flying
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 kiteblasts 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
up
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 bri-
dle pigtails together to prevent the bridles from getting tangled.
Shake and 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 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.
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 tur-
bulent 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 fly-
ing 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.
care
and
repair
The advanced materials in your kite are durable and designed
for a long life with minimal maintenance. Keep your kite out
of the sun when not in use to keep the sailcloth from fading.
Beach sand is abrasive and will wear on bridles, so do what
you can to dust off the sand after a session at the beach.
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 don’t use
solvents for cleaning.
SAIL REPAIRS: Your kite will last a long time unless you like to fly
near cactus or barbed wire fences. Many tears and punctures can
be invisibly repaired using a special transparent adhesive film
which is unaffected by moisture or UV from the sun. Repair tape
and other repair materials are available from the spare parts section
of our website at www.prismkites.com.
TO SEND IN A REPAIR, download our repair form from the
website and include it with your kite so we know who you are
and how we can help.
videos
and
more
information
Visit www.prismkites.com/support for video tips on more advanced
tricks, tuning, and flying sport kites.
specifications
TANTRUM 220
TANTRUM 250
Wind Range
5-25 mph
4-25 mph
Kite Size
220 cm
250 cm
Packed Weight
21 oz
26 oz
Line Length/Weight
85’/150 lbs
85’/300 lbs
Line Material Polyester Dyneema
Includes
Flying lines, control bar, safety leash
TRAILING EDGE
our
word
At Prism, we are confident you’re going to
have a great time with every product we make. But for any
reason you’re not happy and your retailer is unable to help,
let us know and we’ll do what it takes to make things right.
Damage due to normal wear and tear can almost always
be repaired at a reasonable charge. Spare parts for all
Prism kites can be ordered direct from our web store at
www.prismkites.com
.
4214 24th Ave. West
Seattle, Washington 98199
Phone: 206.547.1100
Fax: 206.547.1200
e-mail: info@prismkites.com
