Trick Training Ideas

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[tpatter]

Yesterday, I taught an 8 year old kid who had never flown a dual line kite before to keep the kite in the air (mostly) in about 15 minutes.  He was there with his mother and father and a cheap single-line plastic kite that broke apart in its first 10 minutes of flight.  He asked me if he could try mine, so I thought, what the heck.

I stood behind him with my hands on his and showed him what to do.  I would show him, then he would try it, then I would show him again.  After a few dozen times, he would get it.

He was having fun and then asked me about the tricks that he had seen me doing. I had him doing a semi-passeable half-axel in another 15 minutes.

When his mother asked me how much the kite cost and I told her it was a $500 kite, she got a bit nervous and took him away a little while later.  He thanked me and then asked his mother to take him to the local kite shop! 

I had never tried trick-training like this before, but it really seemed to work.  I am wondering if anyone else has tried this method of training?  In the past, I've tried showing and telling people how to do things even using the kite as a model, but it honestly has not worked out well at all.

-Tom

[chilese]

I have found it to be less intrusive on the trainee if you hold their elbows and not their hands and/or the straps.

I usually teach an axel at the edge of the wind window or a turtle from the top of the window if the student wants to learn a trick or two.

[mikenchico]

Yep the stand behind thing has always worked for me, I tend to hold their forearms though, elbows gives them too much latitude to make unwanted moves. I haven't really taught any tricks that way though, by the time I've explained a trick the flier can fly the kite fine so verbal and show them has been enough.

One fun experience using that method was teaching Rhonda on the Flexi 8 and having to phyisically hold her back, well she powered it into the ground and we both went head-over-heels in a tangle when that 200 lbs pull wasn't there anymore 

I hate to even have to bring it up but always make sure the parents are aware of what your doing, that the kid has approached you and they are comfortable with you.

You did explain that she can get a good entry level kite for under $100 didn't you? After hearing $500 that would sound like a deal.

[tempest]

Many times kids come to me and wants to fly my kite, so i will get behind them and with my hands on theirs , i will guide the kite . They are usually excited and find that flying is so cool. When their parents ask the cost of a kite , i would tell them that they can get one that can do figure 8s ,squares, circles,and the like , for around $15 to 20. for starters.

[Ca Ike]

For any kid that has come and asked me to try my kites I ALWAYS talk to the parents if they are not a teen and tell them I will have to hold on to their kids arms to help them and brace them against the pull if necessary to make sure they are ok with it.  I also offer them a chance to learn and more often than not end up going with them to make their first kite purchase.  In my town its usually a nexus and quantum from the local REI.  IF its a teen i don't worry so much about it.

IF its a young kid an no parent is around I set them up a kite and stand beside them with mine and start with basic launch and leading edge landing passes to the edge of the window.  After a few of those I usually have them with enough feel for the winds power zone that side to side passes and basic figures are going within 15 minutes.  IF they want to try more I tell them to bring there parent next time they come out so i can show them both and explain the kites in detail to the parents to set them on the right path for their first buy.

THen send them to Steve to get it

[Nosebleed]

Kids are easy...............parents over the age of thirty....no so........unless they're gifted with super motor skills and a drive to accomplish.

[obijuankenobe]

If the kid/parent is comfortable with this much contact, it works great.  I too have had a few very nice experiences turning kids onto flying with this hands on method.  Obviously, the kid needs to be comfortable close to a stranger. 

obi