If you have followed our previous guide on Launching and Landing your Power Kite you should be able to keep your kite above your head (at the zenith) comfortably for as long as you like.

Now you are ready to learn some basic manoeuvrs.  While learning these keep the kite high or to the side of the wind window and use small, smooth movements to the handles.  This keeps the kite out of the "power zone" and the full on pull while you are learning.

Turning

Slow (power only) Turn

With the kite climbing and near the zenith, pull backwards a few inches on the right handle.  Ensure you keep tension on both handles by stepping back if required.  The kite will move to the right and start to make a graceful wide clockwise loop.  If you continue to hold the right handle in the backward position, the kite will complete the loop and continue turning until you bring the handles back level to each other again.

Pulling on back on the left handle will perform a anticlockwise loop and untwist your flying lines after the clockwise loop.  It's important that you remember to do equal loops in both directions, if you have more than a few loops (twists) in the line you will find they start to bind together and you lose control and response.

Keep the movements small and the kite will remain powered up, and pull will increase as the tips turn faster.  If you use too exaggerated movements the kite may lose inflation or stall, losing momentum.

Faster (brake) Turns

By using all four lines you can make even faster and tighter turns.  As you start a turn, turn the bottom of the pulled handle back further away from the kite to add more tension to the brake line on that side.  The kite will turn faster, even spin on its wingtip.  Release the handles to the neutral position and the kite will continue straight on and resume full power.  

Using this type of brake turn results in a faster turn, and as a brake is applied it reduces the power of the kite through the turn, and this can easily be used to the kiters advantage in many situations.

Downturns

The above turns were described as "up turns", the kite turns upwards.  This is natural for beginner flyers as it keeps the kite away from danger (the ground).  However if the kite is flying horizontally across the window the quickest turn is to turn towards the ground (downturn) using gravity to accelerate through and out of the turn.  HANG ON, this is a powerful turn!  Remember to downturn at the other end of the horizontal run to otherwise you'll quickly end up with twisted lines!

Reverse Launching

The biggest single advantage of a four line kite is the ability to perform reverse launches, with the kite pointing downwards.  After all it follows logically if you can reverse the kite in the sky, you can also reverse launch it off the ground too.

With the kite on the ground pointing downwards, pull and walk backwards with tension on the brake lines only. The kite should begin leave the ground backwards. You may need to 'work' the handles to keep it going steadily, and you are aiming to get the kite about its wingspan off the ground while it is still inverted.

Keep pulling back on the rear lines and as the kite rises, push one of the rear lines forward by pivoting the handle.  The kite will turn in the air. As the kite turns quickly take off the brakes, step back to inflate the kite, and turn it away from the ground.

It's easier to turn the kite up and away from the window centre rather than down towards it as the kite will tend to accelerate towards centre window and into the ground.  Once the kite is pointing straight up the window you can simply fly away under power, or try another landing.

Congratulations!  You have just completed your manouvours with your new kite!
Please see our other guides for other tips.

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