Toms Kite Building Site

building your own trickkite

Parts

Leading edge:
The long part of the kite that runs from the nose down to the tip. Connectors are provided on the leading edges to connect the upper spreader and the lower spreader at the precise spot on the kite.

Tip:
The bottom part of the leading edge, provided with an end cap to tension the sail.

Upper spreader:
(top cross) The horizontal spar that keeps the distance between the leading edges on the top part of the kite.

Lower spreader:
The lower spars that keep the distance between the leading edges on the bottom part of the kite. These spars are conical, on most trick kites, this prevents extreme bending during the execution of tricks.

Spine:
The vertical spar that connects the nose to the tail on the backside of the kite.

Nose:
The top-part of the kite. This has extra fortification to prevent the spine or spars to tear the fabric.

Tail:
Has a piece of Velcro on it to keep the spine on its spot.

Cross:
The central-T is used to connect the lower spreaders to the spine. To prevent wear and tear to the sail, the opening in the sail has a fortification around it.

Stand-offs:
These are the fine thin spars of full carbon that push the sail backwards. Thanks to these, the sail gets its shape and volume.

Trailing edge:
That is the bottom end of the sail, it's fortified. Inside it is a line to be able to tune the tension of the sail (called Leechline).

Bridle:
Is the set of lines that is knotted to the frame, it allows us to steer the kite.

Nose bag:
Sits underneath the nose-fortification and is a piece of doubly-folded Dacron that is glued on the top of the kite. On the backside of the sail we put the spine into the nosebag.

Spine tunnel:
Is a piece of hard Velcro that is glued and sewed onto the sail below the central-T to keep the spine on its spot.

Yoyo stopper:
In a yoyo trick, the kite has to turn in the vertical axis and roll itself up into the lines. While doing so, the lines glide over the leading edges. Thanks to the yoyo stoppers the flying lines are caught in the right spot, allowing the kite to remain steerable.