Benson Kites: Converting Bridles from Static to Dynamic

If you've got one of Tim Benson's latest range of trick kites: the Box of Tricks, Reflex or Fusion then you might want to try converting the original static bridle to a dynamic bridle. The beauty of this approach is that you use the original bridle and convert it using just one simple knot on each side. The process takes less than a minute, and if you don't like it, simply untie the knot to revert to the original bridle.


The static bridle show on the left, above, consists of a single piece of line connecting the upper and lower leading edge points which is attached to the tow point (green flash) with a lark's head knot. Slip this outer line off the tow point and, keeping the line folded at the original bridle mark (red dot), pull the line down towards the tail.



Fold the line in half at the original bridle mark and tie an overhand knot with the loop, tying the upper and lower sections together to make the yoke (see the Introduction to Dynamic Bridles for a more detailed discussion of the different parts of a dynamic bridle). The outer line, now containing the loop section, can now be re-attached to the tow point using a lark's head. The line is attached at the original bridle point.

The exact position of the knot can be changed to get different effects. The optimum position for the Box of Tricks and Fusion has the knot directly in line with the lower spread (as shown below, left) when the bridle is pulled taut down against the frame. The Reflex requires a slightly higher knot as show on the right.



Moving the knot up increases the length of the yoke and causes a more dramatic dynamic effect. An excessively dynamic bridle is characterised by the nose of the kite "rocking" forwards, particularly when coming out of tight turns. The knot can be moved further down towards the tow point to shorten the yoke and limit the dynamic effect.