California Wasp --------------------------------------------------------------------- Bert Tanaka, Steve Thomas, Kobi Eshun Tue, 22 Jun 1993 20:45:58 -1000 Manufacturer: Miguel Rodriguez Materials: sail 1/2, 3/4 oz rip stop Spars Prospar, etc... Wind Range: 1/2 oz; Diva 16 0.5 -- 8mph 1/2 oz; Diva 20 3.0 -- 12mph 3/4 oz; Diva 20/Wolfe 5.0 -- 20mph Span: ~7 ft (210 cm) Height: Type: I have an old one so newer versions have doubtlessly been upgraded. Its about 7 feet, tip to tip, made with no panels except for a chevron on both wings. I had a choice of spars, and at the time, chose AFC 2300's. Its made by master flyer Miguel Rodriguez, who lives in the San Francsico bay area. I have never been able to get mine to perform like Miguel can, but its been awhile since I've flown it, and I think I could probably do better with it now. I think that its a heavy handed kite, that responds best to power moves and is best suited to heavier wind. The first ground turtle, and first snap stall to a landing that I ever saw, were done with this kite. It is good at slides, a fast turner, medium spinner, and good tracker. It also has a lot of pull. Mine is a poor performer in low wind, but I also have relatively heavy rods in it. The one weakness my version has is edge work. Despite all this, it is still a very exciting kite to fly, and has a disticnctly unique personality. Probably not for the beginning flyer, but if you have ever seen Miguel fly, you can appreciate its potential. If his number hasn't changed, Miguel can be reached at (415)233-6503. Bert Tanaka ~Date: Tue, 22 Jun 1993 20:04:13 -1000 ~From: steveth@netcom.com (Steve Thomas) The Wasp is just about the best kite there is. IMHO :-). Seriously, the Wasp is extremely responsive, has excellent tracking, and is rather loud (it has a loud "buzz" to it). This kite practically invented the snap-stall--which is does splendidly. Beyond anything else, this kite flies like no other kite I know of. The kite could be called the kite of choice for competitors, and is flown by several Master's class competitors here in the Bay Area. Personally, I own only one Wasp, but I'm a sponsored flyer and fly Buena Vista's XTC in competition (plug, plug). If I did not fly XTC's in competition, I would fly the Wasp. That's about as good a review as I'm capible of giving a kite... The Kite itself is about 7 feet, and pulls fairly hard for this size of a wing. It comes in several different frames, depending on what you want. Each Wasp is made special-order one at a time by Miguel Rodriguez. Miguel's method of selling Wasps is not really a sell, but more of an interview. Wasps are not made to be pounded directly into the ground a million times or other things that first-time flyers tend to do. Miguel usually likes to talk to the person he's selling his kite to and see how he/she flies. He also imparts a lot of "Avispa Culture" upon the would-be flyer (I don't know quite how else to explain it). Miguel himself is an innovator of flying, and his moves and attitude have touched hundreds of flyers all across the world. He actively competes, and although he doesn't always win, he never fails to impress. Here on the West Coast "circuit", his main competition is turning out to be his own proteges. I believe Miguel charges about $300 for the Kite, and in the peek season there can be waiting periods for the kite (I think I waited six weeks for mine...). In the off season, it probably takes a couple of weeks to get a Wasp... To get a Wasp, however, you usually need to meet Miguel (you might be able to get a friend who is a Wasp flyer to vouch for you). If you attend any of the West Coast events, Miguel will most likely be there (esp. Berkely). This is how to get a Cal Wasp... Steve Thomas ~Date: Mon, 28 Jun 1993 17:11:37 -1000 ~From: kobi@netcom.com (Kobi Eshun) Miguel Rodriguez custom manufactures the CA Wasp. It was originally known simply as the WASP, an acronym for `When Anticipating Superior Performance...', but that name conflicted with a kite made in Texas, so it became the California Wasp. (It is probably smaller than the TX Wasp...) Construction : 1/2 oz and 3/4 oz ripstop nylon. Frames can be specified, but I think his current default is one of the Prospar carbon products. I have seen kites with Beman/Diva 15,16,20,22, Wolfe 5.5mm, Easton Carbon/Al. 3/30,4/18,4/49, AFC 2200, 2400, 2540, Sky Shark IIIp, IVp... Build quality is excellent. Wingspan ~7ft. Performance: I am a little biased, but judges in Long Beach, WA awarded 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th to Wasp fliers in the Master's Individual Choreo. at the Stunt Kite Championships last weekend. I can safely say that Miguels kites encourage a somewhat radical style of flight...and they are a _BLAST_!!! My Wasps cover the wind ranges as follows: 1/2 oz; Diva 16 0.5 -- 8mph 1/2 oz; Diva 20 3.0 -- 12mph 3/4 oz; Diva 20/Wolfe spine 5.0 -- 20mph Miguel has also made a few "vented" kites (some of the sail area made of bug-mesh) which fly in 25mph+. An interesting comment: all of the variations are the same size, and have the same feel in their respective wind range. Price, Who: I am not sure what they go for these days. He can be reached at home in Richmond, CA at: (510) 233.6503 Kobi. kobi@netcom.com (personal) kobi@adaclabs.com (business) ~Date: Tue, 6 Jul 1993 19:20:11 -1000 ~From: tanaka_be@swam1.enet.dec.com In an earlier note to Kevin Mayeshiro I responded to a request for info on the California Wasp. I own an older one, and although my commentary was generally favorable, I also reported that I felt it was not a strong performer on the edge. Which I found out later, really isn't true. At the UP Sports competition in L.A. I got to meet Kobi Eshun, who flew a very innovative and interpretive routine to music that also incorporated sound effects in the open individual ballet. Small world. At any rate, Kobi told me to try out the Wasp he was using. The wind was around 5-8mph at the time. I was shocked. Kobi's Wasp handled so much better than mine. Solid in stalls, not tippy, and extremely responsive. When I got back home, I checked mine out again to discover that it had not AFC 2300's but AFC 2400 rods in it. Kobi's Wasp was using a combination of Diva and Beman rods. The difference in weight between these two frames is quite high. My Wasp is framed for heavy wind, but this rod is totally inappropriate for the wind conditions I normally fly in. Its the one that I ordered though (I didn't know a lot back then). At any rate, I know better now, and am a little embarassed that I didn't figure it out by myself. To make a long story short, I put in Easton 3-30's. Why? I still had some, and they fit the original vinyls. And, I used a Sky Shark rod for the spine. What a difference. Much more stable in stalls, more responsive, and big improvement in edge work and in low wind. I thought it responded quite well to quick, snapping maneuvers and I didn't have to power it around as when it was heavier. Great kite! And thanks, Kobi, for letting me test fly your Wasp. Bert Tanaka