Janene about to fly the Ozone Imp

When I was in highschool I made a single-line parafoil with 4 cells. I was amazed at how it inflated into the shape of an efficient airfoil shape using the force of the wind entering the openings on the leading edge. I was also intrigued by the fact that the design had no spars, it was completely soft yet formed a large wing when in use and could be packed away in a small bag for storage or in a backpack. Although I was excited about the kite, it was sewn together with a small defect that made it turn clockwise in strong wind. I have always liked the kite and have always wanted to get a large one.

Last weekend I finally did it. I got two kites of different sizes. The small on is a two line kite for backpacking and easy portage from Ozone Kites call the Imp. Kites are measured in their square suface area the small one is 1.5 m^2. The larger of the two is a 3.1m^2 kite from Edel.

I took my sister Janene out flying last monday. She totaly loved it! She only flew the Imp however since she had never flow before and was getting use to controlling the kite. The Imp is a two line trainer kite that is easy to fly an you don’t have to worry about controlling 4 lines. The Edel 501b is a 4 line an can turn very tightly as well as drop out of the sky when needed by pulling on the bottom break lines. It works very well but it pulls very hard.

I was flying in a 15 – 20 mph wind and it carried me about 10 feet across the grass 8^) I got grass stains on my right knee and a real work out – it was great.

Flying the Edel 501b 1

Flying the Edel 501b 2

Flying the Edel 501b 3

I met up with my sister at Thanksgiving Point in Utah Valley, Utah. From there we took my jeep to Point of the Mountan Flight Park where we were able to get some great winds and fly for about an hour and a half.

Me holding the Imp

The larger kites (typicaly starting around 3+ m^2) are called traction kites or power kites. They are big enough that they can pull you around on a mountain board, kite buggy, wake board, skis or snow board – basically, anything that moves. They are amazing and can have enough power to lift the person flying the kite into the air, an act know as kite jumping. Kit jumping has in the past been some what dangerous however, advancements in kite design, harnesses, quick release and safty systems, have helped increase safty and the sport is gaining popularity.

J, flying the Imp

I have been flying for only a couple weeks and am already considering the purchase of a 7 meter Ozone Frenzy 05. While the Edel pulls hard, it certainly wont be able to lift me and I feel the need….. 8^) I guess part of the debate is whether to get a 7 or 10 meter…since I’m over 220lbs, I might consider the 10 meter. I’m going to talk to the USA distributor for Ozone kites (which just so happens to be local!!!) about which size to choose and I have a few more questions for them.