Categories of Kites

OK what kind of kites are there?

Stunt, Trick, and Sport Kites

This is one of my pet irritations in the kite world - what exactly is the difference between a Stunt Kite, a Trick Kite and a Sport Kite?

I have come to the conclusion it's a question of image more than anything else! The categories often go something like this:

• Stunt Kite : Cheap dual line kite that children buy from seaside shops and can be controlled.
• Trick Kite : Expensive dual line kite that group ups buy from kite shops and can do 'radical' tricks such as axels, stalls, etc.
• Sport Kite : Expensive dual line kite that grown ups buy from kite shops and can fly nice straight lines and turn perfect corners. Great for competitions and ballet.

And so it appears that any kite named a Stunt Kite is looked down on by owners of Trick and Sports kite. So where does that leave quad line kites such as the Revolution? Or tri line kites such as the Synergy 333? What are they?

And so I have given up! I fly stunt kites - and proud of it! After all they are kites, and they do stunts - be it 'radical' tricks or perfect lines and turns, two or four lines, whatever.

OK it doesn't sound as good to other fliers, but at least non-fliers have some idea what I'm going on about ("Oh a STUNT kite - I like those!").

Power and Traction Kites

So what is the difference here? What does a power kite do, that a traction kite doesn't?

I think the answer is it's the intention of the kite designers. A traction kite is designed to move you - either on wheels (skates, buggy or landboard) or water (board or even boat), whereas a power kite is intended just to feel powerful when flying.

Of course in a strong wind you could indeed be pulled along in a buggy using a power kite (such as a Flexifoil Stacker), and a traction kite could indeed be flown for fun without the wheels or water aspect - even being flown like a stunt kite in lower winds.

And not forgetting dual or quad line stunt kites can also be used for power (or indeed traction) purposes.........