Novice Class 

By Phil Napier

Welcome back to Novice Class. Since class was dismissed last issue….. we have to make up some work. This issue I want to review some lessons learned while at the AKA Nationals, it's the unexpected that sometimes can make for a difficult time at a kite competition. Some of these lessons are just basics, but you can't say that no one ever told you if you attend novice class. This issue I want to discuss basic trickery. Everyone wants to know how to do some tricks, so I'm going to add my 2 cents worth. One thing that I have discovered is that it's the description of "how it feels" that is often very helpful to me when trying to learn a new trick, so I will attempt to describe the "feeling" and timing of a few basic axel type moves.

BE PREPARED! (continued)

While attending the 1999 AKA Nationals in Muncie, Indiana, there were a few things that I learned that I must pass on to you. Item #1 is KNOW THE RULES! In this changing kiting world where some events take place in a "non standard" fashion, you are obligated to have read the rule book and know how things SHOULD be taking place. Know your obligations, rights, and responsibilities as a competitor. For example, Novice Precision is listed as a Standard Precision event in the AKA and International Rule book, if you attend events where you fly fewer than 3 compulsory figures or fly league style precision as a novice…… you should know that is not the way it is outlined in the rule book and if you attend an AKA convention, things will be run by the rule book, new international rules version! 

Another example is the way league style precision is now flown. Technically, you should be calling both "IN" and "OUT" after each figure with an "IN" at the beginning of the routine and an "OUT" at the end of the routine - 5 IN's and 5 OUT's. Some event organizers just are not getting the message. Hopefully, this will change this year, but be prepared to deal with the new rules or old interpretation of them and check with the event organizers and Head Judges FIRST! The International Rules which have been adopted by the AKA are available from links on the AKA web site as well as STACK and AJSKA. It is my understanding that the new international rules have been adopted and approved as part of the AKA International Sport Kite Competition Rules 4th edition…. What this technically means is that 4th edition AKA Rule Book from 1996 has adopted all of the new rules. What this practically means is the you must go to the AKA Web Site to download or print out the complete International Rules book. There was an AKA printing of the new International Rules in 1998, but the latest, most complete version is on the various web sites. 

BASIC TRICKERY

OK…. I've had a tendency in class to discuss things that only might be important to competitors or potential competitors. Many readers have reminded me that not everyone competes and many folks just want a little help on the basics of tricks. Your request will be honored here in novice class.

First of all, let's get a few things up front…. I'm not making any claims to being a master instructor, super kiter, trickmeister, etc…..I like to fly kites…. And to me, flying tricks is just part of the package. We'll not cover all in this session, but hopefully these hints will be the ones that allow that axel to happen for you.

I know I sound like a broken record, but RUN don't walk to your nearest kite store and purchase the Prism Way to Fly, Advanced way to Fly or the Dodd Gross Series of Flight School Videos. These things are basic components to every kite geek's evening at home and you should have them all. Another thing to do is to bookmark and visit Peter Peter's Web Site at http://www.win.tue.nl/~pp/kites/ I cannot say enough great things about this web site. It has a wonderful section on tricks which is VERY Helpful. One more thing that is very important, remember most trick descriptions are for a "standard" kite in it's ideal wind conditions for tricking. UL kites are different, they usually require much more gentle hand movements and a bigger release with longer wait time. What do I mean by this??? Be more gentle with the kites during tricks and let the kite lines go VERY Slack and just wait for the kite to do it's thing. Patience with the kite is something that will be rewarded in light wind conditions….How do you let the lines go slack? Walk forward. Extend your arms and hands. The Release and slack in the lines is critical to many tricks… This is why you will sometimes hear them referred to as SLACK LINE MANEUVERS.

Let's review:

Some basic terms you will hear when folks are discussing slack line maneuvers are push, pop, release, stall.

Push

The push refers to pushing forward. Usually it means to extend one or both arms forward to stall the kite or stall just one wing of the kite. But sometimes for the push to work effectively, you must be moving forward.

Example: The Half Axel. One way to describe the hand/body movements of the half axel are as follows:

Fly horizontally to the left or right edge of the window. When you feel the kite slowing down (approaching the edge and getting ready to stall out). Push the hand in charge of the line connected to the top wing. Immediately after the quick push, pop the same hand and immediately release (push) both hands giving the kite plenty of slack and time to half axel. Once the kite has rotated 180 degrees, immediately pull both lines to take up the slack and begin flying in the other direction.

In higher winds or in the center of the window you may have to be moving your body forward before the first push. You might have to be moving forward during the entire process if the winds are high enough or you want to do repeated half axels (a cascade). So remember the push is many times accompanied by moving your body forward as well. Sometimes it's as simple as just leaning forward… other times it requires you to RUN.

Pop

The pop is usually described as a quick tug on one line. What exactly is a quick tug. Well, it usually does not require a HUGE amount of arm motion. Imaging cracking a whip or swatting a fly. Both are very quick actions with an abrupt stopping point. I really like the whip comparison. However, you must remember that it's NOT the big windup of a whip. Imagine you only have a 2-3 foot whip and really only need wrist movements to crack the whip. Many times the pop only requires the amount of movement you have in your wrist. Usually a distance of 5-7 inches. Usually it's the RELEASE (push) after the pop that is critical.

Example: The Axel. One way to describe the movements required for a basic axel are as follows: Stall the kite. (see section below on stalling). Once the kite is stalled with the wing tips parallel to the ground, you are ready for the axel! One thing you'll probably notice when you are learning to stall, the stalls are not stable for very long. Eventually the kite starts to bobble and the wing tips are moving up and down while you are running forward to hold the stall. This is something to take advantage of when learning to axel. While the kite is stalled, which ever wing is rising (moving away from the ground) is the hand we will initiate the push-pop for the axel. (I want to point this out to you because it seems to help… I do want to note that this is not the best way do an axel, but it usually gets your first one accomplished.

 Technically, it's not the best way to think of it - the rising wing isn't stalled out completely - it has more air in the sail and wants to fly. You can focus on stable stalls later and ignore this hint! I want you to do an axel and this seems to help some people.) Whichever wing is rising, you want to push that hand, start walking forward, then give the same hand a quick pop (only enough to quickly snap tension back on that line), throw your other hand forward (pushing it) and continue walking forward. Note that these things happen in VERY rapid succession, almost at the same time…. It's the walking forward and the release where most folks don't get it. You have to release and walk/lean forward to allow the lines to go slack. Once the kite has rotated 360 degrees, pull back on both lines (tension) and fly away.

Usually the axel goes wrong for many people in one of two ways. They don't have the kite stalled out enough to start the axel. Solution, walking/running forward. Secondly, they pop too aggressively. You will usually see your kite on it's back if you pop too aggressively, ending up in a turtle or backflip. Remember it's that release that is CRITICAL, the pops and yanks and tugs on the line to not need to be as aggressive as they sometimes look when watching other folks do these tricks.

Stall

When the kite is basically void of air. How's that for a description eh? You can't feel the kite at the end of your lines. Everyone who is learning to fly has experienced the kite being stalled and might not have recognized it…. They just know that if they don't walk back or raise their arms higher or walk backwards waving their arms, the kite will drop out of the sky. Usually when those things are done by the flier… the kite does eventually drop out of the sky. It's the feeling of flying a kite which is too heavy for the given wind conditions. You will see fliers "pumping" the kite (extending their arms and bringing them back quickly). This gives the kite some needed air and acceleration to fly… however, when you extend your arms for the next pumping action, the kite is stalled again. Try to avoid doing this in light winds, it is better to maintain constant tension on the lines and move your hands and arms only enough to turn or stall the kite. OK, so how do you stall the kite? Here are some suggestions and remember to visit the the web site mentioned earlier in this article.

How do you stall your kite? Remember it's easier to learn how to stall your kite on the left or right edge of the window. Fly to one of the edges. Pop the top wing (this causes it to start dropping), Then gently pop the bottom wing to cause the kite to level out parallel with the ground. These pop pop movements take place VERY quickly. See the prism Advanced way to fly Video for the BEST description of the Axel. After the second pop, release (push) both hands and the kite is stalled. Sometimes you must be walking forward during the entire pop pop process of the stall and running forward afterward to maintain the stall.

Isn't this almost the same thing I do when I land my kite? Assuming you're not doing a spin landing and just doing the basic fly to an edge and land the kite on both wingtips… Yes it is very similar. Remember, you sometimes have to walk forward to land your kite!

How do you stabilize the stall? The wing that is dropping toward the ground gets a gentle pop. This gives it just a little more air to rise. It took me the longest time to get this concept. For some reason it works better than releasing the wing that is apparently rising. Try it.

How do you maintain the stall for an extended period of time? Walk/Running forward and doing the stabilizing technique described above (all at the same time).

And Finally….

What is the lesson of the day folks??? Know the rulebook (even if it is ignored by others), and know where to get the latest version of it!!!!! Trickery often requires body movement and hand movement simultaneously. Once you jump through that hoop and realize that you must move your body during slack line maneuvers, you have stepped through another door which will open up more "tricks" to you. We'll talk about another slack line maneuver next time.