=============================================================================== I felt sad to read John Gabby's account of how he injured himself during the maiden flight of his two 10' flexifoils. Somehow, I have managed to endure building up from a single 10' flexi, through to a stack of 6 of the beasts, then gaining 3 Peels with sizes up to 10m^2, and a converted paraglider for good measure, without breaking any bones, but I am very aware when reading about John that there, but by the grace, go I. I would like to offer some hints and tips that I have picked up on the way in the hope that fewer AKA members will suffer John's fate. Please note that I am not suggesting that John was being intentionaly reckless or stupid - an aprenticeship with Bob Childs is bound to have given him respect for the power that kites can wield. I'll start by picking up on some clues from his letter: >I purchased 2 10' Flexifoils. This was the start of his trouble. I've flown stacks of 10' Flexifoils numbering between 1 and a dozen or so and in my experience 2 10's in a strong wind is the most dangerous! With one, you can usually hold your ground. With 2, you tend to dig in, lean back and strain until the kites are in the middle of the window when finaly they overpower you, catapulting you at high speed and low angle, to hit the ground faster than you can run. With bigger stacks (I often fly 6 10's), things happen more slowly and the kite overpowers you while it is still moving quite slowly, nearer the edge of the window, you are taken for a slide rather yanked into the air and the slower speed gives you more time to react. While sliding with a large stack, you will find that you are unable to pull the kites hard enough to make them go fast. >A couple of lengths of 300lb Spectra. This is ample. No matter how big the kite, you don't need more than that. I fly everything mentioned above regularly on 275lb Spectra. If you need more than that - you're doing something wrong, because you have too much strain on your body. [Buggiers on the other hand may want to use more sometimes to help them survive wrapping round other people's lines, just like team fliers often choose over-rated lines to cope with wrapping] >Some padded handles. These are a big no-no for power kite flying. They have 2 main disadvantages: 1) Regardless of the padding, they exert a crushing force on your wrist. Our president (Gomberg, not Clinton!) does a good description of how your wrist gets mangled on page 72 of his book "Stunt Kites". 2) It can take a whole second to get out of them. You need to be able to let go very quickly if necessary. If the kite is about to lift you off the ground and you'd rather decline the offer, you've got to let go while you've still got your feet on terra-firma. If you are already off the ground, it's too late to let go - hang on because the kite will help cushion your fall. I would reccommend using: 1) Sky Claws or similar. These are comfortable and easy to let go of. You may want to replace the line with something stronger which is tied in such a way that it can't pull through the hole. 2) Peter Lynn dead-man release handles. These are designed so that when you let go of the handle, the handle lets go of the line, allowing you to use a backstrap for more comfort. I do not recommend using any other type of harness - mere quick-release is simply not quick enough. Note that letting go of the kite is an important skill which must be learned - many people will let the kite drag them through hell and high water without the thought of letting go ever crossing their mind. Recognise this instinct and prepare yourself to deal with it. Never fly a kite that you arn't prepared to loose. >while trying to brace myself against the horrendous pull This was a mistake. The kite is going to win. With a small kite, the kite can't pull any harder than you can, but with a serious power kite, the limit is determined by the flier, not the kite. If you provide a firm footing, the kite will just go faster, building up more power until it breaks your foot(ing). The secret to flying very large stacks is to release the power by safely sliding forward. With practice, I can balance readily and slide forward for large distances on my feet, but it is much easier just to lean back and slide on your bum. Check out your local army surplus store for hardwearing trousers which are cheap enough to be disposable. Whilst some people advise stout boots for protection, I prefer a worn pair of trainers for reduced traction. If you are doubting that the pull is fully within the control of the flier, let me point out that I have flown and fully stunted a stack of 6 10' flexifoils in (guess) 12mph wind on 100' of mere 45lb Spriderline just to prove the point. Some other points: Don't use an anchor. Not ever. It is absolutely not safe. Fliers have been killed and injured finding this out. If you think that you know better, feel free to send me the details of your scheme and I'll describe the different ways that it can mutilate you, and then explain again why it simply isn't necessary. Kite jumping is for morons. If you want to see how hard you can strain before being catapulted forward, please use a bungee chord, so that it isn't addociated with kite flying. If you want to go hanggliding, buy a hanglider. If you want to find out what power kiting is really all about, try a buggy, or rollerblades, or snow skis, or water skis, or grass skis, or wheels of doom, or ice skates, or an ice buggy, or a snow buggy, or my favorite: a kite sailer. Handling the power is only half the story - harnessing it for kite traction is where the action is! Andrew