Power Kiting
Insider Info
Power kiting combines the fun of kiting with some of the coolest extreme
sports around. Attach a kite to a dune buggy, a pair of water skis or a surfboard
and you're on your way to excitement. And you'd better believe it: power kiting
gives the phrase "go fly a kite" a whole new meaning!
For most people, flying a kite brings to mind an open field and an afternoon
of relaxation. Getting the kite in the air and keeping it there is the whole
idea. For people who power kite, getting the kite up is just the start of
the fun.
Power kiting uses a kite that is usually shaped like a parachute. Instead
of staying in one spot, you use the power of the wind in your kite to move
you.
You can be pulled along in a buggy (this is known as kite buggying), on
water skis or on a surfboard. It takes an open area, imagination and willingness
to try something new.
Kiting goes a long way back, and kites have been used for many reasons
over the years. In 1749, Scottish scientists Alexander Wilson and Thomas Melville
fastened thermometers to kites in order to record the temperature of the air
at high altitudes.
In 1901, Guglielmo Marconi, inventor of the wireless telegraph, used a
kite to loft an antenna 120 metres in the air in order to receive the first
radio signal ever transmitted across an ocean.
There is even a theory that the Egyptians may have used kites and wind
power to build the mighty pyramids!
Dave Lord is a kite buggy hobbyist. "People have always been fascinated
with the power produced by the wind," he says. "Kite buggying was started
in 1990 by Peter Lynn. It came about as an offshoot of kite sailing on the
water."
The type of kite you would buy at your local department stores is not what
power kiters use to propel themselves.
Dual line kites are flown with two lines and can be flown in many different
ways with practice. Quad line kites are flown with four lines and are more
difficult to fly.
Attaching the kites together with equal lines between them is called stacking.
The more kites you have, the more difficult it is to manoeuvre, due to the
power or pull on your lines.
The size of the kite used depends on the wind. The faster the wind blows,
the smaller the kite or sail should be.
Did you know April is National Kite Month in the U.S.? This began in 1999
as a promotional program by the Kite Trade Association and the American Kitefliers
Association.
As with any sport, there are dangers and precautions that need to be taken.
Raphael Baruch works for Kite Surf. "Know your limits and those of the equipment,"
says Baruch.
"As you cannot control your environment, choose it carefully to try to
have the safest ride. The common injuries are cuts and bruises from the lines,
mostly due to inattention."
Power kiting is just for the young -- the young at heart, that is! Seventy-year-old
Lord takes part in this hobby and has seen a change in the number of people
involved.
"When I started, there were only four or five people in Washington who
participated," says Lord.
"There were maybe only 25 or 30 people nationwide who rode kite buggies.
Now there are 40 or 50 participants in Washington, and maybe as many as 250
nationwide. There are several hundred kite buggy enthusiasts in Europe."
Overall, more males participate in this sport than females. For now, that
is. With more and more people catching on to the fun, this may change in the
years to come.
As for the future, Baruch says that he sees it going "far, very far." Lord
is a bit more specific. "It will continue to grow, though slowly. The main
limitation is finding a place to do it," he says.
"The very best venue is the smooth dry lakes in the southwest. The next
best place is the ocean beaches. And the least attractive are soccer fields.
Unfortunately, this activity is not allowed on many of the beaches."
The skills required to power kite include good hand-eye coordination, some
athletic ability and upper body strength. A willingness to try new things
and to be persistent will be advantages, too.
The ability to fly a kite will come with practice, just like the ability
to judge wind direction does. Flying kites with multiple lines also takes
practice. Just like your mom always told you, practice makes perfect!
Working with kites is a dream come true for some. If you're one of these
people, think about these occupations:
- Kite designer or manufacturer: Create kites for others to enjoy
- Customer service representative for a kite store: Share your enthusiasm
and knowledge while making money for your employer
- Travel guide or instructor: Work with travellers who like a bit
of adventure (and maybe get some new power kiters hooked in the process)
Getting Started
If you've ever taken part in sports, you'll know that the equipment is
very important to your safety and performance. Kite buggying isn't cheap.
But the money is worth it if you ask Philip Chase, a kite buggy enthusiast
from Gainesville, Florida.
"The minimum requirements are a buggy [$400 to $500], a helmet [$35 to
$80], a medium-sized kite [$250 to $400], [and] high quality kite line [$20
to $50]. I tell most people to budget about $800 to get started in the sport
and to assume they will spend $1,500 if they like it."
Power kiting takes place in different locations, depending on whether you're
being pulled in a buggy, on a pair of water skis or across a frozen lake in
the winter.
Stefano Rosso, a kite surfer from Brazil, recommends traveling to the south
of France or Hawaii to view the best locations.
Depending on your level of interest and the level of your bank account,
traveling can also be a cost involved in this sport. Chase says that two good
places in the U.S. to go are Ivanpah Dry Lake and El Mirage Dry Lake, both
of which are in the southwest.
Speaking of traveling, a big event for kite enthusiasts is the annual American
Kitefliers Association's Conference. The AKA convention is an annual five-day
gathering of kite enthusiasts, artists, and competitors. About 500 members
attend to see things such as workshops, competitions and displays.
Power kiting is an exciting new sport that combines our childhood fascination
with kites and the adventure of speed and power. The next time someone tells
you to go fly a kite, tell them you'd be glad to!
Associations
American Kitefliers Association
352 Hungerford Dr.
Rockville
,
MD
20850-4117
USA
Internet
:
http://www.aka.kite.org/
Kite Trade Association International
P.O. Box 115
Rose Lodge
,
OR
97372-0115
USA
Internet
:
http://kitetrade.org/
Links
Power Kite Site
Links, photos, and how-to information
Dave Lord's Kite, Kite Buggy and Land Yacht Page
Provides a discussion page for technical issues and lots of photos
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