Hands of P. Walker doing an overhead 8

[Paul Taylor]

Thanks Steve for the video. It helps.
Here is the link on youtube for anyone that wants to see it.




Paul

[Richard Grogan]

Thanks for passing it on Paul. Good Stuff!

[Paul Taylor]

I wish I had one for each stunt.

This helps me. See how the Master's do it.

[bill marvel]

I wish I had one for each stunt.

This helps me. See how the Master's do it.

It is a ballet, isn't it, Paul?  Like you, I always learn far more watching the flyer than watching the plane.  He is so graceful!!!
regards,
bill marvel

[Bill Gruby]

Hi Paul;

     The man is poetry in motion. If you see nothing else watch very close he does not fly from the wrist or the elbow--his whole arm is in motion he flys the maneuvers from his shoulder.

  "Billy G"   

[Randy Powell]

I've watched Paul fly a lot at contests. Always wondered if there is some sort of unseen connection between the handle and his chin. He usually sites right down the lines during maneuvers. 

[Shultzie]

Very true....Paul is so much fun to watch and I agree that sighting down that handle in flight can also give the flyer another often overlooked and perhaps an equally hidden advantage.

For example...when flying freestyle sportkites, perhaps the biggest helpful tip was given to me by MARK REED one of the most gifted kite flyers on the planet, in the mid 1990's  when I was marginally good enough to be  sponsored  by www.prismkites.com.
Mark is the ultimate teacher...and his advice should be taken not only for KITE ADDICTS..BUT ALSO CONTROL LINE STUNT ADDICTS..AS WELL!

"WATCH THOSE LINES!" Watch what they are telling you (even in advance) what and how the wind will effect the kite's flight path and it is PRIORITY JOB NUMBER ONE to visually keep a keen eye on how the wind effects those lines.
Also of equal important...how those lines, straps, handles..can  actually telegraph "feelings-those almost unfelt little vibrations or mini tugs that the wind induces into the lines.....

THAT WILL  ADD THEIR OWN INPUT TO THE KITE,(stunt model) and just how much we can IMPROVE OUR FLIGHT PATH ACCURACY,...OVER THE MAJORITY OF OTHER KITE (stuntmodel) FLYERS FLYING SKILLS...(especially for Precision flying events that demand precise control at all times) WHO SIMPLY JUST WATCH THEIR  (stunters) KITES ONLY!

In other words......ONE CAN IMPROVE THEIR FLYING SKILLS much faster...IF ONLY THEY can improve their skill of seeing, reading and become  more  acutely aware of WHAT THOSE LINES ARE CONSTANTLY TELLING YOU, NOT ONLY BY THE LINE DRAPE, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY...those teenie minute...pulls..vibration...bumps, tugs that are constantly effecting the  line pull input to the kite.

This leads to the handles or the flying straps themselves....KEEPING THE WEIGHT OF THE HANDLES AS LIGHT IN WEIGHT also is of prime importance in gaining a feel of what the kite and the lines are trying to telegraph to the flyer.
(Could this also be one reason that some of the lighter weight stunt models..just appear to fly more accurately...simply because we can now feel what those lines and lighter model on the end of our lines is trying to telegraph back through those lines, into our handles..and into our muscle memory thang?')

What do you think?

Mark Reed greatest advice still boils down to one thing...PRACTING FLYING IS ALMOST A WASTE OF TIME...and just stresses your mind and equipment if you are practicing to win any competiton...IF YOU DO NOT PRACTICE EACH FLYING SESSION WITH A GOAL IN MIND! But not to worry...if you do not have a goal in mind...GET OUT THERE ANYWAY...

USE THAT FIRST PRACTICE FLIGHT...OFTEN IS THE WAY TO GAIN A NEW BUT EQUALLY IMPORTANT GOAL FOR THE DAY!
 Mark also reminded us constantly after flying and on the way home...THINK BACK? WHAT NEW THING DID YOU LEARN TODAY
and learning NEW EACH DAY..is a pretty darn good goal in itself...FOR ANY HUMAN BEING. Hummm?
 I think I remember him reminding me...that perhaps in my case. Leaning anything new...would be a revelation in itself? 
(HUMM? EVEN OLD DOGS N' DAD'S CAN LEARN NEW TRICKS...hummm? Good Question.

[Jim Thomerson]

A question.  I am of the opinion that one has to do a fairly obvious rapid shift of handle from, say, up to down, at the intersection of 8's to avoid obvious flats at the intersections.  Do you think this is the case in the Walker video?

[Howard Rush]

It looks like he did, except the abrupt entry into the initial inside wasn't apparent.  It also looks like he rotates the handle in the axis of the direction of the lines, too.  That's interesting.  I should pay more attention to this stuff.  There's a heap to learn.