TOTL Spin-Off Gets Flown for the First Time in 18+ Years

Flying my Hawaiian Spin-Off kite by Top-of-the-Line Kites, a now-defunct San Diego company that was instrumental in creating the contemporary sport kite. I got it when I was a little kid, but hadn't flown it (or any other sport kite) in over 18 years. For Christmas in 2007, my lovely Wife got me a surprise gift: new lines and handles for the Spin-Off (the original lines/handles had long since become lost and/or unusable). Now I'm totally into kites again and have been flying mainly Revs for over a year now. A wonderful hobby; I should have never stopped pursuing it!

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Top of the Line
• TOTL
• Spin-Off
• Spinoff
• Kite
• Stunt Kite
• Sport Kite
• Hawaiian
• Team Kite
• Don
• Tabor

[combatc2007]

I also uncovered in the depth of my garage my Spinoff after 24 years, but I think the sail either stretched a bit or the spars shrunk, lol. what lines and handles should I get to fly it again and should I send it in for an overhaul?

[kairusankites]

I fly mine on 100' 200# Shanti Spectra, with some padded wrist straps. The original Kevlar lines got hopelessly tangled and I ended up using bits of them to repair various things over the years (backpacks, handles, leader lines, etc.)

[Tignarius]

I bought my Spin Off in a kite store in New Orleans in 1980 and it is still going strong, albeit with a new spine (one too many vertical nose-dives into the ground!) and a couple of patches. Always loved the rippling sound it makes in strong wind. A great kite

[kairusankites]

I had to replace the fittings on mine with some large APA fittings (could not find the original vinyl tubing anywhere) and swapped out the original line clips for some leader lines, but otherwise it's 100% stock and still flies perfectly. Whenever I get it out at the kite field, it always seems to draw onlookers because of the noise. Who needs trickability when you have the noise!

[coop039]

The Hawaiin Tean kite is being sold now by Chicago Kite. I belive it has a Skyshark frame. I have a couple Hawaiins and lots of spinoffs, as well as MEFM's, and quite a few older HQ kites.

[kairusankites]

I think you can get a modern version of the Hawaiian Team Kite, which is a different model from the same manufacturer (which seems to have gone out of business long ago, unfortunately). But this one, you will have to buy used or make yourself. It was extremely popular in its day and you can probably find plenty of people selling them.

[daemonjam]

i flew my north shore extreme today for the first time in about 16 years. I had forgotten how big the crash was that took me out of action. I had two broken rods on the wings, and 1 missing standoff. Back in action now though and loving it.

[coop039]

@SaumonSociable Is it still available?

[coop039]

I have one myself, and a Hawaiian Team Kite and several others. Awesome fun!

[xxsteveo420xx]

Top of the line were always my favorite kites.