kites

Scudding

Being pulled along the ground on your feet, being pulled forward, sliding, hop steps etcetera.

Traction

Traction gives you the 'pull' to pull you while on a buggy, mountainboard, snowboard, skis or surfboard. Traction without such a vehicle could be called scudding.

Foil

Bla kite that is made of cells that inflate with the wind to give the kite shape. Often a 'sparless' kite.

Ripstop

A weave of nylon and polyester(?) that has squares or diamonds running through it, a thread of anaother material to add strength.

Dacron

DA TM brand of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

Aspect Ratio

Something to do with the 2 dimensions (height and width) of the sail of the kite, or possibly to do with the area of the sail... Higher aspect rations indicate a faster or stronger kite, maybe.

Kite Law

If you're flying above 60m then you need to read about the law.

Lines

The kite strings. Trick kites usually have two lines, and serious power-kites usually have four lines, with two of them acting as brakes.

 

 

You can start flying kites staright away, there are some great one-line'pocket-kites' for a few quid that can be launched in a heart-beat; or there are some fantastic looking one and two-line kites that don't cost much at all.

Read more abot the different kite designs, or find some ace shops to buy kites from.