KiteLife tutorials are the most recognized videos for learning to fly quad line kites online.
We have highlighted the tutorials for outdoor flying (outdoor). Kitelife also offers tutorials indoor (indoors).
What is KiteLife and who is John Barresi?
KiteLife was originally an online magazine opened in 1998 by Mike Gillard, then taken over by John Barresi. The website has grown to host :
- Kite tutorial videos
- The KiteLife forum
- The former magazines Kite Lines, Stunt Kites Quaterly and Sportkite news
John Barresi is an American kiteflier well known in the kite world as much for his performance as for his human qualities. Here are a few notable facts:
- He holds 31 US national championship titles.
- He was leader of the iQuad team and currently leads Team KiteLife (TKL).
- He designs and sells his kites and gear through his KiteForge store.
- He has been teaching quad line and dual line kites for over 10 years via his “clinics”.
To find out more: KiteLife, John Barresi, Team KiteKite, KiteForge store.
The benefits of KiteLife tutorials
- These tutorials are the most widely recognized and used by the quad line kitefliers community.
- John and his kite are visible at the same time. This is very useful for understanding the relationship between the kiteflier and the kite, and the impact of each movement.
- The explanations are clear, well-paced and mostly subtitled.
- John breaks down and describes each practice.
- He also provides unique explanations, e.g. aerodynamics.
- Beginner-level tutorials are free. You’ll find them below!
- For full access (paid), you can download all the videos and subtitles available.
- Paid access finances the maintenance of kitelife.com and part of John Barresi’s activities.
Disadvantages of these tutorials
- Full access to the videos is subject to an annual subscription fee of around $33. Don’t worry. you can limit the subscription to 1 year or continue to support KiteLife in subsequent years.
- Videos and subtitles can only be downloaded one by one via multiple pages. Full downloads require a little patience.
- Subtitles are not always available.
- Subscription cancellation is not intuitive on Paypal. (This was the case in 2020.)
The tutorial list
Tutorials are grouped by level. Advanced tutorials refer to previous ones. You are of course free to view the tutorials in any order you like.
Beginner level
The videos for this level are free! You’ll find them further down this page.
- Larks Head Knot
- Assembly and disassembly
- Changing frames
- Line management
- Line equalizing
- Line weight and length
- Launch and control
- Wind window
- Figure 8
- Flat relaunch
- Basic hovers
- 180 with positive drive
- Rollover landing
Intermediate level
- Body, posture and grip
- Tuning theory
- Kite walk
- Side slide (horizontal slide)
- Inverted hover
- Reverse flight
- Bicycle rotation
Advanced level
- Sail loading
- Clockwork
- Flic flac
- Rotational drills (launch, turn in place, land)
- Traveling bicycle (turn on the spot while sliding in one direction)
- Light wind flying
- 3D flying
- Water flying
Beginner tutorials (free)
The videos are in English. You can activate subtitles in the Youtube player if you need to! (How to activate subtitles)
Larks Head Knot
Assembly and disassembly
Changing frames
Line management
Line equalizing
Line weight and length
Launch and control
Wind window
Figure 8
Flat relaunch
Basic hovers
180 with positive drive
Rollover landing
Bonus video
Grid skills – basic
Flic flac
Want to move on to the intermediate and advanced levels?
KiteLife offers access to all tutorial videos from around $33.
You can subscribe here: https//kitelife.com/video-tutorials/
Remember that:
- You are free to download all useful content and to cancel your subscription within the first year.
- These subscriptions help support KiteLife.
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