The Tsuru was created to fill a wide range of roles, from solo days on the beach, to flying with new friends as part of a pick-up team at a festival.

I don't consider the Tsuru to be a trick kite, but a 'performance kite'. It was conceived and crafted with the mid-level to advanced flyer in mind, along with pairs and teams. A major goal was to gear the kite towards the kind of flying we do for a crowd at festivals, because I believe strongly that flying for and with other people is the way to stay enthused, as well as to grow kiting.

I was happy with the progression of the Tsuru over its first several months of development, but it was a last-minute change, on the eve of a road trip, that put it over the top. I added a little three-dimensional shaping to the sail, which brought out what folks used to call the 'Blue Moon feel'. I'd lost track of that characteristic a bit over the years, but it's back, in a big way.

Check out the videos below for a little taste of the Tsuru in the hands of an exceptional flyer. The fact that he can pull more from it than I ever envisioned is a delight for this old stitcher. I learn something from the Tsuru every time I fly it, at a pace and touch that just feels right.