Tied to the Sky

We Fly Kites! Kites are what we do!

Great Canadian Kite Company is truly a well rounded Kite Pro Shop.  In addition to fun single line kites for all ages, and beginner trick kites, along with quality Sky Shark framing, parts, and the knowledge and expertise to provide solid advice and troubleshooting.

We are proud to provide our customers with quality Spectra and Dyneema line in dual line and quad line sets.  We also offer bulk line, kite line sleeving kits, Kite bridle line and much more!

We can also customize your Kite package.

• change line, add line or if you have lots of line - sell you a kite only
• add ground stakes, tails or any replacement parts you may require

With Revolutions Kites we can:

• Customize your Kite line
• Customize you Rev Kite handles
• Help you design and order your custom-made Revolution Kite sail

Don't see it in our shop?
We do special orders all the time!  We pride ourselves in satisfying our customers with fast, knowledgeable service.  We are here to help you make an informed kite purchase, and are committed to helping you even after you have made your purchase.

Kite Resources / Information

Information on Kite History?  Our website features an expanding array of kite resources to help make sure your kite flying experience is all that it can be.   These free resources cover everything from Kite flying safety, to how to tie a Larkshead knot.  You can find links to kite-flying tutorials, how to fly stunt kites and stunt kite anatomy.  You will also find helpful links to weather sites and much more!

We are 100% Canadian Family owned online Kite Company.  We are kite flyers.  We are passionate about kites, and we love sharing kites with others! 

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Why do we Sleeve Spectra Kite Lines?

Kite line Sleeving 

(You can find this article in our Kite Resources section too!)

Line sets are an important and costly necessity of flying your multiline sport kite, so it is important to make sure that you take steps to protect your line sets to maintain performance, increase longevity of the line and save you money.

Sleeving is like a tube sock that we put on the ends of spectra kite lines or any place where we tie a knot. Sleeving is made of hollow braided Dacron and is usually positioned at either end of each line where the line connects via a Larkshead Knot to the flying straps or to the kite tow point.

Spectra kite line, while stronger than steel, has a relatively low melting point.  Wherever there is a knot in the line this is a place of friction which creates heat and will significantly reduce the strength of your spectra line and will be the point of a line break.

This sleeving material acts like a heat diffuser by reducing and diffusing the heat generated by friction at the knot.

Sleeving Your lines.

At Great Canadian Kite Company, all of the sport kite spectra line sets we sell comes pre-sleeved. We are pleased to offer a variety of quality kite line that provides good braid braid, performance and kite line life. That being said it is possible to purchase line sets that are not sleeved, or perhaps you wish to buy bulk kite line and make your own line sets and then a kite line sleeving kit is a valuable tool.

To make your own line sets you will first want to stretch your lines and make them equal length.  With cheaper line (even cheaper spectra labeled line) you can expect lines to stretch as much as 12-15% where quality line sets may stretch 4-6%.   The point is line will stretch with use and it may be necessary to equalize your lines from time to time.

Once your lines are stretched and measured you are ready to sleeve each end. Our Sleeving kits come with simple instruction, two different colours of sleeving and a sleeving tool.  Here are the basic steps to sleeving your spectra kite line:

• Sleeve one end of the line at a time making sure that you use the same colour of sleeving for both ends of the same line.  This is really helpful to help you keep straight which line goes to each side of the kite and which its corresponding flying strap.
• Insert the sleeving tool through the sleeving. Pull the tool a few centimetres through the sleeving.
• After the tool is inserted through the sleeve carefully take a lighter and melt the ends of the dacron for a clean looking sleeving job. This will keep the sleeving from fraying.
• Thread your Spectra line through the end of the sleeving tool and pull the tool back through the dacron sleeving bringing the kite line with it.
• With the sleeving now on your line, you can remove the sleeving tool.
• Slide the sleeving towards the end of the line being careful not to go too far or you will have to reinstall the sleeve using the sleeving tool.
• Tie a knot in the very end of the line (including the sleeve).
• Stretch the sleeving back up the line so it won't bunched up.
• Tie another knot at the end farthest from the end.
• Bring these two knots together and make a loop as shown below. Make sure this loop is big enough that you can easily tie a Larkshead knot to attach to the kite or flying straps.  Ensure these loops are the same size on each end of each line.

The end of the line is now sleeved and you can repeat the process for each of the other lines.  Remember: make sure you have the same colour sleeving on the ends of the same line. 

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Kites for Father's Day - June 19

Father's Day is just around the corner, but it's not too late to get the special dad in your life a gift that will thrill!. Kites are a fantastic way to get some fresh air, fly stress away and have fun! Whether he is tearing up the sky with a Stunt Kite or chillin' with a Single Line Kite dancing on the wind, are great fun for the whole family!

We have a wide selection  of quality made, great flying single line kites for almost any taste!.  Easy to fly kites in a variety of shapes, sizes and designs make single line kites a great choice for family fun and relaxation!

Our Stunt kites will Thrill!!  Stunt kites allow the flyer to become a pilot as they take control of the kite lines; fly loops and spins, and with practice, you can learn some jaw-dropping kite tricks.  Stunt kites are a great way to relax and enjoy the outdoors.

Great Canadian Kite Company is your full service Kite Shop serving Canada and beyond from Alberta.  Check out our selection of quality kites in our online kite shop.  Quality Kites, selection and top notch service and support before AND after your kite purchase!

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Gift Cards!

Shopping for someone else but not sure what to give them? Give them the gift of choice with a Great Canadian Kite Company Gift Card.

Gift cards provide a flexible way for you to purchase a gift for someone from Great Canadian Kite Company, while maintaining full freedom of choice! You simply purchase gift cards the same, secure way that you purchase any other of our product. And unlike a gift certificate, the recipient can spread the gift card balance over multiple visits!

Gift cards are delivered by email and contain instructions to redeem them at checkout. Our gift cards have no additional processing fees.

See our New Gift Cards

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Sky Shark Performance Kite Framing

We take great pride in providing a reliable Canadian source for quality perforce kites and accessories.  We stock a good supply of SkyShark air frames that are ideal for kite repairs and kite customization / upgrades and projects.   We found this great information on the SkyShark website and thought you might be interested.

Sky Shark™ Competition Air Frames are world renowned as the very best competition tubes. It is no wonder, the best flyers in the world use Sky Shark™ Air Frames. The facts speak for themselves, there is no equal to the weight to stiffness of Sky Shark™. The consistent quality of the fibers and tubes offer un-matched reliability and performance. Sky Shark™ is committed to bringing the the very best to kite flyers of all abilities. Whatever level of kite you fly or manufacture, use the very best products, Sky Shark Kite™ Products.

The "P-Series"

The Sky Shark™ P Series Straight Competition Air Frames. These tubes can be cut and ferruled anywhere using a solid carbon rod. They can also be ferruled with any of the New Tapered tubes except the 2PT. These tubes work great for building sport kites as well as single line kites.     All of our P series tubes are non-tapered, with the same inside diameter as tapered tubes. You can join any P series tubes with the tapered tubes. These tubes are made in much the same way as our wrapped tapered tube with the exception of materials used . The P-series also use a different layering of materials which makes it possible to cut the tubes anywhere and ferrule them without breaking out the wall, unlike the tapered tubes.   A common question is "what is the difference between P-series tubes and the tapered tubes?" Weight verses stiffness. Example 3pt, at 12.5 grams, has the stiffness of the P-200 at 14.5 grams.Which is more durable? The P200. The 3pt is an ultra light performance tube wind range 2mph to 12 mph or more depending on design. The P-200 could take winds up to over 20 mph and not break. It would lack the performance of a stiffer tube, but can take it, unlike the 3pt. The P series tubes also have a smooth finish and this year come in either a black or the original gray carbon finish except for the p90 and p400 which only come in the grey.

•  (Ferrules-- You should always use solid .2400 rod in all tubes with the exception of 2pts, P90s and 2ps which you could use lighter 2400 tube ferrules.)
  
  

The "PX Series"
We have a new series of tubes the P1X, P2X and P3X.  The new tubes have a new woven look, they are very much the same as the old P series tubes, same ID and OD. The big difference is the tubes are made with a higher modules of carbon which makes them 15 to 20 % stiffer that the old P series tubes.

The "PT Series"

These tapered air frames are exceptional. We have increased stiffness up to 50%. What's the secret? New material combinations! All of the Sky Shark PT series tapered tubes are made on the same mandrels. This means that all of the inside diameters are the same, at .244 I.D. You can use a .2400 or 6mm ferrule across the range. 

(source: http://www.skyburner.com/skyshark/ss-products.html )

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Canadian Dollar & Kite Prices

As anyone who has been watching the value of the Canadian $$ versus the American has noticed, it appears as if the days of parity have disappeared for a while.  While in many ways this is good news for the Canadian manufacturing and the resource sectors, it will begin to impact prices on our imports, and yes, this includes kites!

I am preparing for my trip to the Kite Trade Association International (KTAI) meeting in Las Vegas at the end of the month.  I will be meeting with a number of kite manufacturers to see the latest, hottest kite products coming to the market.  We work closely throughout the year with our suppliers to ensure we are in the loop and you can access some great kites. 

(Watch our Facebook Page for Posts from Vegas starting Jan. 29)

Many of the manufacturers are also seeing their manufacturing costs increasing and some are being squeezed for manufacturing time forcing them to anticipate demand much further in advance than before.  Of course these cost get passed on down the line. We are seeing our product costs and the Minimum Advertised Price (MAP) of many of our kite products firming.  In addition, the Canadian dollar's relative weakness compared to US currency is putting increased pressure on kite prices in Canada.

We are fortunate for a number of efficiencies that allow us to continue to offer some of the best kites and accessories at really competitive prices - even with the US retailers. Purchasing your kites and kite accessories from the Great Canadian Kite Company will ensure:

• Competitive pricing
• Quality products & service
• In house parts
• Special / Custom Orders - Quick & Easy
• Easier exchanges and returns (See our generous Return Policy)
• Prompt After Sale Service
• No surprises like extra fees, taxes and duties
• No exchange rate shock on your credit card statement
• Your Orders don't get bogged down clearing Customs

Great Canadian Kite Company is celebrating almost a decade in the Kite business, and we have taken pride in doing the best job we can to provide quality kites and accessories at FAIR, competitive prices.  The best part continues to be the opportunity to serve many, many of you over again!  We are so grateful for your patronage!

Below is a graph showing the change in the relative value of the Canadian dollar to the US.  Typically, we as consumers do not pay this price on our credit card purchases, as the card issuers generally charge 1-5% for margin.  Check with your credit card company for further details.  

As a courtesy, here is a link to RBC to demonstrate what might be indicative of a consumer exchange rate. Exchange Calculator

Graph source: https://www.google.ca/finance?q=CADUSD

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