Flying a kite isn’t child’s play — it takes more than just wind and a little luck to fly like a pro. In preparation for the Cleveland International Kite Festival Aug. 20 and 21 at Edgewater Park, Phil Salzstein, club president of the Ohio Society for the Elevation of Kites, gives us tips for a successful flight.
Launch kit: Keeping the wind at your back, hold the kite out in front of you. Let out about 50 feet of line and launch your kite when you feel a breeze. “Give it a tug and up it’ll go,” Salzstein says.
Midflight: Kite flying isn’t just launch and sit back. If it starts to dip, a tug on the line will put wind back in your sails. And keep an eye out for other kite fliers. “Make sure you’re not flying overtop of anybody,” Salzstein says.
Descent: If you’re flying a simple kite, reel it in slowly to keep it from plunging to the ground. Bringing down larger kites is a bit tricky, because they have thicker lines. Use a stake to secure the line to the ground and bring it in by pulling the line down, hand over hand while walking toward the kite. “You’ll want to wear gloves to keep from getting a line burn,” says Salzstein.
