Ron's Kite Page - Kites

STX 2.3 Level 2 Gemini OuterSpace Breeze
Nik Nak Beetle Cult Rev EXP Rev II
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Cavaliers du Ciel - STX 2.3

My STX 2.3 at the Pac Rim Festival, 2003 in Vanier park

The STX 2.3 is my latest kite purcase. My relationship with this kite started out poorly. All the c-clips on the leading edges came loose and the lower spreaders broke! After contacting the manufacturer, I received SUL spreaders. Now I haven't broken anther stick!

Wow, rock solid precision and lots of tricks. This kite tracks straight as an arrow and corners very well. It's almost hard to bobble a corner. Input for the tricks are very different for the STX. It takes a while to get used to how most tricks are done. I have also been playing with tail weights for the kite. The weight helps with some tricks but it changes how others are done. Not sure which I like better yet.

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Level One - Level II

My Level 2 at Garry Point Park, Richmond, BC

The Level 2 is a very nice kite to fly. Precision is good and it can do many tricks. The 6 foot wingspan is a bit small but that does not mean it needs lots of wind. I think the lower wind range is about 2mph.

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Benson - Gemini

My Gemini flying at Garry Point Park

The Gemini is Benson's latest design. It is probably the easiest kite to do tricks on. The kite is forgiving and will complete a trick even if the flier's timing is not right on the money. This kite is a "Backspin" machine. Backspins can be done with almost no set-up. This kite can do all the tricks.

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Benson - Outerspace

My Outerspace on the beach in Parksville, BC

The Outerspace was my first real trick or freestyle kite. It is still one of my favorite kites to fly. It will fly in a 2mph wind up to about 15mph. Tricks are great at the low end of the wind range.


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HQ - Breeze

My Breeze on the ground waiting for a little wind!

The Breeze is HQ's latest ultralight offering. It has good precision and can do the usual tricks that ultralights can do. Rated for 0 - 8 mph. Zero wind is quite hard with this kite but with just a bit of wind makes the Breeze fly.


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Skyburner - Nik Nak

The Nik Nak is a good no/low wind kite. It is easy to keep flying when there doesn't seem to be any wind. Having said that... The trick ablilities of this kite are not so good. Axles are hard to do. You sort of have to wind the kite up a little to get an axle. Fades are OK but this kite does not pancake! Nose down and give a big push on the lines and the kite still flies down.


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Flying Wings - Beetle

My Beetle in the air.

The Beetle was my first delta sport kite. Back in 1999 I boought one from my local kite shop. I loved this kite. Now my kids and anyone else who wants to learn fly the Beetle. It is nearly indestructible. Continual "lawn darting" doesn't break it. I would recommend other kites to beginners now. There are bigger and slower kites that are easier to learn on now.


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Elliot - Cult

My homebuilt Elliot Cult.

The Cult was my second attempt at making a sport kite. I got the plans from Elliot's website and used only the dimensions to make this kite. I did not follow the colour pattern they used. I'm not sure I like how the kite flys. I need to make some bridle changes to see if I can change the way the kite axles and 540's.


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Revolution - EXP

The EXP is just the same kite as the old rev 1.5s, no Super Leading Edge. I like this kite better when the wind is gusty. The kite bends more and soaks up some of the gust. It's not as twitchy as a new 1.5 SLE either. Good kite to get if you want to learn how to fly a REV.


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Revolution - RevII

This kite needs wind. Lots of it. I don't bring out the REV2 until it's too windy for the EXP. (about 15mph) Wow is it a fast kite! Lots of fun when everyone else is packing up.


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