Hi SkyRags,
I'm another one with a lonely kite-life. Seems like stunt kites were very much in fashion in Barcelona in the 90's and beginning of 2000's but now they've all vanished...
I've been flying for about 1.5 years. Started with the Nexus, went up to the Soul got a lot of frustration, went to the Talon UL and learnt a lot, went back to the Soul and loved it and now I'm alternating these last two (and thinking on buying an SUL).
In this time I have also experienced this thing about being some months suffering a sterile learning process and all of a sudden a trick that you had no idea of why it wouldn't work, appears as clear as crystal. Unfortunately I'm currently in a sterile (or even regressive) mode...
Since I tend to be meticulous but have not sufficient patience to stay on one thing for hours on end, what tends to work for me is to have a set of three or four things I try and keep changing from one to the other. Otherwise, if I say too long on one thing I get saturated and start doing even worse. So then I rapidly move onto another thing and go back to that some other time later.
This, for example, has allowed me to do the 540 before I can snap stall, fade or slide !
The first trick I really learnt and on both sides(!) was the half axel. I think it is a trick that is on the easy side but that gives you a lot of insight on what it means to give slack, to coordinate both hands and to watch for the turns and flips.
Talking to people in forums has helped me a lot. SteveC has been one of my guardian angels (thanks!), so listen to his advice.
I like Yan's advice of aiming for the VF. It had not occurred to me, but also I though that was for "professionals". So now that I know it is open to everyone I think I will join them and make myself the laughing stock of the group...
I like ian's trainer kite ! I think I'll make myself one...
In any case I do think that stopping to think on how the kite turns and moves is important.
Here are some of my videos so that you can see what I can do after ~18 months:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Egq4Yfxdm0Ehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OewEfQ9NK4ohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EvXsUenOjQSo I look forward to seeing your videos. As much as it is difficult to record oneself, it is incredibly useful to see oneself doing the monkey style while exaggeratedly gesticulating to do a trick that the experts do by barely moving an eyebrow...
But whatever goes through your mind, DON'T GIVE UP!
Cheers.
In my bag...
Duals: No-name (No-brand), Nexus (Prism), Talon UL (JoE), Soul (Flying Wings), LeQuartz (own build), Illusion Classic (Prism), Aura 4.7Oz (Sky Burner), Sixth Sense STD (Krijn)
Singles: Conyne STD (my design)