Venture Scouts : Programme Ideas

Power Kiting

For centuries the only type of kite you could get was a single string kite, what you would

recognize today as a diamond or box kite, that simply went up and stayed there. If your

memories of kite flying are tangled lines, kites in trees and running backwards trying hopelessly to get your kite into the air, then you are in for a big surprise. Kite flying has come a long way over the last 20 years and many are now high tech, high performance machines

The Beginning of an Adventure

It is said that the kite was the second toy ever invented by humankind. So you can argue that the enjoyment of kites is now deeply embedded in the human psyche. You can also argue that, until recently, kites had kept the some basic design and flying qualities they were first made with. In spite of this few children or adults could resist the magic feel of the tugging line or the idea that they could control this flying object.

Mankind has been obsessed with the idea of flying for thousands of years. The kite represented one way he could physically attach himself to the concept of flying. It was inevitable that one day kites would drag themselves into the modern age and that?s what has happened to stunt/sport kites particularly. The fun and excitement that comes from a stunt kite is the same as that you get from bikes, skateboards, roller blades and snowboards. Once you?ve got the kite you can let rip with your imagination and find enjoyment in your toy far beyond what may, at first, appear to be possible.

Power kiting uses a large kite or high winds to produce a load big enough to move the flyer. Most of the variants of power kiting— especially the popular ones— are some type of sailing. All of the sailing forms use a large kite or a stack of kites as the power source for some vehicle however large or small. The kite is always steerable so that the flier can position it in the sky similar to the way a sailor trims a sail. The pilot can sail the craft upwind downwind or across the wind just like a conventional sail boat. However the kite allows techniques and speed not possible in any conventional sail boat.

Kite dragging and sand skiing use the kite to move the flyer downwind. Kite jumping uses the kite to lift the flyer off the ground and cushion the return to the ground. Man lifting suspends the flyer off the ground.

Activities

The following are all examples of Power kiting activities where kites are used as the traction system:

Stacking

Jumping

Scudding

Body Surfing

Buggying

Kite Surfing

Jumping

Jumping can be done using either two line or four line kites. Use the power of the kite(s) to lift you off the ground both upwards and forwards. This is best done on the beach as the sand provides you with a soft landing.

Scudding

Scudding is the art of skidding along the ground on your feet. You can use either a two or four line kite for this but a four line kite will provide you with smoother and more constant power. The longer you can keep the kite in the Power zone, the further you will skid. The stronger the wind, the faster you will travel.

Body Surfing

Stand in the sea with the water around waist height with the kite flying directly above your head. Bring the kite down in to the Power zone and lean forward at the same time. Keep the kite flying in the Power zone and you will be pulled forward through the water. You may find that at times you are pulled right out of the water by the power of the kite, considering the strength of the wind.

Both Body Surfing and Scudding are excellent ways to discover the kite power before you move on to activities such as buggying

Kite Buggying

Kite buggying is probably the most popular form of power kiting. It is easy to learn, safe, fun, and there is good gear available commercially. When buggying, the buggy pilot sits in a small, light vehicle while flying a kite that pulls the pilot and buggy. The seat is usually low to the ground and the wheels are no more than an arm?s reach away. The pilot steers the buggy with pegs attached to the front forks. For power the pilot flies a steerable kite. The kite pulls the pilot and buggy much as a sail pulls a sailboat. The buggy can go upwind, downwind or across the wind at speeds from 5 mph (8 kph) to 50 mph (80 kph) or higher.

Kite buggies are quite manueverable and easily controlled. The pilot can steer a course between objects, accelerate or decelerate at will and easily stop the buggy. The buggy can safely approach people and even turn circles around them. Similarly, the kite is easily steered around trees, sand dunes and other kites. Aside from the obvious need for a kite buggy and a kite, kite buggying requires only a large, open space and a some wind. The most popular surfaces are beaches as they provide some of the best and broadest rolling surfaces, but a mown field can be quite fun and is a common choice

Where to buy kites in Ireland

These are some of the places where you?d get good kites:

WIND & WAVE, MONKSTOWN, DUBLIN

THE OUTDOOR STORES LTD, DUN LAOGHAIRE, DUBLIN TEL: 01-2844108

THE OUTDOOR STORES LTD, DUNDRUM SHOPPING CENTRE, DUNDRUM, DUBLIN 14

TEL: 01- 2961911

THE OUTDOOR STORES LTD , THE BOULEVARD, BRAY, CO WICKLOW, TEL: 01- 2828288

RIVER DEEP MOUNTAIN HIGH, RUTLAND ST., CO. LIMERICK

Flexifoil agent - Power Kites and Stackers United agencies . Balbriggan (01)8394182

Web - www.thekitewarehouse.cjb.net

Venture Scouts : Programme Ideas

In this Section

Power Kiting

The Beginning of an Adventure

Activities

Where to buy kites in Ireland