Advance stunt kite tricks and tips
There are hundreds of tricks you can do with kites and kiting equipment such as buggies. Needless to say, the 'how do I?' question features highly among our customers, especially those getting into trick kite flying. This page is aimed at getting you started on some dual line stunt kite tricks.All of the following tricks assume that you have a basic knowledge of flying and are fairly competent. It also helps immensely if you have the right equipment (i.e. a six foot plus stunt kite) and environment (i.e. a light wind). Please note that this information is very basic and only designed as a rough guide. We carry many books DVDs that will make the process of learning much easier and faster. It is also worth mentioning that there is no substitute to getting out to kite festivals and competitions to see tricks done first hand and talk to other fliers. Information provided by Giles Smith.
Stunt Kite Tricks
This is a basic list, but if you master all these combining them with other moves you are a very competent flier. All this is much easier in a very light wind (so the kite stalls easily), with a six foot plus wing span kite (preferably designed for tricks (this will stall and flip easily)) and if you know how to stall a kite. You see the stall is pretty important!
Axle -
Make sure you have a suitable kite, don't try to learn with something not designed for tricks (most modern kites are) although you can axle every kite. Some of the best kites to learn with are the Benson: Box of Tricks (as featured in our online catalogue). The secret to an axle is that it is a controlled stall; the stall being the most important factor, to make learning easy, the kite has to be 100% stalled. To do this the best thing to do is to go out in such a light wind that your kite is hardly flying. If you are right handed take the kite to the right hand side of the wind window (and vice versa for left handed people) turn it slowly until the nose is pointing about 10 degrees past straight up towards the centre of the wind window. Make the turn so slowly and if there is hardly any wind the kite will want to stall at that point. When the kite is in 10 degrees past straight up position, give the right hand side of the kite (your right hand) a sharp tug to rotate the kite (if you are learning this it is easiest across your body). Since the kite is rotating, you need to give the lines some slack with your left hand. The best thing to do is to step forwards (both lines should be slack). When the kite has finished it's flat rotation, step and pull your hands back to recover, you should have a twist in your line. Remember, right kite, low wind, practice stalls, lines slack - it is a 'spin-float' move.
Coin toss -
A coin toss is an axle from tip to tip on the ground. Really light wind, always coin toss towards the centre of the wind. First learn how to do a tip stand, then whilst in a tip stand lean the kite towards you and as it is just about to fall execute an axle. Do not forget to move forwards a little to slow the axle down to make landing it on the other tip easier.
Flat spin -
As with axles some kites are much easier to learn on, i.e. the Benson Gemini. Again fairly light, but not zero wind. Dive the kite just to the side of the wind window that you are aiming to spin away from and point the nose only slightly towards it. Near the end of your dive pull back hard to accelerate the kite then throw your hands forwards stopping one hand to cause the kite to spin - walk forwards. If you can only manage 180 degrees, do not worry you are half way there, try a harder kill (the way you stop the kite). Please note all different kites require different kills (harder or softer), you just have to experiment.
<back to top of page>...