We have found the content and summary of severalrev clinics that were organized by the Iquad team. This content can inspire you to do exercises, search for information, or even help you organize training sessions for several kitefliers.
Who is the Iquad team?
The Iquad team existed from May 2006 to September 2013. It was made up of a dozen pilots spread across the United States. They traveled the world to demo, transmit and promote quad line kite flying as an exciting, family-oriented sport, accessible to all ages and physical conditions in a wide variety of wind conditions. Their captain was John Barresi, already a 10-time national multi-line champion at the time.
What is arev clinic?
Arev clinic was a meeting of kitefliers over several days, hosted by the Iquad team. The aim of these meetings was to share techniques and help kitefliers progress from beginner to expert level. To take part, all you had to do was register, and come with quad line kites capable of flying forwards, backwards, stopping and sliding sideways. Participants came mainly withRevolution or similar brand kites.
The atmosphere was fun, relaxed and very forgiving. It was a unique opportunity to learn from some of the most experienced pilots around.
The content covered during arev clinic
Introduction
The beginning of the clinic was dedicated to an hour-long introduction. The team shared a variety of techniques and tips to minimize common problems and maximize flying time:
- Identifying sail types, their uses, assembly and disassembly
- Knowing the different carbon rod options, their uses and the use of mixed leading edges
- Checking bungee and sail tension (on vertical rods)
- Cleaning your sail and perform general kite maintenance.
- Knowing line types, weights, lengths and applications.
- Equalize lines / identify stretched lines and fixing them.
- “2 minutes IN – 2 minutes OUT” (winding, unwinding and putting away lines).
- Adjustable handles, why and how.
Individual flying skills
Beginner level 1
- Position and use your body (posture, arms, hands, handle grip).
- Launching, loading the sail and handling line tension
- Re-launching from the ground, inverted (crash position)
- Use the essential inputsfor steering without over-control
Beginner level 2
- Hovering upright and facing right or left
- Hard stops, in control
- 180 turns
Intermediate level 1
- Sliding from sideways hover or upright
- Hovering at odd angles
- Basic flight patterns (figure 8, squares, triangles, circles, octagons, etc.)
- Exercise on edge of wind window, perform all maneuvers there
- Landing at a target point, in a straight line or at a 45° angle
- Light wind techniques
Intermediate level 2
- Inverted hover (stopping the kite with leading edge down)
- Tip pivots, up and down (turn up and down on the tip)
- Bicycle rotations (rotate around the sail center)
- Clockwork turns (rotation on the sail center with stops every 90° or 45°)
- Reverse flight, straight flight path
Advanced level 1
- Inverted slide (Glide with leading edge down)
- Execute flight maneuvers (compulsories in competition)
- Maneuver combinations, connecting them
- Beginning team maneuvers (starting positions,threads, ball, burst, etc.)
Advanced level 2
- Linking rotations around the center (bicycle) or clocks (left to right and vice versa)
- Reverse flight, curves and corners
- Tricks (axels,flics flacs,falling leaf)
- See-and-do exercises (such as “horse” in basketball)
- Advanced team maneuvers (blender,fly through,weaves, etc.)
Team flying skills
Beginner level
- Basics for team flying and be comfortable
- Assembly and disassembly kites and lines
- Figure 8 and following
- Formation flying
- 180 turns
- Threads
Intermediate level
- Threads &matrix
- Balls &bursts
- Odd/even diamonds
- Radars &pinwheels
- Benefits &compound benefits
Advanced level
- Fly through
- Twin radar
- Twister
- Blender
- Super blender
- Scissor bursts
- Weaves
- Bangers & mash
Grid flying
As mega team groups (megafly) get bigger and bigger every year, the Grid format allows such larger groupd of kitefliers to perform cooperative feats in a much smaller space and with less confusion. This format requires the basic skills discussed above.
- Body position and flight
- Entering / exiting the grid
- Basic maneuvers
The planning of arev clinic
Here’s the schedule for arev clinic in 2011.
Day 1
This day 1, offered on Friday, was optional, as it is often a working day for many people. It is proposed for people who can take part in a relaxed pre-clinic with some initial learning:
- Pre-clinic welcome
- Individual coaching
- Gear adjustment
- Open team flying
Day 2
8am – 9am: Meeting.
- Welcome and thanks to clinic sponsors
- Introduction of instructors
- Introduction of participants and their expectations
- Overview of gear and resources for the clinic
- Presentation of the schedule
- Questions and answers
9.30am – 10am: Introduction, sharing of tips and techniques by the instructors (see content above).
10am – 12pm: Training by level group (beginner 1, intermediate 1, advanced 1).
12pm – 1pm: Lunch break, free time, instructor-specific questions/answers.
1pm – 3pm: Training by level group (beginner 2, intermediate 2, advanced 2).
3pm – 5pm: Team flying training.
Day 3
9am – 9:30am: Round table discussion on specific obstacles.
10am – 12pm: Training in 3 groups & individual coaching: beginner, intermediate and advanced levels.
12pm – 1pm: Lunch break, free time for individual practice.
13h – 14h : Training again & individual coaching.
2pm – 5pm: Introduction to grid flying (see content above).
Gear for these coursesrev clinics
The Iquad team recommended that each participant wear warm clothing, even if it meant wearing several layers, and also rain gear. The intention was to feel comfortable and have fun whatever the weather. In the event that conditions did not allow for flying, the team proposed indoor activities for a hands-on, interactive workshop using simulator techniques.
Each participant was responsible for bringing his or her own lunch, water and sunscreen. The rhythm of the days allowed each participant to relax, take breaks and breathe.
Kite gear:
- For individual skills, the Iquad team accepted any quad line kite with similar capabilities toRevolutions. Spectra lines were recommended.
- For team skills, aRevolution 1.5 or similar in size, and a set of 120-foot spectra lines weighing 90 lb (40 kg) were required. Both these requirements correspond to the international standard for team flying.
- The team also recommended bringing at least 2 types of glider: standard and ventilated, to take advantage of all wind conditions.
Arerev clinics still organized?
Rev clinics is no longer organized in this form. The Iquad team was disbanded in September 2013.
Here are a few tips for taking part in similar events:
- In France, get in touch with the clubs in your region and the FFVL. At least one quad line clinic is organized every year.
- In the Netherlands, Jst-4-Fn clinics are organized once a year. Contact Roelof for more information.
- In the USA, John Barresi organizes equivalent quad clinics.
Did you like this content?
Do you like this content? Consider becoming a supporter! We’re actively looking for supporters to help us develop QuadKites.org: support our server costs, distribute our content, offer your skills…