Double Overhand Loop
Used to finish the end of your flying line. Works well for both sleeved and un-sleeved lines.
TANTRUM PILOT'S GUIDE TANTRUM PILOT'S GUIDE
Welcome, and congratulations on your selection of a new Tantrum - we hope you'll love it as much as we do! In this guide we've put together all the info, tips, and tricks you'll need to get the most out of your new kite: From setup and launching instructions to maintenance and customer support, we've got you covered! Read through to get the full story on your new kite, or use the table of contents to jump straight to a specific topic.
Not finding the answers you need? Contact our team at info@prismkites.com and we'll get back to you ASAP. We look forward to making your flight a success!
Smooth winds,
The Prism Team
Safety Information
As a pilot, you - and only you - are responsible for your safety and the safety of those around you when you fly. Read these instructions thoroughly, and make sure you understand how to properly use your kite before launching. Below are some important notes to keep in mind in order to ensure a safe flying experience:
- Make sure your flying space is clear before launching. Kites can move quickly and unpredictably, and your kite or its line could seriously injure anyone in their path if something goes wrong.
- Never wrap your flying line around your hands. In a gust, the wind can cause your kite to pull hard enough for the line to cut you seriously. Always hold the lines by their wrist straps.
Setting Up Your Kite
- Take the kite out of the bag and unfold it flat on the ground with the logo side facing up. Your control bar and flying lines should already be attached to the red and blue bridle pigtails on either side of the kite. If they aren’t, tie the red and blue line loops to the red and blue bridle pigtails using a Lark’s Head knot.
- Unwind some line from the control bar so you can hold the kite by the bridle pigtails and inflate it over your head with the mesh air inlets facing the wind. With the kite inflated overhead, check that all bridle lines are clear and untangled.
- Lay the kite back on the ground with the trailing edge facing the wind and put some sand or other suitable weight on the rear edge of the sail to keep it from blowing away.
- Walk slowly backwards into the wind as you unwind your flying lines from the control bar. Lay the lines on the ground parallel to each other and check for tangles as you go.
- When you reach the end of the lines, attach the safety strap to your right wrist and hold the control bar in front of you with the red end on the right. Note: Be sure that the wrist strap attaches to the red line between the two knots at the end of it.
Attaching Tails
You can attach a tail to your Tantrum using the small white loop located at the middle of the kite's bottom edge. A clip-on tail can be clipped in place here, and a tail without a clip can be connected by passing its attachment pigtail through the loop, and then feeding the tail through the pigtail to secure.
The Wind Window
The flight area of the kite is called the Wind Window and it extends in a semi-circle from the left to the right side of the pilot. In the middle of the Wind Window, known as the Power Zone, the kite will fly fastest and generates the most pull.
As it reaches the edge of the window it will pull less and slow to a stop. The Zenith, directly above the pilot at the top of the wind window, is the best place to “park” the kite when you want to rest your arms and minimize pull.
In a normal launch, the kite is flown from the ground through the middle of the wind window up to the zenith. This will result in near-maximum pull. For this reason, it is important before launch to check that the lines are attached correctly and not tangled, and that your safety leash is securely attached to your wrist. Make your first flights in lighter winds (10mph is perfect) until you are familiar with the power and handling of your kite.
Flight Basics
Launch
Sweep both arms back to launch. Keep the control bar low and in front of you for best control - don’t lift it up over your head!
Steering
Pull right line to turn clockwise, left line to turn counterclockwise. Hold hands even to continue straight in the direction the kite is pointed.
Maneuvers
Practice figure 8’s, loops, power dives, squares, horizontal low passes and landings to learn the basics.
Your first flight
Soft parafoil wings like the Tantrum must be inflated by the wind flowing into them to take shape and fly, just like a modern parachute or paraglider.
With your arms outstretched in front of you, pull in the lines just enough to inflate the sail, then take a step backwards and sweep your arms down and back briskly to launch. Hold your hands even and the kite should climb straight up into the sky.
Once airborne, pulling the right line slightly will turn your kite clockwise, pulling left will turn it counterclockwise. The kite will turn in the direction of your pull and keep turning until you even out your hands.
Practice making figure eights in the sky by alternating upward turns until you get a feel for keeping it in the air. If you repeatedly turn in one direction, you will build up a series of twists in the line. After around 10 twists, your lines will have noticeable friction as they slide past each other. When friction builds, make turns in the opposite direction until the twists are removed.
SAFETY LEASH: If at any point the kite pulls too hard or you start to lose control, just let go of the control bar and the safety leash will cause the kite to collapse and settle to the ground. In an emergency, pull the red tabs on the wrist strap to disconnect from the kite.
Tips
- Expect some “unplanned landings” while you learn to steer the kite. Most people take at least half an hour in steady winds to get the hang of it.
- Hold your arms outstretched in front of you at chest height as you fly, not over your head. Holding your arms high over your head will only make it more difficult to control the kite.
- Use small hand movements so you don’t over-control.
- After an “unplanned landing,” check the kite closely for loose parts or tangles before you re-launch.
- Light Winds: Light wind flying takes extra practice. The trick is to keep tension on the lines at all times by constantly moving around on the field. Gain altitude by walking backwards, and regain lost ground by moving forward while the kite glides down and away. Keep the kite moving and turn it before it comes to a stop.
- Strong Winds: Launch closer to the edge of the wind window to avoid getting yanked forward when the kite blasts straight up into the power zone. Be sure your flying area is clear of tripping hazards in case you get pulled forward. Don’t fly in strong winds until you are comfortable steering the kite in moderate conditions.
Landing
To land, fly the kite all the way to the edge of the wind window and slowly steer downwards. The kite will settle to the ground. Have a helper catch it and secure it to prevent it from blowing away in stronger winds. In an emergency, simply let go of the control bar with both hands and the safety leash will collapse the kite. Pull the red tab on the wrist strap to disconnect from the kite if necessary.
Packing Your Kite
Be sure the kite is secured by a helper or weighted on the ground to keep it from blowing away.
Walk towards the kite as you wind the flying lines in figure eights onto the control bar to prevent twists or tangles. When you get close to the kite, use the wrist strap and elastics at the bar ends to secure the lines on the bar. Leave the bar and lines attached to the kite to prevent tangling the bridles.
If you need to remove the lines for some reason, tie the two bridle pigtails together to prevent the bridles from getting tangled.
Shake any sand or dirt from the kite and fold it from tips to middle, then from trailing edge to leading edge until it is small enough to fit in the bag. Fold the bar with lines attached into the bag and store together.
The cords on the outside of the bag can be used as shoulder straps. Adjust their length with the cord lock hidden just inside the mouth of the bag.
Removing Sand From The Kite
Open the Velcro closure at the middle of the trailing edge of the kite and slide out the fabric tongue to hold it open. Shake sand towards the opening to drain. Small amounts of sand or water can be shaken out in flight.
About Flying Lines
IMPORTANT: The flying lines that come with your kite require proper care and handling to ensure their longevity. Used correctly your lines will last many years, but if mishandled you'll risk breaks, tangles, and even the loss of your kite. We've outlined the most common issues flyers encounter with their lines below, along with information to help you avoid making these mistakes yourself. Replacement flying lines are not covered under your kite's warranty, so be sure you read and understand the information in this section before you start flying.
Broken Flying Lines
The included lines are sufficiently strong to support your kite when flown within the advertised wind range (5-25 mph), but if those speeds are exceeded your lines may break. To prevent this, avoid launching your kite in winds near the very top of the recommended range. Wind speeds are variable, and flying at the maximum wind speed will leave you vulnerable to breakage if conditions suddenly change or an unexpected gust of wind comes along. Wind speeds are also generally stronger higher up in the air, so if you notice ground level speeds near the upper limit it's best to wait until conditions calm a bit before launching.
Breaks can also occur when attempting to tug your kite free of something it's become tangled in. Stay away from trees and other obstacles to avoid getting stuck, and if you experience an unplanned landing, check to be sure your lines aren't caught on anything before re-launching.
Lastly, keep a safe distance from other kites when flying. Lines can cut through each other when they get tangled in flight, so leave enough space for your neighboring kite flyers when choosing a spot to fly.
Tangles & Knots
Tangles and knots can be hard to fix, but luckily they're also very easy to prevent. Just remember this - your flying lines should always be either completely wound onto the included winder, or they should be making a straight line from the wrist straps to the kite. Avoid dragging your flying lines on the ground, unwinding them into a pile at your feet, or taking 'shortcuts' when winding them up at the end of your flight session, otherwise you're likely to end up with a tangled mess as your reward.
Useful Knots
Blood Knot
Can be used to join two pieces of line if your flying line breaks.
Lark's Head Knot
Can be used to connect your flying line to the line attachment point on your kite's bridle without the aid of an attachment clip.
Where to Fly
Wind becomes turbulent as it tumbles over and through obstacles, making it harder to launch and fly your kite. To get the best flight experience, fly well upwind of any obstacles that might cause turbulence.
Troubleshooting
If your kite doesn’t seem to be flying correctly, check the following:
Is there enough wind? Your kite will need around 4-7 mph of smooth wind to fly depending on your skill. Lighter winds are more difficult for beginners but become easier with practice.
Are there obstacles disturbing the wind? Wind can become turbulent and inconsistent from trees, hills, buildings, etc. nearby. You’ll feel turbulence in the lines as irregular pull in the lines and/or erratic behavior in the kite.
Are you holding the control bar correctly? The color coded red bar end should be in your right hand, blue in your left.
Are your bridles tangled? Sometimes a bridle line can become snagged on the kite or a line attachment point and affect the flying shape of the wing. Inflate the kite overhead and inspect each bridle while holding it from the line attachment pigtails.
Are your flying lines the same length? Occasionally lines can stretch unevenly, causing the kite to veer in one direction. If they are uneven by more than an inch, adjust the knot position where lines attach to the control bar leaders to even them out. If none of these points solve the problem and your kite still doesn’t fly correctly, contact your retailer or us directly and we’ll be happy to help.
Maintenance & Repairs
Maintenance
The materials in your kite are durable and designed for a long life with minimal maintenance. Here are a few tips to keep it healthy:
- Give your kite a pre-flight inspection before you launch to be sure everything is properly set up, the sail is intact, and the flying line isn't worn.
- Beach sand is abrasive and will wear on your lines and sail, so do what you can to dust off the sand after a session at the beach. A soft brush works great if you have one, and a freshwater rinse is a good idea if your kite has been swimming in salt water.
- Keep your kite out of hot car trunks and avoid using solvents to clean the sail as they can dissolve the adhesives in the seams. Warm water and a little dish detergent on a soft sponge works best for cleaning kites.
- Keep your kite out of the sun when not in use to prevent the sail from fading or becoming brittle.
Repairs
Sail tears are rare, but can happen if your kite lands in a sticker bush or needs to be yanked free from a tree. If this happens to you, don't despair! Our favorite repair tape is made specifically to make permanent, nearly invisible repairs to torn sails.
Support
Our Warranty
We’re confident you’re going to have a great time with every product we make. We guarantee that your new kite will arrive ready-to-fly and defect free, with all parts and accessories included. If you run into any issues upon inspecting your new kite, let us know and we’ll do what it takes to make things right.
Need Help? Get in Touch!
For help with general inquiries, repairs, or warranty issues, please contact us at info@prismkites.com. We’ll respond within 24 hours, Monday through Friday. To ensure fast service please include any relevant information in your email so we can get started helping you right away. This could include the model of your kite, the name of a part you are looking for, or your mailing address if we need to send something your way. We look forward to hearing from you!