Patrick's Cavalier du Ciel "Shiva Ultralight"

Patrick's Cavalier du Ciel
"Shiva Ultralight"
Updated June 3, 2009
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Introduction
The Shiva UL (Ultra Light) is the best stunt kite for flying those very soft breezes. No other kite comes close in its performance in the low wind category.

Dimensions, Specs & Cost
The Shiva UL is 7' 4" wide and is rated for 2-19 mph. However, I would say it is more like 3-12 mph. My rating is based on how little wind it takes to keep it in the air without any extraneous effort and what I think it can endure in higher wind. I purchased my Shiva Competition from The Kite Shoppe for $216.00. This particular kite is part of Cavalier du Ciel's Team Kite custom color collection.

Flight Characteristics
Flight Characteristics The Shiva UL has very precise flight control. However, its response is slightly sluggish compared to the standard competition version. This is due to its standoffs being slightly shorter than the standard competition version's, allowing its sail to be less taught. This difference enables the Shiva UL to generate more lift from the lightest of breezes.

I did some testing in which I changed the UL's standoff lengths to a longer set, which made the sail more taught. The results were that the UL did not fly as well in very low winds. Cavalier du Ciel knew exactly what they were doing when they designed the UL sail to be less taught.

I recommend using 50 pound Laser Pro Gold line to keep the weight down for low wind flying. However, you will find that the 50 pound line squeaks when twisted around itself, as compared to heavier string sets.