OK so it's been a while since I've posted an entry here. I've put us some pictures here and there but not much else. I've enjoyed flying a number of kites in my bag and in particular the Nirvana FX, Krystal WW, Krystal FX LW, and the whole Next Up lineup. As always, the Nirvana's aren't too far away and never forgotten.   I've got a new Diablis and I'm in the process of learning that kite. It is quite the departure for R-Sky so it's one that will take me a while to get to know.

 

Now to the chase. I've fooled around with some video of the Next Up's but never did anything with the standard. Thanks to poor winds, when I received these kites I didn't have much chance to fly the standard. But, on a cloudy day back in the late Fall, I did get out to play and shot a little video.  I tried to shoot from the side to show a different angle of the tricks and the kite's flight characteristics. It's an angle I enjoy viewing as I can see how the kite responds to inputs. I was on a Slot Machine kick that day so what the heck, I left a bunch in. Not much more to say about the video other than to say I hope you like it. Maybe one day I can either enlist a pilot so I can play videographer (which I love to do) or a videographer so my videos won't be so chopped up and I can stop worrying about flying in frame.

 

Check out the "Sport Kite Videos" section on the left for the video. I've included .avi and .wmv versions for those "codec challenged". I've figured out how to compress 16:9 for the iPod so I'll have that up later.

 

Now, what do I think of the Team Next Up Standard? Well first, see from the video if you think I was having fun. Second, I will say that it's a different kite from the Nirvana. Maybe not quite as hard edged and by that I mean not quite as razor sharp with precision. The precision is very good with the Next Up but not quite on par with the often imitated, never matched Nirvana. I would say the Next Up requires a pilot with greater skill to extract Nirvana-like precision but it’s definitely there. What the Next Up excels at is smooth flowing tricks because it transitions so well. Maybe it's that the Next Up is more graceful as it executes tricks or it allows the pilot to be more graceful in his/her execution vs. the Nirvana. Certainly, it loves the deep turtle. In fact, it really requires it for tricks such and Lazy Susans and Jacobs Ladders. Notice the video and you will see me allowing the kite to settle into the turtle. Just a little hesitation and the kite rewards you very well. It’s a characteristic that I love to play with. See the Rolling Susan to Tip Stab beginning at 2:30? That’s what I’m talking about!

 

After spending a few days tuning a friend’s Nirvana and comparing it my several of mine, I got the Next Up back out and was very impressed by the presence it exhibits in the sky and the feel on the end of the lines. It’s a very connected feeling and one that definitely generates some pull. I like to call it being well connected to the kite and receiving very good feedback. I much prefer larger kites and at ~2.4 meters, the Next Up doesn’t disappoint.

 

I’m not the best at describing what I feel (I’m much too left-brained) but maybe it’s that the Next Up really flies “smaller” than its wingspan. Certainly those Slot Machines, Multislots and Slot Cascades are cake. In my hands, it Cometes easier than the Nirvana but I’m tall, have long arms and am quite clumsy. The flare to Fade take a tad more slack which bothered me at first but is only a characteristic and easily adjusted to.

 

Well that’s it. I’ll leave it at that. Again, Mr. and Ms. Tessa Gambassi have a winner as far as I am concerned. They’ve had a habit of designing and producing winners and I’ve been hooked on R-Sky far longer than I’ve been associated with them.

 

I hope you enjoy the video!

 

All the best to you and I wish you smooth winds.

 

Randy  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are very pleased to announce...

Tricks Party South

...a three-round, two-day competition scheduled for March 17 and 18 in Huntsville, Alabama. The event is being organized and hosted by Keith Galeano, Allan Crow, and your's truly! Both individual and pair TP competition will be run at this event (maximum 15 individuals and 5 pairs). The ballet program submission period will run from February 17 to March 10. No programs will be accepted after March 10.

We are extremely excited to be hosting Tricks Party South, the first event of it's kind in the Southeastern United States and the second ever, 3 round Tricks Party event in the USA! We are also pleased to be the second Tricks Party Event in the USA to include the Pairs discipline.

We have secured one of the best inland flying fields in the Southeastern USA to hold the event and also have a strong judging panel in David Hansen (Head Judge) and Beth Bowen and Ari Contzius (Judges). The wonderful Stephanie Hiebert will be our Field Director. If you have not participated in a 3-Round Tricks Party event you HAVE to do it once in your lifetime. You won't regret it!!

For more information, go to the Tricks Party USA website and check out the calendar at http://www.trickspartyusa.com/Calendar.asp for details such as Imposed Tricks, slots available, submission time frames, etc.

For registraton information, the registration form can be downloaded here:

http://www.sportkiteflyer.com/documents/TPSouthRegForm.pdf

Thanks for checking in!

Randy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out the Sportkite Video Tutorial section for the new Slot Machine tutorial.

 

The iPod version will be up later in the week.

 

Thanks for check in!

 

Randy

For your viewing pleasure, the Duplex!

 

We pull out our "go to" kites (a Nirvana Standard with Icone LS and a Nirvana UL) and play around with the Duplex. A really neat trick that will test your timing and ability to move your feet if the wind is up or in particular, if it's bumpy.

 

I again chose two versions of the Nirvana by R-Sky...the Standard and the UL. The Standard was equipped with Icone White lower spreaders. The UL was stock. Both kites were equipped with the RTG version of the reverse turbo bridle.

 

Check out the Sportkite Video Tutorial section for this latest addition.

 

I hope you enjoy!

 

Randy

It's been almost two months since my last addition so this time we're learning the Inverse. I'm not quite sure why it's named that but I'm guessing because it's an "inverse" of the Rolling Susan. Whatever the reason, the Inverse is a neat trick and one that is fun to learn though I still find it difficult to groove at times.

 

For this video, we're using an almost new Nirvana UL and a brand spanking new, teal Nirvana Standard I just finished framing prior to the start of filming for this tutorial. The UL has the stock frame and the Nirvana is all stock except for Icone White lower spreaders. Tail weight is 20g for the UL and 15g for the Standard. Both kites are equipped with the RTG (that't our good friend Roger Tessa-Gambassi, btw ) Reverse Turbo bridle which I am testing now. Not bad...not bad at all!!

 

So, check out the Sportkite Video Tutorials section to the right for this lastest tutorial and be sure to check back soon as I am working on a couple more that should be up in the next few weeks.

 

All the best!

 

Randy

 

 

Finally, we're back in the tutorial business after our work with Ron and Steph on the massive Tricks Party USA video project. You will never find two people better to work with on such a project!!!

 

This time out, we're going for a breakdown of the Backspin Cascade and you'll get to see two brand spanking new R-Sky 10th Anniversary Collector Edition kites performing this trick! First day out with them for me as well.

 

Take a look to the right under the Sportkite Video Tutorials section for the tutorial.

 

As always, I hope you enjoy my latest effort.

 

Smooth breezes to you and remember to Fly R-Sky!

 

Randy

 

 

It's been what seems like a long wait but finally, today, I received my Collector Edition Nirvana (Number 4) and Krystal FX (Number 3) from Gone With The Wind Kites http://www.gwtw-kites.com/. These come complete with the new Icone rods which look amazing.

 

I got to the field for a bit of flying, video and photos today after work. Unfortunately the wind was not cooperating very much but I did get a few pictures which you can see above. There will be more pictures and impressions later as I get more time with these kites.

 

If you were lucky enough to get on this exclusive run of kites from our friends Roger and Sylvie at R-Sky, follow this link http://www.r-sky.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=421 and register.

 

While I'm typing, there will be more tutorials coming in the next month or so. Now that we are nearly finished with the Tricks Party-USA trick videos, I will have some time to put a few more of my own tutorials together.

 

Stay tuned!

 

Good winds to you!

 

Randy

 

 

 

 

For my French speaking friends, you can now find the Ours des Prairies (Jacob's Ladder) tutorial linked to the right. Thanks to Alain Gignon, Laurent-r and others, you can now view my tutorial on this most popular trick in French.

 

Merci,

 

Randy