How to Set Up a Power Kite

Power kites, also known as traction kites, are made to catch the wind and propel people in kite buggies, on mountain boards or on skies. Power kites can also be entertaining to just fly in a park or another open expanse. Traction kites typically come in a kit with all the parts needed for assembly. Though each kite kit will vary slightly, the same general procedure can be used to set up most power kites.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Unpack your kit in a large, open room or outside. If unpacking outside, make sure that your back is to the wind and all parts are laid out in front of you in the direction the wind is blowing.

2. Lay out the lines and make sure they are not touching or tangled. The main lines, or the thicker lines, should be on the far right and left. The brake lines, or the thinner lines, should be in the middle.

3. Find your control bar. The control bar will have four "leader" lines, one on the left, one on the right and two coming from the central bar. Connect the left and right leader lines to the main lines using larks-head knots.

4. Connect the two leader lines coming from the central spoke to the brake lines using larks-head knots.

5. Lay out the kite. The main bridles are the two strings that break off into four strings. The brake bridles are the two strings that split into two strings. Use larks-head knots to attach the left and right main bridles to the left and right main lines, respectively. Do not cross the lines.

6. Connect the left and right brake bridles to the left and right brake lines, respectively. Do not cross the lines.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose a day that is not especially windy to assemble your power kite. Otherwise, assemble it indoors. Your kit might be color-coded to make it even easier to assemble. If your kit comes with handles instead of a control bar, the main should be attached to the top of each handle with a larks-head knot, while the brake line should be attached to the bottom.

References

• Power Kite Assembly Instructions

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