Date: Thu, 3 Nov 1994 07:47:04 -1000 From: mrweasel@astro.ocis.temple.edu (Diana) Message-Id: <39b7mo$imq@cronkite.ocis.temple.edu> Organization: Temple University, Academic Computer Services Subject: Flexi Flop What a day! Had my first kite injury, but I lived to tell. Took out my 8 foot Flexi in 35 mph winds (I'm 5'8", 105 lbs.). Had it under control for awhile, but came across the window in a gust that flung me right off a cliff. Knocked myself out cold! Well, apparently, I did a flip with a half twist, which the judges scored me relatively high. 8> This is me, now with a little more respect for the wind! -- Diana Strauss __ ___ __ __ __ / |/ /____ | | / /__ ___ ___________ / / @astro.ocis.temple.edu / /|_/ / ___/ | | /| / / _ \/ __` / ____/ _ \/ / / / / / / __ | |/ |/ / __/ /_/ (___ ) __/ /___ yipes@aol.com /_/ /_/_/ /_/ |__/|__/\___/\__,_/_____/\___/_____/ distrauss@delphi.com Maturity -- the wisdom to know when to grovel. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Fri, 4 Nov 1994 04:15:40 -1000 From: andrewh@phoenix.harvard.edu (Andrew Hawken) Message-Id: <39dfmc$h5v@beta.qmw.ac.uk> Organization: Queen Mary & Westfield College, London, UK Subject: Re: Flexi Flop Diana (mrweasel@astro.ocis.temple.edu) wrote: : Took out my 8 foot Flexi in 35 mph winds (I'm 5'8", 105 lbs.). Had it : under control for awhile, but came across the window in a gust that flung : me right off a cliff. Knocked myself out cold! Well, apparently, I did Glad you are OK. Just out of curiosity, were you using handles or wrist straps ? I know from experince, that even using handles reactions are just not quick enough to let go when you should, (ground 10-ft below me! how did that happen sort of feeling). You have to be mentally prepared to let go, and in the correct state of mind to risk loosing the kite. I am not sure why it is so hard, but it is! Andy -- ____________________________Andrew Hawken______________________________ "However many ways there may be of being alive, it is certain that there are vastly more ways of being dead" R Dawkins. Home : 0895 420110 QMW : 071 975 5542 AIIT : 0494 677045 Email : A.Hawken@QMW.AC.UK = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Fri, 4 Nov 1994 11:24:42 -1000 From: zpmobley@TRIDENT.TEC.SC.US (CHAMP) Message-Id: <39e8qq$9kt@ns.sunbelt.net> Organization: Trident Technical College Subject: Re: Flexi Flop In article <39dfmc$h5v@beta.qmw.ac.uk>, andrewh@phoenix (Andrew Hawken) writes: >Diana (mrweasel@astro.ocis.temple.edu) wrote: >[snip] >to let go, and in the correct state of mind to risk loosing the kite. LOOSE THE KITE!?!?!? Oh my! I don't think so....try only letting go with one hand....if you have to let go with one, you can still retain the kite with the other and the wind will spill immediatly after you release the handle. Loose a kite...goodness Andy! ________________________________________________________________________________ Thomas C. Mobley "The above well reasoned and insightful opinion Trident Technical College is my own, and is not the opinion of Trident POB 118067 Technical College. Anyone who says different is Charleston SC 2943-8067 itching for a fight." ZPMOBLEY@TRIDENT.TEC.SC.US = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Fri, 4 Nov 1994 23:23:51 -1000 From: crowell@teleport.com (Carl Crowell) Message-Id: Organization: Kites By Carl Crowell Subject: Re: Flexi Flop zpmobley@TRIDENT.TEC.SC.US (CHAMP) writes: >>Diana (mrweasel@astro.ocis.temple.edu) wrote: >>to let go, and in the correct state of mind to risk loosing the kite. >LOOSE THE KITE!?!?!? Oh my! I don't think so....try only letting go with one >hand....if you have to let go with one, you can still retain the kite with >the other and the wind will spill immediatly after you release the handle. he he he ... that would be funny.... hold on to only one line of a dual line kite...try it sometine in high wind and you will find that you are better off dropping both lines. ___________________________________________________ email: crowell@teleport.com FTP: ftp.teleport.com/pub/users/crowell WWW: http://www.teleport.com/~crowell Kites By Carl Crowell - O.S.F.M. World Headquarters = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Fri, 11 Nov 1994 10:18:27 -1000 From: andrew@tug.com (Andrew Beattie) Message-Id: Organization: /usr/lib/news/organisation Subject: Re: Flexi Flop zpmobley@TRIDENT.TEC.SC.US writes: >andrewh@phoenix (Andrew Hawken) writes: >>[...] and in the correct state of mind to risk loosing the kite. >LOOSE THE KITE!?!?!? Oh my! I don't think so....try only letting go with one Yes. You might have spent months building your power kite or maybe it'll be months before you've paid off the debt, but until you are mentally prepared to loose it or trash it and then laugh it off, you're not yet ready to fly it. It is not instinctive to let go of the handle. You need to make a decision before you fly that you *will* let go rather than hurt yourself. With a Flexi, it depowers very quickly if you let go of one handle, but that decision takes *time*, which you might not have. If you see trouble coming, you have time to think about it and let go of one, but with a powerful stack, yanking you unexpectedly in the wrong direction, you need to let go *before* your feet leave the ground and I've never been able to react quick enough - either both handles slip from my hands immediately, or I go with it. Whatever you do, don't let go of *anything* once your feet are clear of the ground! Andrew -- You can FTP the kite FAQ's from ftp.hawaii.edu (directory /pub/rec/kites/faq) /-\ () >< () |\/| () >< () /-\ For sale: 10' Flexis with std & UF Spars, 10m Peel (I want the new reefers) What should I know? I can't even axel yet :-( = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Thu, 17 Nov 1994 07:34:00 -1000 From: Ian_SCORER@d1.sema.co.uk Message-Id: <9411171435.AB20193@semact.sema.co.uk> Organization: Division of Applied Sciences, Harvard University Subject: Re: Flexi Flop Andrew writes: >... >Whatever you do, don't let go of *anything* once your feet are clear of the ground! Having watched "How do they do that?" on BBC1 (Wed 15 Nov 8:00pm) and seen what happens when flying a stack of Flexis in high wind , I'm not surprised you said not to let go: it looked exhilerating. Mind you, I think I would prefer to be airborne under a paraglider! Ian Scorer Sema Group, UK ------------------------- This is my own opinion and should not be confused with any opinion that Sema Group may have on the matter. ------------------------- = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =