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Gemini Review

Manufacturer Wind Range:  3 - 19 mph

Optimal Wind Range (IMHO) : 4 - 12 mph

Weight (my actual kite) 9 3/4 oz        282 g

June 20, 2002

I just sold the Gemini to get some cash to finance my Mamba purchase.  I am sorry to see it go, but I did not fly it as much as it deserved to get.

November 4, 2001

Winds were light (3.5 to 4 mph) & I was mainly flying my Feather but really wanted some time on the Gemini.  I pulled it out in spite of the wind speed & it was difficult to keep airborne.  However, I did practice some ground maneuvers. I did several Tornadoes which looked great.  My success rate doing them was about 50%.  One time I had a tip wrap but the kite was laid out perfectly to start a Tornado & being lazy I started the move.  Remarkably, the kite did a fabulous rising Back spin.

The other trick I worked on was the Flapjack.  I was able to get a couple in, but I must say that the Elixir does the Flapjack much easier.  The Gemini does not get airborne enough & descends much quicker than the Elixir so you end up with 1/2 or 3/4 rotation instead of a full rotation by the time kite touches down.

January 2001

Went out to my club fun fly & have been practicing the Flic Flac.  The highlight of the day was when a club member flew my Gemini & did a 540 right beside me.  WOW.  I could have reached out & grabbed it.  That was cool, a low level 540 & right beside me.  Thanks Ziggy.

October 19, 2000

I am getting more flight time with the Gemini & have to say I really enjoy flying this kite.  The Gemini makes most tricks easier to do, but more importantly, tricks are repeatable.  Yesterday, I tried my hand at the 'Coin Toss' (a trick that wasn't interested in practicing) & accomplished it on my first attempt.  I then went on to do several (slow & quick).  The Gemini made them look beautiful.

The Gemini is a joy to fly, extremely trickable & very flyer friendly.

October 12, 2000

It was an uncharacteristic mid October day.  Weather was clear, sunny, mid 70 degrees & wind was 4.4 to 5 mph (measured on my Skymate).   Assembly of the Gemini is rather time consuming & sail tensioners are difficult to put on & remove. (Update: the more you use the Gemini the easier assembly becomes).  Construction of the kite is beautiful & flawless.

Flight:

The Gemini needs a bit more wind than 4 mph for its sweet spot.  The Gemini felt like a contradiction.  On the ground the kite felt light.  Cartwheels & spins off the ground were virtually effortless.  On the other hand, in flight the kite felt a bit heavy.  The light groundwork feel is a result of the Cross Active bridle & heavy flight is due to the fact the kite was at the lowest end of its wind range.

Tricks:

The Gemini is a trick machine.  Axels & double Axels were easily achieved.  Also it will rotate over its nose very easily, therefore Axel to Fade maneuver is easy to attain.  Additionally, the kite is very easy to Pancake & Flic Flac.  Rotofades are easily obtainable.  Put the kite into a stable fade & its ready for the rotations.

The only strange occurrence was when the Gemini was placed in a Turtle it quickly lost altitude.  This is strange since it easily maintained a Fade in the same wind that it couldn’t hold a Turtle. (Note: I did not get the nose back enough to properly hold the Turtle.  I now can hold a Turtle with the Gemini)

 Overall:

 I enjoy this kite & it has a huge repertoire of tricks.    

 David G.