Date: Sat, 19 Nov 1994 14:15:32 -1000 From: bliss@bliss.demon.co.uk (bforest/london) Message-Id: Organization: Subwoofer Subject: Newbie Flexi Question.. Hallo.. Im a relative newby to performance kites. I live in windy, flat (jealous?) Cambridgeshire, and I'm flying a Flexi 6 (pulls like hell but not much else) and a Flexi Impulse (love it love it) and a Flexi Scorpion. (graceful and nice). Am I flying decent kites? I tend to fly the Scorpion in low winds up to 20mph or so, and the Impulse in anything higher, sometimes with 135kg test line. I like the Flexifoil at the beach, but until I get into buggies, I just don't find it that much fun. So, any tips? Should I be looking at better kites? If so, which ones? I think the ones I have are great, but what do I know? Muchas gracias = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Sat, 19 Nov 1994 18:19:18 -1000 From: jburka@Glue.umd.edu (Jeffrey C. Burka) Message-Id: <3amio6$cvk@geog20.umd.edu> Organization: Project Glue, University of Maryland, College Park Subject: Re: Newbie Flexi Question.. In article , bforest/london wrote: >Im a relative newby to performance kites. I live in windy, flat (jealous?) >Cambridgeshire, and I'm flying a Flexi 6 (pulls like hell but not much else) [...] >I like the Flexifoil at the beach, but until I get into buggies, I just don't >find it that much fun. You need to learn to fly a Flexifoil. I strongly recommend spending the money for an UltraFlex spar for your Stacker and learn to fly it as an ultralight. The Flexifoil is a finesse kite when it's not trying to yank your arms out. They're tremendous fun, even in winds down to 1-2mph. With practice, you can do tipstands, pseudo-axels, the "flexi flip" (basically, the kite does a somersault between its lines), skates, and so on and so forth. >So, any tips? Should I be looking at better kites? If so, which ones? >I think the ones I have are great, but what do I know? There will always be more kites to buy. Outside a buggy 'n bag, the next on my list is probably a Millenium from Dean Jordan. I've heard many good things about the Scorpion, but my favorite full-sized delta is probably the Pro, also from Dean, which will do virtually anything you want it to...once you learn how to fly it. But for now, give your Flexi some more air time. Some folks take a while before they get it...and some folks never do get it. Jeff -- |Jeffrey C. Burka | Pithy, insightful quote to be inserted | | | when one occurs to me. *If* one occurs | |jeffy@glue.umd.edu | to me. | = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Sat, 19 Nov 1994 18:05:09 -1000 From: hayden1009@aol.com (Hayden1009) Message-Id: <3amhtl$sjh@newsbf01.news.aol.com> Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364) Subject: Re: Newbie Flexi Question.. In article , bliss@bliss.demon.co.uk (bforest/london) writes: >Flexis not much fun w/o buggy... I own a 6' & 8' flexi and a scorpion (they are execellent kites), along with a number of other kites. I love them all (some in lower winds, some in higher). What can you do with the flexi's? How many flips can you get in a flexi-flip? Can you do it anywhere in the window? How long can you hold a flexi float? Can you skate it across the window? I find with any kite, it is most fun while trying to figure out how to make it do whatever I can't do at that moment. Alice Hayden 8^) = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Sat, 19 Nov 1994 19:17:46 -1000 From: mark@murder.demon.co.uk (Mark de Roussier) Message-Id: <785333866snx@murder.demon.co.uk> Organization: damage Subject: Re: Newbie Flexi Question.. In article bliss@bliss.demon.co.uk (bforest/london) writes: > Hallo.. > > Im a relative newby to performance kites. I live in windy, flat (jealous?) > Cambridgeshire, and I'm flying a Flexi 6 (pulls like hell but not much else) > and a Flexi Impulse (love it love it) and a Flexi Scorpion. (graceful and nice). > Am I flying decent kites? I tend to fly the Scorpion in low winds up to 20mph > or so, and the Impulse in anything higher, sometimes with 135kg test line. I > like the Flexifoil at the beach, but until I get into buggies, I just don't > find it that much fun. > > So, any tips? Should I be looking at better kites? If so, which ones? > I think the ones I have are great, but what do I know? > Well, I'd say you had a fine set of kites. I don't know the Scorpion personally, but I've seen good fliers doing good stuff with them. You can *always* find something more expensive that'll do *something* better than what you've got, but if you're happy right now I'd concentrate on 'pushing the envelope' until you're trying things that *the kite* ( as opposed to your skills ! ) isn't up to. I've had an Impulse - the fastest thing I've ever seen at the end of a pair of lines, and enormous pull for a 3/4 kite, but far too fast for the sort of flying I enjoy most and a serious PITA to launch. I've got a couple of 10ft flexis that I get out when I want to confront the elements physically aswell as mentally - more my sort of speed than the 6ft !:). -- Mark de Roussier ************************************ A nice man is a man of nasty ideas. Jonathon Swift. ************************************ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Sun, 20 Nov 1994 15:17:13 -1000 From: bliss@bliss.demon.co.uk (bforest/london) Message-Id: Organization: Subwoofer Subject: Re: Newbie Flexi Question.. Mark de Roussier (mark@murder.demon.co.uk) wrote: : In article bliss@bliss.demon.co.uk (bforest/london) writes: : > Hallo.. : I've had an Impulse - the fastest thing I've ever seen at the end of a pair of lines, and enormous pull for a 3/4 kite, but far : too fast for the sort of flying I enjoy most and a serious PITA to launch. : I've got a couple of 10ft flexis that I get out when I want to confront the : elements physically aswell as mentally - more my sort of speed than the 6ft : !:). Thanks for answering! I agree with you about the Impulse. It pulls like hell. I had it up in 25-30mph this morning on 135kg lines and it almost pulled me over! The Scorpion looked nervous and was flexing a lot, but the Impulse loved it. The Scorpion pulls far far less than the Impulse. I thought it was me..the thing is hard to launch. Two tries and I can get it tho.. Tell me, I dont use my Flexi much, cause it just pulls, and isnt too graceful. What am I doing wrong? Everyone raves about them, whats the point of just having your arms yanked out of their sockets? I cant imagine what you could do with 2 10 footers stacked, other than buggies or flying. What do you do with them? I appreciate the help! bruce.. bforest@bliss.demon.co.uk = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Mon, 21 Nov 1994 02:56:17 -1000 From: bergbavd@im.tno.nl (Bart van den Berg) Message-Id: Organization: TNO Subject: Re: Newbie Flexi Question.. In article bliss@bliss.demon.co.uk (bforest/london) writes: >From: bliss@bliss.demon.co.uk (bforest/london) >Subject: Newbie Flexi Question.. >Date: Sun, 20 Nov 1994 00:15:32 +0000 >Hallo.. >Im a relative newby to performance kites. I live in windy, flat (jealous?) >Cambridgeshire, and I'm flying a Flexi 6 (pulls like hell but not much else) >and a Flexi Impulse (love it love it) and a Flexi Scorpion. (graceful and nice). >Am I flying decent kites? Yes you do. >I tend to fly the Scorpion in low winds up to 20mph >or so, and the Impulse in anything higher, sometimes with 135kg test line. I >like the Flexifoil at the beach, but until I get into buggies, I just don't >find it that much fun. If it's speed you're looking for, try a Speedwing. Maybe someone else will suggest an other kite, but I find these very entertaining in speed and pull. >So, any tips? Should I be looking at better kites? If so, which ones? >I think the ones I have are great, but what do I know? >Muchas gracias You're welcome. Bart = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Mon, 21 Nov 1994 15:13:51 -1000 From: mark@murder.demon.co.uk (Mark de Roussier) Message-Id: <785492031snx@murder.demon.co.uk> Organization: damage Subject: Re: Newbie Flexi Question.. In article bliss@bliss.demon.co.uk (bforest/london) writes: > [stuff deleted...] > > Tell me, I dont use my Flexi much, cause it just pulls, and isnt too graceful. What am > I doing wrong? Everyone raves about them, whats the point of just having your arms yanked > out of their sockets? I cant imagine what you could do with 2 10 footers stacked, other > than buggies or flying. What do you do with them? > You're not doing anything wrong - but if its tricks, figures, and general technical flying that turns you on, the flexi is not the kite to do it with. There *is* skill involved in flying them, and I actually think they are more 'graceful' ( speed, grace and power are not mutually exclusive to my mind, and the shape of the kite itself is largely immaterial, its the dynamics that count ) than many radical deltas, but when you fly them you have to appreciate that the challenge is 'controlling the power' not 'flying the kite'. This is the critical difference in ethos between the power kiter and the technical kiter - the power kiter doesn't want a kite that demands finesse just to steer straight, but needs one that demands physical involvement and high concentration in order not to 'lose it', with the damage to body and sail which that might entail ! The speed and power of the flexi are almost ideal in this respect. For my power kiting purposes, two ten footers is enough to take me to that 'edge', where I feel that I'm sufficiently in control to still have fun. Needless to say, this point varies enormously for different people. -- Mark de Roussier ************************************ A nice man is a man of nasty ideas. Jonathon Swift. ************************************ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Mon, 21 Nov 1994 13:50:43 -1000 From: esinger@extremeone.win.net (Eric Douglas Singer) Message-Id: <63@extremeone.win.net> Subject: Re: Newbie Flexi Question.. [Stuff Deleted] >You need to learn to fly a Flexifoil. I strongly recommend spending the >money for an UltraFlex spar for your Stacker and learn to fly it as an >ultralight. The Flexifoil is a finesse kite when it's not trying to yank >your arms out. They're tremendous fun, even in winds down to 1-2mph. With >practice, you can do tipstands, pseudo-axels, the "flexi flip" (basically, >the kite does a somersault between its lines), skates, and so on and so >forth. [Stuff Deleted] >Jeff Hey Jeff, I just (in the last month and a half) bought two Flexi stackers with ultraflex spars. I'm interested in the stunts you are discribing and how to perform them, especially the pseudo-axels, tip stand and the skates. I've so far only mastered the Flexi-Float and have not tried the Flexi-flip yet. thanks, Eric Singer = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Mon, 21 Nov 1994 15:57:47 -1000 From: bliss@bliss.demon.co.uk (bforest/london) Message-Id: Organization: Subwoofer Subject: Re: Newbie Flexi Question.. : For my power kiting purposes, two ten footers is enough to take me to that : 'edge', where I feel that I'm sufficiently in control to still have fun. : Needless to say, this point varies enormously for different people. Ok ya sold me. Im giving my 6' to a friend, and getting a 10 footer tomorrow. Ill let you know what happens! Thanks!! bruce bforest@bliss.demon.co.uk = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Wed, 23 Nov 1994 13:26:13 -1000 From: bliss@bliss.demon.co.uk (bforest/london) Message-Id: Organization: Subwoofer Subject: Re: Newbie Flexi Question.. : Ok ya sold me. Im giving my 6' to a friend, and getting a 10 footer : tomorrow. Ill let you know what happens! Got the 10'. Big difference. Nice and powerful, but smooth. A lot nicer than the Stacker alone I think. Methinks another 10' and Ill be well into foils. Thanks for the tip! bruce = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =