I was able to get out with the kite on Saturday after SAR training. I went on Friday to try, but there wasn't enough wind and I struggled to get the kite to launch. The wind was better the following day and I was able to get the kite up in the air.
I felt like I got the hang of it pretty quickly and I managed to land the kite gracefully and relaunch without incident (on video). I could really feel the force of the kite when the wind picked up and I flew it down in the power zone, but I could see the need for a bigger kite just the same. Here's a quick video of the experience. It's not super exciting, so I added a cool Pearl Jam song, Low Light...record live in NYC. If you're a PJ fan, feel free to turn it up and sing along, I know I always do.
Very cool Randoginous One! I love watching kites slice through the air and flying them reminds me of flying model airplanes, except when they crash you don’t get to light them on fire and burn them.
Like skis, it helps to have a quiver, but is not totally necessary. As much as anything, kite flying is about finding good wind and although it was mellow where you were flying, it was probably piping up higher.
Now you need a ski trip to break those bad boys out on! There is nothing like raging across some vast open expanse at 30mph while effortlessly towing a heavy sled to put a smile on your face… especially if you are heading toward a tasty little coolie.
My dream trip is to Baffin Island Andrew. Inspired by your own adventure. Thinking about an early November ski trip to Orizaba in Mexico for now though. Hopefully pulling the trigger soon!
Thanks for all the kite info…bro! 😀
Baffin, Greenland, Alaska and Patagonia all have unlimited kite mountaineering potential. In exchage for a case of wine, I put this Baffin Island primer together a few years ago.
http://www.pawprince.com/Baffin_FAQ/BI_ski_primer.html
There is ENDLESS terrain to be explored up there and it’s the fastest I’ve ever gone on a kite – 42mph* behind a 2.3m NASA wing towing a 100 lb sled. Yeeehaw!
* My control bar is the same diameter as a bicycle handlebar, so I mount a GPS on it as a dashboard and it tracks highs, lows, average speed, etc..
I’m bug-eyed just reading about it.
Thanks ATA!
Steve, the kite is cool! All I can really add here is “get ’em”! (And the next time I see any smoke by Summit Park I’ll have an idea what it is).