KiteJan

How to....

1. Place both handles in one hand. As I'm right handed I place both in my left hand.
2. Pick up the kite with your free hand (for me my right hand) and hold it like a javelin near the end of leading edge and the kite horizontal with the bridle lines downwards. You may need to hold the leading edge with you thumb and first finger and support the weight of the kite with your other fingers.
3. Check that you have no flying line wrapped around it's wingtips or around your feet (or any other obstructions on the ground).
4. Pull your arm back and throw the kite as hard as you can straight downwind.
5. As the kite travels transfer the handle back to your throwing hand so you are ready to resume normal flight.
6. When the kite gets to the end of the lines you should end up in an inverted hover (where the leading edge of the Revolution is parallel to the ground).

Download either the large or small version of the Near-zero wind flying video (Windows Media only) and at 1:11 there is an example of Dave (not me flying - I was filming) doing a couple of throws..

What can go wrong.....

1. Short lines : like The Catch you need short lines - the shorter the easier. With my 'standard' 20m lines I can't get enough distance on the throw. With 13m lines (the ones I use when space is restricted) it's not a problem. Needless to say even shorter lines is even easier.
2. Wind strength : so long as the lines are short enough any wind speed should be OK since as you throwing downwind you get some help from the wind.
3. Clear area : Once you have thrown the kite you will have no control until the lines become taught again. Therefore check that no one is going to walk into the path of the kite. Although you normally don't have to run up wind it's best to make sure that you have no obstructions behind you before you do!
4. Line wraps : this is the main thing that goes wrong - if the line wraps around the wing tips, the handles, your feet (that's my specialty), or anything else it doesn't work (strangely enough!). I also notice that you have to be especially careful that the lines haven't got wrapped around one of the handles.