From: Bushell@mindlink.bc.ca (Brad Bushell)
Newsgroups: rec.kites
Subject: Re: axels
Date: Tue, 25 Oct 94 23:09:48 -0800
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada

While there are some true axel masters on-line, I'm going to try to respond
to Mr. "I can't do an axel yet" Peters.

Step one:  Your right, the axel does begin with a stall.  When learning it
is best to position the kite on the edge of the wind window, say 10-15 feet
above the ground.

Step two:  The ready position.  It is not enough to just be stalled out,
before initiating you axel hand movements you must get the kite in the
ready position.  The ready position is not a horizontal (flat) stall, you
must position the wing tips correctly.  If you intend on axelling counter
clockwise then the Right wing tip must be a little higher (nose of kite is
pointing at 11 o'clock).  With the kite tilted this way you are all set for
the next step, the yank of the Right hand.

Step three:  The yank.  With the kite stalled and tilted to 11 o'clock you
start the axel by a strong, quick pull of your right hand. I tend to pull
my hand across my my chest toward my left sholder, but a friend of mine who
tried this gave himself a fat lip.  Dustin Tacket does his axels with his
hands low, his right hand ending up behind his right hip.

Step Four: Give 'er some slack.  Almost simultaneous with the yank is the
slack of the left hand.  Punch it out away from you, and if the wind is
enough, take a step forward.  A tight left line will stop the rotation of
the kite after a quarter turn (just as you described), bummer.

Step Five:  Be patient.  With the kite now rotating you've got to be
patient, let it rotate. Sudden hand movement during the rotation phase will
take up the slack and kill your kite's rotational monentum.

Step Six: Pick you exit.  Like a good party guest you have to learn the
best time to exit.  Watch the kite carefully, there is a point where it
just is not going to rotate any more. As it slows to this point get ready
to pull out.  When you get good the exit will be by positioning the kite
back into a controlled stall.  But to start with, just get the kite going
again.  In many instances the axel looks best when it is done as a three
quater rotation with the exit being a horizontal ground pass back to the
centre of the wind window.

Good luck, hope this helps.

Brad Bushell
Vancouver BC