Before you jump off your seat and go out to get them, listen to what I have to say. I must admit that I discover this kite when we have poor wind conditions. Frustrated with sitting around with the delta(s), we "googled" this and found KoK having some. Thus, we went out to get them. So, when people sit around I can steal the show by launching this kite, right? Wrong.
The first thing you'll notice about this kite is how light it is. The spars are thin and light. I actually put it in a cardboard tube to protect its what looks like fragile joints. The material is definitely "parachute" grade. The kite is bowed all the way. It comes in bright colors with 2 matching tails and a tow line with adjustable bridles. There is a larger version out there (like those on the right) but this is just fine.Fixing is easy; put the spars into the bowed joints and secured it to the back with strings provided. This is a nice touch. I prefer this to the elastic band with will loosen over time. The 2 support spars are much shorter. Be sure to pack them nicely (I placed it with the longer spars) or risk losing them. Whether you want to attach the tails or not is up to you. Don't make much difference at launch.
Now, let's fly. This kite is very light. Unless you're pulling the long line, use your hands to launch. At Force 2, it will just take to the sky, shooting straight up. Tails will be nice. The bright colors is very attractive when the lights hit it.
Watch the night kiters sitting around drool at Force 1. What's this about spending hundreds of dollars sitting around until the battery run out, I can never figure. Is that all you have in your bag? Sad. Add this or its cousin to your bag, dude.
In low Force 1, you can still fly this baby, hence the zero wind name. By flying, here it means staying in the air or "gliding" through it. You can even do this indoors. This kite is often describe as the single line stunt kite. You can do a lot of tricks with it. Watch the videos on YouTube. Here is one at Esplanade. Since this is a lot cheaper than a zero wind stunt kite, you may want to put one in your bag if you're hanging around the field all day. I'll leave the stunts to your imaginations. Think of some. Otherwise, you'll look at a mad dog trying to launch the kite in no wind days.
Will it shoot up into the sky? NO! It simply glides through the air. But it will be the first to take off, I promise.
How to fly/glide it in low wind? 2 words: Tension and Movement. In theory, it is sufficient for a kite of this kind to stay in the air simply by walking. Your movements are cutting through the still air around. That is, you're creating "wind" for the sail. There will be enough force on the sail to keep it afloat. Here's how I do it. Let out about 5m of lines, like you'll normally will. (For stunts, you can do with shorter lines.) Pull the kite up into the air, gently. If the kite stays there, and it will with the slightest of wind, good for you. If not, simply walk into the wind. You'll see your kite stays in the air by simply taking a few steps backwards.
It will be silly to walk the entire field ("What is he doing? There is no wind, dad! Is the guy mad?") I know somebody who'll walk the entire Barrage a few times to launch his kite. (Yes, DL, it's you.) Take a few gentle steps at a time. I stress GENTLY. You'll need to keep tension in the lines. How much walking you'll need to do, and at what speed, will depend on how still is the air.
Force 0 = lots of walking fast = RUN = No point trying
Once the kite moves towards you uncontrollably, you've lost it. The Wala will hang there for a while before it drop, so be patient. Let out some line if the kite ask for it. This is a clear sign that the wind is picking up. Don't be disappointed if it don't. Just maintain tension and you'll start to attract all the attention around you.
The idea is that you'll be the first to hit the sky once the wind picks up (or the last kite to drop). Take a break for prolong dry spell or do some of the stunts to kill the boredom.
I've done this a few times successfully with this method. I launch the Wala when kites start falling, stays in the air when all others are down, 50-100m in the sky to boot, and wait for the "Where do you get this kite?" comment. Thanks, little humble diamond, for the skills you taught me.
Will fly with Wind or NO wind. A must have in all bags. Definitely a great beginners kite. You may want to check out the larger versions too.
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