• Kiting requires smooth maneuvers.kites image by Clarence Alford from Fotolia.com
  
  Flying kites is an ancient skill that remains popular. The Chinese used kites 3,000 years ago to send messages and spy on their enemies. Today, there are many specialist shops catering to enthusiasts, and numerous information resources advising newcomers and seasoned kite fliers on the techniques and maneuvers for basic and specialist kites.
  
  

Launching a Kite

• Make some basic safety checks before launching any kite. For example, don't go kiting near power lines, trees, roads and houses, or during a thunderstorm. Open spaces such as beaches and sports fields are safer kiting environments. First, ensure all the flying lines are of equal length. Stunt kites need lines of 75 to 100 feet. Shorter lines reduce control and the kite moves too fast, while lines that are too long make maneuvers difficult. Beginners might appreciate an assistant to hold the kite by the base and center strut. Keep enough distance between you to give the line tension. In mild wind, the assistant may run with the kite and release it. The person holding the winder then takes a step backward to help the kite fly. With a stronger wind, simply releasing it is usually sufficient to get the kite up.
  
  

Guiding a Kite

• According to WindPower Sports, the first important maneuver is tracing a figure eight with the kite. The key to success is in smooth, rather than jerky, hand movements. Turn the kite to the right by pulling back on the right handle, then bring your hands level. Now, slowly turn the kite toward the left. This movement creates a loop until you have turned the handle all the way to the left. Repeat the action in the opposite direction. If you keep turning the winder, the kite will make a complete circle. This is likely to result in tangled lines.
  
  

Bringing a Kite Down

• The kite winder is used to store the kite line, guide the kite in the air and bring it down. Typically, the winder is made from wood and plastic. It is similar to an elongated cotton thread spool but with the addition of a handle going through the center. The ends of the spool are wide enough to prevent the line from spilling off. To bring a kite down, walk toward the kite, pulling the line in with both hands until the kite is within reach. Hold one end of the winder in your dominant hand and rest the other end in the crook of the elbow. Rotate the winder with your dominant hand while guiding the string with the fingers of your other hand to prevent tangling as the line wraps around the winder.