Tied to the Sky

Our Story :: Great Canadian Kite Company

The Great Canadian Kite Company is a family owned and operated business based in Taber, Alberta Canada. We enjoy the sport of Kite flying and we fly everything from single line kites to stunt kites.  It's about having fun flying kites!

We have established ourselves as a premiere source of quality kites to kite flyers of all levels and interests throughout North America. As kite flyers, our vision is to expand the sport, [provide quality information, products and service and to become the ‘first choice’ supplier of quality kites and accessories in Canada.  

WHY KITES??

We are often asked how we found ourselves flying kites. It started over 20+ years ago. I was married, two kids and chasing the "American / Canadian dream" trading Agricultural Commodities up and down the western side of the continent. This always demanded more time. At the same time I pursuing a passion for ministry which took tons of time too. As you may appreciate there were never enough hours in the day for other important things like my family and some sanity breaks for myself!  

Well, my dream came true, and I started ministry full-time and building a ministry that would care for people with no strings attached. We did a youth drop-in centre with an indoor skateboard park, we had a clothing bank, furniture exchange, give away food to anyone in need with no expectation of return. While it was a dream come true, there are more issues, more people experiencing challenges than one

guy or even a small team could handle. I found that I was working 16 plus hours a day, seven days a week. As you have probably guessed, I was getting pretty ‘toasty’. I knew I needed to cool things down a bit as I didn’t want to burn out. In conversation with a friend, he encouraged me to slow down a bit and suggested that I spend more time with my family and spend more time with a hobby. A hobby? What’s that? 

Near the end of the week, doing the tourist thing in Ocean Shores, we stumbled into a store that sold kites. It was like the lights went on. You know like this holy light shines down, and the Hallelujah chorus starts playing – your right, no one else heard it, but I sure did! I started talking to the salesmen, and I discovered these were a lot of different kites than the $2.95 plastic Bat kites with the yellow eyes I had as a kid. He explained to me what they could do, how to set them up and basic flight techniques. I was sold…. I bought my first stunt kite.  

As you can guess, we all fell in love with kites and have expanded our kite collection into various kinds of kites, and we spend many afternoons, evenings and
even sneak away from the office for here and there to fly kites. Kite flying was an answered prayer for me as it is something my entire family enjoys, it is economical way to spend real time with your family! You can do it almost anywhere at any time, and it has proven to be a great way for me to relax and unwind from the pressure of my work.

A couple of reasons – We are ordinary people, who enjoy kites, know what we like and want to share this passion with others. We want to promotes the sport, shares the fun, and provide  and accessories at fair prices, provide good service and hopefully make some new friends along the way.  

After two decades of hard work and fun, we are pleased with what the Great Canadian Kite Company has become, where it is going, and this is in no small part from you, our customers!  Thanks for your business and friendship!

So check us out! If you don’t see it, ask! Looking forward to meeting you all on the flying field! 

 

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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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It's a Spring Thing - Revolution Reflex Kites

The Reflex Spring is attached to the vertical spreaders, and the effectively changing the way the sail loads and air moves over the sail.

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5 Reasons Why we Think Kites are Freakin' Awesome

We think kites are amazing!  They are fun to fly, great exercise and a chance to get out in the outdoors and away from our screens!  Here is a list of why we think Kite Flying is a great hobby and a wonderful family activity.

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Ray Bethel - Tribute

Matt Nie directed this Tribeca Film Festival Best Documentary on Vancouver kite flier, Ray Bethell  (March 1, 1928 - December 18, 2018).

Wikipedia - "Ray Bethell was a professional kite flyer who resided in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He holds multiple endurance world records related to simultaneously flying three stunt kites, one from each hand and one from his hips. Using the same technique he can fly multiple stacks of kites."

Ray was a real treasure to many - especially in the Kite world.  Check out Ray's website: http://www.raybethell.com/html/n_01.htm

 

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Kites: Not Just Another SKu

There is an old joke in the kite retail biz that goes:  How do you make a million dollars selling kites?  Answer:  Start with two million dollars!
It usually produces a chuckle, if not through a few tears!

The kite business has been good to us as we reflect over our past 20 years providing great kites and service to kite flyers throughout Canada and beyond.  It has been a joy to help people discover kites, and help them develop a fun family and personal hobby.

We are excited because right from the beginning the mission of the Great Canadian Kite Company was to promote the sport of Kites and share the fun.  We have endeavoured to do so by providing top-shelf knowledgeable service along with quality products at fair and competitive prices.

In addition, we have supported Kite Festivals, hosted numerous fun-flies, sponsored and supplied kites and information for kite exhibits in local libraries and schools, teaching people to fly, as well as being friendly on the kite field with onlookers, and the interested.  Its one thing for folks to look on, its quite another when you put the lines in their hands!

If you haven't guessed, we like kites - a lot.  We are proud of our kite shop.  We are a kite shop owned by everyday people who enjoy kites.   As such, kites are not just another Sku., not just another do-dad that we sell.   Kites are our thing!

While we work really hard to compete with larger online retailers, we offer something they simply can't - a professional, personalized kite purchase experience.   We know kites. We work hard to resource our customers with solid information to help in making a good purchase but also to be able to help trouble shoot when there may be a performance concern or you need parts to get your kite back in the air.

We pride ourselves on providing solid service both before and after the sale. And as our many repeat customers, referrals, and many 'Thank you' emails demonstrate, we are definitely doing some things right!

We can't be all things to all people, all the time, but for Great Canadian Kite Company, kites are not just another Sku. Kites are our main thing.  Our commitment is to do our very best to do that one thing really well.

 

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Wind Ranges for Kites - What to think!

I remember as a kid trying to fly kites that you had to run like mad just to keep them aloft. It made for a very frustrating experience. One exception from my childhood was a delta shaped black plastic kite  - the one that you affixed adhesive eyes too. These fiery eyes made it look pretty cool, and you know, it flew pretty well! As fun as that kite was, being made of plastic it didn't last very long!

When we started the Great Canadian Kite Company (read our story here) we wanted to make sure that we sold a quality product that flew well and was built to be durable by quality kite standards. As such, the kites we have chosen are from reputable manufacturers with proven designs that fly in the stated conditions.

But even then... what does a wind range really mean? A wind range is provided to communicate the range of wind speed that the kite will fly in. So a range of 10 - 40 kph means that the kite is capable of flying in winds as low as 10 Kph to an upper limit of 40 kph.

The upper range can be a little more flexible if just flying the kite is the priority. When kites fly in winds above the range, they will often become much faster, harder to control, pull too hard and become difficult to trick. Too much wind will rip stitches and fabric, or break framing and line. It also can increase the potential for damage with hard crashes.

In higher winds you can add wind brakes or add tails, and this will often raise the upper limit.

Sometimes, especially with stunt kites (low wind or Indoor) you see a lower wind range of zero or 5 or 8 or 10 kph. Low wind kite flying is an art as much as it is a science, and many manufacturers when establishing the lower end of the wind range have folks testing it who are really good pilots!

So can the kites fly at those low ranges? You bet! Can anybody fly them in the low range - with some practice you can learn to keep your kite aloft at the lowest wind ranges.

As kite professionals, we are here to offer you experienced recommendation on the kinds of kites and kite accessories that will get you in the air with the goal of providing the best kite flying experience we can!

Great Canadian Kite Company also have some Resources for the Kite Flyer:

• Kite Safety
• Stunt Kite Tutorials
• Weather Information

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Top 5 Consideration when Buying your Kite

There are many businesses that you can purchase kites nowadays, but discerning shoppers are looking for more than just a low price. In addition to a competitive price, they are looking for quality and support to enrich their kite flying experience whether it be a family affair or for a single person hobby.

Quality kite retailers are such that they provide added value for their customers - its good for business and its good for the sport of kite flying. Not all retailers that sell kites know kites, and this difference can make or break your kite flying experience.



Here are 5 Things to Consider when Buying your kite:

1) Does the retailer sell quality kites from manufacturers who stand behind their products? - Not all kites are created equal, and there are a variety of materials that can be part of a kite. Some materials are great for durability and fly-ability, and some aren’t.
Look for a ripstop nylon sail cloth and fiberglass or carbon fibre framing. Also, consider whether they come with line and a storage sleeve or case.
Quality also is a measure of kite performance. Do they fly well and are they fairly robust to endure the learning curve?

2) Can you get replacement parts? Do they have your back after the sale? There are lots of people who will line up to take your money, but the quality kite dealer is there both before and after the sale.

Why? Because serious kite retailers want their customers to enjoy kite flying and experience success.

Why? Simple, because we enjoy kites too! And people who enjoy kites will buy more kites and happy kite flyers are really the best ambassadors for the sport!

All that aside, we deal with many, many people who have purchased their kites from retailers who don’t stock parts or provide after sale service. Lets face it, a quality kite that you spend money on, you want to fly for a good long time. Your kite retailer should be able to help get you back in the sky, FAST!

Also, quality kite retailers have good relationships with the manufacturers and can be a liaison for any warranty/defects or new and exciting products. In addition, this relationship helps with special orders, and troubleshooting, if need be.

3) Are you buying your kite in Canadian or US funds? This will save you serious money, and in most cases get your kite to you fast. Before you buy from a big box        e-commerce site, make sure you know what funds you paying with.

We have had several people tell us horror stories after purchasing from large .com retailers. They tell us that by the time the smoke clears on their credit card; after the exchange rate and credit card fees, import related costs and tax, they have paid considerably more for that kite compared to what they could have purchased it from us at the Great Canadian Kite Company.

Homegrown Canadian Kite shops are generally on top of their business and understand that in today's market place we compete globally, and we must be competitive with the US retailers. However, it is up to the consumer to be sure they are comparing prices correctly.

4) Are they knowledgeable about kites and kite line? It is always a good idea to purchase your kites from a company that is knowledgable about kites. A retailer who knows kites, whose focus is kites and not just another sku.

Knowledgable kite companies can help you make informed decisions and answer any questions you may have. Quality online kite retailers like Great Canadian Kite Company not only have free online resources but also have a Toll Free number that you can call and talk to a real person. They also have email addresses that are constantly monitored and will provide a timely response to your inquiry.

5) Are they kite flyers? The bottom line when choosing where to buy your kites is are they kite flyers themselves? Are they passionate about kites and do they have genuine, on the kite field experience with the kites they sell?|

Having someone with experience and passion can go a long way to enriching your kite flying experience, and dealing with any kite issues you may have. Someone who knows what it’s like to get to the flying field and there’s no wind or be able to give you practical tips to having a successful kite flying experience with your children. A kite flyer can also keep you abreast of new products, modifications, kite events and so much more!

Great Canadian Kite Company has distinguished itself for all these things - Quality products, Top-Shelf Service and kite expertise to support you before, during and after your purchase.  In short, We know kites and our commitment to knowledgable service is second to none!  We are your Kite experts.

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