Video clips

• WindDance 1 at play! -- short version   WindowsMedia, QuickTime
  
• WindDance 1 in violent and medium winds -- three clips   WindowsMedia, QuickTime
  
• WindDance 1 with music -- a clip by Tom White, Canada   WindowsMedia
   
  
• Way too much fun with a WindDance 2 -- nine clips by Gordon Garradd, Australia   QuickTime
  
• WindDance 2 at sunset   WindowsMedia, QuickTime
  
• WindDance 2 in light winds -- short version and four others   WindowsMedia, QuickTime
   
  
• WindDance 3 with music -- a clip by Tom White, Canada   WindowsMedia.   See his WindDance 3 photos!
  
• WindDance 3 in light winds -- short version and two others   WindowsMedia, QuickTime
   
  
• WindDancing at the beach -- four clips   WindowsMedia, QuickTime
   
  
• WindDancing side-by-side -- four clips   WindowsMedia, QuickTime
   
  
• "Just PULL it!" skill video   WindowsMedia, QuickTime

About these clips . . .

As you view them, observe how the WindDance Wing always keeps its shape because the bridle lines from one control line support both sides of the wing when you pull on one line to turn -- including during on-a-wingtip spins, down-turns at the side edge, and tail-down spin landings.

Compare that to how the wings of other dual-line kites, deltas and parafoils, deform when you turn them hard because half the bridle is missing -- bridle lines from one control line support only its side of the wing, a huge design fault, leaving the other side unsupported. Which is why all those deltas and parafoils deform out of shape and lose performance during hard turns.

In these clips you can only SEE how incredibly well WindDances fly. A poor substitute for the real thing when you also FEEL their amazing liveliness and power and HEAR the exciting hiss and shriek of their speed! Especially when you turn a WindDance energetically -- and feel the pull rise and transfer into one control line (as high as 100 or more pounds during a sharp hard turn) -- which in delicious wind can happen once a second (a rate of 3,600 times per hour as in the "WindDance 1 at play!" video) because the fun makes you do it!

When watching these clips, think "pull = speed = FLYING," the core fundamental of stunt kiting. Pull makes speed, and speed makes pull (memorize that). When there's more pull there's more speed, and when there's more speed there's more pull. That goes for straight flight and turning flight. The wind makes the pull and speed, or you make the pull and speed, or you and the wind make the pull and the speed together on the WindDance flight envelope where the WindDancing fun happens.

Keep in mind how the WindDance 1 is our slowest model, in straight-line speed, and how the WindDance 3 is the fastest. If the WindDance 1 looks faster in the videos, it's because stronger wind and energetic FLYING skill make it faster. If the WindDance 2 and 3 look slower in the videos, it's because the lighter wind makes them slower. When flying in the same wind, the WindDance 3 flies faster than the WindDance 2 which flies faster than the WindDance 1. Why is this the opposite of what's typical for kites (bigger kites usually fly faster than smaller kites)? Because WindDances are airgear and not typical kites! See the WindDance performance curves.

We all flew with 75-ft Spectra control lines and Eclipse ergo T-handles. Except for Tom White, above, who used lines twice as long. Longer lines make a kite seem slower, and shorter lines make a kite seem faster: Apparent speed vs actual speed.

Who shot most of the videos on this website, including the "WindDance 1 at play!" and "WindDance 2 at sunset" clips? Sue did, as a camcorder newbie!

WindDance 1 at play!                              

WindowsMedia 500 kbps

QuickTime 500 kbps

Medium, steady, high-quality wind about 10 mph.

This video shows our slowest WindDance model.

What incredible zippiness! As you watch this clip, remember that in 20-mph wind the WindDance 1 is twice as fast.

NOTE: The WindDance 2 and 3 are faster and more powerful than the WindDance 1 in the same wind. Like the WindDance 1, they also turn sharp square corners, spin on-a-wingtip, and do hot basic moves that other kites cannot do: CLICK HERE. Being larger, the WindDance 2 and 3 provide a more-intense strength and aerobic workout than the WindDance 1 can: CLICK HERE.

All you need is full basic skill -- which includes this simple turning basic -- our sport's hottest and EASIEST skill!

If what you see in the video is so fast and agile it spooks you -- yes, we've had complaints about that! -- keep in mind that the speed and pull can be tamed by adding a pair of tails (made from cheap videotape), by setting the bridle to a lower-speed setting (we certainly never do!), by flying in lighter winds, and by flying it PASSIVELY like people usually fly a "kite" instead of flying it ACTIVELY like "airgear" entices you to fly.

This is fun-recreational flying! Do you ever see anything this hot during competition flying with high-tech delta kites? Or in demonstrations by experts at kite festivals? No. Way. Ever.

If we, Dan and Sue in our early 60s, can do it -- I, Dan, have very slow reflexes -- then ANYBODY can do it! Imagine what well-practiced strong young flyers could do! We especially like the excitement and challenge of turbulent winds!

During every one of those sharp turns, all the pull transfers into one line and the power of the kite rises -- the normal steering-&-turning feel you experience with vehicles and outdoor gear. Other kites have a very different feel. When you sharply turn them -- deltas, diamonds, and parafoils -- the opposite happens: the pull stays even in both lines and the power of the kite drops -- a very un-normal steering-&-turning feel that makes learning and control more difficult and good kiting exercise near impossible.

To turn a WindDance, swing your arm and hand back like when cross-country skiing. Every turn is a rep of "pumping-air" exercise. One turn per second -- the average frequency shown in the clip -- provides 3600 reps of "pumping air" per hour: 1800 with the right side of your upper body, and 1800 with your left. In 20-mph wind, when the WD1 flying is two-times faster and pulling four-times harder, the rep rate can rise to 7200 per hour and your workout becomes eight-times more intense! When "pumping air" with one arm at a time like that, you torque your upper and lower body and work large body muscles that normally remain idle when power and traction flying. This high-quality exercise is a nice accidental side-effect of WindDancing. The fun makes you do it. See the possibilities?

The difference between WindDancing and the usual power/traction flying? It's like the difference between working your arms and upper body while cross-country skiing -- and strenuously playing tug-of-war with your control lines anchored to a telephone pole, always with equal pull in both arms. Usually, however, power/traction flyers take all the pull through a "power-kite harness" so as to not strain or exercise their hands, arms, or upper body at all -- poor exercise indeed.

Want even more fun? WindDance side-by-side with friends like THIS!

Is your cup of tea a relaxing pace instead? Merely tame it as described above. Or drive it sedately.

The WindDance 2 and 3 also deliver this fun and versatility -- but with more speed and power, and with more of a body-torquing workout.

WindDance 1 in violent and medium winds  

WindowsMedia Part 1  500 kbps WindowsMedia Part 2  500 kbps WindowsMedia Part 3  500 kbps

QuickTime Part 1  500 kbps QuickTime Part 2  500 kbps QuickTime Part 3  500 kbps

In Part 1, when flying in blustery 15-30 mph winds, the WindDance 1 averages 90 mph during an edge-to-edge pass -- watch for it. Parts 2-3, shot in steady high-quality wind about 10 mph, show the entire "WindDance 1 at play" camcording take; notice how slowly the stunt kites in the background are flying. Take note of the on-a-wingtip spins, ultra-fast 180-hairpins, and snappy sharp down-turns at the side edge.

WindDance 1 with music  

WindowsMedia  256 kbps

By Tom White from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. 150#-120' lines, 23 mph gusty winds. Wrote Tom, "[A]round the 3 min 8 sec part of the video I calculated the speed (off the original video) at 154 mph. What a hoot....it is hard to perform fancy maneuvers when your brain is barely keeping up :-)"

Way too much fun (WTMF) with a WindDance 2 down under  

QuickTime WTMF 1  500 kbps QuickTime WTMF 2  500 kbps QuickTime WTMF 3  500 kbps QuickTime WTMF 4  500 kbps QuickTime WTMF 5  500 kbps QuickTime WTMF 6  500 kbps QuickTime WTMF 7  500 kbps QuickTime WTMF 8  500 kbps QuickTime 360 in light wind  500 kbps

Here is Gordon Garradd flying his WindDance 2 at Woolgoolga Headland, NSW, Australia. Notice the artistry of the camera operator, Yvette, using a Nikon Coolpix digital still camera! 15-20 mph winds, 75'-150# lines with 10' bumpy-wind adapters, 10-15 meter tails made of 15 mm wide nylon ripstop. As you watch these amazing clips, keep in mind that the tails are slowing the WD2 down a lot. WTMF 1-8 story. 360 story.

WindDance 2 at sunset  

WindowsMedia 500 kbps

QuickTime 500 kbps

Very light wind, less than 3 mph, barely enough to fly. A solo slow dance at sunset on Seattle's Kite Hill with a WindDance 2.

The wind had pretty much died so we packed up and started to leave. And then the sky suddenly turned glorious. So we quickly set up to fly again and Sue camcorded as I, Dan, flew.

WindDance 2 in light winds  

WindowsMedia Short  500 kbps WindowsMedia Part 1  500 kbps WindowsMedia Part 2  500 kbps WindowsMedia Part 3  500 kbps WindowsMedia Part 4  500 kbps

QuickTime Short  500 kbps QuickTime Part 1  500 kbps QuickTime Part 2  500 kbps QuickTime Part 3  500 kbps QuickTime Part 4  500 kbps

Very-light and light wind, but steady high-quality low wind. Take note of the precise handling, square cornering, on-a-wingtip spins, a tip-stand, and snappy tail-down spin landings. As you watch, too bad you can't actually feel the frequent body-twisting turning power. You may also like the 'impossible' down-turns at the side edge.

WindDance 3 with music  

WindowsMedia  82 kbps

By Tom White from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. 150#-150'lines, 11-19 mph winds. MUCH better than OUR videos! Read the story! See his WindDance 3 photos!

WindDance 3 in light winds  

WindowsMedia Short  500 kbps WindowsMedia Part 1  500 kbps WindowsMedia Part 2  500 kbps

QuickTime Short  500 kbps QuickTime Part 1  500 kbps QuickTime Part 2  500 kbps

Light, steady wind. Watch the fast and snappy performance -- in spite of the light winds -- including sharp cornering, on-a-wingtip spins, tail-down spin landings, and the 'parafoils-can't-do-this' down-turning near the ground at the side edge.

WindDancing at a Long Beach WA kite festival    

WindowsMedia Part 1  500 kbps WindowsMedia Part 2  500 kbps WindowsMedia Part 3  500 kbps WindowsMedia Part 4  500 kbps

QuickTime Part 1  500 kbps QuickTime Part 2  500 kbps QuickTime Part 3  500 kbps QuickTime Part 4  500 kbps

The wind that early morning was less than 10 mph. The tails? Reflective mylar "bird" tape used by gardeners; although nice, they slow the WindDance down a lot including during turns. In Part 1, the passer-by (WD2) WindDancing side-by-side with Sue (WD1) had never flown a WindDance before! In Part 3, that's Sue (notice how I, Dan, doing the camcording can't compose as well as Sue can)! In Part 4, check out the snappy down-turning at the side edge -- as well as the simple 'n' easy pull-on-a-kite-line skill that does it.

WindDancing side-by-side in Seattle's Discovery Park  

WindowsMedia Part 1a  250 kbps WindowsMedia Part 1b  250 kbps WindowsMedia Part 2a  250 kbps WindowsMedia Part 2b  250 kbps

QuickTime Part 1a  250 kbps QuickTime Part 1b  250 kbps QuickTime Part 2a  250 kbps QuickTime Part 2b  250 kbps

WindDance 1 (Sue) and WindDance 2 (Dan). Very light unsteady wind. To see that, observe the trees, look for the white seagull flapping its way upwind at good speed, and notice how the wind nearly stops a couple of times and kills flying speed and strengthens a bit at times and makes 'em zip. Also watch how active turning skill makes 'em zip. Yes, there are midair collisions.

"Just PULL it!" skill video      

WindowsMedia 500 kbps

QuickTime 500 kbps

Light wind with a WindDance 2.

In this clip learn how to launch, land, turn and spin, and how to make your body nicely burn.

About "speed" and about "pull." The closer to the powerzone, the higher the speed and pull (CLICK HERE , HERE , HERE). The stronger the wind, the higher the speed and pull (CLICK HERE , HERE , HERE).

The secret for achieving hot speed and turning and great exercise? "Pull to make it FLY." Pull hard on one line to generate fast and tight turning and a nice burn in your body. It works because "pull = speed = FLYING" for straight flight and for turning. You see the exciting results of this very basic skill in all of our clips.

Hot turning -- which can only come from strong pull in one line -- and great exercise don't happen with other kites because 1) they respond poorly to basic pull-on-one-line skill, and because 2) their pull subsides when you turn them with that basic skill.

The secret for doing the stalls and tail-down spin landings? "Eliminate pull to eliminate FLYING." This is the same slack-line technique used with trick and competition delta kites. It works because "no pull = no speed = no FLYING."

WindDance dual-line parafoil stunt kites/sport kites are developed, sold, and backed by Seattle AirGear.
WindDance, WindDancing, Seattle AirGear, and AirGear are trademarks of Seattle AirGear.
Copyright © 1995-2017 Seattle AirGear.
This page last revised Apr-29-2006