My name is Patrick, and I introduced myself to stunt kites out of a mild curiosity back in late 2003. I had no one as
an influence being it was very rare to see anyone flying anything but single string kites in Tucson. Like most, I
was very put off by the cost of even a basic stunt kite, along with the thinking that I would likely break it before I learned
the knack of flying. The Internet offered many kinds of stunt kites to chose from at many cost, with very little
information for a novice to go on. I decided to purchase "one" and give it a try anyway and I made my best guess.
I had some luck on the one I picked to start with and was amazed on how much fun a stunt kite was to fly. I soon researched
other kites and began to purchase more of them. Different stunt kites for different winds, for different speeds and
handling. As you can see by my collection now, the entertainment value easily met the cost for me, as being well
worth it when I go out to fly a couple times a week. For most, I think three or four stunt kites would due to meet
the range of wind conditions.
I have since introduced a number of people to the fun of flying stunt kites. As always, even a low end stunt kite seems
a hesitant cost at $50 to $80 dollars. But soon they purchase a few more at the higher end when the fun factor kicks
in. (Note the links page for my recommended places to purchase.)
However, I recommend that you do not start your first time flying with a stunt kite, but rather with a stunt foil. The stunt
foil will get you past your learning curve without breaking anything. Many who start with a stunt kite will break it before
they get the hang of it. The only foil I recommend, due to it's size and cost, is the Prism Stylus P1, which cost
around $80. Once you get the hang of flying the foil, you can quickly move up to any stunt kite with ease. You will
use the stunt foil again each time you wish to introduce someone new to flying.
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