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Stephen Hoath

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Posts posted by Stephen Hoath

  1. From comments on the forum and chatting to some guys around the circuit this year it seems that there is need/want for an opportunity for all us rev pilots to get together and for those of us with a little more experience (or just different experience) to share some of the knowledge around.

    I would be prepared to be involved in such a venture (I may be able to persuade some others in the team) but would be interested to know if there really is demand for such a weekend.

    Whilst team flying is my main focus I envisage that there may be some individuals who want to pick up some tips as well. If this happens it would be an informal affair at a suitable location. We have some fabulous beaches in the UK and so I was considering somewhere on the west coast around the middle of the UK such as ainsdale beach (near southport).

    So, my questions to you all are:

    • Is there any demand for such an event (1 day or weekend) ?

      If so, where should it be held?

      What do people want to know?


    Let me know and we can try and arrange something.

  2. Can I remind everyone to be careful in the sun?

    Be warned and wear the total block.

    Stay safe chaps.

    clare x x

    Don't forget to wear good sunglasses as well. I have found that putting sun screen in your eyes really hurts. But seriously though, you're looking up most of the day and good glasses are a must.

  3. OK, as no one else has come up with anything for a while (day or two)

    It's relevant as they all Fly in Rev Teams.

    Who are they Left to right?

    Which Country? Bonus Point what City? Double Bonus Point what Hotel?

    Name the Rev Teams?

    Am I allowed to guess?

    :kid_smartass:

  4. Well I'm glad someone got some footage, I was way over at the far end of the single line arena when they flew and didn't get there in time.

    Still, the routine was as good as usual although I was hoping to see some new moves (so I can copy them :kid_devlish: ) but mostly they flew the usual routine.

    They were flying the custom Rev I's and they look great in the sky. It has started me thinking that the Rev 1 is still a good kite for team flying. mmmmm, maybe we'll get out the 1's

    So if any of the Dec's are reading this, thanks again for the show and like many people here I only started flying Rev team 'cause of you (I owe you one)

  5. Are any of the British flyers headed down to Bristol this weekend? I have a favour to ask if so, I'd looove loooove looove for someone to get footage of The Decorators flying. The kings of quad team, the guys who started it all....

    pretty please?

    :sign_kitelife:

    Hi Dave, I am going down on Saturday but don't own a video camera. I'll try and shoot some footage on my cell but can't guarantee quality and there's no sound. :confused!:

  6. finally got some pics up...

    pic 1 My B series being flown by Col's wife Veronica.

    pic 2 It's hard to fly with precision, balancing a sonic on your head! :-)

    pic 3 Col's "raspberry" sonic and My B-series back to back

    It's a great site at low tide we do feel compelled to keep a bit of an eye out for large pointy toothed handbags though

    Stunning location, I have turned an unfetching shade of green :kid_cussing:

    That's got to be one of the best views from a flying site. Can anyone else compete?

    • Like 1
  7. I presume it was Portsmouth England and not Portsmouth New Hampshire USA.

    How about telling us all, who all the fliers were, so they can receive some international recognition.

    The festival was in the UK, this year we had displays from:

    • Cray Drivers (Damien, Fabrice & Reneau [probably not the correct spelling])
      The Flying Squad ( Stephen, Susan, Matt, Lisa, Simon, Geoff, Ian, Helen, Gary, Steve)
      and the world famous Chris Goff

    I will try and get a photo of the mega team and the new team figure the "Potatoe". It's a bit like a ball only not so round!

  8. Wow, what a weekend. We saw the sun for the first time in months!

    Very light winds all weekend but watching the Crazies you wouldn't know. They have some indoor quads and my jaw hit the floor when I watched them perform team flic-flacs, back spins etc all on 15' lines.

    The Flying Squad were there on mass and flew various routines with the 10 person routine being my favourite. We don't get to fly with everyone very often and it is a real buzz when we do. Still I could have hoped for stronger winds. We have officialy re named the team figure "Ball" into "Potatoe". :kid_smartass:

    The final show was a 14 person mega team in about 2mph. Hard work but I couldn't have asked for better fliers to be there with me. So next year, lets see some more of you for a mega team.

    ps oh and the masterclass was postponed till Monday due to the very light winds. Still we had a great time.

    post-27-1188242267_thumb.jpg

  9. This WE we attend portsmouth international kite festival, last year we flew with team Flying Squad.

    If ohter rev kite flyer reach this event, let us know !!!! it should be funny to fly a huge mega team over there !!!!

    Mentioned elsewhere here. We will be holding a small "masterclass" for anyone who wants to learn how to fly rev team. 120' lines are desirable and an ability to hold anywhere in the sky is essential. We plan to do this on Saturday morning but as space is a premium at this event we will need to be flexible.

    See you all there.

  10. For a stack, only fly long tails on the last REV. Using long tails on the other REVs will result in the biggest tangled mess you ever saw if you ever stop or fly backwards. :wub:

    Short tails, shorter then the train lines to the REV behind it, will work with occasional minor tangling.

    Is this the answer you need?

    I agree with John. Classic answer. Long tails along the stack are a big headache but do look good. Our tails are about 100'

    There are lots of ways of making the tails, we use hot cut ripstop with no hem. If you have masses of time and no imagination you can sew a hem along the tails or a good tip from a French friend of mine (Alex St John) flourist ribbon is easy and cheap.

    We find two tails from the one tow point give a nic dynamic in the sky.

    Flight wise it doesn't make too much difference but they fly more Rev like without. We love to fly the trains with tails as it is easier for a non kiteflying audience to understand and see from different points around the arena. Also it allows me to chose some realy cheesy music

  11. and kitezen. s parafoil and me and rawveeda flying in the rain...

    [attachment=634:100_1434.JPG

    Looks just like English summer. Are you sure this was in the US?

    I have light wind kites, vented kites, indoor kites, we are now waiting for Rev to develop the first waterproof kite or better still one that comes with it's own umberella!

    Nice to see you still flying. Stiff upper lip and all that.

  12. salut stephen !!!!!

    La bride 2 facilite les axels !!!!!! au lieu de tirer au milieu , on tire le coté opposé.

    cette bride permet de repartir la pression sur le bord d'attaque !!!!!

    I hope you can translate it in english , if not i'll explain it in english !!!!

    See you in portsmouth !!!!!

    Damien & Fabrice

    Ah Je comprennent. J'aime le frein et cela fonctionne bien. L'employez-vous jamais sans longerons sur le dos du cerf-volant ?

  13. Thanks!

    That bridle is very different from the diagram that Hector posted.

    I know that you speak French, and I only speak English, but can you explain some of the theory about this bridle?

    What is the purpose of line #2?

    If you need to answer in French, that is OK. We will find someone to help translate for us English only speakers.

    Don't worry about translation...just type LOUD and S L O W :kid_devlish:

  14. Anyone up for writing an article about this gathering, from a new flier's eyes?

    This would make great reading, and pics would be cool too. ;)

    I'm not sure we can run to all the trimmings you're getting at the AKA convention but I promise not to charge anyone $200 either :kid_devlish:

    I have just heard from a Taiwanese friend who is also coming over so brush up your Mandarin. youbian = right, zuobian = left.

    Are there any more takers for a little rev "master" class?

  15. I use the (we call them Quad Sticks) on the back of most of my kites, but we don't put enough tension on them to actually curve the leading edge or the down spars, more so just to keep the sail as flat as possible, makes for nice axles flat spins floating is amazing flick flacks and ground recovery are also enhanced, the way these are set up is more of a torque converter meaning when one wing decides to fold over the other follows (probably why some call em training wheels, sissy sticks, or whatever). some people actually call them Magic Sticks.

    In any case their main use is parking leading edge down and not having to stake LOL, all the rest of those really cool benefits are like a side effect.

    Maybe its the way mine don't curve any spars but I have no problem with slides, they allow the sail to bellow just as much (as some would disagree) I'm not worried about additional weight I'm not flying indoors, but if made with some extra care they can be done with very minimal added weight like the ones on my SUL's

    Some love em, some swear they are useless (whatever) personally I think they look cool and very mechanical looking and also add great function to the point when I get a new kite and fly it I can't wait to get home and tie up some quad sticks on it.

    Now I've heard so many times "real quad fliers don't use sticks" now bear in mind these are people that like to throw stats around, from what I gather more European and world champions use them so it's all personal preference, they don't impair flying, although they kind of help playing in water as they keep the sail from folding up like a book and if you have wind over 5 mph you can fly regardless.

    Now these French bridles (turbo) I sat here and tried to tie up a set using that picture ( little difficult not seeing how its knotted) but after finishing it looks like the whole bridle is pretty far away from the sail and they measure out pretty perfect to the ones given in the photo, now on another forum somewhere they seemed to be very tight to the sail, any insight seeing as you have them from where they originated ??

    Thanks for the above. I agree with pretty much everything. The message seems to be that these sticks are flexible and can be used to a greater or lesser extent or indeed not at all. Be open to new experiences and make your own mind up.

    As for distance from the sail, I bullied Fabrice (the originator of the design) into putting one of his bridles on my kite and it stands out pretty much the same as the ordinary one. I have this design on a Rev II as well and found it worked best for me on that kite. Try looking at their web page, it has all the info needed http://www.revo-solution.com/

    Just to add, with the different bridle and sticks I can reverse the rev just as fast as I can fly it forwards. Now that's cool :blue_wink:

  16. OK that takes Portsmouth off the maybe list. I hope to see you there. I will be the one with the Blue B series doing an impression of someone who has'nt got a clue!! I can just about hover as long as it is only for a second or two.

    I am on holliday about an hour or so away so might even come say Hi both days. If that is OK with you of course?

    To put it back on topic, hope to spend some time on Hengistbury Head, if they still allow kite flying there. Some restrictions were creeping in last year.

    Great news.

    I'll be the one shouting at everyone else.

    The space to fly at Portsmouth can be a little tight so I would get there early either day then we should be able to find space to fly. There should be at least 9 of my team there maybe a few more.

    Practice facing left & right and then holding still, rotating upwards around your top tip and downwards around your bottom tip, and holding at the edge of the window facing into the centre. Everything is just flower arranging!

    Any more takers for an impromptu team lesson? 120' feet long lines is best if you have them if not, then as long as you have. oh and contrary to the manual on this forum it is ANTI clockwise not counter clockwise :devil:

    See you there.

  17. I have flown these extensively. As with all things there are pros and cons.

    Firstly Hector, I would suggest adding the tension sticks on the back of the kite. This in addition to the new bridle words really well and should help prevent some of those flat outs. It puts a slight backward curve on the leading edges which helps the kite on rotation. They also put a slight curve on the vertical spars. This bows the kite that way also and allows the kite to spin around when flat on th e ground, leading edge to wards you. (effectively there is never a dead position)

    These things are not for everyone. They are of limited use in team unless you are competing and intend to use advanced tricks. Individuals may find the variation allows them to do other things. There is always a compromise to be paid. For me I find that these bridles make rotations and turns fantastic, however, they make sliding a little harder (stands to reason as you no longer have a flat kite).

    So it's horses for courses. I would encourage anyone to try this, but don't lose your old bridle as you may want to put it back again. Better still, buy another kite and have both! :kid_devlish:

  18. Andy - there are a couple of other rev chaps who turn up at Ainsdale too, Steve, Neil and Ted. We should get organised enough to all be there at once - it would be the most revs in the sky together that I would have seen in one go - that would make 7 of us!

    This is our beach!

    603003485_5a3dc292ae_m.jpg

    Wow that's some beach!

    Is there anywhere nice to stay around there? I'm thinking it my be a nice place for a practice weekend.

    p.s. slightly off topic. Portsmouth Festival this year. Should be a large Rev mega team. Come and see how we get it wrong. I sure there will be space for a few add hoc flying sessions. You'll know where to find me. I'll be the one with the Blue, White & Black rev! (well one of them)

  19. I'm contemplating my first ever multiline ballet at BASKC. What are the min/max times for these kinds of things? I've already got a song in mind that I will likely have to edit a bit.

    Thanks.

    --Lee

    Good luck with the competition. I have not competed for a little while now but there are lots of ways to maximise your score. Learn the rules, play by the rules, tell the judges in advance about all the little subtle bits and difficult bits. But basically no matter how much of this you do and how many mind games you play it all boils down to practice.

    Don't be tempted to busk. Know the music and the routine inside out. I always found in competition, that the more we practiced, the luckier we bacame ;)

    Oh and don't forget to smile....

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