Kite Hill is a development in southern Orange County, California; located in the City of Laguna Niguel, California. It is on the border of Laguna Niguel, California, and Aliso Viejo, California. Kite Hill North and Kite Hill South streets can be accessed from Alicia Parkway. Although it is a private community, the streets are open to normal traffic. The development consists of detached family housing of single and double story plans, running around 1 million to 1.4 million dollars in price. The facilities unique to the development are first seen welcoming you at both entrances to Kite Hill are marble monuments with lighted fountains, an ample size private park containing: six tennis courts, two volleyball courts, basketball court, soccer field, shade trees, covered picnic benches, Olympic size swimming pool, cabanas, children's park, paved and lighted walking paths through about a quarter-mile of the recreational facilities, and a gated, unstaffed recreation center. Kite Hill homes are mainly owned by professional caliber people such as: doctors, lawyers, small business owners, retired professional athletics and others among that level. The community has a strong Homeowners Association and sees to it the homeowners propertly maintain their property. Phase one/tract one was built in 1978 and the community was finally built-out in 1998.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Basic Kitesurfing Techniques
This article will describe some kitesurfing techniques so you can advance in mastering the sport. The main advice is always to practice more. The more you practice your kitesurfing techniques, the better your skills become.
One of the most important kitesurfing techniques is mastering the dead-man safety release system. This system and kitesurfing techniques associated with it are extremely important to you, especially if you are just starting to learn the kitesurfing sport. Carefully study the manufacturers description of how your dead-man safety release system works and operates. Another one of the kitesurfing techniques is practicing with your control system. You will need to practice operating the kite with only your left and / or right hand holding the control pole.
Another one of the important kitesurfing techniques is learning to be in command of the power of your kite. You will need to learn to manage the expected surface of your kite and its flying speed rate. Practice flying the kite and trying to de-power it several times by drawing and / or letting the frontage lines loose. This will allow you to alter the angle and to adjust the expected surface. You will also need to practice the kitesurfing techniques of controlling the flying speed to be able to boost or reduce the power of the kite.
The main one of the kitesurfing techniques that allow you to control the flying speed of your kite is to learn to operate your kite’s brake lines. Using brake lines (pulling in the brake lines) will help you to significantly reduce the speed of your kite. Practice using the brake lines until you feel completely in control and comfortable using them.
Many Uses Of Kites
Go Fly a Kite
Before aircrafts, balloons and rockets took over the job of photography and meteorology in the 19th and 20th century, kites were used. They aren't just simple toys anymore.
Marconi used kites in his early radio experiments, and in World War II, airmen were provided with a box kite and transmitter, known as the 'Gibson Girl', along with their rubber dinghy. Some radio hams still use kites. During World War II, kites were used for anti-aircraft target practice, for man lifting and to deter enemy aircraft.
In China, kites were used for military signaling during the sixth and eighth centuries. In 1232, thousands of kites were release over enemy lines inciting prisoners to revolt. During the Peninsular War leaflets were dropped from kites. Kites were used as a form of airmail between Maryland and Virginia during the American Civil War.
During the 19th century, kites resembled birds of prey in England and France for hunting grouse and partridge. China has used kites with loud noise-makers attached to drive game.
Reportedly, a kite was used to carry the first line across the Niagara River in order to build the bridge from New York State to Canada. In the same way, kites have been used to carry telephone wires.
Many kites are elaborately decorated. The Artistic Kite Group promotes kites as an art form. For centuries in the East, kites have been used for fishing. This is done to reach places you normally can't get to and to prevent the 'plop' sound associated with casting your line in the water.
The art of training falcons and hawks to hunt is very ancient and breathtaking to watch. Some falcons fly at heights up to 1000 feet but many never bother flying over 200 ft. By attaching a bait to a high-flying kite, you can train it to fly higher than 200 feet.
Many people find kite flying to be relaxing, and a good way to unwind. It also gets you out into the fresh air and provides a bit of exercise.
Kites are now use for kite-sailing, kite-surfing, kite- skiing and kite-buggying. There are two kinds of kite races. One is the upwind kite race where contestants drag strong pulling kites upwind and the other is downwind kite races where contestants launch a kite and runs downwind without allowing his kite to touch the ground. The first is purely a test of strength
Further Investigation
Using the Internet to find out about kites. Lawrence Hargrave.
Flying lines.
Decorations.
There is an amazing amount of information about kiting available on the Internet. There are many websites which contain plans and information about kiting in different countries. A starting point for finding these websites is the AKA list of web based kiting resources. Another way of finding out about what is happening in the kiting world is to subscribe to the kiting newsgroup on the Internet, rec.kites. If you are connected to the Internet while you are reading this you should be able to follow this link to the rec.kites newsgroup.
A portrait of Lawrence Hargrave can be seen on one side of Australia's old twenty dollar note. Who was he? Why is he honoured in this way? What impact has he had on history?
- Visit the AKA website and read about Lawrence Hargrave.
- Write a short biography on Lawrence Hargrave. Include information about where he was born, his career, and his interests.
- List and describe the inventions that Hargrave experimented with and wrote about during his life.
- Try making a box kite, or a model of one, based on Hargrave's plan. Plans for this kite can be found in The Penguin book of kites, by David Pelham.
Kites have been flown on lines made from a variety of materials. Some lines are said to be better than others, and some lines are regarded as the only line suitable for certain types of kite flying.
- Write a report about the sorts of kite flying lines that have been used throughout history.
- Find out what sort of line is used when flying Indian fighting kites. What is it called, and how is it made? Describe how the line is used during a kite fight.
- What makes a good flying line for normal kite flying? Test a number of different materials as a flying line for the same kite. Do not use anything which contains metal. Report on the benefits and problems associated with each of the that lines you tested.
Kites have been decorated in numerous ways. Malaysian kites are commonly decorated with layers of cut paper stencils, while Japanese kites are painted, using broad brush strokes. Many modern kites are decorated with appliqué designs.
- Make a number of kites from different countries. Decorate them in the styles traditionally used in these countries. Display all of your kites somewhere in your school. Perhaps the library or the art room would be good locations. Include a sheet on each kite, giving information about the kite design and the decoration style used.
- Make a kite using sailcloth for the kite skin. Use appliqué techniques to decorate it. You might like to enter your kite in one of the kite competitions which are regularly held. The Victorian championships are held at Ballarat over the second weekend in October. Information about the championships may be obtained by phoning Handcrafted Kites, on (0418) 351 431.
India kite
It is important that when you are making kites you are as accurate and as careful as possible. The plans in this section are all simple to follow, and the kites are simple to fly. If you heed help, the accompanying video will give you additional tips on making these kites. I encourage you to try out your ideas about ways of improving the designs, but I would suggest that you make at least one kite made exactly as specified in the plan. This will give you something to compare any other variations with while flying your creations.
If you are planning on making a large number of the same kite it is a good idea to make a template. A cardboard template, cut to the dimensions on the plan, will allow you to trace as many kites of this style as you like, without having to measure each of them. This means that each kite should be of exactly the same dimensions, giving you greater accuracy in experiments regarding length of tail, diameter of spars, and so on.
Fibreglass is a potentially dangerous material to work with, and should be handled carefully. Fibreglass spars are quite flexible, and students could easily poke someone in the eye if care is not taken when carrying the spars around the workroom.
Tyvek can be drawn on with pens, textas, crayons and pastels. It can also be painted with water based acrylic paints. Thin plastic, such as garbage bags could be used for the sled or the diamond, but I recommend tyvek if you can get it.
Materials and advice may be obtained from a number of sources in Melbourne. For more information, contact:
Handcrafted Kites. (0418) 351 431.
150 Elm Street, Northcote. Victoria. 3070.
More plans are available in the AKA website.
There are a number of books available on kites and kite making. Many of these will be available in your local or school library. The Dewey numbers for books about kites are 629.13332, 796.15, and 745.592. For more information, look in the bibliography.
To make this kite you will need;
A tyvek kite skin cut to the dimensions on the diagram above.
Two 6mm dowel spars. One 90 cm long and one 80 cm long.
A piece of string at least 30 cm long.
Two pieces of plastic or tyvek, four metres long and 5 cm wide, to use as a tail.
Bookbinding tape.
A pair of scissors
A hole puncher
A large, flat table to work on.
To fly this kite use a line with a breaking strain of 15 kilograms or higher. Thin lines are better than thick lines because they have less drag. Do not use fishing line, as it can cut into skin very easily when under tension. A fishing hand caster makes an excellent reel for winding the flying line on to.
1. Punch holes in one end of both pieces of the material you are using for the tail of the kite. Push one end of the long piece of dowel through both holes.
2. Lay out the kite skin on the table. If you have decorated the kite, put the decorated side face down. Cut a piece of tape ten centimeters long, and put it half under the top corner of the kite. Cut another piece of tape ten centimeters long, and do the same at the bottom of the kite.
3. Lay the long dowel with the tail attached to it along the kite from top to bottom, making sure that the ends of the stick are exactly in the top and bottom corners of the kite. Fold the tape over at the top corner so that is sticks to the dowel and to the back of the kite. Do the same at the bottom of the kite.
4. Cut another piece of tape ten centimeters long and put it half under one of the wingtips. Cut another piece of tape the same length and do the same at the other wingtip. Lay the other dowel across the kite from wingtip to wingtip, and fold the tape over at each wingtip so that it sticks to the wood and the back of the kite.
5. Make sure that the tail is pulled down to the bottom of the kite. Then use the scissors to poke a hole through the kite skin at the point where the two dowels cross over each other.
6. Loop one end of the string around the two sticks and tie the two sticks together, using four knots. Push the other end of the string through the hole in the kite skin. Turn the kite over and pull the string through as far as it will go. Tie a loop in the end of the line. Your kite is now ready to fly.
To fly your kite attach a flying line to the loop in the string on the front of the kite. Have someone hold the kite for you while you walk back into the wind, letting out fifteen to twenty metres of string. Make sure that they are not standing on the tail of the kite. When you are ready, run a few metres into the wind, pulling the kite out of the hands of the person holding it up for you. If there is enough wind the kite will keep on flying, even after you have stopped running.
Suggestions for further investigations.
After you have made and flown the diamond kite shown in the plans, you might like to investigate some of the problems listed below.
1. What are the best proportions for a diamond-shaped kite? Is there any special relationship between the length of the spine and the length of the cross-spar? Make a number of kites using spines of the same lengths, but with differing widths. Compare how they fly with how the standard kite flies. Describe the differences in how they fly.
3. How important is the point where the cross-spar crosses the spine? The distance from the top of the kite to the point where these two spars cross over can be expressed as a percentage of the length of the spine. The kite in the plan has a cross-spar that crosses over the spine at a point 27% from the top of the kite. What effect would moving this point? Make some diamond shaped kites that have cross over points which vary from 20% from the top to 40% from the top. Compare their flight to the standard kite. Which point seems the best? Describe the flying characteristics of the various kites.
To make this kite you will need;
A plastic kite skin cut to the dimensions on the diagram above.
Two spars 75 cm long, of either 3.5 mm fibreglass or 6mm dowel.
A piece of string 170 cm long.
Bookbinding tape (if you are using wooden spars) or 12 mm filament tape.
A hole punch
A large, flat table to work on.
To fly this kite use a line with a breaking strain of 15 kilograms or higher. Thin lines are better than thick lines because they have less drag. Do not use fishing line, as it can cut into skin very easily when under tension. A fishing hand caster makes an excellent reel for winding the flying line on to.
1. Lay the kite skin out on the table. Cut four pieces of tape ten centimeters long. Put a piece of tape half underneath one of the corners at the top of the kite. Place another piece of tape half underneath the other top corner of the kite. Do the same for the two corners at the bottom of the kite.
2. Lay one of the spars along the kite from one the top corners of the kite to the bottom corner on the same side of the kite. Fold the tape over at the corners so that the tape sticks to the spar and to the surface of the kite. Do the same with the other spar on the opposite side of the kite.
3. Cut two pieces of tape five centimeters long and place them half under the wingtips of the kite. Fold the other half of the tape over onto the front of the kite. Use a hole punch to make a hole in the wingtips where the tape is reinforcing the plastic.
4. Tie one end of the bridle through the hole in one of the wingtips, using four knots. Do the same with the other end of the bridle through the hole in the other wingtip.
5. Fold the kite exactly in half and pull the bridle tight in order to find its centre. Tie a loop in the line at this point. Your kite is now ready to fly.
To fly your kite attach a flying line to the loop in the bridle. The spars of this kite should be on the side of the kite that you will be able to see when the kite is flying.. Have someone hold the kite up for you, making sure that the kite is held so that the holes in the kite are at the bottom. Walk backwards into the wind, letting out fifteen to twenty metres of line. Run a few metres into the wind, pulling the kite out of the hands of the person holding it for you. This kite acts like a parachute, and relies on the wind to hold the kite open, so don't try running forward, or letting out lots of line quickly, or the kite will collapse and start falling. Sleds develop a lot of lift, and pull very hard in strong winds, so care needs to be taken when flying this kite.
After you have made and flown the sled shown in the plans, you might like to investigate the purpose of the vents at the bottom of the kite. What do the vents cut in the skin of the kites actually do? Do they have to be this size, and in this location? Try different sizes and shapes for the vents. Try cutting the vents in different locations. Fly these experimental versions while also flying the standard sled. Are there any differences in flight characteristics? Do they pull harder or lighter? Do they need more or less wind to fly? Write a report on your findings.
Sleds are very strong pulling kites. A large version will be able to pull you along on a skate board or a billy cart quite easily. As the size of the kite increases it will be necessary to use stronger materials, but this will also increase the weight of the kite. Try building a kite three times the size of the one in the plans and using it to tow you across your school's oval. Can you work out how fast you are able to travel? What is the maximum speed you reach? You might find that you will move faster if you don't point directly downwind. Why do you think this might be so? Try steering yourself at a variety of angles and record the speeds you reach. What is the best angle to travel downwind at the fastest speed? Can you work out a way of steering a sled in the sky? If the kite can be made to turn to one side or the other, it should be possible to make your kite and cart behave very much like a sailboat, and you should be able to steer yourself at right angles to the wind at least.
To make this kite you will need;
A Tyvek kite skin, cut to the dimensions on the diagram above.
Four 2 mm fibreglass spars, one 56 cm, one 82.5 cm, and two 10 cm long.
A piece of string 80 cm long.
12 mm filament tape.
One piece of tyvek, 3cm wide and 150 cm long, to use as a tail.
A large, flat table to work on.
This kite is traditionally flown with button thread as the flying line. Any cotton thread will do, but the stronger the thread the better. A fishing hand caster works well as a kite reel.
It is suggested that this kite is made with the assistance of another person. This way the fibreglass can be held in the right shape while the other person is taping it in place. It is recommended that at least one of the other kites is made before this one is attempted, as accuracy is extremely important in the construction of this kite, and the skills needed for making the Indian Fighter can be gained by making one of the simpler kites in this kit first.
1. Lay the kite skin on the table. If you have decorated the kite, put the decorated side face down. Cut a piece of tape five centimeters long and put it half under the top corner of the kite. Cut another piece of tape five centimeters long and put it half under the bottom corner of the kite. Lay the 56 cm long piece of fibreglass on the kite, with the tips of the spar in the top and bottom corners of the kite. The spar should lie directly over the top of the two holes cut in the kite skin. This spar is called the spine.
2. Fold the tape over at the top of the kite so that it sticks to the spar and the back of the kite. Do the same to the bottom of the kite. Cut another piece of tape and stick it over the middle of the spar and onto the kite to prevent the spar moving.
3. Take the 82.5 cm piece of fibreglass and slide it across the kite, in between the kite skin and the spine. This spar is called the cross-spar. Cut two pieces of tape, both five centimeters long, and put them half under the kite at the wing tips.
4. Bend the cross-spar into the wingtip and fold the tape over so that it sticks to the fibreglass as well as the back of the kite. Do the same at the other wingtip. Allow the cross-spar to bend into an arc, and it and the spine should directly over the top hole cut in the kite. Cut two more pieces of tape, both five centimeters long. Put one of them half under the leading edge of the kite fifteen centimeters toward the top of the kite from the wingtip. Do the same on the other leading edge. Fold the tape over so that it sticks to the fibreglass and the back of the kite.
5. Cut two pieces of tape ten centimeters long and tape the two remaining pieces of fibreglass onto the tail fin of the kite. Cut one piece of tape five centimeters long and use it to tape the tail onto the kite at the bottom of the spine.
6. Loop one end of the bridle around the lower section of the spine and tie four knots in it. Poke the other end of the bridle through the hole near the bottom of the kite and then bring it back in through the hole near the top of the kite. Loop this end of the bridle around the spine and the cross-spar and tie the two spars together using four knots.
Indian fighters are great fun to fly. They are very responsive and can be made to move all over the sky. Have someone hold the kite for you while you walk back into the wind, letting out ten metres of line. When you are ready run back a few metres, pulling the kite out of the hands of the person holding it up for you. If you let out line quickly you will notice that this kite will start to tumble. When it is pointing in the direction you want it to go start pulling in line and the kite will start moving rapidly in the direction it is pointing.
Suggestions for further investigations.
1. Try making another Indian fighter, using the same plans, but increasing the diameter of the cross-spar. How does this affect the flying characteristics of the kite?
2. The traditional Indian fighter is made using bamboo and tissue paper. Try making a fighter using tyvek and bamboo. Is the bamboo as good as fibreglass, or is it better?
3. Try making a wider version of the Indian fighter. Does it turn faster, or more slowly? Does it need more wind, or less? Does it need a tail? Does the bridling point need to be located differently?
Kites Plan
It is important that when you are making kites you are as accurate and as careful as possible. The plans in this section are all simple to follow, and the kites are simple to fly. If you heed help, the accompanying video will give you additional tips on making these kites. I encourage you to try out your ideas about ways of improving the designs, but I would suggest that you make at least one kite made exactly as specified in the plan. This will give you something to compare any other variations with while flying your creations.
If you are planning on making a large number of the same kite it is a good idea to make a template. A cardboard template, cut to the dimensions on the plan, will allow you to trace as many kites of this style as you like, without having to measure each of them. This means that each kite should be of exactly the same dimensions, giving you greater accuracy in experiments regarding length of tail, diameter of spars, and so on.
Fibreglass is a potentially dangerous material to work with, and should be handled carefully. Fibreglass spars are quite flexible, and students could easily poke someone in the eye if care is not taken when carrying the spars around the workroom.
Tyvek can be drawn on with pens, textas, crayons and pastels. It can also be painted with water based acrylic paints. Thin plastic, such as garbage bags could be used for the sled or the diamond, but I recommend tyvek if you can get it.
Kiteboating
Just when you think that kiting can be for only a board, think again. With the inception of bigger and more powerful kites, the ability to speed up or move larger objects became a reality. Enter a new extreme sport Kiteboating. Imagine paddling along in a one – three man craft with kite harnessing the wind and speeding you along and over huge waves. It can happen with kiteboating.
There are many different models of wave riders that provide the exact same functionality. The fact of the matter is that they all rely solely on the wind. Some creative kiteboaters have crafted single and multiple kiteboats. These boats resemble canoes, kayaks, and even an outrigger. There are professional races that are run from time-to-time.
As with any extreme boating sport you must exercise the utmost caution and understand how close people are to your boat and wires. You will need to know weather conditions and safety procedures should you run into trouble along the way.
Most individual kiteboats start in the $1500 area and go up exponentially. Companies like Naish and Ronstan provide quality equipment and hardware should you have the urge to go kiteboating. Although this sport is picking up in popularity, there are various places around the globe you can kiteboat on vacation.
If you are just starting out in the paraboating realm, you may wish to get trained by a certified instructor who will teach you how to harness your kite and how to get it air bound should it fall from the sky. You also should take a water safety course should you need the proper training later on. All kiteboaters should wear a floatation device should their boat sink or their kite get away from them. They never know how far from shore they may be.
As with any sport learning to fly your kite first will help later on when deciding which type to purchase. You may wish to purchase a 2 or 4 line harness. It is strongly suggested that you do not attempt to kiteboat without lessons. Make sure to observe all activity around you should you have more than one kiteboater in your area.
History of kitesurfing
KiteSurfing is by far the latest craze in extreme sports. The idea of using a kite to enhance speed and gravity for the surfer seems like a new and exhilarating challenge, yet the art of KiteSurfing dates back to the 13th Century Chinese when it was used as a simple mode of transportation. KiteSailing, as it was known, was a medium that used the wind as an aid to harness its momentum and energy to mobilize their canoes across water. The earliest recorded history of KiteSailing dates back to the early 12th Century.
In the 1800’s George Pocock took the basic kite design to a whole new level by increasing the size of the overall kite and used them as a sail to glide carts on land and ships on the water. The designs of the kites were engineered with 4 lines, the same setup being deployed today. Both carts and boats were able to turn and sail upwind. The wind would generate enough lift underneath the kite to raise it off of the ground and powerful enough to sustain it for a period of time.
These kites have been able to propel a man-made vehicle across the ground, snow, ice and water. These kites are codependent on the wind and its necessary to get off of the ground or water to get them to fly. However, once the kite is in the air it manufactures its own wind, which is proportionately faster and creates a higher rate of speed for the vehicle.
Yet one issue still remains most of the earlier kites were deployed from the land and off of the flat ground. Not on the water where KiteSurfing takes place. In the 1980’s Wipika, Kiteski, fOne, Concept Air, C-Quad, and Naish Kites marketed water launch kites. These kites could be sailed again after falling short of wind into the water.
In the late 1990’s off of the Hawaiian coast of Maui, Laird Hamilton and Manu displayed the extreme sport opportunities to radical surfers and wake boarders. Its popularity has since skyrocketed as one of the fastest growing water sports in the past two years.
Today there are organizations, competitions, videos and magazines worldwide dedicated to this increasingly popular sport and the thrills associated with it.
Kite flying or Patang Baazi is a cultural sport in Haryana. Kite flying is mostly done on the Basant Panchami, Raksha Bandhan and Makar Sankranti. In Delhi kites are flown on the Independence day of India. However, Kites can be flown any time throughout the year. It is a fun sport for all times. Some say the history of Kites dates back to the days of Mahabharat. Kites were not only used in receiving messages but also measuring distances in war times.
The kite is called a Patang and the string with which it is flown is called 'Dor' in Haryana. While in Punjab they are called Guddi and Manjha respectively. The wood and bamboo roll on which the string is wound is called a 'Hujka', and in Punjabi it is called a 'Charkhadi'. The kites are given different names depending upon the color combination and design. Names like Danda (stick), Pari (fairy), Gilasa, Chand Tara (moon & star), Shakkar Para, Chhapan Chhuri, Tiranga (tricolor), Budda (old man), Patiyal, Lepo are common. Romantic verses in Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu are sometimes inscribed on the Patangs to send messages to the beloved on whose roof the kite is flown.
Kite fighting, which involves trying to cut the string of each other's kites, is the most interesting aspect of kite flying. It is called Patang Baazi in Hindi. The Indian fighter kites are of medium size normally from 1 feet to 4 feet in across, made of special thin paper. The kite is flown with specially made thread called 'Dor'. Dor is the most important thing in kite flying and many precautions are taken to prepare it. The thin cotton thread for Dor is locally prepared in Haryana as well as purchased from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Jaipur (Rajasthan). Then a paste made of glue and finely powdered glass is thinly spread on the thread in a special way to make the 'Dor'. Additives like pigeon's droppings, egg and sea surf are added to make the 'Dor' more lethal. Sometimes a coating of wax is used on the string to make it slick and difficult to cut. During the Kite flying season a lot of money is spent on the kites and Dor. People use necks of bottles or tapes to cover their fingers as the sharp Dor can cut their fingers while flying kites. There is loud music in the air and people dance when they cut someone other's kite.
In towns and cities of Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and rest of India, kite flying is a craze. People fly their kites mostly from the roofs of their houses. At some places Kites are also flown from open grounds. Kite-Flying is on its high in the period of August - September, and February - March, as the weather is suitable with a mild breeze. At some places in Haryana there are kite-flying competitions which attract enthusiastic crowds. Kite flying has contributed to the composite culture and harmony of India. It has also promoted national integration. Making a kite is an art and flying it is a fine art. Kite Makers inherited and learnt the art of making kites from their ancestors passed it on to their future generations.
The kite is called a Patang and the string with which it is flown is called 'Dor' in Haryana. While in Punjab they are called Guddi and Manjha respectively. The wood and bamboo roll on which the string is wound is called a 'Hujka', and in Punjabi it is called a 'Charkhadi'. The kites are given different names depending upon the color combination and design. Names like Danda (stick), Pari (fairy), Gilasa, Chand Tara (moon & star), Shakkar Para, Chhapan Chhuri, Tiranga (tricolor), Budda (old man), Patiyal, Lepo are common. Romantic verses in Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu are sometimes inscribed on the Patangs to send messages to the beloved on whose roof the kite is flown.Kite fighting, which involves trying to cut the string of each other's kites, is the most interesting aspect of kite flying. It is called Patang Baazi in Hindi. The Indian fighter kites are of medium size normally from 1 feet to 4 feet in across, made of special thin paper. The kite is flown with specially made thread called 'Dor'. Dor is the most important thing in kite flying and many precautions are taken to prepare it. The thin cotton thread for Dor is locally prepared in Haryana as well as purchased from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Jaipur (Rajasthan). Then a paste made of glue and finely powdered glass is thinly spread on the thread in a special way to make the 'Dor'. Additives like pigeon's droppings, egg and sea surf are added to make the 'Dor' more lethal. Sometimes a coating of wax is used on the string to make it slick and difficult to cut. During the Kite flying season a lot of money is spent on the kites and Dor. People use necks of bottles or tapes to cover their fingers as the sharp Dor can cut their fingers while flying kites. There is loud music in the air and people dance when they cut someone other's kite.
In towns and cities of Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and rest of India, kite flying is a craze. People fly their kites mostly from the roofs of their houses. At some places Kites are also flown from open grounds. Kite-Flying is on its high in the period of August - September, and February - March, as the weather is suitable with a mild breeze. At some places in Haryana there are kite-flying competitions which attract enthusiastic crowds. Kite flying has contributed to the composite culture and harmony of India. It has also promoted national integration. Making a kite is an art and flying it is a fine art. Kite Makers inherited and learnt the art of making kites from their ancestors passed it on to their future generations.
Underpowered Situation Kitesurfing
Kitesurfing is an exciting and fun sport. However, it is a very dangerous sport and sometimes you may find yourself in various dangerous situations. One of these situations is underpowered situation kitesurfing. However, if you follow the right techniques and steps, you can get out of these situations without trouble and continue enjoying your kitesurfing experience. This article deals with underpowered situation kitesurfing and techniques associated with it.
Underpowered situation kitesurfing is a situation when you are several miles away from the shore and above water and suddenly the wind drops. Since the wind drops, your kite basically losses its speed and power and you no longer can stay in the air. This situation, underpowered situation kitesurfing, can happen any time and completely depends on the weather conditions. There are several steps and techniques, which you should follow during the underpowered situation kitesurfing. These techniques will help you to get safely to the shore.
First of all, try to get as much power from your kite as you can during the underpowered situation kitesurfing. This can be accomplished by using only the fixed loop instead of the chicken loop. Also you should remember that the only way you would be able to kitesurf during the underpowered situation kitesurfing is by going downwind. Going upwind will not be possible and will not help you in any way. Your position on the kite board is also very important during underpowered situation kitesurfing. You should try to bend your knees and shift your body near the midpoint of your kite board.
There are several other techniques for the underpowered situation kitesurfing. You should try to move the kite constantly to produce power and speed. For example, you can use the figure 8 pattern and the sine wave pattern during underpowered situation kitesurfing. Also, try to use longer lines if you know that there is a possibility of underpowered situation kitesurfing because of the weather at your kitesurfing location. If nothing helps, you can use your kite and both of your hands to swim to the shore. Just remember to wind the lines in before you start swimming.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Types of kites
* Arch kite rotary two-anchor rainbow arch and static two-anchor rainbow arch
* Bermuda kite
* Bow kite
* Bowed kite
* Cellular or box kite
* Delta kite
* Fighter kite
* Foil or parafoil kite
* Indoor kite
* Inflatable single-line kite
* Kytoon
* Manned kite
* Rogallo Parawing kite
* Rokkaku
* Stunt kite
* Styrofoam kites
* Tetrahedral kite
* Water kite The kite pioneer Domina Jalbert told Tal Streeter that water kites are hardly different from air kites and could have many applications.
Cultural uses
Kite festivals are a popular form of entertainment throughout the world. They include small local events, traditional festivals which have been held for hundreds of years and major international festivals which bring in kite flyers from overseas to display their unique art kites and demonstrate the latest technical kites.
Asia
Kite flying is popular in many Asian countries, where it often takes the form of 'kite fighting', in which participants try to snag each other's kites or cut other kites down.[29] Fighter kites are usually small, flat, flattened diamond-shaped kites made of paper and bamboo. Tails are not used on fighter kites so that agility and maneuverability are not compromised. In Afghanistan this is known as Gudiparan Bazi. Some kite fighters pass their strings through a mixture of ground glass powder and glue. The resulting strings are very abrasive and can sever the competitor's strings more easily. The abrasive strings can also injure people. During the Taliban rule in Afghanistan, kite flying was banned, among various other recreations.
In Vietnam, kites are flown without tails. Instead small flutes are attached allowing the wind to "hum" a musical tune. There are other forms of sound-making kites. In Bali, large bows are attached to the front of the kites to make a deep throbbing vibration, and in Malaysia row of gourds with sound-slots are use to create a whistle as the kite flies.
The Indian festival of Makar Sankranti is devoted to kite fighting in some states. This spring festival is celebrated every January 15, with millions of people flying kites all over northern India. The states of Bihar, Jharkhand, Gujarat, some part of West Bengal, Rajasthan , and the cities of Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Dhanbad and Hyderabad are particularly notable for their kite fighting festivals. Kite flying in Hyderabad starts a month before the official kite flying festival (Sankranthi). The thread used to fly kites in Hyderabad is known as 'Manjaa'. Highly maneuverable single-string paper and bamboo kites are flown from the rooftops while using line friction in an attempt to cut each other's kite lines, either by letting the line loose at high speed or by pulling the line in a fast and repeated manner. In some Indian cities kite flying/fighting is an important part of other celebrations, including Republic Day, Independence Day, Raksha Bandhan, and Janmashtami.
In Pakistan, kite flying is a popular ritual for the spring festival known as Basant. However, kite flying is currently banned as some kite fliers engage in kite battles by coating their strings with glass or shards of metal, leading to injuries and death. Kite fighting is a very popular sport in Pakistan, mainly centered in Lahore. Kup, Patang, Guda, and Nakhlaoo are some of the kites used in fighting and they vary in balance, weight and speed through the air.
Weifang, Shandong, China promotes itself as the kite capital of the world. It is home to the largest kite museum in the world, which has a display area of 8100m². Weifang hosts an annual international kite festival on the large salt flats south of the city. There are several kite museums in Japan and others in England, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand and the USA.
Europe
In Greece and Cyprus, flying kites is a tradition for Clean Monday, the first day of Lent. In the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, traditional Bermuda kites are made and flown at Easter, to symbolise Christ's ascent. Bermuda kites hold the world records for altitude and duration.
South America
In Guyana, on Easter Weekend thousands turn out for mass kite flying. Many participate in kite flying competitions.
Practical
Military applications
Kites have been used for military uses in the past for signaling, for delivery of munitions, and for observation, by lifting an observer above the field of battle, and by using kite aerial photography.
Kim Yu-Sin (or Kim Yushin), a Korean general, in 637 C.E. rallied his troops to defeat rebels by kite lofting a burning ball. Kites were also used by Admiral Yi of the Joseon (1392-1910) Dynasty of Korea. During the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592-1598), Admiral Yi commanded his navy with kites. His kites had specific markings directing his fleet to perform his order. Admiral Yi was said to have over 300 such kites. The war eventually resulted in a Chinese and Korean victory; the kites played a minor role in the war's conclusion.
In more modern times the British navy also used kites to haul human lookouts high into the air to see over the horizon and possibly the enemy ships, for example with the kite developed by Samuel Franklin Cody. Barrage kites were used to protect London as well as the Pacific coast of the United States during the last century. Kites and kytoons were used for lofting communications antenna. Submarines lofted observers in rotary kites. The Rogallo parawing kite and the Jalbert parafoil kite were used for governable parachutes (free-flying kites) to deliver troops and supplies.
Science and meteorology
Kites have been used for scientific purposes, such as Benjamin Franklin's famous experiment proving that lightning is electricity. Kites were the precursors to aircraft, and were instrumental in the development of early flying craft. Alexander Graham Bell experimented with very large man-lifting kites, as did the Wright brothers and Lawrence Hargrave. Kites had an historical role in lifting scientific instruments to measure atmospheric conditions for weather forecasting.
Radio aerials and light beacons
Kites can be used for radio purposes, by kites carrying antennas for MF, LF or VLF-transmitters. This method was used for the reception station of the first transatlantic transmission by Marconi. Captive balloons may be more convenient for such experiments, because kite-carried antennas require a lot of wind, which may be not always possible with heavy equipment and a ground conductor. It must be taken into account during experiments, that a conductor carried by a kite can lead to a high voltage toward ground, which can endanger people and equipment, if suitable precautions (grounding through resistors or a parallel resonant-circuit tuned to transmission frequency) are not taken.
Kites can be used to carry light effects such as lightsticks or battery powered lights.
Kite traction
Kites can be used to pull people and vehicles downwind. Efficient foil-type kites such as power kites can also be used to sail upwind under the same principles as used by other sailing craft, provided that lateral forces on the ground or in the water are redirected as with the keels, center boards, wheels and ice blades of traditional sailing craft. In the last two decades several kite sailing sports have become popular, such as kite buggying, kite landboarding and kite surfing. Snow kiting has also become popular in recent years.
Kite sailing opens several possibilities not available in traditional sailing:
* Wind speeds are greater at higher altitudes
* Kites may be manoeuvered dynamically which increases the force available dramatically
* There is no need for mechanical structures to withstand bending forces; vehicles or hulls can be very light or dispensed with all together
The German company SkySails has developed ship-pulling kites as a supplemental power source for cargo ships, first tested in January 2008 on the ship MS Beluga Skysails. Trials on this 55 m ship have shown that, in favorable winds, the kite reduces fuel consumption by up to 30%. This system is planned to be in full commercial production late 2008. Kites are available as an auxiliary sail or emergency spinnaker for sailing boats. Self-launching Parafoil kites are attached to the mast.
MS Beluga Skysails is the world's first commercial container cargo ship partially powered by a giant computer-controlled kite (160 m² or 1,722 sq ft). The kite could reduce fuel consumption by 20%. It was launched on 17 December 2007 and was set to leave the northern German port of Bremerhaven to Guanta, Venezuela on January 22, 2008. Stephan Wrage, managing director of SkySails GmbH announced: "During the next few months we will finally be able to prove that our technology works in practice and significantly reduces fuel consumption and emissions." Verena Frank, project manager at Beluga Shipping GmbH, SkySails GmbH's partner further stated that "the project's core concept was using wind energy as auxiliary propulsion power and using wind as a free of charge energy".
Power generation
A conceptual research and development project by Makani Power, based in California and funded by Google.org, is investigating the use of kites in harnessing high altitude wind currents to generate electricity.
A separate Delft University of Technology project has used a 10 m² kite to generate 10 kilowatts of power.
See also laddermill.
Kites have been used for military uses in the past for signaling, for delivery of munitions, and for observation, by lifting an observer above the field of battle, and by using kite aerial photography.
Kim Yu-Sin (or Kim Yushin), a Korean general, in 637 C.E. rallied his troops to defeat rebels by kite lofting a burning ball. Kites were also used by Admiral Yi of the Joseon (1392-1910) Dynasty of Korea. During the Japanese invasions of Korea (1592-1598), Admiral Yi commanded his navy with kites. His kites had specific markings directing his fleet to perform his order. Admiral Yi was said to have over 300 such kites. The war eventually resulted in a Chinese and Korean victory; the kites played a minor role in the war's conclusion.
In more modern times the British navy also used kites to haul human lookouts high into the air to see over the horizon and possibly the enemy ships, for example with the kite developed by Samuel Franklin Cody. Barrage kites were used to protect London as well as the Pacific coast of the United States during the last century. Kites and kytoons were used for lofting communications antenna. Submarines lofted observers in rotary kites. The Rogallo parawing kite and the Jalbert parafoil kite were used for governable parachutes (free-flying kites) to deliver troops and supplies.
Science and meteorology
Kites have been used for scientific purposes, such as Benjamin Franklin's famous experiment proving that lightning is electricity. Kites were the precursors to aircraft, and were instrumental in the development of early flying craft. Alexander Graham Bell experimented with very large man-lifting kites, as did the Wright brothers and Lawrence Hargrave. Kites had an historical role in lifting scientific instruments to measure atmospheric conditions for weather forecasting.
Radio aerials and light beacons
Kites can be used for radio purposes, by kites carrying antennas for MF, LF or VLF-transmitters. This method was used for the reception station of the first transatlantic transmission by Marconi. Captive balloons may be more convenient for such experiments, because kite-carried antennas require a lot of wind, which may be not always possible with heavy equipment and a ground conductor. It must be taken into account during experiments, that a conductor carried by a kite can lead to a high voltage toward ground, which can endanger people and equipment, if suitable precautions (grounding through resistors or a parallel resonant-circuit tuned to transmission frequency) are not taken.
Kites can be used to carry light effects such as lightsticks or battery powered lights.
Kite traction
Kites can be used to pull people and vehicles downwind. Efficient foil-type kites such as power kites can also be used to sail upwind under the same principles as used by other sailing craft, provided that lateral forces on the ground or in the water are redirected as with the keels, center boards, wheels and ice blades of traditional sailing craft. In the last two decades several kite sailing sports have become popular, such as kite buggying, kite landboarding and kite surfing. Snow kiting has also become popular in recent years.
Kite sailing opens several possibilities not available in traditional sailing:
* Wind speeds are greater at higher altitudes
* Kites may be manoeuvered dynamically which increases the force available dramatically
* There is no need for mechanical structures to withstand bending forces; vehicles or hulls can be very light or dispensed with all together
The German company SkySails has developed ship-pulling kites as a supplemental power source for cargo ships, first tested in January 2008 on the ship MS Beluga Skysails. Trials on this 55 m ship have shown that, in favorable winds, the kite reduces fuel consumption by up to 30%. This system is planned to be in full commercial production late 2008. Kites are available as an auxiliary sail or emergency spinnaker for sailing boats. Self-launching Parafoil kites are attached to the mast.
MS Beluga Skysails is the world's first commercial container cargo ship partially powered by a giant computer-controlled kite (160 m² or 1,722 sq ft). The kite could reduce fuel consumption by 20%. It was launched on 17 December 2007 and was set to leave the northern German port of Bremerhaven to Guanta, Venezuela on January 22, 2008. Stephan Wrage, managing director of SkySails GmbH announced: "During the next few months we will finally be able to prove that our technology works in practice and significantly reduces fuel consumption and emissions." Verena Frank, project manager at Beluga Shipping GmbH, SkySails GmbH's partner further stated that "the project's core concept was using wind energy as auxiliary propulsion power and using wind as a free of charge energy".
Power generation
A conceptual research and development project by Makani Power, based in California and funded by Google.org, is investigating the use of kites in harnessing high altitude wind currents to generate electricity.
A separate Delft University of Technology project has used a 10 m² kite to generate 10 kilowatts of power.
See also laddermill.
Materials
Kites typically consist of one or more spars to which a paper or fabric sail is attached, although some, such as foil kites, have no spars at all. Classic kites use bamboo, rattan or some other strong but flexible wood for the spars, paper or light fabrics such as silk for the sails, and are flown on string or twine. Modern kites use synthetic materials, such as ripstop nylon or more exotic fabrics for the sails, fiberglass or carbon fiber for the spars and dacron or dyneema for the kite lines.
Kites can be designed with many different shapes, forms, and sizes. They can take the form of flat geometric designs, boxes and other three-dimensional forms, or modern sparless inflatable designs. Kites flown by children are often simple geometric forms (for example, the diamond). In Asia, children fly dried symmetrical leaves on sewing thread and sled-style kites made from sheets of folded writing paper.
Designs often emulate flying insects, birds, and other beasts, both real and mythical. The finest Chinese kites are made from split bamboo (usually golden bamboo), covered with silk, and hand painted. On larger kites, clever hinges and latches allow the kite to be disassembled and compactly folded for storage or transport. Cheaper mass-produced kites are often made from printed polyester rather than silk.
Tails are used for some single-line kite designs to keep the kite's nose pointing into the wind. Spinners and spinsocks can be attached to the flying line for visual effect. There are rotating wind socks which spin like a turbine. On large display kites these tails, spinners and spinsocks can be 50 feet (15m) long or more.
Modern acrobatic kites use two or four lines to allow fine control of the kite's angle to the wind. Traction kites may have an additional line to de-power the kite and quick-release mechanisms to disengage flyer and kite in an emergency.
Kites can be designed with many different shapes, forms, and sizes. They can take the form of flat geometric designs, boxes and other three-dimensional forms, or modern sparless inflatable designs. Kites flown by children are often simple geometric forms (for example, the diamond). In Asia, children fly dried symmetrical leaves on sewing thread and sled-style kites made from sheets of folded writing paper.
Designs often emulate flying insects, birds, and other beasts, both real and mythical. The finest Chinese kites are made from split bamboo (usually golden bamboo), covered with silk, and hand painted. On larger kites, clever hinges and latches allow the kite to be disassembled and compactly folded for storage or transport. Cheaper mass-produced kites are often made from printed polyester rather than silk.
Tails are used for some single-line kite designs to keep the kite's nose pointing into the wind. Spinners and spinsocks can be attached to the flying line for visual effect. There are rotating wind socks which spin like a turbine. On large display kites these tails, spinners and spinsocks can be 50 feet (15m) long or more.
Modern acrobatic kites use two or four lines to allow fine control of the kite's angle to the wind. Traction kites may have an additional line to de-power the kite and quick-release mechanisms to disengage flyer and kite in an emergency.
Kite
A kite is a flying tethered object that depends upon the tension of a tethering system. The necessary lift that makes the kite wing fly is generated when air (or in some cases water flows over and under the kite's wing, producing low pressure above the wing and high pressure below it. This deflection also generates horizontal drag along the direction of the wind. The resultant force vector from the lift and drag force components is opposed by the tension of the one or more lines or tethers.The anchor point of the kite line may be static or moving (e.g., the towing of a kite by a running person, boat,or vehicle.
Kites may be flown for recreation, art or other practical uses. Sport kites can be flown in aerial ballet, sometimes as part of a competition. Power kites are multi-line steerable kites designed to generate large forces which can be used to power activities such as kite surfing, kite landboarding or kite buggying. Kites towed behind boats can lift passengers which has had useful military applications in the past.
History
The kite was first invented and popularized approximately 2,800 years ago in China, where materials ideal for kite building were readily available: silk fabric for sail material, fine, high-tensile-strength silk for flying line, and resilient bamboo for a strong, lightweight framework. Alternatively, kite author Clive Hart and kite expert Tal Streeter hold that kites existed far before that time. The kite was said to be the invention of the famous 5th century BC Chinese philosophers Mozi and Lu Ban. By at least 549 AD paper kites were being flown, as it was recorded in that year a paper kite was used as a message for a rescue mission. Ancient and medieval Chinese sources list other uses of kites for measuring distances, testing the wind, lifting men, signaling, and communication for military operations. The earliest known Chinese kites were flat (not bowed) and often rectangular. Later, tailless kites incorporated a stabilizing bowline. Kites were decorated with mythological motifs and legendary figures; some were fitted with strings and whistles to make musical sounds while flying.
After its appearance in China, the kite migrated to Japan, Korea, Thailand, Burma (Myanmar), India, Arabia, and North Africa, then farther south into the Malay Peninsula, Indonesia, and the islands of Oceania as far east as Easter Island. Since kites made of leaves have been flown in Malaya and the South Seas from time immemorial, the kite could also have been invented independently in that region.
One ancient design, the fighter kite, became popular throughout Asia. Most variations, including the fighter kites of India, Thailand and Japan, are small, flat, roughly diamond-shaped kites made of paper, with a tapered bamboo spine and a balanced bow. Flown without tails that would hinder their agility, these highly maneuverable flat kites have a length of cutting line coated with an abrasive attached to the bridle, which is then tied to a light cotton flying line. Although the rules of kite fighting varied from country to country, the basic combat was to maneuver the swift kite in such a way as to cut the opponent's flying line.
Kite flying began much later in Europe than in Asia. While unambiguous drawings of kites first appeared in print in the Netherlands and England in the 17th century, pennon-type kites that evolved from military banners dating back to Roman times and earlier were flown during the Middle Ages. Joseph Needham says that the earliest European description of a kite comes from the Magia Naturalis written in 1589 by the Italian polymath Giambattista della Porta (1535–1615).
During the 18th century tailless bowed kites were still unknown in Europe. Flying flat arch- or pear-shaped kites with tails had become a popular pastime, mostly among children. The first recorded scientific application of a kite took place in 1749 when Alexander Wilson of Scotland used a kite train (two or more kites flown from a common line) as a meteorologic device for measuring temperature variations at different altitudes.
The next year, in 1750, Benjamin Franklin published a proposal for an experiment to prove that lightning is electricity by flying a kite in a storm that appeared capable of becoming a lightning storm. Benjamin Franklin wisely never preformed his experiment, but on May 10, 1752, Thomas-François Dalibard of France conducted Franklin's experiment (using a 40-foot (12 m)-tall iron rod instead of a kite) and extracted electrical sparks from a cloud.
Kites may be flown for recreation, art or other practical uses. Sport kites can be flown in aerial ballet, sometimes as part of a competition. Power kites are multi-line steerable kites designed to generate large forces which can be used to power activities such as kite surfing, kite landboarding or kite buggying. Kites towed behind boats can lift passengers which has had useful military applications in the past.
History
The kite was first invented and popularized approximately 2,800 years ago in China, where materials ideal for kite building were readily available: silk fabric for sail material, fine, high-tensile-strength silk for flying line, and resilient bamboo for a strong, lightweight framework. Alternatively, kite author Clive Hart and kite expert Tal Streeter hold that kites existed far before that time. The kite was said to be the invention of the famous 5th century BC Chinese philosophers Mozi and Lu Ban. By at least 549 AD paper kites were being flown, as it was recorded in that year a paper kite was used as a message for a rescue mission. Ancient and medieval Chinese sources list other uses of kites for measuring distances, testing the wind, lifting men, signaling, and communication for military operations. The earliest known Chinese kites were flat (not bowed) and often rectangular. Later, tailless kites incorporated a stabilizing bowline. Kites were decorated with mythological motifs and legendary figures; some were fitted with strings and whistles to make musical sounds while flying.
After its appearance in China, the kite migrated to Japan, Korea, Thailand, Burma (Myanmar), India, Arabia, and North Africa, then farther south into the Malay Peninsula, Indonesia, and the islands of Oceania as far east as Easter Island. Since kites made of leaves have been flown in Malaya and the South Seas from time immemorial, the kite could also have been invented independently in that region.
One ancient design, the fighter kite, became popular throughout Asia. Most variations, including the fighter kites of India, Thailand and Japan, are small, flat, roughly diamond-shaped kites made of paper, with a tapered bamboo spine and a balanced bow. Flown without tails that would hinder their agility, these highly maneuverable flat kites have a length of cutting line coated with an abrasive attached to the bridle, which is then tied to a light cotton flying line. Although the rules of kite fighting varied from country to country, the basic combat was to maneuver the swift kite in such a way as to cut the opponent's flying line.
Kite flying began much later in Europe than in Asia. While unambiguous drawings of kites first appeared in print in the Netherlands and England in the 17th century, pennon-type kites that evolved from military banners dating back to Roman times and earlier were flown during the Middle Ages. Joseph Needham says that the earliest European description of a kite comes from the Magia Naturalis written in 1589 by the Italian polymath Giambattista della Porta (1535–1615).
During the 18th century tailless bowed kites were still unknown in Europe. Flying flat arch- or pear-shaped kites with tails had become a popular pastime, mostly among children. The first recorded scientific application of a kite took place in 1749 when Alexander Wilson of Scotland used a kite train (two or more kites flown from a common line) as a meteorologic device for measuring temperature variations at different altitudes.
The next year, in 1750, Benjamin Franklin published a proposal for an experiment to prove that lightning is electricity by flying a kite in a storm that appeared capable of becoming a lightning storm. Benjamin Franklin wisely never preformed his experiment, but on May 10, 1752, Thomas-François Dalibard of France conducted Franklin's experiment (using a 40-foot (12 m)-tall iron rod instead of a kite) and extracted electrical sparks from a cloud.
How To Kitesurf
You have been bitten by the KiteSurfing bug, you can’t wait to hit the first current to propel your body screaming 40-feet into the air and crashing into the water. With each gusts of wind your elevated high off the surface and breaking each wave as you land. The thrill associated with the sport of KiteSurfing has many able-bodied thrill seekers flocking to the beaches across the world to set sail and fly across the top of the ocean.
But before you could set your feet in the water you will need to know how to KiteSurf, if you have surfed or have sail surfed you have an immediate advantage to understand how to maneuver your board, however when KiteSurfing your feet will move a little and your arms and hands are the only thing holding you to the kite, your feet are attached to the board.
Most rookie KiteSurfers have accidents because they have trouble calculating distance and variable levels of speed that the kites can create by a gust of wind. Learning to KiteSurf through instruction and practice is by far the best way to learn and experience the heart-pounding action and gravity-defying jumps.
As with any sport there are safety precautions you should adhere to.
You must be a good swimmer. Swimming entails that if your kite flies away from you, you may have to swim after the handles or swim back to shore. Depending how far out you have gone on your board this may not be such an easy task.
You can be carded or rated by a professional instructor. This will help you understand the risks as well as the conditions that are appropriate for your time out on the water. Your instructor should be certified by the IKO, International KiteSurfing Organization. Never go out with a friend, it could prove disastrous.
You should always wear a helmet. Like bicycle laws they are encouraged in some countries and mandatory in others. Your head is the most delicate part of your body, if you crash into the sea at a high-rate of speed or run into rocks your chances of suffering head trauma can be disabling.
Watch the weather conditions. It is important to understand the weather and the effects of strong wind and how it can play havoc on avid KiteSurfers.
Other guidelines you will learn along the way will be important and somewhat common knowledge but it is good to go over the basics to make sure you and the people around you remain safe as you launch.
- Never launch kites in crowded swimming areas
- Do not lay your lines out along the beach
- Whenever possible try not to launch kite from the sand
- Be willing to help KiteSurfers as they re-enter the beach
- When making jumps in the water, measure the downwind zone
- If you can not swim far distances avoid going deep into the ocean
- Use your self-rescue signals when killing power to the kite
- Always wear a life-jacket or a buoyancy jacket.
By following the simple rules you can keep yourself as well as those around you safe during launch and re-entry to the beach.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Richard Branson Kite-Surfing
Richard Branson Blown Away by Squamish Kite-Surfing
Richard Branson , world renowned adventurer, extreme sports enthusiast and entrepreneur, was incredibly impressed with his first visit to Squamish BC, The Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada. “This place is amazing! I’m definitely coming back some time to do more kite surfing!” exclaimed Branson after a 40 minute kite surfing ride in strong winds off the Squamish Spit against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains and the monolithic rock climbing playground of the Stawamus Chief.
Of course, this was not only a chance for Richard Branson to get out and have some fun. It was also a media event, with a helicopter circling above and camera crews on shore,. All this provided great photo opportunities for two Virgin Mobile promotional announcements, including the announcement that Virgin Canada has pledged $100,000 to sponsor a team of extreme female athletes. Virgin Canada Chair Andrew Black said the ‘Women’s Extreme Team’ was a good fit and a good opportunity for Virgin, as extreme sports reflected their brand. Female athletes were chosen because much of the extreme sports sponsorship and attention has previously focused on males.
What led Branson and Virgin to choose Squamish BC as the location for this event? It seems there were a number of factors. First, Western Canada was left out of the Virgin Mobile announcements with Branson when the company launched in March. Second, Branson has recently become a very avid kite surfer. He was eager to promote the sport in Canada, where, according to Branson, the levels of participation are below what they are in other parts of the world, and below what they should be, given it is such a great sport, and one “can get into it for a relatively low cost”. Voila – a visit to Western Canada’s premier kite surfing destination was in order.
Members of the Squamish Windsurfing and Kite Surfing Society rated Branson as “Pretty Good”. Given that it is always hard in a new location until a kite surfer gets the feel of the local wind and the waves, Branson put on a great show on his first trip to Squamish. One member noted that it was impressive that he used a 14 foot rig as opposed to a 12 footer, given the strong winds.
What makes the Squamish Spit such an excellent windsurfing location? The best summary I found was on the www.flexfoil.com site, summed up in an article by Cliff Umpleby, a Flexi team rider:
If you’re not familiar with the kite scene in Canada or the infamous Spit at Squamish I’ll fill you in…
With the Stawamus Chief, the second largest granite Monolith on earth as a background, the constant thermal winds of Howe Sound lead to epic conditions with summer seeing usually 6 days a week on the water. The basic rule here is, if it’s sunny, it's windy. Warm air inland rising sucks the cool sea air up the valley.
The Squamish Spit is located at very end of Howe Sound on a narrow piece of land that divides the Squamish River from the rest of the Squamish Estuary. While usually best left as a destination for intermediate to advanced riders, it’s perfect for learning if the tide is low. The Squamish Windsport Society charges a fee for access, which includes a Jet Ski on hand in case you go down and can't make it back.
Beyond Kite Surfing, Squamish offers an incredibly wide variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. Over 1000 routes of all varieties on clean granite makes Squamish the premier rock climbing destination in Canada. Add to that an extensive trail network for hiking, running, and mountain biking, and a few class three and four rapids for the kayaks and rafting boats, and one gets a bit of an insight as to why Squamish attracts thousands of adventure sports enthusiasts like Richard Branson all summer. Of course, there are also golf courses, great fishing opportunities and moderate day hikes for the less adventurous.
If you are looking for a place to stay in Squamish then The Sea to Sky Hotel (www.seatoskyhotel.com) on Highway 99 is probably your best bet.
Richard Branson famously started his entrepreneurial career selling mail order music, and went on to create a business empire which includes an airline, music stores, Virgin mobile of course, and a fairly good cola that is unfortunately not available in Canada.
A Kite Mobile Made From a Coat Hanger
This is an excellent way to let your child participate in the decoration of his or her room while at the same time having fun working on a creative crafts project!
All you will need for this project is probably already laying around your house. Find a wire coat hanger, some yarn, some colorful construction paper, glue, and decorating materials, such as paint, markers, crayons, stickers, glitter, etcetera.
Cut 6 diamond shapes out of the construction paper, it is fun to make them different colors, because each diamond represents a kite…and we want several different kites. You can make them different sizes as well to add variety, a good rule of thumb for the average size is five or six inches tall and three or four inches wide. Make them big enough to give your child room to create a masterpiece on each one!
Have your child spend time decorating each of the kites. To add variety, it is fun to have varying media used for the decoration, for example some might use crayons, a couple with paint, and one or two with glitter or stickers.
Once all the masterpieces are done, affix yarn to the bottom of each kite to represent its tail. Six inches or so will do, again it is fun to add some variety in lengths and colors. Stapling works just fine, although glue or tape will do as well.
Now, cut six bow shapes out of the construction paper to attach to the end of the tails. This can be made easier by cutting the shapes into a tuxedo bow-tie shape of two opposing triangles. Of course you can always spend the time to make them curvy and add as much detail as you want. Attach them to the end of the tails using staples, glue, or tape.
Now you can have your child attach the kites to the hanger. Again, varying lengths of yarn can be used for this purpose, however try to encourage your little one to space them along the hanger in a relatively even manner to ensure balance. This is not rocket science, it doesn’t have to be exact, just roughly balanced.
Now you are almost ready to hang the work of art. Have your child participate in the selection process of where to hang the mobile in his or her room. Once a suitable location has been agreed to (away from ceiling fans and the like), tie a piece of yarn to the hook of the hanger. This will allow the hanger to rotate freely and be a true mobile. Then, attach the top of the yarn to the ceiling, either by tying it to a hook, or using a stapler, thumb tack or push pin.
You now have a kite mobile! Add to the fun by spending time with your child making up stories about flying kites, or which make believe character each kite belongs to, or anything else that will stimulate the imagination. The possibilities are endless!
Mind Mapping makes Decision Making seem like Flying Kites
Decision Making is an important element of our life. We are called upon to make decisions at every level of our activity - whether it is something as simple and mundane as choosing the right dress for a party or the more critical as venturing into a new business. Invariably, major decisions bear deep consequences and therefore needs great care.
Even when we make informed decisions there may yet be other forces at play, which have the effect of pulling us in different directions. The key element therefore is to prepare not just for known consequences but for other possible and unforeseen elements as well.
Although wisdom, proper judgment and experience are vital in making the right decision, gut feeling and hunches do occupy an important place in our decision making. We find many business ventures became a reality just by following gut feelings and strong hunches. Overall, we could say that wide exposure, critical and perceptive analysis and far sightedness are crucial elements for making the right decisions.
Most of us do not have the advantage of wide experience to be wise. Although we may seek counsel from more experienced and exposed individuals, for most part, we will have to do the decision making on our own. This is where clarity of thought and detail will greatly help us. You have to analyze the probable outcome that your decision making will entail. Knowing the likely result that your decision will engender will provide clarity to your thinking. When the stakes are weighed equally over a decision, it is better to be prepared for the best and worst case. Preparing yourself with a set of action plan to deal with the same will help to tackle the situation adroitly.
At times a problem, situation or issue may overwhelm us, and we may find ourselves muddled and unsure about taking a decision. By weighing all the options objectively and choosing the most appropriate one, your priorities become clear.
A simple tool that will help you in analyzing different aspects of a decision is Mind Mapping. Since Mind Maps is based on non-linear method of using only key words and phrases, instead of the conventional linear method of long sentences of text, it is an easy way to capture the flow of your thoughts on an issue or problem under question. We will be able to give our full attention to the issue or problem at hand, and think through the process in depth.
Also, as Mind Map is anchored on associations, it helps us to tie up among different elements of our decision making process. We will be able to see the links and connections and the consequences between various aspects of our decision. In addition, Mind Maps tap into the parallel processing ability of our brain by using radiant thinking. This involves letting our thoughts flow in different directions unhindered, even if the idea seems irrelevant.
You can look at various options and make a weighted analysis based on the consequences flowing from such a decision. You could prioritize your options, see the links between different elements of your choice and based on these, make a right decision. Mind Maps therefore are of immense value in leading you through the process of decision making. The more astute we become in decision making, the greater our sense of achievement and fulfillment. Take advantage of this mind tool and learn Mind Mapping.
Many use of kites
Go Fly a Kite
Before aircrafts, balloons and rockets took over the job of photography and meteorology in the 19th and 20th century, kites were used. They aren't just simple toys anymore.
Marconi used kites in his early radio experiments, and in World War II, airmen were provided with a box kite and transmitter, known as the 'Gibson Girl', along with their rubber dinghy. Some radio hams still use kites. During World War II, kites were used for anti-aircraft target practice, for man lifting and to deter enemy aircraft.
In China, kites were used for military signaling during the sixth and eighth centuries. In 1232, thousands of kites were release over enemy lines inciting prisoners to revolt. During the Peninsular War leaflets were dropped from kites. Kites were used as a form of airmail between Maryland and Virginia during the American Civil War.
During the 19th century, kites resembled birds of prey in England and France for hunting grouse and partridge. China has used kites with loud noise-makers attached to drive game.
Reportedly, a kite was used to carry the first line across the Niagara River in order to build the bridge from New York State to Canada. In the same way, kites have been used to carry telephone wires.
Many kites are elaborately decorated. The Artistic Kite Group promotes kites as an art form. For centuries in the East, kites have been used for fishing. This is done to reach places you normally can't get to and to prevent the 'plop' sound associated with casting your line in the water.
The art of training falcons and hawks to hunt is very ancient and breathtaking to watch. Some falcons fly at heights up to 1000 feet but many never bother flying over 200 ft. By attaching a bait to a high-flying kite, you can train it to fly higher than 200 feet.
Many people find kite flying to be relaxing, and a good way to unwind. It also gets you out into the fresh air and provides a bit of exercise.
Kites are now use for kite-sailing, kite-surfing, kite- skiing and kite-buggying. There are two kinds of kite races. One is the upwind kite race where contestants drag strong pulling kites upwind and the other is downwind kite races where contestants launch a kite and runs downwind without allowing his kite to touch the ground. The first is purely a test of strength
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