciting and wild tricks you can do with your Sport kite.  To help you learn more tricks there are instructional booklets and videos as well as advice you can receive from the staff at Blowing in the Wind.  If you ever break or damage your kite, Blowing in the Wind has a full service kite service station with a full stock of repair parts.  If you are in the area, bring your kite in with you.  If not, give us a call and we will fix you up.  If you ever have any questions, comments, or problems please feel free to give us a call on our toll free number or email us.  

Also see kite safety