Welcome to the second installment of
Wing Tips! In the last issue, we covered various edge control techniques including the push
and tuck turn. Now, lets build upon this turning technique to explore the 'side
slide' (a.k.a. the 'float') - a great first trick to perform with your dual-line
kite. Back in the day before the 540 flat spin, axel and fade (which will all be
covered in future issues), the side slide was one of the hot tricks. However, I
think this classic maneuver has withstood the test of time very well. Not only
is it a lot of fun to perform but it is also mesmerizing to watch.
So, what exactly is a side slide?
As the name implies, the
kite will actually slide sideways across the wind window while in a stalled nose
up orientation. Now, instead of always having your kite fly in the direction its
nose is pointing, you can actually fly perpendicular to the normal flight path.
Pretty cool huh?
Most delta kites will perform the side slide, but it is
definitely easier to learn on larger kites (wingspans of 6 ft. or greater) that
have good precision capabilities. Small kites are too fidgety plus it is next to
impossible to perform this maneuver with most of the high-aspect 'trick' kites
due to their inherent instability. In preparation for learning the side slide,
you may want to adjust your kite's bridle so the tow points are moved down
slightly. This will push the nose of the kite further back, making it easier to
induce and hold a stall.
To perform a side slide, begin by flying a horizontal pass
about 30 feet off the ground. At the edge, execute a quick push and tuck turn
but continue to rotate past the normal half-turn until the kite is nose up (i.e.
3/4 turn or 270 degrees of rotation). At this point, immediately stop the
rotation by returning your hands to neutral followed by a slight even feed
forward of both hands to assist in stalling the kite. Without a doubt, the
timing to end the turn is the most difficult part of the side slide. If you do
not hold the turn long enough, the kite under rotates and will simply bobble and
continue flying back into the power zone. More often, the turn will be held too
long causing the kite to over rotate and fly back out to the edge. With a well
timed release, the kite will stop nose up; the turning momentum will then help
propel the stalled kite sideways towards the center of the wind window.
So, now that your kite has started to float sideways, how and
the heck do you hold the slide? Well, its a lot like balancing a bicycle when
its not moving! Two points are key to holding a long, graceful side slide.
First,
try to control the balance of the kite with only one hand. Do this by holding
the forearm of your trailing hand against your hip to freeze it in place and
then make minor corrections with the leading hand. (Note: When sliding right,
the right hand will be the leading hand and vice versa.) Plus, you also want the
leading hand offset further back. This will angle the sail to the wind such that
the vectored air pressure assists in moving the kite sideways. Second,
you cannot kill the grass under your feet - you gotta move! Walking forward (and
sometimes running!) to hold the stalled state in high winds or moving backwards
to keep the kite from sinking to the ground in light winds is normally required.
With practice and smooth winds, a full window side slide can be performed with
the kite just a foot or so off the ground - take a few steps back as the kite
starts the slide at the edge, walk forward as it enters the power zone and then
transition backwards a second time to conclude the slide at the opposite edge.
Without the restrictions of a wind window, a full 360 degree side slide can be
performed indoors.
One final tip regarding the side slide.
Most flyers are more
comfortable sliding in one direction over the other. So, after you have become
proficient at sliding in your preferred direction, remember to practice from the
opposite side so you can become an ambidextrous flyer. In the next issue,
Wing Tips will explore the snap stall. Until then, have fun slip slidin'
away!
