Flying Multiple Sport Kites
Welcome to our section on multiple kite flying. If you have never watched someone fly multiple sport kites your missing a treat, if you are a sport kite flyer and have wanted to try it but have not, your are missing out on some fun. On this web page you will find video links of me and others flying multiple kites. You will also find basic tips on how to get started and suggestions on maneuvers to practice.
Flying two and three sport kites simultaneously begins with learning how to fly one kite single handed. I'll assume you are already reasonably efficient at flying a sport kite using two hands, so what's the big deal of flying with one hand? Nothing much except it's fun. All you need to start off with is a stick 12" - 18" in length to begin with (I first started using my line winders).
The main thing is to start off with your weak hand, if you are right handed use your left hand to begin with. Tie your lines to each end of the stick and your off, but remember if your kite pulls a little flying two handed it will seem to be pulling three times as hard flying one handed. Also you are not going to be able to make comparatively quick movements with your lines one handed; snap stalls are almost impossible, tip stabs, axels, all are quite difficult one handed but I have watched a one arm flyer manage all of those. The thing to remember is that your turns will make a bigger arc and your wrist and arm will feel the workout.
After you are comfortable flying with your weak hand and have no problem doing lazy eights, fly a little with your strong hand but only fly your strong hand about half as long as your weak hand. The idea is to build up muscle memory in your weak hand faster than your strong hand. The reason why is that when you then launch two kites your weak hand will lead the pattern and it will be easier to follow the weak hand with the strong hand. Many times the wind may shift or you will get a little confused as to which kite is which or something else will cause the movement of the lead kite to not be exactly what you wanted but it will still be easy for the strong hand to copy the flight path of that kite keeping your maneuvers symmetrical.
Next comes the third kite, some attach it to their waist such as Ray Bethell others to their chest such as Carl Bragiel. I use a Velcro back brace and have my lines just above my hips. In any event, first fly the third kite all by itself. Get a feel for basic control then pick up a second kite in your weak hand and practice the basics with the two kites, then switch to your strong hand and you guessed it try all three after that.
Which kite leads your maneuvers and how long your lines are then becomes part of what you want to do and how you do it. Some use stager sets of lines with each line set being approx 10' longer than the other to enable refueling and to avoid collision. I use even length lines 95% of the time but I'm also practicing with two line sets of equal length and three stager sets. If you have questions, comments, or would like to post a link on this page to your site just drop us a line.
So have fun and let an Oregon Kite bring out the kid in you. (this page will grow as time go by so check back with us now and then)
Below are links to web sites of kite fliers that like to fly multiple kites.