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 video 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.
A couple of notes on Tsuru customization: My preference is to keep the Tsuru a four-color kite, and not combine adjoining accent panels into a color block. I'm trying to offer a level of customization, but still keep the kite recognizable in the sky. Please see my custom kites page for more information about ordering a custom Blue Moon kite.
About the Tsuru's name
I've long used the analogy of a well designed kite as being like a finely crafted tool. It should have a natural, almost organic feel that inspires confidence and allows the user to tap their finer talents. It should be neutral in balance, but capable of cutting like a scalpel or hitting like a sledge when needed. When I started thinking of a name for the new kite, I wanted something that said tool, but with a little more class than the word has in English. So, what do we do but search Google for "tool in other languages? " The first thing that made me sit up straight was Tsūru, which is a western transcription of the Japanese word for tool - ツール.
I've since learned that the word Tsūru doesn't mean tool in Japan. Tsuru (without the pronunciation mark) means crane in Japanese. The crane (tsuru) is a large, beautiful, graceful bird. That works for me too!
Pronunciation -
Tsuru specs -
A snapshot of the Tsuru’s performance characteristics.
- Pull: firm to medium-hard
- Forward speed: medium to medium-fast
- Speed control: excellent
- Spin: inside wingtip
- Precision: excellent
- Tracking: excellent
- Noise: medium-light buzz at higher speeds
- span: 100.5″/255cm
- height: 43.5″/111cm
- wind range: 4-18 MPH
- sail material: Icarex polyester
- frame: SkyShark mix
- P300 spine
- 5PT lower spreaders
- Nitro leading edge
- rec. line: 90-150 lbs @ 75-125 ft
- price: from $359
note: The Tsuru LT is the version I recommend for the majority of flyers wanting a light wind kite. Enough mass for light-wind, inertia-based tricks. Enough frame stiffness to allow for a significant wind range overlap with the Tsuru Std.
- wind range (est.): 2.5-9 mph
- frame: SkyShark mix
- P200 spine
- 3PT lower spreaders
- 3PT lower leading edge
- P100 upper leading edge
- rec. line: 50-80lb Spectra, 65-100 ft.
- price: $359
notes: Planned, but not yet in development.
Tsuru Reviews...
If you own a Truru, please leave a review!
If you're not an owner, or have any questions, please leave a comment at the bottom of this page or contact me.
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Tsuru Specs
A snapshot of the Tsuru’s performance characteristics.
- Pull: firm to medium-hard
- Forward speed: medium to medium-fast
- Speed control: excellent
- Spin: inside wingtip
- Precision: excellent
- Tracking: excellent
- Noise: medium-light buzz at higher speeds
- span: 100.5″/255cm
- height: 43.5″/111cm
- wind range: 4-18 MPH
- sail material: Icarex polyester
- frame: SkyShark mix
- P300 spine
- 5PT lower spreaders
- Nitro leading edge
- rec. line: 90-150 lbs @ 75-125 ft
- price: from $359
note: The Tsuru LT is the version I recommend for the majority of flyers wanting a light wind kite. Enough mass for light-wind, inertia-based tricks. Enough frame stiffness to allow for a significant wind range overlap with the Tsuru Std.
- wind range (est.): 2.5-9 mph
- frame: SkyShark mix
- P200 spine
- 3PT lower spreaders
- 3PT lower leading edge
- P100 upper leading edge
- rec. line: 50-80lb Spectra, 65-100 ft.
- price: $359
notes: Planned, but not yet in development.