Precision flying

Flying with precision means being able to choose a flight path before launching, then reproduce it several times. You can observe the result through the direction travelled, consistency of speed, clean stops and the ability to return to the same reference points.

A complete figure is not necessary to get started. A short, repeated flight path is enough to reveal unnecessary corrections, changes in speed and deviations from the intended line.

Choose a stopping height in advance. Throughout the exercise, keep the leading edge facing upward and aim to maintain the same pace:

1. launch straight up to the chosen height;
2. hold the kite still for two seconds;
3. descend in a straight line without changing its orientation;
4. land cleanly at the starting point.

Repeat the exercise several times. Observe the vertical path, accuracy of the stop, consistency of pace and landing position. If one of these varies too much, focus only on that criterion during the next attempts.

Once the exercise becomes consistent, change only the stopping height, pace or starting position. Keep the other reference points identical so you can feel the effect of that change before adding movements.

Gradually build a library of familiar sequences: group a few movements, then adapt their size, speed, position in the wind window, entry or exit. These sequences can then be connected to improvise while maintaining a clear direction.

Precision figures also provide ready-made flight paths to try, even without any intention to compete: explore the novice figures and international figures.

Once your trajectories and stops become repeatable, put that precision to work in team flying.

If your launches, stops and landings are not yet consistent, start with the basics of flying.

Videos are in English or French. You can activate subtitles in the YouTube player if you need to: how to activate subtitles.

Thanks to all the video authors for sharing their tutorials.

The following resources are building blocks for your own flight plans. They are grouped by movement family without forming an official difficulty scale.

These drills isolate two fundamental movements: crossing the wind window horizontally and sliding without changing the kite’s orientation.

Drill — Thierry Bressure

Drill — Thierry Bressure

This family brings together a driven half-turn, quarter-turn orientation changes, rotation while travelling and a pivot around one wingtip.

Tutorial — KiteLife

The two videos provide a guided drill followed by another example of the movement.

Drill — Thierry Bressure

Example — Spence Watson

Drill — Thierry Bressure

Variation — Thierry Bressure

These two videos cover different rotations: a bicycle spin demonstration and a beginner’s reflections on snap spins.

Demonstration — Spence Watson

Beginner’s perspective on snap spins — Colin Barbeau

To discover other progressions and methods, explore resources by author.

External resources:

• Flying techniques, tips, precision - Carl Robertshaw
  • Revolutions from 19:50
  • Airbows at the beginning of the video
• KiteLife articles:
  • Inspiration for the sequence library and its variations: Flying with intent — John Barresi
  • Using the wind window
  • When it becomes routine
  • Hydrodynamics, or how to fly in water
• Forum feedback:
  • Making clean stops - Au fil du vent