Sport Today

Opinions on the best low wind kite may also be of interest to some
and with the kind of winter wind we get here is probably the
question I should be asking as well.

Thanks in advance :^)   Allen

Well, here at the Marina Green, San Francisco, the wind in the summer is
20-30 mph almost every day (days when the wind is lighter are exceptions
to the rule).  Gary Hanson built the Merlin especially for the Marina Green
winds.  The Merlin will take that kind of wind, and will be *very* happy
in it.  They're built tough, and fly real fast and track real straight.
That's what I will generally pull out in that kind of wind (i.e. when I can
no longer practice my routine).  You can get Merlins from Kite Flite, Pier
39, San Francisco, I think Highline kite of Berkely carries them, etc.  (I
think I saw that you are somewhere here in the Bay Area).

Another good high wind kite is a 4 foot flexifoil.  This kite will take _any_
amount of wind, and I've never had to fly it on anything more than 80# test
line--even on the days here at the Green when the wind gets really heavy (i.e.
40+ mph).

As for a light wind kite, I'm compelled to mention the kite I compete with:
the XTC by Buena Vista Kite Co.  I used to fly the Phantom for competition,
now I fly the XTC--it's a better light wind kite, but doesn't break like the
Phantom does--I also fly the kite in 20+ mph winds).  Peter Werba of Buena
Vista Kite Co. is pretty new on the scene, and there's only a few stores
carrying his kites--the Peir-39/San Francisco store to name one.  Email me
if you want more info on the XTC.

Steve Thomas
VisionAire

p.s. I'll be judging at the event at Ocean Beach, SF on Labor Day--there
will be several XTC's competing there--perhaps I'll see you...

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Steve Thomas

Steve Thomas
VisionAire

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Steve Thomas

-anyone agree with this?

Paul, The "I-like-to-be-pulled-around-by-my-team-kite-and-I-don't-have-
anything-to-do-with-Renegade-Kites" guy

A number of kites with window screen or netting replacing parts of the
sail are available. The screens reduce the pull and slow the kites
down. Examples of these kites are the North Shore VIP (designed by net
person Darrin Skinner) and the Mariah, a Trilogy/Legend design.

Both of the above kites are delta/dart designs.

Many diamond stunters can be flown in high wind. Some have high wind
kits that make the kites fly better in high wind.

One can often replace the sticks in a kite with stiffer sticks and fly
them in higher wind.
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  Sasaki Kite Fabrications              phone:  617-522-8546
  26 Green Street
  Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Just a note about stiffer sticks for high winds.  The stiffer the stick,
the greater the pull.  Even vented/screened kites contort in high winds
and the temptation is to put stiffer sticks in.  The catch 22 here is
that the pull will soon exceed your strength/weight.  The latest 'new'
solution going around is to add an extra bridle line.  Run it from the
clip to the middle of the leading edge and give it about 1-3 inches of
slack.  It is there to keep the leading edge from distorting alot.  Some
distortion is desireable (it's one way to stall the kite).

Darrin