From: mneuhaus@teleport.com (Mark Neuhaus) Subject: Book Review: "Sport Kite Magic!" Date: Mon, 20 May 1996 23:35:27 -1000 Organization: Teleport - Portland's Public Access (503) 220-1016 Message-ID: REVIEW: "Sport Kite Magic!" DISCLAIMER: I am in no way connected with David Gomberg, other than knowing him through a local kite club, and receive no financial benefit from him or his company. This review was written because I think others will be interest ed in this book. ------ Last summer I bought a cheap, plastic stunt kite to use at the beach when relatives with kids were visiting. Little did I know how addictive that would be. I came home and went right to the library and took out every kite book I could find. One of them, "Stunt Kites!" by David Gomberg, was exactly what I needed to explain why my kite wasn't behaving like other ones at the beach. Now, after many hours of playing on the beach and at my local schoolyard, I feel I am ready to learn some precision moves and techniques. Guess what? Another book by David, "Sport Kite Magic!", fresh off the press, is again exactly what I needed. This book isn't just for the novice. David reviews basic stunt kiteflying, but then explains the finer points that are needed for performance flying. It appears to be directed at those of us who can reasonably control our kite and wish to master more intricate moves. It explains in detail how to fly over 30 precision moves with the intent of making one a better flyer for fun or for competition. Even though he shows the move with a diagram from the rule book, David has another drawing that breaks the move into its parts. And then he has a great way of explaining how to fly it, often warning one what NOT to do. Coming from an event judge, these tips are going to come in handy if I ever get to competing. Among these moves are the introductory ones such as the Square and the Wedge, but also included are some of the “hotter” tricks such as the Axel, Helicopter, Side Slide, and the Turtle. For each move in the book David has a hands diagram, illustrating the hand movements that one needs to do to control the kite. Included is a chapter of three choreographed ballets for the individual. In the first chapter of the book, David had the flyer practice several techniques, and for his first ballet, he combines these tricks to produce a pleasing routine to the song "California Girls". The other two are to music with different moods, but all three provide plenty of action for pleasing a crowd. Each of the ballets is broken down into individual maneuvers or segments, with notes on using the words in the music to turn. The one thing missing, of course, is the tape cassette with the music. :-) There is also a chapter on tuning the kite for precision flying. Even if one has flown his kite successfully with the factory bridle settings, knowing what to do for the varying wind conditions of the competition field is a must. For those times when the wind is nearly non-existent, David explains a handful of maneuvers to take advantage of the light winds. And when the wind is gone completely, or you wish to fly indoors, there is a chapter just for this. Now I just gotta find an empty hangar or gymnasium. All in all, this is a great teaching guide, and even though I sometimes feel like the dude in the cartoons by Melinda Ellis, which introduce each chapter, I feel much more prepared to go out on the field and try my hand at these routines. That is, if it ever stops raining. In the meantime, I will study, study, study. The price for all this? Just $13.95, American. For the flyer who has had his share of figure eights and wishes to move on to something more challenging, this book is for you. Even if you don't have an interest in competition, performing these tricks will make you feel good and will stop many an observer on the flying field to watch you. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = From: Simo Salanne Subject: Re: Book Review: "Sport Kite Magic!" Date: Thu, 23 May 1996 10:30:03 -1000 Organization: Scored Theatre And Creative Kiting Message-ID: <31A4CACB.5DF5@csc.fi> Mark Neuhaus wrote: > > REVIEW: "Sport Kite Magic!" > > DISCLAIMER: I am in no way connected with David Gomberg, other than knowing > him through a local kite club, and receive no financial benefit from him or > his company. This review was written because I think others will be interest > ed in this book. Any URLs to have a look at stuff? Simo -- Simo.Salanne@csc.fi STACK Finland & STARRC Chair ====================================================================== PGP public key on my home page http://www.kfs.org/kites/simo/simo.html = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = From: mneuhaus@teleport.com (Mark Neuhaus) Subject: Re: Book Review: "Sport Kite Magic!" Date: Sun, 26 May 1996 11:20:42 -1000 Organization: Teleport - Portland's Public Access (503) 220-1016 Message-ID: Hi Simo, >Mark Neuhaus wrote: >> >> REVIEW: "Sport Kite Magic!" >> >> DISCLAIMER: I am in no way connected with David Gomberg, other than knowing >> him through a local kite club, and receive no financial benefit from him or >> his company. This review was written because I think others will be interest >> ed in this book. >Any URLs to have a look at stuff? That would be David's call as to putting something up on the web. My understanding is that he has email access but not browsing capabilities at this time. Whether he will ask someone else to put something on a page, I can't say. Sorry. Take care, Mark = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =