New Tech Kites

rboerth · Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2006 7:26 pm Post subject: Desire standoff lengths

I was out today putting the Desire UL through it's paces. Occasionally when pushing the tricks, I will pop a standoff out of the fitting on the lower spreader . . . so of course I got to thinking .

I'm wondering what would happen if I went with longer spreaders. This would tension the sail a bit more and thus decrease the likelihood of popping out a standoff (there seems to be more than enough play in the tension of the sail), but I'm wondering what the effect would be on the handling of the kite. Has anybody played around with the standoff lengths of the Desire? Or would someone care to speculate about what will happen?

By the way, I was pulling off some really nice slow axels with the Desire today that ended with a decisive two-point landing (I'd almost call it a two-point stab the landing was so strong). The move from a slow, graceful axel to a sudden stab was something to behold.

I also ordered a Techno today--aside from having another fun kite to play with, I'm really interested in seeing whether the kite will work for me as a competition precision kite Very Happy

. The only time I've flown the Techno previously was a few months back in Liberty Park, but at that time I was helping a new flier with ground recovery techniques--which he was immensely thankful for, but it meant more ground- than air-time. I'm really looking forward to this kite. Stay tuned, and I'll post my reactions in the review section.

Michael Hale · Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 11:37 pm Post subject:

The problem with the desire standoffs coming loose we solved by dipping the end of the standoffs in the plastic coating used for tool handles. It dries leaving a rubber like ball on the end of the standoff, which does not come out as easily. And if it does, it does not poke a hole in the very light weight sail of the Desire.
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Michael Hale
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