JasonOsteo

As above, with the addition of:-

before flying, take hold of the handles (without lines attached) close your eyes and visualise the kite upside down and diving rapidly to the ground. Now push both thumbs FORWARD quickly and visualise the kite stopping dead before hitting the ground. Repeat at least five times, without distraction.

The reason for this is, in my experience, first time four line flyers instinctively pull the hands up and straighten their arms in an effort to 'lift' the kite away from the ground. This pulls the thumbs back so accelerating the kite into the ground. The visualisation exercise may help minimise this.

The three wraps on their own will be fine unless it's blowing 12-15+ mph, when the kite will become 'twitchy' and want to accelerate very quickly. I had a two hour session with a friend and his son in some quite gusty wind the other week. The kite took quite a battering but was fine. The only casualty was a rubber grommet holding the top cap of a down spar. Easily replaced by a tap washer.

A four wrap frame would lead you to fly in higher winds than normal and so stretch the sail pretty quickly. Wouldn't advise it.

Welcome to the dark side

Wow, I know this is an old thread, but thought I would put my two penneth in.

I'm a registered UK Osteopath (bit different to a US osteopathic practitioner). As an Osteopath I see my patients as a 'unit of mind, body and spirit', each one effects the other in some way. Rev flying, and kite flying in general, I see as an excellent activity.

Physically you are moving continuously, something we don't really do in modern life, improving circulation and the efficiency of the immune system (as well as core strength). This in turn improves cerebral function, both through circulatory improvement and the splitting of the normal 'balance' mechanisms - your eyes are not always held on the horizon or kept level, leaving the sensory nerves in your joints to take the bulk of balance duties. The hormonal changes brought about by an increased level of physical activity improve your emotional state, as well as the inevitable distraction of keeping £200 of washing and sticks in the air.

I now have a couple of patients I am considering taking flying to help with their health. Incidentally, psoriatic arthritis and polymyalgia are two of the things I hope to help.