SOTM June provides ground and aerial views of the snap multilazy - one trick done repeatedly, in this case fast to fit an aggressive flying style.

In the first view, the kite enters from the top of the frame, flying diagonally downwards. I initiate a snap lazy but don't make the inputs quite as strong as usual because the lines need to maintain some tension for the multilazy rotations that follow. The multilazy input is simply a repetitive pulsing of the left line, making sure not to overdo the input strength; once the kite is rotating, it takes less force to keep spinning. Time your inputs for the repeated lazies earlier than you might expect - give the inputs as the kite is on its way to face you, rather than when the kite is facing you.

The aerial view shows the same sort of trick, though this time for a horizontal flight entry. In this sequence the multilazy ends with a half-axel, then a single quick snap lazy to drop the kite to a two-point landing.

The snap multilazy is a great trick to add punch and puctuation to your flying, and it is typically easier to learn than multilazies from a standard backflip. The Mohawk XS, MX Comp and MX are excellent at this trick.

'Till next time,
A.

SOTM May is a medium length sequence that mixes a variety of tricks, from simple building blocks such as the fractured axel, to newer moves like the comete.

With both wingtips on the ground, I begin with a simple fractured axel. During the axel part of the move, draw your hands back firmly but gradually, and take a step back, to achieve a reasonable amount of height from the ground. From the fade position the kite flows straight to backspins and a backflip to setup a lazy susan. The lazy is hit hard enough to make two full rotations, but I interrupt the spin after one-and-a-half to exit into a horizontal flying position. This is the perfect setup for another fractured axel.

Angling the fade as a setup for the flatspin, the kite does a snappy fade-to-540 which immediately flows into a comete. If you can reliably fade-to-540 and comete as individual tricks, my best advice for this transition is to avoid over analysing or over thinking the situation; the flow will probably come more naturally than you expect. The kite flies out of the comete and into a series of alternating inverses, similar to those in SOTM February.

'Till next time,
A.

SOTM April focuses on a multi-slot machine that flows into a half-axel exit to a horizontal two-point landing.

In this sequence I deliberately deviate from the typical "top-to-bottom" multi-slot that descends with each slot stacked directly below the previous one. Instead, the kite follows a diagonally-downward path which is created by inserting a tiny length of horizontal flight between each slot machine.

A key aspect to multi-slot success is the exit position of each individual slot since it forms the entry point for the subsequent iteration. Aim to draw up the slack as each slot completes so that the nose points as close as possible to the 3/9 o'clock position. Under-cooking the top-wing input will cause the nose to point somewhere between 3/9 and 6 o'clock, making the next iteration possible but unclean. Over-cook the input and the nose position will lie between 3/9 and 12 o'clock, making the next slot very difficult indeed.

Keep your inputs smooth and gentle; the multi-slot is not a trick that appreciates brute-force, even in high winds.

'Till next time,

Adrian.

SOTM March is a combination of two not-often-seen "feel good" tricks that work best in light to moderate winds.

The combination starts with a standard MXS flying vertically downards into the frame. I hit an agressive snap turtle -- which would usually be the setup for a kombo (snap lazy to landing) -- but instead hit the lazy hard to get 1.5 rotations. This means that the lazy rotations end with the nose away so that the kite can be drawn back into a fade, just above the ground. At this point the kite flows into a lateral roll, backflip and an even harder lazy susan input to produce two full rotations from a single input. The height of the double lazy is just right for the kite to land on both wingtips simultaneously.

These tricks are safest to do on a kite with 7PT, 5PT or 3PT lower spreaders; the single-input multiple-rotation lazies are not something I would try on an SUL with 2PT (or lighter) spreaders. Having said that, the sequence is still possible on SUL kites if the lazy rotations are done using two gentle inputs rather than single hard hits.

'Till next month,

Adrian.