fitforlife If you’re looking for a fun, easy and inexpensive activity this summer, why not consider kite flying?
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Fly We have two Chinese philosophers to thank for the invention of the kite more than 2,000 years ago, who used readily available silk and bamboo – although legend suggests that a Chinese farmer beat them to it by tying a string to his hat to keep it from blowing away.
You can spend as little as a few pounds on a kite or, if the budget allows, as much as a couple of hundred. Who knows? With a little practice, you might develop a new talent this summer.
How do you become an expert kite flyer?
The first kites were generally rectangular and flat rather than bowed and were often decorated with symbols and pictures as well as whistles and strings. They had a number of uses including communication in military operations as well as testing wind speeds, measuring distances and even lifting men. Kite flying was then spread to Japan by Buddhist monks, onto India where they were used as ‘fighter kites’ in specific festivals, and to Polynesia, by this time made from cloth and wood and used in religious ceremonies.
Learn the best wind conditions. Most experienced fliers suggest between 5 – 25 miles per hour, which means plants and leaves will be moving but not blowing about furiously. Find a clear, open area such as a field or park. The bigger the space, the more line you can let out and the more fun you’ll have moving your kite across the sky. Make sure that you stay away from roads and power lines, and never fly in rain or lightning.
It was the famous traveller of the thirteenth century, Marco Polo, who first brought stories of kites to Europe but it was another 300 years until kites were regularly brought back by sailors returning from Japan and Malaysia. Eventually, scientists and researchers began to realise their potential for experiments – Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Wilson and Thomas-François Dalibard used kites to learn more about wind and the weather, while Alexander Graham Bell and the Wright brothers used them to aid in the development of aeroplanes. Nowadays, their use is mainly recreational.
Lay out the kite and lines on the ground before you start. Check all connectors and bridles and make sure there are no knots or tangles. Ensure you have around 20 to 35 metres of line and that they’re the same length on both sides. Launch by stepping backwards and pulling both handles to your side and control the kite by pulling the lines.
There are many kite festivals held all over the country and up-to-date details can be found at www.kitecalendar.co.uk
Be careful of other people. If you do tangle lines, walk slowly with the other flier to slide the tangle down the line of the kite, where it can be more easily unwrapped.
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