Introduction

Over the last few years the face of freestyle has changed a lot. The 'French Revolution' as it has been called has introduced new flying styles and tricks to the world of kite flying. Many people in the UK and USA have bought into the kites and flying style some others have been less keen.

Interestingly two of the kite worlds most innovative designers and manufacturers Prism kites of the USA and Benson Kites of the UK don't seem to be jumping on the bandwagon. Are they falling behind the times?

So kHiTe has a long hard look at the 'New School'.

Is it New?

Possibly Not.

Many of the 'new' tricks being flown are not that new at all. People have been flying yo-yo's for years, what is true is that the addition of stoppers and weights has really helped expand that area of flying. However very few fliers would suggest it is without cost to other areas of performance.

There has been a tendancy towards Polyvalent kites on longer lines, but there have always been Polyvalent kites on longer lines, not just on the Continent but in the UK and US too.

The 'French Style' is more of a development of a type of flying that has always been around, especially in competition circles. The link with competition is important as the 'French Style' of flying has been particularly expressed in the Tricks Party competition scene.

Is it Freestyle?

Let's have a brief look at the rules of Tricks Party:

"Each competitor has beforehand to fill a form (furnished during the inscription) with order and names of the tricks which will be performed during the ballet." Tricks Party

"4 from the 8 selected tricks will be chosen by judges prior to competition regarding to wind conditions. Each trick is notated once on a 10 points base; meanwhile, competitor may performed the trick a second time, but notation will be on a 8 points base. Judges will take in account highest mark. " Tricks Party

Compare this to:

"Freestyle is not another word for "trick flying". Sure, freestyle flying will often include radical tricks and extreme moves, but the two are not synonymous. Freestyle is about Freedom and Style. Freedom to express yourself and explore the moment, and to do it with style. Freestyle flying can be any kind of flying. That's where the freedom comes from." ABW

Perhaps it is not fair to take ABW's words as definitive:

(Freestyle is a) "much more free-form pastime - reflecting the natural line and grace of kite's flight. Flowing movement rather than trying to dominate the kite." Andy Preston in KP

There is definitely a fundamental difference of approach between the two Andy's and the Tricks Party.

Q: Is one right and one wrong?
A: No.

Okay.

Q: Are they both talking about the same thing.
A: Probably not.

Hmm. Is it about competition?

Is Freestyle Competitive?

Until recently I would have said that Freestyle was not competitive, but then I realized that this is simply not the case.

Many of the top freestyle fliers are deeply competitive, but it not a desire to fulfill the demands of a judges score pad, rather it is an internal competition. It is a desire to fly better than you fly already. It is a desire to fly with, and show off to your fellow fliers. This is not surprising as this is the way many trick sports work. ABW's Freestyle Competition (often known as the Trickout) flows from this approach. It is not about being the best, but rather about pushing yourself creatively.

It is important that international competitive kite bodies recognize this competitive nature inherent in Freestyle and acknowledge it.

Progressive Old School?

This rant is not about knocking the 'French Style', or any type of flying, instead it is about getting back to basics about what Freestyle is.

Is this a Progressive Old School?

I would go further, and say that there is really no such thing as Old School and New School Freestyle, there is simply a Technical Freestyle School and the er .. Freestyle Freestyle School!

Freestyle is about flowing with the kite, not dominating the kite, exploring the wind rather than needing it to be perfect. Watch a video of ABW flying to see what I mean.

It's a style that suits fliers of all levels, fliers who can't find the perfect flying field, fliers who want to tune in and chill out.