Ask The Experts Archive

"Ask The Experts" is a regular feature in our monthly eNewsletter that poses a question asked by a "real" Into The Wind customer to our panel of kite gurus. Many of the answers are provided by kite designers, some who work independently and others who are employed by larger kite manufacturers. Other responses come from well-known and respected fliers and admired kitemaking enthusiasts. This page is an archive of Questions and Answers that have been included in previous eNewsletters.



9/10/08
Q: What's a wind tamer? When should I use it? How will it affect the performance of my kite?

3/04/08
Q: I want to fly my kite off of my boat. Which kite do you recommend? Will the speed of the boat plus the wind put too much stress on the kite? Should I use heavier line?

12/05/07
Q: Who introduced you to kiting and/or was most influential in encouraging you to pursue it as a pastime, career or lifestyle?

10/30/07
Q: In your opinion, which kite or kite-related innovation has had the most impact on the evolution of kiting?

8/30/07
Q: Just like an airplane, a bird or a bee, some kites have "wings" to help them fly. Besides wings, what are the other aerodynamic factors at work in kite design?

6/12/07
Q: My family will be having our big, annual barbeque on the 4th of July. This year I want to take a handful of kites so there's something for everyone to fly. What would you suggest?

5/24/07
Q: I've had to repair my kite several times over the years. Can I keep replacing spars and fittings or is it time to buy something new and put this in a garage sale?

5/07/07
Q: I'm not necessarily interested in setting a kite altitude record but I do want to fly a kite really high. Which kite would be the best choice?

4/12/07
Q: If you were happily stranded on a deserted island and could only have one kite with you, what would you choose and why?

8/29/06
Q: I've had a beginner stunt kite that was flown extensively for several years and then stored away. I have just pulled it out again so a friend can learn to fly. What maintenance might I need to perform and what should I check to make sure it's in flying condition? Does the line wear out? How can I tell?

8/02/06
Q: What is the best way to fly line laundry from my Flowform?

6/05/06
Q: Why do large kites fly better than small kites?

3/13/06
Q: I'm interested in entering some sport kite competitions. How do I know if I'm good enough and how do I get started?

1/12/06
Q: We asked our experts to "Sound off on Safety" for this eNewsletter. And this is what happened:

11/23/05
Q: I live in an area where the wind is very gusty. I'm trying to learn to do tricks with my 8-ft. stunter in these winds, with little luck. Are there any hints that would help me? What kite would be the best choice in these types of winds? Would I have better luck with a foil?

11/7/05
Q: Dad and nine year old going to Italy high up in the Alps for a week. Want to take a kite on the airplane. Must be packable (big suitcase), sturdy, easy to put together and durable. What would you suggest?

9/15/05
Q: I currently own a 9-ft delta single line kite. My question is: Is there a certain length to let the kite out? I believe mine comes with 100-ft. of line. Is it safe to go any higher? Would I have to go up to next stronger line?

12/30/04
Q: I am new to power kiting. I weigh 180-lb. Can you give me an idea of what kite to start with and what kind of pull I can expect from it? A good amount of pull is okay, but me flying, is not.

11/16/04
Q: What exactly does sail loading mean and why is it important? I was just curious and wanted to know.

10/8/04
Q: I have a lot of Delta stunters. Why would I want to get a foil if foils can't do tricks and I'm not "in" to heavy pulling kites? I usually don't break my kites either so durability is not an issue.

9/16/04
Q: Is the lift generated by a kite directly proportional to the size of the kite, or are there some smaller kites that have better lift than a larger kite? I was looking to get into kite jumping and was wondering what to look for in a kite.

6/23/04
Q: Where's your favorite place in the world to fly kites? Why?

5/20/04
Q: What's the best kite to fly at the beach?

3/8/04
Q: What's the new kite that you're flying, the new trick that you're doing? What aspect of kiteflying is new for you?

11/26/03
Q: I bought a fighter kite. I've tried to fly it in 8 mph winds twice. I just am not real sure what to do. I have the feeling that getting the bridle right is a must. Too much one way makes it touchy, the other way and you can't steer it. I know it has to do with tension, but does anyone know more than that?

10/9/03
Q: If anyone could offer me any advice on how to achieve a more consistent snap stall, I would appreciate it. I have great difficulty getting my kite to stall and I really want to be able to do axels and all those other great tricks, the key to which is a good stall.

9/17/03
Q: How can I make my wind decorations last longer

8/21/03
Q: Can someone recommend a good kite for kayaking? It should be able to work well in winds from 10-30 kts, pull about 400 lbs., and be easy to douse quickly in case of emergency.

7/22/03
Q: I have been flying stunt kites for a few years, and am interested in upgrading to four lines. Which kite would be best for me to learn on? Please let me know so I don't get in over my head.

6/5/03
Q: I'm a beginner and I have already accumulated four different lines. How do you keep track of the line strength that your kite should use and the strength of the line that you have on your handles? I can't eyeball the difference between 20#, 30# and 50# lines.

4/15/03
Q: Is there a natural progression or sequence of learning tricks? What are the first set of basic tricks/skills that one should learn?

3/28/03
Q: I just ordered a kite and was wondering... is kite fabric an important consideration? What are the advantages and disadvantages to ripstop sailcloth vs. polyester?

1/28/03
Q: I'm just a beginner. What line should I use for my stunt kite? Kevlar, Spectra, Blended Spectra, Dyneema or Dacron?

9/5/02
Q: What's the best way to make small repairs to the sail of my kite?

8/6/02
Q: I have a 5-ft. Rokkaku that is not a stable flier. The spars seem to be adjustable as well as the bridle. Can you give me pointers on how to fly this kite?

7/9/02
Q: I recently bought my first stunt kite. When I'm not flying it, it looks great hanging on my wall. But I'm worried that if it's always tensioned, it will become "looser" and less responsive over time. Is it best to store it disassembled when not in use?

6/12/02
Q: What is the optimal line length for learning stunts like stalls and axels?