Spring 2011 Volume 33 Issue 1

Sport Center Indoor Flying 101 Pairs: It Takes Two Build An Indoor Glider Starting A Competition 21 Contents Kite Trade 2 Feathered 26 Don’t Rain On 4446 Association Friends My Parade Showcase The World Kite For really big The hip, the kites, just add Museum takes new, and the Miracle-Gro up ornithology now for 2011

Gujarat Int’l Brazil 2K 4 Kite Plan 28 Kite Festival 484636 A Kiwi goes for The Ginga, a Our teen a ride... glider for indoors champ makes a really, really and out his first over- long ride seas trip 6 30 49 Flow Pairs Flying Windless The psychology 2 people + Still air in of “the zone” 4 lines = Long Beach 1 pair

Maryland Kite Cape Town 7 Society Retreat 37 Indoor 101 50 Where two A Tasmanian Everything you oceans meet, devilishly good need to know thar she blows! time in Ellicott to fly inside City

16 Tobago 38 8 Regional Reports 17 Knot In This Issue A pro learns a K-Files 18 AKA Directory lesson about The 4 P’s in Ohio 19 President’s Page soul flying in 20 Merchant Members the Caribbean 24 Empty Spaces In The Sky 34 Sporting Life 36 National Kite Month Voices From 52 People Places & Things 2522 40 The Vault KAPtions On the cover: Lee Sedgwick Bill Bigge is a Hawaii, fly oh! kite engineer flies a stack of Revolutions on the beach in Wildwood.

Oregon Coming in the Summer issue... 25 42 > Montana Snowkite Rodeo Kitemakers Tug Hill > Kites and Cherry Blossoms Retreat The Empire State > Kite Fest Louisiane Sand Fleas is windy and infest Rockaway white This logo means Beach you’ll find additional content at www.aka. kite.org/Kiting+

Spring 2011 | Kiting 1 Birds of Play by Margie Cochrane photos courtesy of the World Kite Museum

n the Pacific Northwest, most songbirds fly south in the win- I ter, but at the World Kite Museum in Long Beach. WA, you’ll find that ours never left. They’ve been spreading their wings in the most colorful flight you’ll find anywhere in a display appropriately titled “Birds Of Play.” Not only has the museum been host to these flighty birds as winter residents, but they’ll be around for spring and summer visitors to enjoy. From winged di- nosaurs to doves, the kites soaring overhead have been culled from the mu- seum’s own 2,000+ kite collection, or are on loan from Eng- lish, Canadian and condor bird. His condor kites were flown by Fish and Wildlife biologists to attract German fliers. the birds to safe nesting areas in California. “We’d recently ian bird of colored tissue. You’ll see W.J. Brick’s use of colored Two bird kites in this show are a means of artistic expression. Robert Trepani- done theme displays plastic bags and Gil Bloom’s appliquéd parrots. You’ll see Ger- er’s purple-tinged owl’s eyes look askance at museumgoers. Steve Brockett’s dyed featuring fish or man designs made by museum members Bob and Charmayne cotton design and long narrow body structure, plus wings of graphite trimmed water-related kites, Umbowers, plus an inflatable parrot by Bernhard Dingwerth. with fringe depend on the and one showing Australians included are Bushell, Mathews and Brasington. viewer’s imagination and fas- people, usually faces Among those whose kites are in the exhibition are other cination with lack of realism. painted on kites, designers whose names are well known to fliers. Tyrus Wong, With the exhibit’s kites a Guys and Dolls who celebrated his 100th birthday in October, made his first in hand, what remained was thing,” says director kite when he was 67: a swallow, the Chinese omen for hap- to figure out how best to hang Kay Buesing. “But we piness. He’s still designing kites and flying them. Marguerite the birds. “Michael Hoyt did became aware that Stankus provided 275 dove kites for the 1996 Olympics in that for us,” Buesing says. we had a healthy Atlanta, and one of these is on display. Joel Scholz produced “He was able to see how to number of bird kites bird kites when he first began his cottage industry, Sky Delight show each one to the best ad- in our collection and Kites. Beth Mathews is known for her realistic bird kites and vantage, a sort of 3-D knowl- we’d never featured a flight of four seagulls is from her. Interspersed with the bird edge that takes real skill. them. So once we’d kites are bird photos by Dan Brown. And he arranged chairs in the selected birds as the next theme for a new display, we began a Not surprisingly, many of these designers and fliers are also exhibition area. Now visitors search for other possibilities that would broaden the scope of fascinated by live birds and have studied their flight patterns can sit while they look up at what we already had. We checked through articles in old kiting and behaviors for many years. They have incorporated these the birds, avoiding dizziness magazines or ads for possibilities. We sent e-mails to let kite- observations into the de- and stiff necks.” makers or collectors know we were considering a bird exhibit.” velopment of their kites. Winter weather in western Washington wasn’t the optimum season to unfurl The delightful results include bird-shaped kites, or others Brick designed a tunnel a kite on the beach and the display’s opening then was a great time for doing whose shapes vary but feature birds in some way. Materials keel after watching birds what was next best: admiring all these Birds of Play. Now as the weather warms differ as much as the designs themselves. You’ll see quilted in flight. Helen Bushell’s they’ll birds, appliquéd birds, and painted birds. You’ll see a Brazil- interest in aerodynamics be an led to a folded keel delta added kite patent. Beth Mathews attrac- is intrigued with the tion for behavior of real birds in fliers response to the bird kites here to she flies. enjoy Bird kites also have both the unique qualities. The Nerd beach Bird, made by Roger Mad- outside dy, is flown on eight lines: for flying four lines come from two and the four-pronged handles he displays developed. Another kite, soaring Stan Swanson’s 9’ condor indoors. kite, was built to help k stay the extinction of the

2 Kiting | Spring 2011 Spring 2011 | Kiting 3 From Tapper’s blog during the trip, on a day when he had to repeatedly dodge fishing nets and deal with a major wind shift... “There is a fine line between adventure and misadven- ture and fortunately today I stayed on the right side of that line. . . . I had no choice, I had to swim back to shore, but I was wrapped in my kite lines and the more I swam the more tangled I got. I felt like a floundering fish in a fishing net and when I finally got back to dry land, I was lucky that a passing local fisherman was able to help me. It took two of us over 1½ hours to detangle the lines from my ankles, and although in hindsight it would have been easier to cut the lines off my legs, I was hoping they would have been repair- able. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, and I think back to the decision I made not to carry a knife with me, as I assumed Why 2K I would be able to cut lines with the sharp c3 Venom fins photos courtesy of Louis Tapper on my board.” http ://yakers ..co .nz/ Spot Messenger Satellite Tracker and a cell phone. n shark infested waters off the coast of top to bottom is the same distance,” he but it is a way for me to test my limits Light winds and shallow reefs during the first half of his journey caused head- I Brazil last summer, a New Zealand man said. both physically and mentally, and also aches, and that wasn’t his only issue. “Couple of close calls with broken gear; had set a new world record. Armed with one “I had the choice of anywhere in the pushes the sport of adventure kitesurfing some line wraps around both of my feet at one point,” he says. “It took myself kite, one board and a backpack, Louis world and there is consistent wind there to the next level,” says the 35-year-old and a passing fisherman a good hour to unwrap me.” rd Tapper started on the 23 of July on a this time of year and there is just long IT risk manager. With no support crew it was that kind of local hospitality that made Tapper’s 2000 km kitesurfing journey. stretches of beach. It’s warm, the food’s The current non-official kitesurf journey a lot easier. “Some stretches of the coast are very remote so I was hav- “To put the scale of 2000 km into good and the people are nice, so why world distance record was held by Eric ing to stay on the beach or with fisherman in their huts with them.”The flying perspective, crossing from Australia to not?” Gramond who completed a 1450 km, 13- Kiwi also became quite a hit with the New Zealand in a straight line or follow- “I know many people, including my day trip, also along the coast of Brazil. locals. “Every place I’d stop they’d ing the coastline of New Zealand from parents, think I’m a bit mad doing this The official Guinness record up until be like, ‘Oh, you’re the guy that’s this point has been for distances doing this kitesurfing mad mission,’ completed in less than 24 hours, so I think they had this word called 333 km. loco which translated in English means Tapper says there were many crazy.” risks involved in doing the solo This is not the first kitesurf- journey. “Gear breakage, being ing adventure for Tapper. In 2008, he lost at sea, but the main one I traversed New Zealand’s dangerous was worried about was getting Cook Strait, and in 2009 he kitesurfed mugged. There is a quite high 260 km in 13 hours from Auckland to incidence of crime in Brazil with the Bay of Islands for yachting’s 2009 muggings and stuff like that so Coastal Classic race. that is something I definitely He trained a lot more for this worried about,” said Tapper. journey, with about 20 hours each “There is a spot there for about week of kiting, yoga and running on a 20km that has the highest num- gym treadmill. ber of shark attacks anywhere in Tapper also raised money for the world so that is something SurfAid International, a charity that I was pretty worried about as delivers humanitarian programs to well.” remote parts of Indonesia. k For safety Tapper carried a

4 Kiting | Spring 2011 Spring 2011 | Kiting 5 Kiteflying: In Search of Flow by Louis Tapper

have contemplated for some time what this “adventure kite- I experienced moments of flow on the Cook Strait crossing I surfing” malarky really means. Many of my friends who have and definitely during the Coastal Classic race. It’s almost like done big and even small adventures talk about the inevitable time just accelerated and everything worked harmoniously to post-adventure restlessness and in many cases depression. make the goal. I felt it at times on the Brazil trip but not as Cape Town All complain about the big Visa bill and having to work again. often. Mostly I was just pleased to be safe at the end of each Most also get viewed by their nonadventurous friends as just day and there was no big euphoria on finishing at the end of Int’l Kite Fest another crazy adrenaline seeking person and can’t really relate 2000 km. to what they have been through. So is adventure really worth A friend of mine also summarised a concept I have advo- Muizenberg, South Africa it if all you have to look forward to is post-adventure depres- cated for some time called “Feed The Rat.” In reality feeding sion, a big Visa bill and being viewed as a crazy person? the rat is just describing a lifestyle that is seeking flow and a October 23 - 24, 2010 I am an avid follower of other people’s adventures and am break from boredom. photos by David Gomberg really interested in the psychology behind why people go and “I was once asked about why I do jiujitsu, and I do adventures like I have just done. Many cite reasons such as remember clearly stating that it was the only time leading a more fulfilling life on return from pushing themselves in my life when the noise inside my head stopped. to the edge. I am somewhat skeptical about these claims and My brain is going at a million miles a minute, there think many people, without realising it, are really in search of are always thoughts about work, life, money, goals something called “flow.” I hope to explain this concept further etc, it never stops. In jiujitsu, another person is and introduce factors needed to achieve it. either trying to choke you out into unconsciousness What is or break your arm. You stop thinking about jiujitsu in flow? Before your mind and you allow it to become you. You give you start think- everything you have, all of your senses to the artform ing this is just and use it to not only survive but prevent further about sport, danger by attacking your opponent to unconscious- it’s not, the ness. I found that it was one of the few times in my concept also life when the noises in my head stopped, time almost applies to other stood still and I could focus intently on something aspects of your else. I craved that feeling again.” life such as work and has How to achieve flow? People search a lifetime to experi- been well-stud- ence flow moments and sometimes they can be few and far ied among art- between. How to achieve flow is probably another subject and ists, musicians requires some more research on my part to explain properly. and scientists. For the moment this is the simplistic explanation. The best expla- 1. One must be involved in an activity with a clear set of goals. nation of flow This adds direction and structure to the task. I have seen is 2. One must have a good balance between the perceived chal- from the work of Hungarian psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmi- lenges of the task at hand and his or her own perceived skills. hályi: One must have confidence that he or she is capable to do the “Being completely involved in an activity for its own task at hand. sake. The ego falls away. Time flies. Every action, 3. The task at hand must have clear and immediate feedback. movement, and thought follows inevitably from the This helps the person negotiate any changing demands and previous one, like playing jazz. Your whole being is allows him or her to adjust his or her performance to maintain involved, and you’re using your skills to the utmost. the flow state. To achieve a flow state, a balance must be struck Just in case you were wondering, I haven’t been affected between the challenge of the task and the skill of by the post-adventure depression or restlessness yet. Maybe the performer. If the task is too easy or too difficult, because it’s still the honeymoon period or maybe because I am flow cannot occur. Both skill level and challenge level pleased to be done putting myself at risk every day. I certainly must be matched and high; if skill and challenge are have a big Visa bill however, and yes, the media are happy to low and matched, then apathy results. The flow state frame me as just another crazy guy because that’s just easier also implies a kind of focused attention, and indeed, for people to grasp. It was, however, nice last week to be it has been noted that mindfulness, meditation, yoga, interviewed by someone who actually understands adventures and martial arts seem to improve a person’s capacity and didn’t immediately ask “what about the sharks.” for flow. Among other benefits, all of these activities Funny enough I don’t have a desperate urge to go out train and improve attention. In short, flow could be kitesurfing and am quite happy contemplating other activities described as a state where attention, motivation, and to occupy my time. Activities this week have included yoga the situation meet, resulting in a kind of productive sessions, a social run and my first Copeira session. harmony or feedback.” If only more people understood the concept of flow maybe the world would be a happier place. k

6 Kiting | Spring 2011 Spring 2011 | Kiting 7 project. Upcom- the Maryland Kite Society over Presidents ing plans for the Region 3 ~ Mid-Atlantic Day weekend, and another by RAF the Regional reports Keystone Kiters DC-DE-MD-VA-WV following weekend, organized by Adri- include a rokkaku anne and Mearl Balmer. Region 1 ~ New England In the past our region has been one at for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) workshop and Spring brings National Kite Month the top with flies, workshops and kite at their event titled “Seize the Day: their annual Sum- and the kick-off for our area has been CT-NH-MA-ME-RI-VT-NY programs. Let’s keep our region number Celebrate Life,” held on December 16 mer Retreat. Also, the Annual Smithsonian Kite Festival. one by listing your events on the AKA cal- at CORE’s Pittsburgh headquarters. The be sure to look As Jeff mentioned it has been taken on endar to be counted. Issue a challenge event paid tribute to the Donate Life for another Club by the Cherry Blossom festival and will

to Archie Stewart and Glenn Davison on float, which was part of the 122nd Rose Challenge, Mystery Will Smoot be held on Sunday instead of Saturday. 540/471-4949 Waynesboro VA VA Waynesboro

who will do the most events. [email protected] Parade, on New Years Day in Pasadena, Mass Ascention End of term: 2013 The weekend prior is the Air and Space Your AKA Regional Director repre- CA. The float soared with colorful kites (or both?!) at the Museum’s indoor fly, dedicated to Margo sents you to the AKA and represents the that inspired people to seize the day and 2011 Convention. Brown, long-time member of AKA and AKA to you. Keep those cards and letters register as organ, eye and tissue donors. Pocono Kite of the south all afternoon, lots of new prominent supporter of kiting in the coming in. Let me know any activities, The kite that Pat and Marlene made just Symphony con- fliers. I didn’t count but there were at Washington area.

Cranston, RI comments or concerns. for this is proudly displayed at CORE’s tinues to grow least 20 fliers throughout the day and As long as April has not slipped 401/942-3606 Maggie Engvall

End of term: 2013 See you on the flying fields soon. Pittsburgh headquarters! and is getting a there were several new faces.” RAF also past, there is time to register an event [email protected] Fly Pittsburgh Kite Club will cele- good foothold in held their annual holiday party at the for NKM. All you need to do is put up a brate it’s 20th anniversary this year. What the mountains. home of Stephen and Ensign Corbin with display, or visit a classroom, club, retire- Hello Region One. We have had Region 2 ~ Northeast NJ-PA-(lower) NY a way to start off 2011, with a New Years They have been lots of kite-related (sortof) gifts being ment home, or library, or have an extra many activities put on by our clubs. The Kick Off Party with 20 members in at- doing “Meet ‘N exchanged. kite club fly. Please get out and share holiday parties and flies were great. As tendance! Con Engels reports, “This year Greets” around There is a new club forming in the your joy with someone. If you want to I’m writing this the snow is blowing but we will have several Anniversary events, the Poconos. PKS put out a good show- Roanoke-Salem area that also held a New visit an event please check out the Fred- kiting activities are still being held. New starting with our April monthly fly, and ing atop Big Pocono Mountain and again Years Day fly. erick County Kite Fest on April 2, Rock- Years Day saw many Region One mem- then our Big Spring Fly on May 7-8. We in the center of East Stroudsburg, PA. Jeff King wrote, “Wings Over Wash- fish Valley Kite Festival on April 9, Blue bers flying in the region. NYKE had the will also travel to Presque Isle State Park They’ve completed some in-house work- ington has been attending and supporting Ridge/Salem Kite Festival on April 16, challenge of flying on the ice in Febru- in July for Discover Presque Isle Days shops and will be doing more this winter a mix of small and large festivals. The and MIKE/MASKC from April 29 through ary. th Weiner Brad

856/229-3745 and a special 20 Anniversary Celebra- to make stand-alone club signs, more 5’ club welcomed in 2011 with their annual May 1. It does not end there though. In Clubs have been busy with work- PA Philadelphia, End of term: 2013 tion. Presque Isle is where founding feather flags and one large photo album New Years Day Foolish Hat Fly at Sandy past years there have been events at shops. NYKE was the first club with a [email protected] members Dan and Pat Mills first met John that tells the history and events of the Point State Park, and thankfully Mother Virginia Beach, and Fluvanna County in workshop in 2011. It was held January 8, Kish (founding President). So this year Pocono Kite Symphony/Lehigh Valley Kite Nature cooperated with reasonably good May, and the Old Dominion Sport Kite and was led by Gary Sharp making a 6’ SJKF held their annual holiday party is looking like it will be an exciting year Society. The club has a “merit system” weather conditions. Club members on Competition in June. Region Three also rok. Another workshop in the region was early in December and it was well at- for members.” Check out the Fly Pitts- where members are awarded points the whole do travel a fair distance to has been present at events such as Wild- led by Tony Heeschen of Portland, ME. tended by 42 members. There were all burgh schedule at http://windstarkites. for hours of work at kids kitebuilding, events (particularly on the East Coast), wood over Memorial Day weekend, and The workshop for the ConnectiKITERS kinds of fun and games but the highlight com/FlyPghKiteClub.htm attending workshops, meetings, events, including several club members who flew the Rogallo and Wright Kite Festivals on was held on March 13. Blue Hills Obser- this year was “Guess the weight of the The Keystone Kiters held their win- etc. Instead of a Christmas Party or a to Trinidad and Tobago in December and the Outer Banks in June and July. vatory held a kite aerial photography Malay,” the kite the club built at their ter party in January this year, combining New Year’s Kick Off Party they decided others to the Treasure Island Kite Festi- If you have not visited the new workshop. Don McCasland is the program February workshop. The prize was a it with their winter workshop. The club to have an Appreciation Dinner and val in January. The club’s annual Picnic AKA website I urge you to take a look director and kite specialist who puts on kite-shaped clock from the Scott Spen- members enjoyed a delicious meal to- have the club pay either a portion or all in January party and auction was held at www.aka.kite.org. They have had a many kite-related programs. Look on the cer/Betty Hirschmann estate. Our winner gether and completed another fabulous costs for those members who qualified January 22. As winter sets in, the club is Café Press outlet for quite a while but AKA calendar for future programs and this year was Jim Davis, whose guess was depending on their level of involvement still planning a workshop and a number this year there is also an AKA Embroidery events going on in the region. accurate to within 25 grams. The CORE kite with PKS throughout the year. Just more of indoor flies before things start getting Store with lots of items with AKA logo’s The New York Kite Enthusiasts were Also, SJKF is preparing to have the by Pat Mills and incentive to get out there and work with busy again in March with the National Air embroidered on them. challenged with flying on the ice at the AKA Convention in our own backyard Marlene Blazak. and for the club. and Space Museum Kite Day and the big I hope to see you an kite field Winter Carnival in Lake George, NY. and we plan on being very active in the In the Lehigh Valley, the Bethlehem DC festival (formerly Smithsonian Kite somewhere, and please write and let me Now that spring is in our sights we things going on. A lot of our members School District’s ScienceFest has become Festival), which now will be under the know what you are doing, what you plan need to think about National Kite Month. have volunteered to be a very active a regular kids kitebuilding event for auspices of the National Cherry Blossom to do, and what you would like to see part of this. SJFK is looking forward to the past eight years. PKS has other kids Festival beginning this year.” There were your AKA doing. th

Kevin Reynolds another great flying season with the 25 kitebuilds lined up for the spring both two kite building events, one put on by Ben Dantonio and his rok at the Annual Wildwoods International Kite in the Lehigh Valley and in the Poconos. NYKE workshop. Festival over the Memorial Day weekend. They’re looking forward to a bigger and WOW’s Paul Dugard at play in Tobago. As has happened the past three years, better Kite Day in the Park, their 21st, there will be a kitemaking competition on the first Saturday of May. Hopefully to honor Scott Spencer. This could be 2011 will be a good year of kiting for PKS a warm-up for the Convention which and all other clubs out there. happens at the same location in late Hope to see everybody out on the September. Why not come out and see kite field. what a great time you can have at these events? Check out http://sjkf.webs. Region Three was pretty quiet after com/. convention with RAF and WOW report- Fly Pittsburgh founding members ing only their First Sunday fly except for Pat Mills and Marlene Blazak had the New Years Day. Stoney Stonestreet of privilege to make a kite and participate the RAF said, “A great day at the field. in a press conference for the Center Decent temperatures, steady wind out

8 Kiting | Spring 2011 Spring 2011| Kiting 9 made it for one of the Carolina Kite ing into our core flying season, check the attended by some hearty fliers. of the AKA. Thank you for all of your Region 4 ~ Southeast Fests, just remember the 24th annual is kite calendar on the AKA website, and The 11th annual Lake Harriet years of support and I hope that we can AL-FL-GA-KY-MS-PR-NC-SC-TN coming up this fall, October 29-30. remember National Kite Month is right Winter Festival happened on remain friends though kiting. Enjoy the Due to the holidays, one of the last around the corner. If you have an event January 8th. The event included sky.” festivals of the year is the Cape Fear or workshop please share it. Make sure kite flying, horse-drawn wagon I have been asking members from Kite Festival in Wrightsville Beach, NC, you keep checking the new AKA website rides, ice fishing, food and the region for information on events that on November 6-7. This two-day festival and if you haven’t been receiving my refreshments, and more! It was have taken place or are planned and I is one that can go either way: lots of e-mail updates let me know at rd4@aka. a beautiful sunny winter day. A would encourage you all to use the event fabric flat on the ground, or the most kite.org. bit chilly, the winds were lighter calendar on the website. Another great perfect flying conditions for every type Keep the wind at your back. than forecast but some kites networking tool is the AKA group page Fort Mill, SC Jim Podlasek 803/548-2698 of kite and news coverage. This year were able to fly. Everyone had on Facebook. The exposure for the AKA End of Term: 2013 Term: End of [email protected] Mike and Judy Agner as usual put on a Region 5 ~ Great Lakes a great time. on Facebook is major. There are over great end of year festival, and I’m not MI-OH By the time this edition 500,000,000 people on Facebook, that’s just talking about the seafood boil, and comes out we will have had right 500 million. Worldwide! I plan to Hey Region Four! A LOT of very cold great friendships for all kitefliers at the the 10th Annual Flying Colors post a lot on the AKA page. weather has occurred since the last up- end of the first day. This year was no Festival in Clear Lake, IA. on In Salt Lake City, January saw the date. Here in the Carolinas we recorded exception. The first day started with February 19, and we should be Outdoor Retailers Expo. Nic O’Neil and the coldest December on record. Need- great winds and lots of kitefliers. Dual, close to having the new U-MAKE the HQ kite team were in town showing less to say, that type of weather doesn’t quad, and show kites were up and down kite workshop and retreat in their mad skills in power kiting. I am cur- encourage kite flying. the beach. Later in the day the shifting Dave Bush Des Moines, March 4-6. rently working on a few events for NKM 269/357-4032 Don Dixon, family and volunteers winds brought down a bunch of the big Kalamazoo, MI Please check the AKA calen- and a charity fly on May 15 with a local [email protected] made the 23rd Carolina Kite Festival a kites for safety reasons. But making an End of term: 2011 dar on the website for informa- group. On April 16, in the southern part great festival. Don brings in Al Sparling appearance was the largest blue whale tion about events in your area. of Utah is a wonderful event. The Dixie from Chicago to hoist some large show you’ve ever seen, a little bigger around Hello everyone. It has been a long There are many events that will Escalante Kite Festival aims to promote kites for a wonderful display each year, the middle than those in the wild, but and quiet winter here in Region Five. But be happening in March and April reading as a habit and encourage stu- and last fall was no different. Lots of this full size overly-large kite version is we are in a new year and a new season and I ask that you please send dents to engage in family-oriented physi- kites, kitefliers, and some up and down amazing to see, especially with the mid- of kiting. I flew at Reeds Lake Ice Fly me a report on any event you cal activity. On the day of the event, winds were in store. Pulling the large sized versions flying with it, it looked on February 5th in East Grand Rapids, Peter McMasters gets religion. sponsor, organize or attend. qualifying students earn a high-quality trilobite off the sand dunes and walk- just like a whale pod swimming together. MI. What a great time with friends from his kite as part of eight worship services Thanks and keep looking up kite or book for their reading efforts. way became a habit for a while, and Day two was a little different, winds Mackinaw Kite. It was a small event but witnessed by 18,000 people. The setting and hold on tight! Entrance to the festival is free. a shift of the wind had the large kites started a little higher and as the day an awesome time of flying. Plus, hot on stage was a person playing the part of There are a number of events going swooping into other kites’ paths and went on the winds continued to build. chocolate and hot dogs. I hope to see on in North Dakota that deserve a look; Rick McCubbin Mary and a white dove (kite) portraying Region 7 ~ Great Plains caused some mad dashes to save the At one point there were four fliers being you at Airwaves in Cincinnati, April 9-10, the Holy Spirit flying into her life. The CO-KS-MO-ND-NE-SD-UT-WY two are long running events with solid smaller kites from the shifting show. At dragged across the beach trying to get with friends from Pigs Aloft Kite Club. event was very moving to all who had backing and organization, the other is a one point while taking a quick break to a maxi-gecko under control and a large That is always a blast. Then Breeze on the privilege of witnessing it. new event. Rena Rustad sent this info to grab a bite, every kiteflier’s nightmare pop was heard. Not the gecko, but a the Bay in East Tawas, MI, June 4-5, with Many of you may know that Brian me on them; happened. You walk away for a few large red devil meanie had been hit by a Jack and Diana Quinn. Then onto Michi- Blaeske, of Wauwatosa, WI, had some April 30 - May 1 — Coal Country Kite minutes and turn around and your kite’s sudden gust and popped and tore. It’s on gan Kite Fest, June 11-12 in Richland medical problems in 2010 and as a result Festival, Beulah, ND not there anymore. A hurried swallow its way for some reconstructive surgery; with friends from Back 2 the Wind Kite was forced to retire. While he was May 28 - May 30 — Skydance and run across the walkway showed we hope that the doctor will keep the Club. I hope to see everyone somewhere out of commission he was pleasantly Sakakawea,Ft. Stevenson State Park, 801/433-7932 Kevin Bayless

that the wind had shifted yet again and facial scars to a minimum. All in all flying a kite. UT Taylorsville, Garrison ND. [email protected] surprised to find out that someone had End of term: 2011 everything had landed across kite camps, another great festival, and everyone who anonymously renewed his AKA member- June 11-12 — Kitefest, Jamestown, ND dunes, rusty nails, and pointed sticks. attends seems to enjoy one of the last Region 6 ~ Midwest ship. Brian says he “...has a renewed John Ferrel has a couple events in Oh joy! Needless to say, this was quite Hello and happy New Year. Kevin festivals of the year. IA-IL-IN-MN-WI belief that there are really good people Colorado and sent me this: “I have been a show for the locals and kites were the Bayless here, your new Region Seven Mary and Phil Tuggle had a great out there. Hopefully I will be able to working with the City of Fort Collins front-page news of the area newspaper. director. I want to thank everyone who time KAPing over the Atalaya Castle on ‘pay it forward’ in the same way in the organizing an annual spring kite festival. All who attended enjoyed the weekend, supported my appointment to take over New Years Day. The resulting photos future.” He wanted to say thank you to This will be our fourth year and we are and the crowds seemed to grow every for Don Murphy as the Regional Director. were put up by the South Carolina State whoever was so kind. growing. It is more a festival for the time you turned around. If you haven’t Parks on their Facebook page. No one was more surprised than I to be community as opposed to one for the

On a sad note, Merritt Beck, a Rich Durant John Lutter says, “Kiteman Produc- in this position. No doubt I have a tough

Ed Grys founding member and an icon of the A lady and a leopard watch the tions is an Orlando-based kite show job and big shoes to fill. I am honored Scott Hampton

Shawano, WI Hoosier Kitefliers Society, has passed Carolina Kite Festival. company. They do shows for Sea World, 715/526-9399 to have this opportunity and will do all I teaches the [email protected]

End of term: 2011 away at the tender age of 98 years can to make a difference. Sand Flea at Disney, Universal, and many other loca- young. He learned to sew kites from the Don writes, “Hello all. As some of the Oregon tions. On January 4, I flew with them “Kite Man” himself, Ansel Toney. For you may have already heard, I have Kitemakers to celebrate the arrival of the Disney A moving and astounding event many years, the club has held a Beck Dream to Port Canaveral, FL. We flew took place in West Des Moines, IA, over stepped down from my position as Re- Retreat. Kite Reunion event that celebrated his gional Director of Region Seven. A new stacks of 6’ diamonds and two 17’ deltas the Christmas holidays. The Lutheran prolific talent by having a mass ascen- from the back of Sea-Doos as the cruise Church of Hope was looking for an indoor representative has been named and I sion of Becks. This year’s event will will support him in his new position. I ship came into port. There’s a nice video kiteflier to help with their worship take place in September at the AMA in of the event at www.youtube.com/ services. The worship center holds 2400 will continue to promote kiting and hope Muncie, IN. to fly as much if not more than I have watch?v=b1eSqMhVAkE. This gives a new people. With the help of Sis Vogel and This winter’s events began on Janu- meaning to night flying.” Linda Larkey, Peter McMasters re-ar- in the past. These past 12 years as your ary 1 with the Kite Society of Wisconsin Regional Director have been a great ex- With the old year behind us, and the ranged his schedule to accommodate the and Illinois’ 24th Annual Cool Fool Kite new year moving forward we start com- church’s worship schedule. Peter flew perience and I have thoroughly enjoyed Festival at Veteran’s Park in Milwaukee, it all. I will remain an active member

Spring 2011 | Kiting 11 10 Kiting | Spring 2011 addicted like us. We emphasize commu- possibly can into the months from we love. Remember it’s the simplest of nity participation. Heavy emphasis on January through May. Often, this Region 9 ~ Intermountain things that sometimes change a life. In Region 10 ~ Northwest kids. The participation has been growing creates overlapping kiting events ID-MT-OR other words, it’s just kites. AK - WA every year. Last year we had about 2000 and the dilemma of choosing to March 26-27,the Lincoln City Indoor people attend. The 2011 festival will be attend one venue over another. Be Kite Festival will be kicking off 2011 April 17 in Spring Canyon Park. We have sure to check the calendar on the with a fantastic show. Deb and Lee Park a companion event, a wine and cheese AKA website, and then to DOUBLE of Aerial Experience Productions will be party with an auction. We get Phantom check it again in case any changes, joining some of the top indoor fliers in Star rokkaku kits and distribute them to or even cancellations, have oc- the world for a full production show and

local artists. They decorate them how- curred. Remember that we’re kit- Bend, OR AKA competition. For more information: 360/695-9646 Vancouver, WA Vancouver, Marshall Harris 509/529-9171 ever they see fit. We use the proceeds ers; we like flexibility! www.oregoncoast.org/kite-festival/in- Theresa Norelius [email protected] End of Term: 2012 Term: End of [email protected] as Ben Franklin 2012 Term: End of

for kids programs at the city rec center. One of the Region’s top notch Amy “Mousie” Doran door-kite-2007.php. at Kite Fest Last year we had 12 kites on auction. events, Kite Fest Louisiane, kicks May 14-15 brings on the Rockaway Louisiane. We are doing that again this year and we off on April 1st and runs through the Kite Festival. This sleepy romantic iQuad will be holding their 4th Annual rd will have a kite from Scott Skinner.” 3 . The venue is Port Allen (West On April 30th, cruise on over to Doc I think I hear the whir of sewing coastal city hosted a fantastic festival Rev Clinic in Long Beach, WA, the third The Rocky Mountain area has some Baton Rouge), and is geared toward Stewart Park in Clovis, NM, for the 8th machines as I am writing this report. By last year, and the plans for this year are weekend in March. If you have thought other events too. At Arvada’s Robby Fer- the AKA goal of education. To that end, Annual Cannon Kite Karnival. This event the time this issue of Kiting lands in your getting even bigger! We hope to see you about getting up close and personal with rufino Park, on April 9, is a fun, family these folks do an amazing job of coor- attracts over 1,500 spectators from the hands, hundreds of new creations will be there! For more information go to www. a Rev, but are worried about all those kite festival, with kite competitions for dinating with the area schools. They surrounding area who appreciate the being test flown in preparation for the rockawaybeach.net/. strings attached, join everyone on the two age groups: 10 & under and 11 & manage to stagger school buses of local joys of kiting. new season of competitions and festivals June 25-26 is the Lincoln City beach for a great weekend of instruction over, in four categories: highest kite, children throughout the day on Friday The weekend of May 7th brings in all over the world. The best part of that Summer Kite Festival. This is not to be and hands on fun. Contact the museum smallest kite, most visually appealing, to arrive at the festival for a multitude the 19th Annual Tulsa Wind Riders Kite is it will be something that we all benefit missed. Fantastic beaches and lots of for registration information. and largest kite with the top four win- Festival. Larry Stiles remains great fliers and activities keep everyone The 29th Annual Fort Worden Kite- Jim Day’s Spirit Man at from, and that perhaps people we have ners getting trophies. at the helm of this landmark busy and happy. For more information: makers Retreat is March 25–27. Fifteen White Sands National never met, never spoken to, may benefit I want to give a shout out to Robin event which is a fundraiser www.oregoncoast.org/kite-festival/ instructors from near and far will be Monument, NM. from. It is a gift that each one of you has Allen McCracken out of the Denver area. for a local education center. to share, even if you have not realized kites-summer.php. offering something for everyone in vary- Robin is with the Rocky Mountain Kite On that same weekend, if it. That gift is the ability to reach out July 16-17, the Southern Oregon Kite ing skill levels If you haven’t been to Association and they have a monthly you’re in the neighborhood to someone in the world who may need Festival in beautiful Brookings is always this conference before and want to learn th 4 Saturday fly in Littleton. If you get of Waco, make plans to a moment of hope. I for one am proud a hit. This year looks to be better then how to make your own kites, this is the a chance go meet up with these folks. attend the Heart of Texas and happy that this gift was shared ever. Brookings brings spectators from best of the best in my opinion. If you Robin is very active in the region and for Sertoma Club Kite Festival, with me seven years ago on a beach in all over the United States year after year haven’t already registered, please put it that I thank him. a fundraiser for McLennan Lincoln City. Looking back on where I to enjoy the show. Master kitemakers on your calendar for next year, as this is If I can finish this report with one County students. The follow- was then and all that has happened since and fliers from all over come to paint the a great way to meet, learn, and create. thought it would be this: we are all into ing weekend, plan to attend makes me realize how important it is to skies at this wonderful harbor. For more And the food’s not too bad either! kiting. Some of us make kites, some sell the Trinity River Wind Festi- continue to pass along those moments information: www.southernoregonkitef- The same weekend, some of us will kites, we all fly kites and I am pretty val on May 14th. This festival to others. I was lucky enough to share it estival.com/. fly south to Region Nine to attend the sure we all love kiting in general. The is in Sylvan River Park in with my son Connor… need I say more? Lincoln City Indoor Festival. Maggie Con- AKA needs all of us and we all, whether of activities. To maintain an orderly Dallas. It is an honor to be sharing what we love Hello Region Ten members! I hope rad puts together one heck of an all-star we admit to it or not, need the support, sequence, the children are directed Jim Day Naturally, the always incredible with people who have never experienced everyone is ready for Spring! I sure am. line-up not to be missed. There are three information and social aspects afforded to “stations” on the kite field to learn Junction (Texas) Kite Retreat then fol- kiting before, as well as being able to It has been a long cold gray winter. gym spaces to fly in, plenty of room us by the AKA. Let’s try to keep that about the various disciplines of kiting. lows on the weekend of May 27th through see our kiting family. I hope this year you Sadly, we have lost two members of our to get some practice in a great space. in mind as we get into this busy 2011. They also have the opportunity to make the 30th. What is Junction? Junction is… will continue to share the gift of kiting kite family from the Pacific Northwest Open fly, demos, show, competition, and Happy days. and take their own kites. Ben Franklin well, Junction. It’s a one-of-a-kind, ya- with others, to give them happiness, this winter, John Freeman and Jerry lessons are just a few of the highlights. (a.k.a. Marshall Harris) actually taught a just have-to-be-there-to-understand-it hope, and perhaps even change their Fincher. Marzlie and Mary, our prayers Check out the links on the calendar page Region 8 ~ South Central class at the festival last year. Of course, experience. Ask around. I’m thinking lives for the better. and thoughts are with you both. for detailed performance times. all of those school kids then brought that you’ll get a different answer from On that note here are the upcom- Coming soon! April is National Kite And a reminder about WSIKF: I have

AR-LA-NM-OK-TX Cari King their families out over the weekend. Kite everyone who’s attended, but the com- ing opportunities for you to share what Month. Please remember to check the heard that accommodations are booking Fest Louisiane continues to be a priority mon denominator will be “GO TO JUNC- NKM calendar for events happening in up fast for August. Yes, it’s still months event! TION – there’s nothing like it!” Better our area. Better yet, plan on adding one away, but I caution you to BOOK EARLY! Plan to be at the Mitchell Resort & yet, just go to the web site at http:// to the calendar. The goal is to have 600 See you on the beach! RV Park in Perrin, TX, from April 8-10 for windweavers.tripod.com/junction-re- events held worldwide from March Cari King the 6th Annual Cloud Buster Kite Festi- treat.htm. 26th to May 1st. Please visit www. Bary Crites built this val. The festival is held in a beautiful Phil Broder was on a cruise ship in nationalkitemonth.org for more delta in Cari King’s park in north central Texas, with both the Caribbean during Christmas vacation information. class at OKR. 830/598-2414 Gayle Woodul RV availability and cabins. Card-carry- when he discovered that he was sharing As the season gets underway, Marble Falls, TX [email protected] End of term: 2011 ing AKA members get free access to kite a hot tub with an employee of Richard many will be looking ahead to AKA fest activities. Organizers Doris Reed and Dermer’s Hideaway Pizza in Stillwater, Nationals this fall in Wildwood, NJ. Kevin McGrath even changed the date of OK. He now has plenty of interesting If you would like to make a kite to Zach Colbert Spring’s in full force down he’ah in the event this year specifically to avoid stories about the former AKA president. donate to the Friday night Auction, and his Sand Region Eight, and the season for kites is a conflict with Kite Fest Louisiane. With As of this writing, there are still donated fabric is available to build Flea at the all too short. By Memorial Day weekend, that in mind, there’s absolutely no rea- quite a few festivals which are still in your project. Contact Brad Weiner, Oregon Kite- it’s generally too hot and the air’s too son to not attend both events! So, just the planning stages, so be sure to check Region Two Director, for more infor- makers Retreat. still to consider planning a kite festival; plan on it! Really — go ahead and write it the AKA calendar regularly. Keep looking mation and get sewing! therefore we try to cram everything we on your calendar right now. I’ll wait. up! The World Kite Museum and

pring Kiting 12 Kiting | Spring 2011 S 2011 | 13 tion. The club members held an indoor March will be a busy month for Kite festival is no more. Lack of physi- 26, by Windscape Kite Club. Ask Region 11 ~ N. California clinic, inviting members of the commu- BASKL. It starts off with a trip north to cal energy, fresh volunteers and willing Shann Gowan for details. www. Northern CA-NV nity to come watch and try indoor flying. Bodega Bay’s Doran Beach for a day of sponsors are all to blame. Add to that, windscapekitefestival.ca/ I’ve Afterward, a competition was held. John fun flying on March 5. Last year’s meet recent disastrous flooding to that part heard Debbie Conlon of Leth- Quitugua placed first, Francisco Navarro had sunny weather and light winds. Then of the country, and the need to focus bridge, Alberta, attached lights to placed second, Mark Quirmbach placed on March 19th, the first outdoor competi- on getting Queensland back to normal. kites for a night fly over Christ- third and Steve Lewis placed fourth. tion event of the spring season will be On the plus? Michael Alvares will again mas, but darn it… no wind! BASKL hopes to be able to hold more held back in Berkeley. The sound system represent Australia at Canada’s Dieppe FRANCE — is readying for the indoor clinics here in the future. will be out, and fliers will be able to Kite Festival in August. Theme in 2011 is 25th anniversary of Berck Sur Mer

Larkspur, CA Larkspur, Each year, BASKL tries to bring in demonstrate all of the new skills they The Beatles! Festival, 16 – 25 April. Kudos to 415/927-7430 John Gillespie someone from elsewhere in the kiting developed over the last month. Olivier Reymond (Switzerland) End of Term: 2012 Term: End of [email protected] world to share their expertise and en- In April, BASKL returns to Baylands whose kite appears at www. thusiasm. This year, on February 5, Steve Park in Sunnyvale. For details and times cerf-volant-berck.com. New Year Bateman from San Diego was invited to of all BASKL events, check their website wishes came from the team at Dieppe’s Spring in Northern California is hold a Fighter Kite Making workshop at at www.baskl.org, or check the AKA cal- Kite Festival, showing them in sunshine! always welcome. It means trees are the Skinner residence. Steve showed the endar. Not taken in December, I’ll bet?! starting to bloom, the wind is starting workshop attendees how to make one of April is National Kite Month, and I UNITED KINGDOM — the poll agreed to blow, the beaches are starting to get his outdoor kite designs. hope we get lots of Northern California on “UK” when searching the Clubhouse larger, and the kiting season is getting In late February, BASKL held a free members to put on a kite event of some for AKA members’ names. It’s all encom- into full swing. outdoor kite flying clinic at Cesar Chavez kind. Work with your local Parks and passing, leaves no one out, right? (Doug This past winter, the Bay Area Sport Park in Berkeley. This outreach clinic Recreation department to hold an event. Jones suggested “Possums”, but…?) Who Kite League (BASKL) held an indoor fly in offers to help people of all skill levels Lots of good information on organizing wants to be at the Swindon Kite Festi- a large vacant warehouse in downtown learn new skills or improve their abili- an event is available at www.national- val, (celebrating my birthday!) 7-8 May, Martinez, right next to the Amtrak sta- ties, taught by world class BASKL fliers. kitemonth.org. thanks to the White Horse Kite Flyers? www.whkf.org.uk Get in early, it’s al- Region 12 ~ Southwest ed with a moving performance by ways a rollicking good time. Trevor and Two beauties from the 13th Festival Southern CA-AZ-HI Connor which left no eye dry in the Hilary Hughes along with Michael Goodey International De L’Air in Frejus, audience, followed by an afternoon suffered at the hands of the postal France, October 30-31, 2010. of sport kite lessons. system (too cold to deliver their Kiting Ron Despojado was referred by on time?) but things soon thawed. Harry Corey Jensen to help with the Stars Douglas wrote to say “great new website on Ice show. “I met with the cho- AKA.” reographer Rene Roca at a Southern Jerry King brings home the hardware. ARGENTINA — Gustavo Di Si congrat- California ice rink to teach her the ulated AKA on the new website. Still a basics of indoor flying. They were CHINA — Jerry King grew up with lot to discover, keep searching! Look at 619/750-8770 Ben Dantonio Spring Valley CA CA Spring Valley exploring the possibilities of kites in U.S. blood in his veins (Region Ten in www.cafepress.com/akalogostore — that End of Term: 2012 Term: End of [email protected] their show production,” says Ron. reality), but China has his heart. Cur- Calendar is a great value, if only for July. “Ice skaters have an almost natural rently living in Chengdu, Sichuan, PRC, DENMARK — Finn Andersen earned The Day of Hope Epilepsy Confer- ability to skate backwards which has he’s flown his kites in Zhuhai, Taipei, a medal for “most patient.” Still with Rene Roca and Ron ence held in San Diego had Connor a huge advantage in flying indoors, Yang Jiang and Shenzhen and recently AKA, and thankfully, Kiting now arrives Despojado on ice. Doran as featured guest. Accompanying not to mention they fly in an arena collected a trophy or two. Other festi- on time! Connor was Region Nine Director (and with a high ceiling. It would seem to vals on his list are Indonesia, Malaysia, Want to publish something of your Connor’s mom) Amy Doran, along with be a natural match.” The locale was about 60’ x 60’ amidst Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam — almost own? AKA Website now has a separate Lolly Hadzicki-Ryno of Revolution Kites, Team Too Much Fun (Mark & Jea- tents and displays which blocked the next door! Jerry is also President of the section for writing enthusiasts: log in, website is how we stay in touch with and Ron Despojado. The conference was nette Lummas, and Ron Despojado) along wind. A full day of effort was put “American Flyer Kite Club of Chengdu.” click “Clubhouse” tab, and then “Submit each other, being so widespread in our

highlighted with Connor’s indoor flying with Glen Rothstein were contracted into the “barely there” wind coupled Busy man! Finally, an open invitation Web Article.” Start writing! Make it locations. Halit Cebici and how it reduces his stress and pos- to fly kites at the Rose Bowl Corporate with small arena to give spectators a from the Qingdao Kite Festival for 23 educational or anecdotal, technical or Until next time, less talk… more fly! sible seizures. The conference conclud- Party in Pasadena on New Year’s Day. sampling of what kiting has to offer. – 27 April welcomes kitefliers worldwide, purely your own observations. The AKA offering hotel, meals and local Let’s chat, Region Thirteen. My e- KiteTalk Forum and this quarterly report passed away 2010. transportation. Contact Mr Liu Yukui mail newsletters are sent once monthly, is written by you all and e-mailed to me, AUSTRALIA — January 2011 newspa- NOW to register (closing 20 March) our Region has its own discussion area on so, if you’ve not participated yet, get per reported that Coolum International at [email protected]. Why not visit Qingdao after Weifang International started! (Tip: Region 13 ~ International check your e- Holm Struck and his John Freeman kites. Kite Festival, April 19 –22? Write to mail SPAM folder Weifang organiser, Mr Liu Zhiping, first, as Philippe at [email protected] or see Thibault details on Facebook. found….) JAMAICA — Anyone using Face- GERMANY book? Search for “Jamaica” and — Holm Struck discover the Jamaica International flew kites to Kite Festival Group page. Time for

P. O. Box 758 P. a holiday, hmm? Linda Sanders honour dear (+61) 885-562696 End of Term: 2012 Term: End of [email protected] friend, John CANADA — get ready for Swift Freeman, who Current, Saskatchewan, June 25- Willunga SA 5172 AUSTRALIA 5172 SA Willunga

Spring 2011 | Kiting 15 14 Kiting | Spring 2011 Island Time Knot In This Issue by Rod Beamguard with Ronda Brewer THE SHEET BEND Simple to make and easy to untie. This knot is great for tying your flying line to an anchor loop of nylon webbing or for attaching your kite line to the bridle loop. The knot is stable under pressure and I regularly tie it with one hand while my kite is in the air by holding my flying line with one hand and tying the knot with the other. I modify it slightly by adding a bight or bend to the working end of the line so that when all tension is off the line, you can pull the loose end to untie the knot. When the tension is relaxed, the knot loosens easily. In the photos for the sheet bend, the colored rope takes the place of the anchor loop. A) Run the loose end of the line up through the loop. Then, bring the by Ben Dantonio end around the doubled loop lines and extend enough past the loop had the chance go to down to the island of Tobago right after Christmas and spend ten days there with some old friends and to have line to finish with a bend in I the local kite community of this lush tropical island. My kiting travels have taken me around the world many times but never the line as shown in SHEET BEND–1. to a place that was this economically poor. It was a tough trip for many reasons, but it was also one that will give me memories B) Grasp the working line at “X” for the rest of my life, and these memories will always make me smile and remember how good I really have it in my little kite and fold the line to make a bight world. I traveled this island from one end to the other and what I saw and experienced were kites in the purest sense. (folded loop) in the line. Pass the These builders had no ripstop or carbon fiber, but they did have a love of kiting and were ready to go to any lengths to fly bight between the anchor loop and their handmade kites. They made kites out of trash bags or anything else they could find. Spars were old 2”x4”s shaved down and bound together with whatever string they could find. Tails were ripped up old sheets, and flying line was anything they could tie together to get them up in the air. Then they would carry these 10’ or 12’ monsters miles just to get to the field. Some of them didn’t fly well or at all but they never stopped having fun and they never complained.All they did was laugh and just have fun. They may not have had a bunch of fancy kites and every thing I take for granted when I go to a festival, but they have a pure love of kiting and flight. All they wanted to do was share this love with others around them, and I think the working line. SHEET BEND–2 this is what kiting is all about. shows the “X” loop in place. C) One of the high points for me was the reef at Nylon Be sure to take out any slack and Pool where we launched Revs from the boat while we flew tighten up the knot to the end up to our waist in the ocean, far away from land. All of the of the loop before putting a load flying I did and the people I met and flew with will always on the line. SHEET BEND–3. To easily untie the line, just pull on the remind me of why I love this sport and how it does not take loose end “Y”. a bunch of money or a fancy kite to have fun. All it really takes is putting aside the differences we have and enjoying THE DOUBLE SHEET BEND what me have in common: kites. This knot will stay in place without I was proud to get the chance to share some sky with loosening up by itself. I com- the local kiting community on the island of Tobago and monly use it to tie tails to loops with some old friends, including Scott Weider, Sammy Da- at the bottom corners of my kites. vid, Rich Comras, Paul Dugard, Jim Cosca, Ralph and Jean A) Steps 1and 2 of the DOUBLE Gore, Tom and Sandy Miguel, plus Valerie Critten-Stewart SHEET BEND are the same as for who put this all together for us. k the SHEET BEND. You should ar- rive at the result shown in SHEET BEND–2A. B) Take the loose end and make another wrap around the loop to arrive at DOUBLE SHEET BEND–2B. C) Work the knot tight. You will have to pull at both

sides of the knot to make sure it is tightly wrapped around the loop as shown in DOUBLE SHEET BEND–3A. k

Spring 2011 Kiting 17 16 Kiting | Spring 2011 | AKA Directory The President’s Page

american kitefliers aka committees hat events do you have planned for National Kite Month? 2011 in Wildwood, NJ. WFestivals, workshops, displays, lectures, and anything kite Convention is a weeklong celebration of all things AKA. association related are eligible to be registered as a National Kite Month Mike and Cel Dallmer and committee are busy organizing chal- Mel Hickman, Executive Director education & public service event. Who knows, you may even be lucky enough to win a lenges and just plain fun for the week. Competition is but a Mailing: P.O. Box 1614, Walla Walla, WA 99362 Phone/Fax: 509/529-9171 Web/Internet Outreach John Gillespie 415/927-7430 prize! Watch your e-mail for notices about how to earn those small part of the week. Join in the fun and fellowship; see Web: www.aka.kite.org Kite Records Jim Martin Jr. 704/535-4696 prizes, mostly donated by our partners at KTAI. fabulous kites; treat yourself to a new kite or two at the auc- E-mail: [email protected] Education Glenn Davison 781/359-3421 National Kite Month Brad Weiner 856/229-3745 tion. Reserve your vacation time, start saving money. See you At India’s Gujarat International Kite Festival, there! officers and Chief Minister Narendra Modi flies Barbara While in India for a festival week, the billboards pro- executive committee festivals / competitions Meyer’s kite, while a submachine gun-armed claimed, “Fly the kite within you!” Isn’t this advice each of us Barbara Meyer, President Fighter Kites Sharon Champie 707/545-6737 police officer keeps Barbara at a safe distance. should follow? Yes, all the year round, not just at festivals, Osseo, MN Kitemaking Peter Ross 810/225-0346 763/424-2571 [email protected] Sport Kites Ann Vondriska 708/423-8329 not just during National Kite Month, but every day in our daily Kite Art Paul Fieber 608/271-8265 lives. Sometimes it is too easy to get caught up in arguments, Marla Miller, First Vice President Tacoma, WA politics and worries about organization that the ultimate rea- 253/752-7051 [email protected] administration son for the existence of the AKA gets forgotten. The AKA is an

Ways & Means Cliff Quinn 610/965-5607 association of members, run by volunteers, devoted to sharing Linda Sanders, Second Vice President Contract Services Gayle Woodul 830/598-2414 Willunga, SA Australia Safety & Insurance Jerry McGuire 513/831-8379 the joy of kites of all sizes, shapes, and styles. Our strength (+61) 885-562696 [email protected] By-laws Ted Manekin 716/639-7679 and reason for existence is the membership. Your voice is Archives & Records Mel Hickman 800/252-2550 important, and heard by your officers and directors. At the Cliff Quinn, Treasurer Elections Jerry McGuire 513/831-8379 Coopersburg, PA Nominations Kathy Brinnehl 630/271-0765 same time, those officers and directors are first and foremost 610/965-5607 [email protected] fellow kiters sharing their time. Programs happen because annual meeting someone volunteers time to implement. James Patten, Secretary Membership Linda Sanders (+61) 885-562696 Davenport, IA Renewal and Retention Mel Hickman 800/252-2550 Let that kite out to fly every day. Take a few moments 563/650-4143 [email protected] International Linda Sanders (+61) 885-562696 during the daily grind to indulge in some thoughts about your Industry Liaison Will Smoot 540/471-4949 favorite activity. Relax: go to that flying field and the perfect Bob Kelly, Director at Large Club Liaison Todd Little 717/975-2852 Elmhurst, IL Merchandising Amy Doran 509/529-9171 wind, savor the moment, let your blood pressure drop, ap- [email protected] proach the rest of the day with a smile. promotion & membership Mike Dallmer, Director at Large Whether it is to the frozen ice fields of the north, or the Philadelphia, PA Convention Mike Dallmer 215/722-4092 This is the time of year to spread the word about what a sunny beaches of the southern hemisphere, take your kites out 215/722-4092 [email protected] Fly Market Ron Lindner 636/677-3029 wonderful, all encompassing passion we all share. Take a few Mass Ascensions Al Sparling 630/369-9682 and fly, make some new memories for those dreary days stuck kites, a copy of Kiting, and the new poster for your wall at Glenn Davison, Director at Large at work. Boston, MA work. Remind your office mates of the fun to be had. Offer to Why are you still reading? Get that kite bag and hit the 781/359-3421 [email protected] do a display of kites and kite books at your local library. Simple road! things, yes, but oh so effective! Time to fly! In this issue there are two articles about National Kite convention management Month. One is a bit of history; the other outlines a new pro- Maggie Vohs, Convention Manager gram that encourages workshops. Our goal is to award at least Barbara Meyer Cameo Management Solutions, Inc. eight prizes of $100 each to help offset workshop costs. P.O. Box 410, Otis, OR 97368 The kite is down, the line Phone: 541/994-4252 Be creative! What about miniature kites to be flown from Fax: 541/994-3332 a wheelchair in senior homes or hospitals? Or, plastic bag is tangled in the crowd, Web: www.cameomanagement.com dragons for middle school students? Sewing a small delta and Meyer is lost in the E-mail: [email protected] through community education? All of these and more are paparazzi swarm. KITING magazine eligible for submission. Thanks to Glenn Davison and the Phil Broder, Editor Education Committee for this fabulous new program. 904 Bayview Road, Rio Grande, NJ 08242 In an effort to improve transparency of the financial 609/465-6575 reporting of the AKA, and to comply with recommenda- E-mail: [email protected] Summer issue deadline: April 15 tions from the audit, our fiscal year has been changed. In Kiting is published quarterly by the American Kitefliers Autumn issue deadline: July 15 the past, our fiscal year was from November 1 to October Association and distributed free to members. Please 31, with convention profit/loss and auction proceeds held contact the editor for information on submissions, Winter issue deadline: October 15 advertising, and deadlines. Spring issue deadline: January 15 over to the next year. In January, the board approved the new fiscal year of September 1 to August 31, retroactive to August 31, 2010. Send address changes to All convention profit/loss and auction income will [email protected] now be reported in the year they actually occur. Another major advantage is that financial reports presented at the annual business meeting will be for an entire year, Founded in 1964 by Robert M. Ingraham, the American Kitefliers Associa- not a partial year with estimates. Members will review tion is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public in the accurate, complete, more understandable reports. art, history, technology, and practice of building and flying kites. Don’t believe it? Well, join us at the next annual business meeting to be held Wednesday, September 28,

Sprng 2011 | Kiting 19 18 Kiting | Spring 2011 Merchants in BOLD sell Kiting! KitesRUs Pat ‘n Eddie’z Hi-Flyers The Kite Guys 1482 River Road 8804 Colonial Drive 55 Main Street 2420 Morris Crescent SCOTLAND New Hope, PA 18938 Austin, TX 78758 Pacific Beach, WA 98571 Airdrie, AB T4A 2B8 Gentles Limited erchant embers 215/862-6272 512/837-4371 360/276-8377 www.kiteguys.ca 11 Corbiehill Avenue M M Edinburgh, EH4 5DT ALASKA COLORADO IOWA www.kitesrus.com www.patneddiez.com [email protected] NEBRASKA What’s Up (+44) 131-3365472 Northwind Kites Into The Wind Midwest Kites Breeze Catchers 4500 Chagrin River Road JAPAN 3566 Heatherton Drive Kite Studio Windchasers Kites Ocean Shores Kites [email protected] 320 W. Fifth Ave, #156 1408 Pearl Street 5428 S. 185th Street Chagrin Falls, OH 44022 AGAIN Davenport, IA 52804 5555 Hamilton Blvd. 1514 Padre Blvd. 172 W. Chance A La Mer Anchorage, AK 99501 Boulder, CO 80302 Omaha, NE 68135 440/247-4222 Joyfull Tsurumai 1F 563/823-8337 Wescosville, PA 18106 South Padre Island, TX 78597 Ocean Shores, WA 98569 888/291-4386 800/541-0314 402/895-2331 [email protected] 3-14-16 Chiyoda Naka Ku www.midwestkites.com 610/395-3560 956/761-7028 360/289-4103 United Kingdom www.alaskites.com www.intothewind.com www.breezecatchers.net Nagoya, Achi 460-0012 www.kitebuilder.com www.kiteshop.com [email protected] Kiteworld UK Oklahoma (+81) 52-339-3830 6 Cottage Grove Rocky Mountain Ag Picture Pretty Kites www.agagas.co.jp/again ARKANSAS KANSAS Kites In The Sky Pizazz Kiteworks Clacton-on-Sea 5668 E. Hwy 160 Kansas Kite Connection 6512 N. 44th Street Rascal Kites Arkansas Air Museum www.kitesinthesky.com Utah PO Box 266 Essex CO16 8DQ Monte Vista, CO 81144 1806 16th Street Omaha, NE 68112 PO Box 1493 4290 S. School Avenue Breakin’ Wind Coupeville, WA 98239 NETHERLANDS United Kingdom 719/852-3241 Great Bend, KS 67530-4110 402/333-0322 Lansdale, PA 19446 Fayetteville, AR 72701 50 West Center 360/678-6266 Bults.Biz_KAP.com www.kiteworld.co.uk [email protected] 316/792-6549 215/527-4930 479/521-4947 www.pictureprettykites.com OREGON Cedar City, UT 84720 www.pizazzkites.com Broek 2a Above It All Kites www.rascalkites.com www.arkairmuseum.org 435/586-8851 Holthees 5824AC Sky Scraper Kites Wind Heaven 19 Broadway www.breakinwindonline.com The Kite Shoppe (+31) 478-636707 3198 N. Speer Blvd. 10939 East Harry NEVADA Seaside, OR 97138 KaleidoKites Rhode Island 866/ROK-KAKU www.KAPshop.com Denver, CO 80211 Wichita, KS 67207 Windpower Sports 503/738-3333 1-C Spring Street Bikes & Kites www.thekiteshoppe.com 303/893-2933 877/604-WIND 3111 S. Valley View #A-1116 VIRGINIA Eureka Springs, AR 72632 82 Purgatory Road [email protected] www.windheaven.com Las Vegas, NV 89102 Hang-em High Fabrics 888/836-6251 Middletown, RI 02642 702/220-4340 Elmer’s Flag & Banner, Kites Too! 1420 Yale Avenue WISCONSIN [email protected] 401/619-4110 www.windpowersports.com 1332 NE Broadway Richmond, VA 23224 Aerial Stunt Kites® FLORIDA www.bikes-kites.com Kites Incorporated Louisiana Portland, OR 97232 804/233-6155 121 Wrigley Drive CALIFORNIA MeauxJo Kites 611 Ponte Vedra Lakes Bl. #2001 NEW JERSEY 800/547-8795 www.citystar.com/ Lake Geneva, WI 53147 Candy & Kites 3425 Robert Street Kitt Kites Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 Cobra Kites www.kitestoo.com hang-em-high 262/249-0631 1415 Coast Highway Zachary, LA 70791 478 Thames Street 904/268-7600 2608 Rt. 37E www.askites.com PO Box 8, 225/654-5180 Naragansett, RI 02882 www.kitesinc.com Toms River, NJ 08753 Gomberg Kite Productions Int’l. It’s A Breeze Specialties Bodega Bay, CA 94923 www.meauxjokites.com 401/726-1626 732/270-2112 P.O. Box 113 8221 Little Florida Road Fish Creek Kite Company 707/875-3777 www.kittkites.com KiteStop.com Online Store www.cobrakites.com Neotsu, OR 97364 Mechanicsville, VA 23111 3903 Highway 42 www.candyandkites.com 541/996-3083 804/779-0183 Fish Creek, WI 54212 www.kitestop.com MAINE Narragansett Flags and Kites Lighten Up Kites www.gombergkites.com www.itsabreez.com 920/868-3769 Farmer’s Kites Cricket’s Corner 909 Boston Neck Road Lighten Up Kites 238 96th Street www.fishcreekkites.com 1108 Front Street 41 Shore Road Narragansett, RI 02882 348 S. Park Ave Stone Harbor, NJ 08247 High Mountain Kites Jackite, Inc. Morro Bay, CA 93442 Ogunquit, ME 03907 401/782-0318 Winter Park, FL 32789 800/679-5747 1157 SW 32nd Court 2868 W. Landing Rd. Unique Flying Objects 805/772-0133 207/646-2262 www.riflags.com 407/644-3528 www.lightenuponline.com Redmond OR 97756 Virginia Beach, VA 23456 2022 Washington Street [email protected] www.cricketscornertoys.com www.facebook.com/lightenupkites 541/420-9949 877/522-5483 Two Rivers, WI 54241 www.highmountainkites.com SOUTH CAROLINA www.jackite.com 866/UFO-4FUN Harbor Wind and Kite Company NEW MEXICO Windworks Inc. MARYLAND Dyna Kite Corp www.uniqueflyingobjects.com 1575 Spinnaker Drive #102 WeCree8 Kites 13009 Village Blvd The Kite Loft Inland Kites 5628A Amboy Avenue Life’s A Breeze Kites Ventura, CA 93001 2314 Sudderth Drive Madeira Beach, FL 33708 511 Boardwalk 499 Willamette Street North Charleston, SC 29406 2125 Staples Mill Road AUSTRALIA 805/654-0900 Ruidoso, NM 88345 727/320-9463 Ocean City, MD 21842 Grants Pass, OR 97526 843/554-9633 Richmond, VA 23230 Kitepower Queensland www.harborwindkite.com 575/257-5575 www.floridawindworks.com 410/289-7855 541/476-8299 [email protected] 804/405-4515 2/10 -22 Hornibrook Esplanade, Clontarf www.ruidosokitefestival.com www.kiteloft.com [email protected] [email protected] Queensland Australia 4019 Highline Kites Of Berkeley Kites Fly’n Hi (+61) 7 3284 1186 6809 Del Monte Avenue GEORGIA NEW YORK kitelife.com The Rainbow Market www.kitepower.com.au/catalog/index.html Richmond View, CA 94805 HobbyTown USA MASSACHUSETTS WASHINGTON Sea Side Kites Kichi Kites 1236 N. Killingsworth Street, #3 40 N. Market Street 510/235-5483 840 E.W. Barrett Pkwy NW #650 Above It All Kites 293 Nantasket Avenue 81 Old Town Road Portland, OR 97217 Charleston, SC 29401 Kitepower Australia 3 www.HighLineKites.com Kennesaw, GA 30144 Long Beach, WA 98631 Hull, MA 02045 Peru, NY 12972 503/890-0280 843/577-3529 302 Grand Parade 770/426-8800 www.kitelife.com 360/642-3541 Sans Souci Into The Blue 781/925-3277 518/643-9881 www.hobbytown.com/gaken www.aboveitallkites.com Sydney, NSW 2219 11101 S.R. 1 www.SeaSideKites.com www.kichikites.com Koffee ‘N Kites Tennessee (+61) 2 9529 6894 Pt. Reyes Station, CA 94956 315 First Street SE Flags and Kites Big Kid Kites 415/663-1147 IDAHO The Unlimited Sky MICHIGAN Bandon, OR 97411 3846 Shores Road 14236 142nd Avenue NE Kitepower Australia www.into-theblue.com Sunrise Kites 19 Cedar Drive Air-Fun Kites 541/347-3480 Murfreesboro, TN 37128 Renton, WA 98059 386 La Trobe Tce 460 Cleveland Street Miller Place, NY 11764 167 S. Hancock Street 615-896-7201 www.bigkidkites.com Geelong VIC 3220 The Kite Lounge Idaho Falls, ID 83401 631/871-2020 Pentwater, MI 49449 Northwest Winds www.flagsandkites.com (+61) 3 5229 5899 1075 Space Park Way #10 208/524-5551 888/AIR-FUN1 www.theunlimitedsky.com Tanger Outlet Center Cutting Edge Kites Mountain View, CA 94043 [email protected] www.air-fun.com Lincoln City, OR 97367 676 Ocean Shores Bl. NW OzFeathers 650/335-5436 TEXAS Ocean Shores, WA 98569 NORTH CAROLINA 541/994-3209 About Kites P. O. Box 758, www.thekitelounge.com ILLINOIS Kiteman Jack’s 360/289-0667 Flying Smiles Kites www.gombergkites.com Willunga, SA 5172 Chicago Kite/Kite Harbor 11615 Sagevale Lane Newman Street at The Pier www.cuttingedgekites.com (+61) 8 8556 2681 Kite Flite Of San Diego Corolla Town Center Houston, TX 77089 5445 N. Harlem East Tawas, MI 48730 Phantom Star Design www.ozfeathers.com.au Seaport Village Corolla, NC 27927 713/305-6777 Chicago, IL 60656 989/362-4615 2818 SE 23rd Dr #C-3 Fincher’s Aire Force San Diego, CA 92101 252/453-8442 [email protected] 773/467-1428 [email protected] Lincoln City, OR 97367 2901-3 Perry Avenue 619/234-KITE www.flyingsmileskites.com www.chicagokite.com 541/994-7556 Bremerton, WA 98310 CANADA www.kiteflitesd.com Kites & Fun Things B & S Kites 360/692-0149 Alexander Graham Bell Museum Ass’n Home Toys Company www.phantomstardesign.com Windfall Farm 1049 S. Main Street 2812 Padre Blvd., Ste. B [email protected] P. O. Box 609 11 Swaim Drive Second Wind 6370 US Hwy 20 West Plymouth, MI 48170 South Padre Island, TX 78597 Baddeck, NS B0E 1B0 Thomasville, NC 27360 N. 1805 Hwy 1 Galena, IL 61036-6041 734/454-3760 PENNSYLVANIA 956/761-1248 Gasworks Park Kite Shop Canada 336/420-2032 Bodega Bay, CA, 94923 815/776-9075 www.skyburner.com Air Affairs www.bskites.com 3420 Stone Way North 902/295-2069 www.hometoysco.com 707/875-WIND www.velocity-sports.com 107 Chelsea Road Seattle, WA 98103 www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/ns/graham www.secondwindfun.com Third Coast Kite and Hobby Hatboro, PA 19040 Buck-N-Blue Outdoors 206/633-4780 bell/index_e.asp Kites Unlimited - Atlantic Beach 2158 Scenic Highway 215/672-1470 PO Box 2121 www.goodwindkites.com INDIANA Atlantic Station Shopping Center San Francisco Kite Company Frankfort, MI 49635 Alvin, TX 77512-2121 Boreal Kites/Gothic Design Imperial Kites PO Box 2278 Pier 41, Fisherman’s Wharf 231/349-1905 B and C Creations 713/393-1100 Go-Bent Recumbent Bikes 45960 Sparta Line www.imperialkites.com Atlantic Beach, NC 28512 San Francisco, CA 94133 www.thirdcoastkites.com 215 Kerrick Road www.jbrau.com/bnb-01.html 1111 Walla Walla Avenue Saint Thomas, ON N5P 3S8 252/247-7011 415/291-8770 Shillington, PA 19607 Wenatchee, WA 98801 519/775-2527 Play With The Wind www.kitesunlimitednc.com www.sfkites.com 610/796-1830 Family Fun Kites 509/667-7777 [email protected] 17933 Williamsburg Drive MISSOURI www.bandccreations.com 16430 FM 156 South www.gobentbikes.com Granger, IN 46530 Flying High With Charon Kitty Hawk Kites Sport Kites International Justin, TX 76247 Great Canadian Kite Company 574/315-6231 5633 Carlton Drive PO Box 1839 Yorba Linda, CA 92886 Burlesque Kites 817/360-2720 Goodwinds.com 4517 Harvest Green [email protected] St. Louis, MO 63049 Nags Head, NC 27959 714/970-2833 1670 Limeport Pike www.familyfunkites.com 2816 Old Hwy 99 S Road, Suite #4 Taber, AB T1G 1A1 636/376-6055 877-359-8447 [email protected] Coopersburg, PA 18036 Mount Vernon, WA 98273 877/382-3956 Windsongs [email protected] www.kittyhawk.com 610/965-0867 New Tech Kites 360/588-4785 www.canadiankitecompany.com P. O. Box 669 Wind Wizard www.kitesonconsignment.com 7208 McNeil Drive, #207 www.goodwinds.com Beverly Shores, IN 46301 Anemizo Aerodynes 771 Myrna Drive OHIO Austin, TX 78729 Le Gite Du Cerf Volant 219/874-5864 5745 S. Hwy 43 512/250-0485 Port Hueneme, CA 93041 Cleveland Costume Grandmaster Kites Great Winds Kite Company 935 Rte De La Seigneurie [email protected] Joplin, MO 64804 www.newtechkites.com 805/271-4747 18489 Pearl Road 216 W. Third Street, P. O. Box 276 312 N. 83rd Street Saint-Roch-des-Aulnaies 417/483-7016 www.windwizard.com Strongsville, OH 44136 Mifflinville, PA 18631 Seattle, WA 98103 PQ G0R 4E0 www.clevelandcostume.com 570/759-3167 www.greatwinds.com 418/354-2182 www.grandmasterkites.com www.legiteducerfvolant.ca

Spring 2011 | Kiting 21 20 Kiting | Spring 2011 air and smoothly traverse blustery days. Always improvising and open Coal Country Kite Fly Voices From The Vault for solutions, Bill is known for his kiting innovations and inventions Beulah, North Dakota by Patti Gibbons — many cooked up with spare Bill Bigge parts and discarded household items. Bill’s impressive, albeit hen you think nature. Respected by gadgety, self-powered reel uses about it, many others as a physicist W a recycled concentrated juice times life puts you just at the National Bureau can as a reel and a ballpoint pen where you need to be. of Standards, Bigge’s as the axel. For under a buck he Growing up outside the professional life can show you how to toss out line Beltway in suburban primed him to make evenly. The practical and clever Washington, DC, Bill achievements and col- homespun solutions in Bill’s kite Bigge set roots in an lect great joys in his bag reflect his keen understand- area that blossomed off-hour aerial pur- ing of mechanics and his eye for into a kiting hub at a suits. As an avid model simplicity. time when his pro- airplane builder and Known and beloved by many April 30 - May 1, 2011 701/290-1931 fessional and leisure kitemaker, Bigge cross- fliers and kite friends, Bill met interests coalesced. pollinated his pockets [email protected] people over the years at kite As a plucky youngster of knowledge letting gatherings. An early fixture and haunting the eastern his work influence now bona fide icon at the Smithsonian seaboard, Bill grew up his play and his play Kite Festival, Bill makes friends one with an eye on the sky influence his work. Several chatty kitefliers let the tape at a time by observing their kites and and hands that would Even at rest sketch- spin and recorded their memories and offering simple suggestions and minor tame the wiliest of ing kite designs during thoughts about kites, kitefliers, and adjustments that will make them fly kites. his lunch breaks, Bill’s the great big sky for the World Kite better. It is his friendliness, his helpful- Son of educators understanding of phys- Museum’s oral history archive proj- ness, and his insights into improving the who met at the Paris ics and aerodynamic ect. Interested in telling your stories? kiting experience that have won him a Institute, one doesn’t principles found their Would you like to hear what other fli- legion of friends in his 50+ years of kit- have to look far to see way to the drawing ers say? Got time to interview special ing, and recently earned him the AKA’s where Bill inherited board for testing and people in your local clubs or friends in top honor, the Steve Edeiken Award. his nimble mind and scientific scrutiny. far away places? Feel free to contact It was a well-deserved accolade that intellectual abilities. Bill’s father taught and government recruiters handed Bill Applying model airplane-making the Museum if you’d like to learn more humble Bill took in stride as he quickly economics at Brown University until deferment papers during the Korean techniques to kiting, Bill came up with about the oral history tapes. Contact found his way back to the flying field to 1937, designing social security models War. Yet, even with dreams of being a innovative solutions and opened the us at [email protected]. help others enjoy the sky. k that turned international heads. A fam- pilot dashed, Bill played in the sky and door to using a wider range of construc- ily of smarty-pants, there was a time studied aerodynamics throughout his tion materials. As a material scientist, when Bill, his sister, and his brother life. Bigge declares, “I’m an old-style Bill fearlessly coupled composite ma- were enrolled simultaneously at the government scientist,” a stripped- terials to improve flying performances, University of Michigan. It was there, as down summary that hints at his modest showing that high-tech epoxies and a Wolverine, that Bill plastic films are cozy began making kites. bedfellows with tradi- Inspired by simple tional wood and wire nylon thread, an inven- parts. A believer in ex- tive Bill thought, I can ploring a never-ending make a real neat kite series of adjustments, using nylon thread as a Bill’s constant adapta- line. That was the first tions made his kites of many fliers and kites fly better and better. that accompanied Bill A working scientist beyond the ivory tow- and a walking ency- ers of his college days clopedia on how to well into adulthood. A fly kites, Bill tinkered constant companion, with wobbly kites and kites became a plea- learned to make even surable part of a larger duds soar. life’s work. Bill is known pri- Although keenly marily for his trade- interested in join- mark airplane kites ing the Air Force and and his thoroughbred becoming a pilot like line — the Janus. As Bill and a student test a Janus his older brother, a master flier, Bill’s glider at the Fort Worden Kite- Bill was too young to kites are aloft in as makers Retreat in 2004. enlist during WWII little as a whisper of

22 Kiting | Spring 2011 Spring 2011 | Kiting 23 Empty Spaces in The Sky Merritt Beck John The Hoosier Kitefliers Society and the kiting family have lost another icon. Merritt Beck, 98, of Winchester, IN, passed Freeman away November 6, 2010. Merritt was a lifelong educator and John was a former student of Indiana’s “Kite Man,” Ansel Toney. Merritt a fixture on was a kite builder in his own right and prolific in a hobby he the West Coast Ken Conrad pursued with passion. He learned the art of kitemaking while kiteflying scene Dana Suttell helping Ansel get caught up with Christmas orders. Merritt’s but sometimes Debbie Fitzgerald José Sainz’s class wife, Ethyl, had ordered kites from Ansel for Christmas pres- traveled to ents and, seeing the backlog of orders, she told Merritt he had festivals such better go over and “help that man.” The rest is history. Mer- as Windscape in Rod Beamguard ritt continued to make kites well into his 90’s before deciding Saskatchewan and to retire from sewing. He was also one of a group of people the Toronto Inter- who, in 1986, formed a club known as the Hoosier Kitefliers national Kitefest Society. Over the years, he helped to guide the club to become with his wife and what it is today — a group celebrating its 25th anniversary. partner kitemaker Marzlie. He was avid in sharing his knowledge and was a fre- quent instructor Scott Hartley at the World Kite Museum in Long Alan Fossum Beach, and at the famous Fort Wor- Gerry Pennell den Kitemakers Conference. Most notably, he and Marzlie founded the Parksville International Kite Festival in 2006 near their home on Vancouver Island which has now become a must-do event on the kite festival calendar in July. In a 2007 interview, John said, “the thing that probably gives me the most pleasure in kiting is being at a festival and seeing kites in the air that were born in a Freeman workshop. Now that’s a real high!” John and Marzlie were active with the British Columbia Merritt Beck (right) shares a delta with Glen Tranbarger. Kitefliers Association, the Westport Windriders and the Wash- When attending a kite fly anywhere in the Midwest and ington Kitefliers Association. No doubt hundreds of kites have you see a patchwork delta, you will probably hear someone been made with his guidance and instruction over the years photos by Zach Colbert, remark, “It’s a Beck.” The Hoosier Kitefliers Society celebrates and this will be a lasting legacy in the kite community. I am Alexa King Cari King and Rich Durant Merritt’s creations every year in Muncie at the Merritt Beck saddened by his passing and very much touched by his enthusi- Kite Reunion. asm for sharing his love for kites and kitemaking to the world. Clark Shute Gary Mark

Jerry Fincher An enthusiastic and generous member of the Northwest kiting community, Jerry passed away January 8, 2011. Jerry first got interested in kiting about 25 years ago, and this inter- est evolved in a true renaissance form. From participation in Fort Worden kite building, to kite aerial photography where he won a trophy his first contest entry, to opening his own kite store, Fincher’s Aire Force, he was learning and sharing his experience and resources with anyone who showed an interest. He enjoyed attending festivals and trade shows, and always had a new project or kite to introduce. Wherever there was a raffle or fundraiser for kiting, Fincher’s Aire Force would be there with amazing support. The Whidbey Island Kite Festival was a favorite, and he was the soul of the children’s Bear in the Air parachut- ing event held there each day. He and fellow kiter Glen Austin provided the equipment and expertise to make the event happen. And I will never again hear the cry “Bear in the Air!” without seeing Jerry doing what he loved. There will be a memorial event at WSIKF 2011. Linda Barnes Jerry alongside Ray Bethell.

24 Kiting | Spring 2011 Spring 2011 | Kiting 25 n New Year’s Day, millions of TV view- Oers in more than 120 countries saw gi- ant kites flying down Colorado Boulevard in Flowers Pasadena, California. Built to a size usually only found in Peter Lynn’s workshop, they were part of a float sponsored by Donate Life in the 122nd annual Tournament of Take Roses Parade. The parade’s theme this year was “Building Dreams, Friendships, and Memo- ries.” Donate Life, an organization that Flight promotes organ, eye, and tissue donation, chose the idea of “Seize The Day” for their float. “The kite direction came from the Donate Life Rose Parade Float Commit- tee, which I chair,” said Bryan Stewart of OneLegacy, a southern California transplant donor network. “We had been exploring an entirely different direction for months, but it just wasn’t working. With only about seven weeks to go until we were scheduled to unveil the design, we brainstormed vi- sual concepts that were uplifting, inspiring and soared. The previous three years we featured hot air balloons, a shower of stars ascending to the sky, and a rising phoenix, so I suppose you could say we have some- what of a brand when it comes to our Rose Parade float entries.”

surfaces must be covered in organic materials. For any kite- maker who’s ever layered ripstop nylon to create a new color, or covered fabric with DesignMaster paints, imagine working with this palette: five colors of strawflower, ground rice, lima photos by Luis Ramirez beans, kidney beans, mung beans, soybeans, onion seed, let- tuce seed, three colors of statice, five shades of mums, a trio and Scott Weersing of carnations, two irises, silverleaf, and of course, roses. Adorning the kites’ tails were sixty “floragraphs” (portraits Float designer Dave Pittman mostly relied on memory to create the kites, made of floral materials) of deceased organ and tissue donors. including a train of diamonds, deltas, giant spinsocks, a Peter Lynn box kite, and Riding on the float during the 5½ mile parade were thirty a Chinese butterfly. But at his side were two books: Chinese Artistic Kites, and organ donors, transplant recipients, and The float’s hidden framework Maxwell their family members. Eden’s In the end, Donate Life’s float classic Magnificent Book of Kites. Asked about the won the Theme Trophy for best pre- float’s kites afterward, Pittman sounded relieved. “I am sentation of the parade’s theme. The pleased that it sounds like we got it right with the kites float’s builders said, “Flying a kite is an on the float. A tremendous percentage of the world’s opportunity seized to share laughter, population sees our work, and believe me, we hear sun, wind, and the visual beauty of the about it when we don’t. Ever put too many toes on a moment. Through their life-changing koala, or put bicycles in the wrong century? Trust me, experiences, the families of organ and those koala people are passionate!” tissue donors, living donors, and recipi- Building the float’s structure — 55’ long, 35’ high, ents of life-saving transplants teach us and 17’ wide, with a working vehicle at its center all a profound lesson: to Seize the Day — was only half the challenge. Volunteers (many of and make the most of every moment to them family members of organ donors or recipients) build dreams, friendships and memories had to decorate it in the hours before the parade. In with loved ones.” k keeping with Tournament of Roses rules, all exterior

Spring 2011 | Kiting 27 26 Kiting | Spring 2011 future wings by pencilling the shape on the fabric, including The central spine fitting the ventilation holes, cut these holes out, and stitch the grids. Kite Plan Christophe Tournay’s Ginga Then lay those two wings on each other, lay again the template on top and cut the leading and trailing edges, then solder, cut he Ginga kites are single line freestylers steered as and stitch the central curve as explained above. Tfighter kites but also able to glide and make all kinds • Apply rein- of figures depending on your skills and imagination. Hence forcements at their name: ginga, the basic move of the Capoeira, the wing tips, tail. Brazilian martial art that combines fight and acrobatics, ex- • Hem the actly like these kites. They are larger and more curved than trailing edges. fighters. They are well balanced, able to glide, to flat spin • Apply the and more. Let it glide away with a gentle tension control mylar reinforce- on the line, then block and pull, the kite will turn and rise. ment along Other figures are possible, like belly launch, dive and land, the leading up and over, half-looping/half barrel and glide away, loop- edge: between ing, circle around yourself. Try different bridle tuning: from nose and spar as flat as possible to have it gliding to its max but unstable, pocket. to as heavy as possible for steady flying like a fighter. The • Make the trick comes from the bow that combines carbon fibre lead- leading edge The length of the glass fiber segment depends on its stiff- ing edges with a central glass fibre section that acts like a spar pocket ness. The stiffer the shorter, but if too stiff, the kite will not spring: keeping the fabric tensioned and the wings spread (minimum 5cm bend as required in flying conditions, hence use the softest for smooth gliding, but also when pulling/releasing, the wide) and close possible glass fiber. wings will bend inwards, giving directional stability. Last the end with The bridle is as simple as it can be: two points. It should but not least, when releasing the line, the wings will flap to central cross fitting that is ideal to snap the spar into it. In some Dacron. be as long a possible but short enough not to be tangled in the propel the kite in a horizontal or vertical loop. fact, any (modified) fitting, opened central cross, that will act • Make the wing tips. A three point bridle works too. On some pictures you like a hook should work. nose with 3.9 can see a three points bridle that is another option. ounce Dacron; If you have questions or would like to share pictures, con- Building Steps it must be bul- tact me at [email protected]. For more building tips, look in • Print, assemble the plan and make the cutting tem- The tail tensioner letproof as it the “Kite Plans - Reviewed” section of the Kitebuilder’s Forum. plate. (Templates are available online in the Kiting+ page will take the Thank you to Marion Steeves for her assistance with this plan. at www.aka.kite.org.) whole tension of the sail, plus the crashes. Good winds, bon vent, have fun. k • Lay two layers of fabric on each other. • Make the central spar pocket. The trick is to straighten the • Lay the template in the fabric, aligning the straight sail on a curved surface and then to apply the pocket. This grain of the fabric with the leading edge. strip of fabric is cut in the bias of the fabric. • Pencil the central curve (spine), assemble both layers • Make the tail tensioning system with a piece along the central curve with a soldering iron, making thin of strap and some 2mm carbon fiber. Make the dots. thread loop as seen on the pictures. • Cut (with a blade, not hot cut) the leading and trailing • Apply the battens; they are pointing towards edges. the nose just to make it easier to fold the kite. • Cut along the central curve, ½cm away from the pencil They then align with the central spar. Note that line/soldered dots. the small Ginga has no battens. • Straight stitch along the pencilled central curve. • Make the central spar, 4mm (3mm for the • Open both wings, open the left ½cm and crease it flat small one) carbon fiber, insert it in the central on both sides of the central stitch. Keep it flat with a pocket, stretch the sail as much as possible and They of course fly in steady winds but are also great fun triple zig-zag stitch. cut the spar 5-6cm longer. Adjust the length of with a shorter line in unstable winds because they will react to • For the vented version, you must first prepare the two the tensioning loop so that the sail is strongly any wind shift but keep on flying. You should be able to tensioned and the compression on the spar fly them in parks behind trees or any place that you would nor- makes it bend! mally consider unsuited for kiting. The more wind shifts, the • The central cross is kept at the right distance more fun as you’ll have to continuously recover the kite. of the nose with a segment of 6mm spar posi- There are different versions: tioned over the 4mm bar. • the small one, compact and agile • Make the bow: carbon fiber of the same • the standard, for light winds, fast flying length than the leading edge pocket. Then make • the standard vented, for medium wind, or gentle flying in the length of the central glass fiber segment in light winds order to have the bow intersecting the central 1 • the stretched one: maximum glide, slower flying, for lighter spar approximately /3-½ of the nose—central winds. connector distance. Push the bow into the The plan is a series of pages that have to be assembled central connector. Now the kite has gained its to create the template. On the plan you’ll find the three 3-D hollow shape. If you feel that the tension is sizes and the design of the ventings. The recommend fabric is excessive, shorten the central segment (half a Chikara or ripstop nylon, with some mylar (or Dacron) rein- centimeter at a time). If the kite remains flat forcement at the leading edge. The spars for the standard and or with too many plies along the central spar, stretched ones are 4mm carbon. The central glass fibre section make a new central glass fiber segment some- of the bow is also of 4mm. For the small one, all spars (carbon what longer. and glass fibre) are 3mm. The central connector is an open

28 Kiting | Spring 2011 Spring 2011 | Kiting 29 left and right direction as well as basic later, you will start trying to interpret were published to show kite flyers a way shapes. As you begin to get better at the music. To do this, you will have to to start teams: The Basics of Team Flying Pairing Up by Donna & Jeff McCown follow drills, you will see your lines not take into account the overall style of by Troy Gunn and Jerry Hershey, The No only crossing and touching, but even the music. Often, this is difficult to put Secrets Handbook of Team Sport Kite o you’ve had a sport kite for a while, held back. Conversely, twisting or wrapping around each other. into words, but the several components Flying by Al Hargus, and Kite Precision Sand you’ve flown to the point that the less technically- Don’t worry. This is actually a useful to think about would be specific style by Ron Reich. To my knowledge, these your control is together: left, right, up, oriented partner may skill and can be used a number of ways or type (rock, jazz, classical, new age, three publications probably did the most down, various geometric shapes, you feel unduly pressured. to construct parts of a pairs ballet. Just etc.), overall tempo, and dynamic. The for defining common calls. Another thing can land and launch at will and maybe A good compromise remember that when flying shapes, the overall mood of the music should be that had to be worked out was direction. even learned a trick or two. You now can be reached by lines will wrap around each other. In thought of as well. Is it sad, uplifting, Some folks called maneuvers by “kite” find yourself wondering what is the next keeping the geometric order to undo this, simply fly the maneu- or intense? Typically, music that is slow, direction, and others based their calls dimension or level to which you can take and loopy style but ver in the opposite direction. The key is open, and flowing might be interpreted on “window” direction. Kite direction this new skill. You may want to consider add in two or three of to keep your cool the first few times this with curves and flowing lines; music that meant that if all the kites were flying pairs flying. the simpler tricks like happens. Once you get used to the feel is fast, driving, and intense might be in- upward, a left turn would go towards the It can be said that pairs flying is the stalls, axels, or slides. of a compound wrap, you’ll be able to fly terpreted with hard angle turns. Breaks physical left side of the wind window; best of both worlds. You have the cre- A correlation can out of just about any mistake like a pro. or stops in the music are typically good but if the kites were flying downward, a ative freedom of individual flying (you’re sometimes be drawn Once you have mastered follow places for stalls or landings, depending left turn would go towards the physical only limited by your own skill), and the between flying style the leader drills, flank drills are next. on their length. right side of the window. You can imag- challenge of precise formation flying af- and musical taste. For purposes of this drill discussion, we Just as your kite has to be launched, ine the confusion and havoc this could forded by a team; plus, the pairs format If your pair decides will reference the basic square. Begin it also has to be landed. Sharply execut- cause. Now directions are standardized gives more space for throwing in tricks to try choreograph- by flying a single file ground pass about ed snap landings or trick landings and by window direction, meaning that right (two can learn a new trick faster than ing flights to music, 10’ in altitude from left to right across launches are a good way to add interest and left turns always move to the right three or four on a team). agreement on the the wind window. Just before you reach and excitement. or left side of the window regardless of music to which you fly the right side, the lead pilot would whether the kite is flying upwards or Getting Started will be important. The yell “turn” or “now,” some type of call Calling Maneuvers downwards. Now that you’ve decided to fly pairs, most direct way to do to cue the turn. As the turn from the Now that you’ve decided to plunge In order to start making calls, a ba- the first thing needed is a partner. Your this is each person brings a selection of type of kite(s) you might fly and size of horizontal plane to the vertical plane is headlong into pairs flying and found a sic understanding of the parts of the call partner should be the most important music to be considered by both partners. your flying field, and also, lest we for- made, the kite orientation also changes. compatible partner and maybe even is necessary. Basic calls happen in two consideration, because the issue of com- The selections are given a listen by both get, your budget. If you can, try to have When both kites turn at the same time, matching kites and line, it’s time for sy- parts: the maneuver or direction, then patibility can make or break most pairs. partners, and eventually a choice is two sets of lines, one shorter lighter set the orientation changes from single file chronizing your aerial daring duo. I have the execution. The maneuver portion One issue to consider is time. Do your made that suits the technical ability, mu- for light winds and a heavier longer set to line abreast (side by side). When you heard many stories, legends, and myths is where the lead is stating a maneuver personal schedules match to be able sical taste, and aerial vision perceived for high winds. For my own pair, Wind- turn from horizontal to vertical, the #1 about the early days of sport kite flying and/or direction to be performed. An to put in the amount of practice time by each pilot. junkies, we fly four different sets: 90# kite should still be on the right and #2 among pairs and teams. I have been told example would be, “Roll left,” mean- needed to reach a common goal? The Now that you’ve found a partner, by 110’, 150# by 120’, 200# by 135’, on the left. As your kites climb, cue the that every team probably had different ing the pair would execute a tight roll more technically advanced your flying the next thing to do is get the kites to and 300# by 135’. The 200# set tends next turn (left) before you reach the top methods of calling a routine. This would maneuver in the left-hand direction. becomes might mean more practice time match. If you were fortunate enough to be the one we fly most with either a of the window. This time going to the almost certainly make any type of mega- Another example would be “Fall in and would be needed. On the other hand, to find a partner who flies the same standard or vented kite. These line sets horizontal plane, the kites will travel fly impossible, unless all members got follow.” Here the lead is stating that the you might just need an occasional flight model of kite you do, then at this point are also repeated so we have one set for single file again, but this time from right together beforehand to discuss cueing follow pilot should meet with the lead to relax after the occasional bad day at you’re ahead of the game. The reasons practice and one set for performance or to left, but the #2 kite will be the lead maneuvers. Teams or pairs that lived or coming into the lead’s tail and following work. for having “matching” kites are pretty competition. Line lengths between each kite. The next turn (down) will have flew in the same general area and saw the lead kite in a single file manner. The Time scheduling is, for the most simple. They need to fly the same speed, pilot should also be the same length. It the kites side by side again, and before each other on some semi-regular basis second part of the call is the execution. part, directly tied to the common goal. turn the same corners, and have the has been found that staggered lines can reaching the ground, cue a right turn would work out their own commonality This part of the call determines when a This is another key point to compat- same flight envelope in general. Also, make the kites fly unevenly and usually back to the ground pass. If everything of calls; however, they would still be dif- turn or maneuver is to begin. Usually it ibility. The common goal will typically when the sail colors and graphics are this also makes the wing (follow) pilot went right, the #1 kite should once again ferent from other areas of the country. is a single syllable, staccato word, such determine how much time will be spent the same, it all just tends to look bet- have to move or run more to keep the be the lead and #2 following single file These pockets of commonality eventu- as “now,” “turn,” or “go.” Using the practicing. If you both decide to fly only ter in the sky. If you and your partner same speed control. and both kites flying from left to right ally became known as “tribes,” but for previous call for a roll as an example, for recreation, for fresh air and exer- have different kites, you might be able The next order of business is to get as when the square was started. You’ve bigger mega-flies, another step needed the two parts together would be “Roll cise and just the thrill of having your to get them close after some tweaks into the air. First, we need to define the just completed your first flank maneuver. to be taken. left ...now.” We already know that a roll kite in the air, then one or two sporadic and adjustments, but to fly your best, a role of each pilot. As each pilot is stand- Just remember that horizontally, the Sometime in the 1990s, three books maneuver is going to be done in the left- nights per week will suffice. If you both matched set should definitely be given ing side by side ready to launch, the kites fly single file, and vertically, the decided, eventually, to pursue exhibi- some thought. If you’re not sure about pilot on the right is the captain or lead kites are side by side. This orientation tion performances, or competition, then which kites to check out, talk to other pilot. The person on the left could be can also be reversed. In the horizontal it might be necessary to schedule more pilots in your area, particularly those called the second or follow or wing pilot. plane, the kites will look “stacked” wing practice time. Bottom line is, kiting is who are experienced in pairs and/or The job of the lead pilot is to make the tip to wing tip and nose to tail vertically. one of those things that the more you team flying. If no other pilots are close calls for the maneuvers and set the pace Don’t be afraid to experiment. Even the put in, the more you get out of it. by, you can do Web searches for kite and flow of the routine being flown. wind window can be divided in a number The idea of flying style is another dealers or club forum pages as well as The job of the follow pilot is to answer of different ways. Use your imagination. point to be addressed. Will your pair be kite manufacturers. You’ll be surprised or obey the calls given by the lead and Eventually, you will want to take content to just fly the basic geometric where a chain of Web links can lead you. hold the formation, be it single file, line these basic moves and try to make them shapes and curves, or will you pursue the While you’re thinking about kites, abreast, or echelon, as well as holding a bit more exciting. Usually, this would more technical side by adding tricks? If you should also think about line sets. horizontal and vertical lines when being mean adding in music. A good way to one member chooses a simpler style and Things to remember when deciding what split from the lead. start is to have some tunes you like play- the other wishes to fly a more techni- lines to fly and how many sets to make The most basic maneuvers are follow ing in the background. Make your turns cal style, the technical partner may feel are wind variances where you live or fly, maneuvers, turns in an up and down or on a given beat of the music. Sooner or

30 Kiting | Spring 2011 Spring 2011 | Kiting 31 maneuvers. If the kites are flying roll and the other pilot flies the opposite “trigger” the series from your memory. times, particularly when flying to music, side by side, the turn happens at the roll. In the vertical plane, they are split In the case of Windjunkies, we had a that the pace might speed up or slow same time for both kites. This means left and right. Calling a roll happens just maneuver that started as a horizontal down to where you are either ahead or side by side entering the turn; side like you might think. A typical roll might split with returns and splits about verti- behind the music. When this happens, by side exiting the turn. The left kite be upwards such as “Roll up....now.” cal, horizontal, and both diagonal axis. you can try to fit in a quick line like, stays the left kite and the upper kite Vertically, it might be “Roll right...now.” We named it “starburst series” because “just ahead” or “just behind.” Also, a stays the upper kite. If the kites are In the case of split rolls, the lead pilot’s to us that is what it looked like. When good old-fashioned “speed up” or “slow flying in a follow form, when the turn direction would be stated first, “Down the series came up in our ballet, it was down” works just as well. The idea here is made, the following kite will then up split roll...now.” In this case, lead called as: “starburst series...go,” then is to find a way to communicate with become the lead kite when flying the flies a downward roll, and wing flies an each turn was cued as it came along as your partner or teammates that works opposite direction. upward roll. When the roll is completed, “turn...turn...turn.” Once the series has best for you. Next is the “flank.” These are in- both kites continue along their original been rehearsed to the point of being The final type of call is probably teresting because each turn changes path in the same orientation as when the second nature, individual turn commands the most important and is the only one the formation from follow to side by roll was started. and descriptions may be eliminated. The that can be made by either partner. side alternately. In the same manner Loops are the same maneuver as whole idea is to get down to the ba- This call is “stations.” The main reason as about turns discussed previously, rolls, just larger and modified by the sics of name and cue. Name the series, for calling “stations” is for safety. Since flank turns are also up, down, left, “degree of sky” to define its size. De- execute, then just cue the turns with many of us fly in public areas such as right, with the command being “flank gree of sky is a dimension of distance “turn” or “now.” Just remember that if parks or beaches, someone unknowingly up,” “flank down,” etc. Instead from the ground to the top of the wind the turns happen on a specific beat in wandering into your flight arc is a very hand direction, but the execution com- stick with it. After you get used to it, of a curved turn, the flank turn is window. The typical modifiers divide the music, you must give the turn call at real possibility. The second reason for mand of “now” is what actually starts you will find that your flying will tighten considered a “hard angle” maneuver. the window along horizontal lines of the right time so that reaction time puts “stations” is if something goes wrong the roll so both kites can be together up significantly. Typically done at 90°, the flank should one quarter, half, three quarters, and the turn where it should be. during a practice routine. When work- and clean. Now that there is some understand- be flown as a synchronous snap turn but full. If you’re flying 100’ to 120’ lines, The next level is what could be ing on a new maneuver or series, come The next important thing to remem- ing of the mechanics of calling maneu- slightly rounded off. It has been found a one-quarter sky loop would have an termed as flying by execution only. When confusion is bound to happen. When it ber when learning to make calls is timing vers, let’s take a look at some of the that ripping the turn too hard takes away approximate diameter of 20’, a half-sky you have flown a routine long enough does, “stations” can be called, and like and cadence. Timing the call is critical actual calls and how they are described. from the turn happening cleanly. It’s just loop about 40’, a three-quarter sky loop and have it fully memorized, the entire in an emergency or safety situation, to getting a turn or maneuver to happen The most basic to start with are fol- about impossible to get two kite sails to about 60’, and a full-sky loop about 80’. routine becomes a series. This could be everything immediately stops and all in the right place and at the right time. lows and flanks. A follow maneuver is snap together as if they were one kite. The additional modifier of up or down is the ultimate level of calling. It allows pilots break from the formation and go You should give the call early enough just what its name implies. The follow As stated earlier, each flank turn only needed if the loop is started from the captain to more precisely place turns to a predesignated place in the sky, typi- to be able to state it clearly but not so pilot falls in behind the lead pilot and changes the formation being flown. If a path at about mid or half sky. If flying and maneuvers because you don’t have cally some form of arch across the top early that your partner loses the call follows wherever the lead pilot goes in flying a horizontal ground pass in follow, at ground or one-quarter sky, the loop long, cumbersome, and sometimes con- of the wind window. Because this is the mentally before the execution command. “follow the leader” fashion. The fol- the captain could call “flank up...now.” direction is generally accepted to be up- fusing calls. All that is needed are three only command that can be given by any If the call is too late, you will be giving low pilot should aim at the outside wing Both kites would turn up at the same wards. If the flight path is at three quar- words, “now,” “go,” “turn,” and mostly pilot, I cannot stress enough its serious- it in a hurried fashion to the point that of the lead pilot on curves. This will time and would be flying vertically side ters or full sky, the direction is generally you will only use two words. In the cur- ness. The “stations” command should your partner may not hear or understand keep the spacing between the two kites by side with the lead kite still on the accepted to be downwards. Examples of rent Windjunkies ballet, I’m only using never be given in jest or as a joke, and the call properly. This, in turn, can lead better through the curves. Typical calls right and the follow kite on the left. As- loop calls are: “full-sky loop...now.” (If “turn” to cue turns and “now” to cue when heard, should be executed with all to a maneuver not happening cleanly for follow maneuvers are: follow right, suming that this turn was made at center started from ground, it flies upwards. If tricks and landings. If flying to music, dispatch. and/or the pair being spatially out of follow left, fall in and follow (typically window, the captain could call “Flank started from full sky, it flies downwards.) certain sections may not need calls at We have just scratched the surface position in the wind window. The main used when recalling the wing pilot from right...now.” Both kites would snap turn “half-sky loop down...now,” or “three- all. Specific turns or tricks are cued by of how to call maneuvers. For further thing to remember is to THINK AHEAD! a maneuver where he/she has been split right 90° and the lead is once again quarter sky loop up...now.” the music itself and, therefore, can be information, try to find a copy of one or As you are flying the current maneuver, from the lead), follow up (or down) the lead. At the right side of the window, the About turns, mentioned earlier, can placed even more precisely. all three books mentioned earlier. Since you should already be thinking about the center (typically used for climbing from call could be “Flank down...now.” The also be modified by degree of sky. In We have just covered a good num- they all have these calls illustrated, they next move coming up. This will do more a ground pass or dropping from full sky kites now once again fly side by side but review, we remember that about turns ber of the specifics in regards to calling will be able to make more sense. Just towards getting the call made at the to make ready for some type of split downward. At half-sky, call “flank left... are 180° instead of 360°; therefore, maneuvers, but there are some calls remember, the idea is to have fun. Use right time than anything else. maneuver). These are just some ideas of now.” This time going to the left, the when the kite reaches the next altitude that are more general in nature. These your imagination and experiment. k On the flip-side of timing is cadence. how to use a follow command. All that is follow kite becomes lead kite since the or degree of sky, the kite will be flying in are “coaching” calls. To my knowledge, Read more at the Cadence refers to the rhythm in which needed is to make it fit how you fly. An direction is the opposite. At the left side the opposite direction. The most com- there is no standardized form of coach- Kiting+ page on a call is spoken. Usually, a call is two or interesting reverse is “tail lead,” where of the window, the call could be “Flank mon of these turns are half sky and full ing the pace of a routine. There will be the AKA website. three short words followed by a one-half the captain puts the wing pilot in the down...now.” The kites turn to a side by sky. Here are some examples: “half sky to one second pause, then the execu- lead while the captain still makes the side formation downward. At the bottom up about...now,” “full sky down about... tion command is given. The time delay calls. of the window (before crashing!) the call now.” These are the same U-turns between the maneuver call and the ex- The next type of call to consider is could be “Flank right...now.” As both described earlier only modified by an ecution command should be long enough the “about,” also called the “U-turn.” kites turn at the same time, the lead altitude. They allow you to move fairly for you and your partner to be able to This call most likely has its roots in the kite is, again, in front where it started. quickly through the vertical plane of the comprehend and mentally let it filter military command of “about face.” An The next maneuvers to discuss are window in an orderly yet showy manner. through but not so long that over-antici- about turn is simply a tight U-turn where loops and rolls. Both are 360° figures, Once some basics have been worked pating the call will make you jump the the pivot point of the turn is on the wing but it’s their diameters that define them. out, they can be called more quickly and execution command. This space between tip of the kite or just outside the wing Rolls are set with the pivot point being efficiently by using a series call. A series the parts of the call is a little different tip. When flying a horizontal line, abouts on the wing tip. Loops are defined by a is defined as a collection of basic maneu- for everyone. You and your partner will would be called as “up about” or “down degree of sky. This will be talked about vers arranged in a specific order to cre- have to experiment some to find what about.” If flying a vertical line, this in more detail later. Rolls only have four ate a larger maneuver. The name of the works best. The key thing to remember turn is called as “left about” or “right essential directions: left, right, up, or series should be given at least a small here is that whatever call rhythm and about.” The thing to remember when fly- down. However, there is also the split amount of thought. The key in naming command delay works best, you should ing “about” turns is that these are 180° roll where one pilot flies an up or down the series is to be able to accurately

Spring 2011 | Kiting 33 32 Kiting | Spring 2011 ticipants will thank you. You also need each competitor’s disciplines to get your which will in turn inspire them to keep something to mark off the field. Obvi- total number of competitors per disci- coming to events. For your experienced The Sporting Life ously, the optimal setup is to rope off plines. Multiply the number of competi- and masters competitors, spreading the by Marc Conklin the entire field, but if you don’t have tors by the time per competitor number judging assignments evenly eliminates A Game Plan for Sport Kite Competition that resource, get some banners or flags, listed above, and you know how much the “this is too much like work” feeling mark off the corners of the field, and use time each of your open disciplines will that accompanies a disorganized compe- he decline in the number of sport to attract new competitors is to offer you can’t put together a judging panel anyone available to act as line judges to take. You can then adjust your event tition, thereby motivating them to keep Tkite competitors over the past de- frequent, regional, “no-frills” competi- for the open competition, run it anyway enforce the boundaries of the field. schedule accordingly to reflect the exact coming as well. In other words, taking cade has been well documented. There tions/clinics with a focus on providing as a demo, or use the novices (with your This is a blueprint for the most amount of time required for each disci- the simple step of requiring all com- are many contributing factors to this local novice fliers with a comfortable Chief Judge) as the judging panel. simple of sport kite competitions. As pline. Hopefully, your novice competi- petitors to pre-register will enhance the decline: the increasing complexity of environment where they can learn the The scheduling template is simple. your event grows, you can re-invest tors will also pre-register so you have an ongoing reputation of your event, which competitive flying brought about by the field craft of sport kite competition as Start your day with an hour or so of registration fees into improving your sup- idea of how long the novice disciplines is the best way (besides having 100% introduction of slack-line tricks, the well as the rules and regulations without “Flight 101.” If possible, pair up each plies, field setup, etc., with the goal of will take as well, but always add a little guaranteed lab-grade wind) of ensuring coming of the Internet and online forums the expense of travel. When putting on novice flier with an experienced com- building your one-day regional event into extra time for the Novice events; you that your event grows from year to year. that allow for community without travel, a competition, there are two primary petitor to teach basic precision flight a two-day, full sport kite competition. never know when someone will show up, This formula for growth is simple. the steady increase in travel costs, etc. considerations for the continuance of skills such as cornering, straight lines, However, in order to get to that point, see the competition, and decide they’d Offer as many opportunities for novice Over the past several years, I’ve been that event: participation and finances. landing, and recognition of the wind you’ve got to not only offer opportuni- like to give it a try! competitors to develop their competi- involved in many live and online con- Of course, these considerations are tied window. Then, run your open competi- ties for your new competitors to learn, tive skills as possible. This means that versations about these trends and what together; the more participants, the tion and follow it up with the novice but you’ve also got to build the reputa- the events need to be done as cheaply as to do about them. Unfortunately, these more money made by the event, at least version. Before each novice comp, hold tion of your event so that those competi- possible. The good news: kitefliers don’t conversations usually follow a similar if you’re counting on registration fees an extended pre-flight briefing to make tors that come this year will return for ask for much! Just run your event on pattern, beginning with a lament about to fund the event. However, if you can sure that the novices are as familiar and the next event. time and in an organized manner, and do the “good old days” followed by pie- minimize the financial needs of an event, comfortable as possible. After the nov- The most prevalent complaints I’ve what you can to provide a fun, friendly, in-the-sky ideas about ESPN, corporate you can offer minimal or even free reg- ices compete, hold a debriefing to gently heard about sport kite competition: and educational environment for your sponsorships, and the Summer Olympics. istration for at least your novice fliers. let the novices know what areas they can 1. “It’s too much like work” — because participants. All it takes to make this It’s time to face facts. As far as To be clear, what I’m suggesting is a improve on, and allow the judging panel of the small number of participants, happen is for a few people to make the niche hobbies go, we are as about as grass-roots event. Find a soccer field, a to offer advice on field craft that they competitors are often pressed into ser- decision to put on the event, and a little niche as it gets. I remember discus- local park, a large yard, anywhere where wish to share. Repeat the process for all vice as judges on multiple panels. legwork to find a free field to hold the sions about the obscure sport of curling you can have the field for free. This is disciplines run at the competition. An 2. “It’s too disorganized, nothing runs event on. Remember, if the competi- during the last winter Olympics. There possible thanks to our access to the AKA example schedule: on time” — anyone who has ever at- tion doesn’t cost anything (or very little) were several comments made about how event insurance. That insurance is a 8 – 8:30 am – Novice registration tended a competition has heard the to put on, then it doesn’t really matter if curling was an Olympic sport, surely great selling tool to convince a potential 8:30 – 9:30 am – Novice flier mentoring joking term “kite time”, and it’s easy to if folks show up or not. If you don’t get there was room for sport kiting. Those landlord that, while they won’t make sessions (Flight 101) laugh at that, but the bottom line is that any competitors, you’ve got a nice bit of folks were right about one thing: curling rent off the event, they at least won’t 9:30 – 10 am – Pre-flight meeting no one wants to run on “kite time”, they time blocked out for you to fly. Either IS obscure, a niche sport if there ever have any liability. Call your local parks 10 – 11 am – Open Ind. Dual-Line Precision want the event to be scheduled in real way, you can talk about what a great was one, at least in the USA. However, a and recreation department, you’ll find 11 – 11:30 am – Novice Ind. Dual-Line time, with a dependable schedule that time you had at the Sport Kite Challenge/Competition/ tion website reveals that the organiza- events like kiting competition. 12:30 – 1 pm – Open Ind. Dual-Line Ballet The good news is that both of these Invitational/Unlimited/Championships! tion boasts 13,000 members from over Once your field is set, then all you 1 – 1:30 pm – Novice Ind. Dual-Line Ballet problems can be resolved with man- The methodology presented here has 130 clubs in the US alone. Compare that need is a judging panel and sound. 1:30 – 2 pm – Open Ind. Multi-Line Precision datory pre-event registration for all already proven itself in a small event in to the number of sport kite competitors Sound is easy; if you don’t have a PA 2 – 2:30 pm – Novice Ind. Multi-Line Precision non-novice competitors. In other words, central Virginia, the Richmond/Washing- from every AKA competition for 2008 and system available to you, use a boombox! 2:30 – 3 pm – Open Ind. Multi-Line Ballet require that any non-novice competi- ton Regional Sport Kite Championships you’ll find that we had 205 sport kite If you’re willing to factor out spectators 3 – 3:30 pm – Novice Ind. Multi-Line Ballet tors turn in their event registration one Having a complete list of all your (RWRSKC). There have been six RWRSKC competitors in the 2008 season, 1.6 % (and let’s face it, sport kite competition, 4 pm – Awards, closing comments week before the event is to occur. This participants also makes it much easier events following the exact formula the number of curlers. [Editor’s note: even ballet, is not a very spectator- Obviously, the times are adjusted allows you to know exactly how many to spread out judging assignments described here (the annual budget for the US Curling team is sponsored by a friendly aspect of kiting), a strategically according to the number of fliers in each competitors you have in each discipline, amongst all competitors so that no one RWRSKC is somewhere around $125). condom manufacturer and a whiskey placed boombox is sufficient for the flier discipline, but the pattern is clear: show as well as knowing who is available to fill is overworked. When setting up judging As an average, there has been three distillery. There’s a lesson to be learned and judges to hear the music. A judging the novices how to do it and then have judging assignments. Once you have this panels, take care to note who is compet- first-time competitors at each of these there!] Now for the really depressing panel is a little more difficult. You want them do it. If time allows, you can feel information, it’s easy to figure out how ing in the discipline before and after the competitions. Out of those, an average news: out of those 205 (and because I’m at least three (preferably five) folks who free to add disciplines like pairs and long each discipline will take using the discipline you’re setting up the panel for, of one novice per year have gone on to lazy, I included teams and pairs as com- have competition experience to act as team events. However, especially for following formula: try to avoid having anyone work back-to- continue to compete in other AKA and petitors in that count), 74 (36%!) only the judging panel, and more importantly, the purpose of these regional competi- Individual Precision: 11 minutes per back disciplines. Giving folks a chance Eastern League events. Out of those competed once. So, while we started to explain to the novices how to improve tions, it is much more important to have competitor to sit and relax between disciplines will are two current Masters level competi- with a number equaling only 1.6% of their skills as a competitor. The best the time available to provide as much Individual Ballet: 5 minutes per com- ensure that no one feels overworked. tors, three Experienced, and one current curlers in the US, we could only retain way to get experienced competitors to instruction as possible to your new com- petitor Requiring all competitors to pre- Novice competitor, all of whom have 64% of that number. So rather than the event is to offer an open competi- petitors. Pairs Precision: 12 minutes per pair register allows you to create a schedule competed at multiple events this sea- dream about the Olympics or even a tion where those folks can gain some AKA Supplies for a competition like this Pairs Ballet: 9 minutes per pair that you can stick to, and gives you the son. I think it’s safe to say that 20 such return to the “grand ol’ 80’s”, I feel it’s points competing against each other. If are also simple. You need 6-10 clip- Team Precision: 13 minutes per team time before the event to plan judg- events, producing similar modest results, more productive to focus on actionable, you run the open competition before the boards, 10-12 pencils, a stopwatch, a Team Ballet: 10 minutes per team ing assignments in such a way that the would generate a lot of excitement for attainable efforts directed toward two corresponding novice competition, you wind meter, a copy of the IRBC rule book OIOU: 10 minutes per competitor workload is spread evenly between all our niche community. Of course, lucky main goals. The first of these is obvious, also provide the novices with an op- as well as the AKA Appendix. Both are Once you’ve received all your com- of your staff-eligible participants. By you, you don’t need to worry about 20 bringing new sport kite fliers to competi- portunity to see the discipline run. The available in PDF format from the AKA petitors’ registrations, set up a spread- running your event in a professional events, you only need to focus on one: tion. The second goal is to improve our best case scenario is to get the novices website. It’s also a worthwhile invest- sheet that places the disciplines as manner, you create an environment that the one you’re setting up for this spring! retention of those competitors. on the judging panel as shadow judges so ment to have a case or two of bottled columns, competitors as rows. Plot out will comfort your novice competitors, k I am convinced that the best way they can see how that process works. If water in a cooler full of ice, your par-

34 Kiting | Spring 2011 Spring 2011 | Kiting 35 National Kite Month he AKA Education Committee has put together a promo- Ttion for National Kite Month. We’d like to encourage broad participation in the creation of kite activities with education in mind by giving grants to groups who design NKM programs. The programs could be in places like schools, parks, commu- nity centers, libraries, churches, or hospitals. These programs could be workshops, demonstrations, presentations, etc. We’d appreciate donations so we can increase the number Cheryl Kear of grants that we award. Most importantly, we’re looking for Ron Petralito Paul Keeler and Bob Matteo YOU to submit ideas for educational kite programs so you can collect a prize. It’s not only rewarding, it’s fun too. AKA mem- bers, club members, teachers and community members are encouraged to apply. Eight grants of $100 will be awarded to the best proposals. If more funds are available, more grants will be awarded. We recognize that it may cost more or less than $100 to run a kite program. Grant requirements: 1. Using kites as an educational tool, each person or group should submit an idea for a local kite program. The program should include art, science, math, history, etc. 2. Only programs that are held during National Kite Month 2011 Cinda Shannon on will qualify. Robert Brasington and Drake Smith Jon Burkhardt Bob Kelly sliver removal duty 3. Each proposal should be submitted to the AKA Education Committee at [email protected]. The committee will judge which programs warrant the grants. The proposal must include how the funds would be spent, the number of expected partic- Maryland Kite Society ipants, the location, the educational aspects, the leaders, the organization/school, and the proposed date of the program. Kitemaking Retreat 4. A written report on the success of the program and photos of the activity are required. All entries will be posted on the Ellicott City, MD Internet. 5. One proposal per person or organization. Members of the February 11 - 14, 2011 AKA Education Committee are not eligible. NKM Poster Contest winner by Twyla Meyer 6. The deadline for proposals is April 1, 2011. A

ational Kite Month is off to a running start. This year’s program runs from March 26 to May 1. The Kite Trade Association start- N ed the program in 1999 as a way to promote the joy that kiting can bring to the community. It was a perfect fit to combine their efforts with the American Kitefliers Association to increase visibility. The support of both Associations with manpower and finances has helped to grow the program to where it is today. This year the Committee and the Boards of Directors have been working hard to make this year’s celebration the best ever. The added exposure for kiting is a perfect opportunity to increase the membership in your local club and the AKA. The first activity was the annual poster contest. This year’s winner is Twyla Meyer. The poster was selected from all the entries as best representing the program. Twyla was presented with an AKA store gift certificate for $50 along with $50 in cash to support her kiting projects. The AKA website has undergone a dramatic face lift and I hope everyone has had the opportunity to sign in and look around. The Education Committee has added numerous resources for individuals or groups to learn more about kite activities. The NKM site has also received some attention to develop it as a one stop shop for various kite program information including hosting workshops and including kiting as a fun part of the school day. The site presents information on how to request proclamations and to assist your club in gaining exposure in your area. You can download the packet and fill in the blanks to make the request. Of course we hope that you assisted in declaring April as Kite Month in your town, but it can also be used to promote festivals and events all year long. The event area is also available to publicize the events that clubs and individuals host to promote kiting during the celebration. Events can be as simple as a bulletin board promoting kite safety at the local library, to hosting a huge festival. A great guide to event organization, written by past NKM coordinator Phil Broder, is available for download. He takes you step by step through how to plan and execute a festival that can grow to an annual event. Take a moment to follow the link from the AKA site or use www.nationalkitemonth.org to check out all the information. While you’re there register your event and you could win a prize. As in the past we will recognize the top performers in the event and workshop category. We will also award bragging rights to the region with the most events. There is still time to get your entries in. The registration will close on May 1 but the site and all of its resources are available all year long.

iting pring 36 K | S 2011 Spring 2011 | Kiting 37 the inside-out, I’ve built a few kites that I’m very proud of, and have received some positive feedback on my work from K-Files Simon Crafts other members of the community. For 2009, the Kitebuilders Forum members did a first: in their annual voting for the Kite- builder of the Year and Kite of the Year, I was selected for both about making kites. But I wanted to go that awards. A truly, truly humbling and exciting experience to be extra step and put my own twist or signature recognized by your peers in that way. into what I made. Maybe it was simply taking a But that said, I believe I’ve found a fifth P of kiting that known plan and making it bigger. Maybe it was I’m enjoying even more: Passion. changing some of the details so that the fin- We read from time-to-time about just how darn good and ished product suited me and my building skills enjoyable the people in the kiting community are. I believe it’s more. because we all share a passion for flying (and building!) kites. Many times — including that first kite There is nothing quite like sharing that joy and amazement building experience — I found myself starting of seeing something you dreamed up take to the skies with with a blank drawing and thinking, What would people who just plain “get it,” or holding the string of a kite be cool and different to see in the sky? I start- fly alone or something you’d be proud to show your friends. on a whimsical, breezy day like that kid that still lives in all of ed with shapes and different geometries, so Planning. All kites have a building sequence. Cellular kites, us with other “kids.” the process that I’ve become comfortable with in particular, are like puzzles. I like to draw up an idea and I’ve been very fortunate to meet and enjoy the company is somewhat “inside-out.” Rather than start roll it around in plan form in my head for hours, studying it. of many people on the flying fields and through online venues. Andromeda Px9, the 2009 Kitebuilder’s Forum Kite of the Year. with a picture in my Sure, it looks cool, but how would I build it? Where will the Some folks that come to mind that I am thrilled to have had mind of what I want reinforcements need to be? How would I do spar tunnels and fuel my passion for kiting are Adrian Conn, Cliff Quinn, Peter atience. Planning. Persistence. Precision. The 4 P’s of kite the end product to other details and keep the look? What about material selec- Ross, David Wilkinson, Rich and Sherry Ispan, Brian Blaeske, P building. At, least, that’s my approach. be, I start with the skeleton, the tion? Spar sizes? Color? Try to anticipate the problems and Kevin Bayless, Grant Lovett, Craig Lovejoy, Justin Turner, Dar- My name is Simon Crafts. I’m a Midwesterner who grew up structure itself. How about a dif- plan them into the build. Rarely do I start on a project that I ryl Waters, William Watson, Steve Ferrel, and hundreds more in St. Louis but now lives in little old Vanlue, OH. I’ve enjoyed ferent shape? What would I need to couldn’t at least talk through the entire build sequence from who deserve mention. It’s the kites that get me interested, kites since I was a child; I remember flying Gayla deltas of all do to make that? How would I con- start to finish before I begin. This helps make sure I’ve got and the people that get me excited to fly. There are so many sorts with the kids in the neighborhood, as well as a few sleds nect that structure with a skin that every detail covered. other people I look forward to meeting and just plain enjoy and trash bag kites we made with mom and dad to occupy our would fly as a kite? I’ll be honest, Persistence. The more complicated the kite, the more de- being a kid around. As I continue to play with designs and build spring and summer days. having a CAD program helps. I have tails there are. Once the sails are cut out, the work has only kites, I look forward to those friendships, new and old, the I rediscovered kites in general when my boys were young, more memory space full of sketches begun. Don’t short cut. Don’t turn that sewing machine speed most. buying a variety of “grown up” kites made of ripstop and and ideas than I’ll probably ever up to full blast just to get it done. Work at your speed, being I still feel like that kid who is learning and growing. A wise modern materi- build. I get a lot of enjoyment out careful and persistent. The results will be worth the wait. and talented kite builder and friend once said that building als. But what of this design process. After a kite project kites is “a blend of engineering and art.” By themselves, these really sparked me When I hit on one that really has been on the build two disciplines are often at odds with each other. Something and my imagination grabs my attention, it’s time to table for a while, your that functions well may not have an attractive form, and was when my wife build! The way that I’ve taught mind might be wan- something that is visually beautiful may not perform practi- bought a sewing myself to build kites can be summa- dering to something cally. I am amazed and awestruck by the wonderful pieces of machine in 2008. rized in the four P’s of kite building: else (like the next flying art I see in our global community, and think that those She thought she was Patience. When I started build- project!). Keep your artists must start with the art and work their way back into a going to make cute ing kites, I soon learned that start- mind’s eye on how kite. Me, I’m backwards. Seeing the examples of that artistic little dresses for our ing with an idea and turning it into cool your new kite will talent inspires and daughter. (She did, a flying creation does not happen by be when it’s finished challenges a guy like but she still gives sitting back, saying “Yeah, I want and stay with it! me to keep search- me a hard time that!” and then waiting for the de- Precision. Or at ing for that harmo- about how much livery man to show up. No, it takes work. Not hard labor, just least your best at- nious marriage of more I ended up us- time and effort. A key is to develop a vision of what you want, tempt. In my opinion, design elements. ing her machine!) and then not rush things. Do not accept “good enough” in the precision is the most If you see me I’ve always been interest of heading out to the flying field faster. It could very important thing in a on the flying field fascinated by a well mean the difference between building something you only kite. It is true, every or come across me variety of kites — particularly cellular kites — that I’d seen on millimeter counts. online, please, take the Internet, but not on retail sites. I wanted to make my own It could be the dif- the time to stop by so I could add some of those marvelous creations to my bag. I ference between a so we can share our quickly found the Kitebuilder website and with my wife’s help, loose, sloppy sail and a passion for kites learned to sew. It was nowhere but “up” from there. I jumped tightly crafted sculp- with each other. right in with both feet, studying plans, studying photos, and ture. I like to think I know there is studying kites that I had previously purchased. I asked lots of of kites as exacting something to learn questions on the online forums, and started drawing in CAD... systems of interre- or be inspired by in which brings me to my approach. lated parts, acting in everyone, and the I’m an engineer by trade and a stickler for details. As I harmony. Small errors thought that I might stated, I’ve always been fascinated by cellular kites and the or miscalculations can provide the same seemingly infinite possibilities that they present. Studying compound themselves, leading to a lot of work ending up in for you is quite them, you will find an extraordinary amount of details and the scrap pile. Precise workmanship is truly what makes a fine thrilling. interdependent parts. This was right up my alley, so, natu- kite. Good winds to rally, this is where I went with most of my efforts to learn Putting together the four P’s, and approaching kites from you! k

Spring 2011 | Kiting 39 38 Kiting | Spring 2011 the country where kona winds prevail. This can make it difficult to fly often don’t toward dusk and dawn, though this is not a hard and fast rule. KAPtions cover Hawaii Beaches on the east side, such as the Kapoho Tide Pools, are as well. Of the usually dominated by trade winds, where aerial photography websites avail- can often be done well past sundown. able, the most If the winds don’t seem particularly stable, watch and useful one I have wait before launching, especially at beaches where there is Destination: found is that of little room to move around. With kona winds, it’s possible to a local sailplane get large wind shifts in a short period of time. On wide sandy club, Mauna Kea beaches like Hapuna, this can be inconvenient at worst. On Soaring. The tight rocky beaches with overhanging trees like Wailea Bay, it Hawaii club runs wind can be disastrous. If the wind is shifty, it’s best to wait. models for all the islands; www. Valleys mksoaring.com. The eastern slopes of Kohala Mountain, at the north end Kiholo Inlet Depending of the island, are dominated by a series of valleys with Pololu on your interests, Valley at the northern end and Waipio Valley at the southern which are a common sight on the island. It pays to check the Big Island end. The valleys are dominated by trade winds and by the ge- what’s downwind of you to make sure you stay safe. offers a range ography of the valleys themselves. It is possible to fly kites and of subjects to do KAP in the valleys, Keawaiki Hikes photograph. Even though the winds can Depending on your style of KAP, there are a number of after only doing Pololu Valley beach be challenging even subjects that can be photographed with a little hiking. Some KAP for three to an experienced of my favorites are the anchialine pond systems of the Kona years, it’s hard to choose which to share and which to leave kiteflier. Coast, the summit of Mauna Loa, Keahole Point, Pololu Valley, for serendipitous discovery by the KAP traveler. But in broad If you’ve heard and countless stretches of coastline that are accessible no oth- strokes, this is a sample of some of the places to fly on the Big of the black sand er way than to walk there on foot. Wind conditions will vary, Island. beaches of Hawaii, depending on location, but since the only way to get there is the valleys offer an to walk you have ample time to get a feel for the wind before by Tom Benedict Beaches excellent opportu- launching a kite. Each hike will present its own challenges, but Beaches in the islands range from sandy, to rocky, to nity to experience it’s possible to find out about these ahead of time by consult- was first exposed to the idea of kite aerial photography mixtures of the two. Some of my favorite beaches are Ma- and photograph them ing a hiking guide for the island. I while living in Texas over ten years ago, when I ran across nini Owali at Kua Bay, Wailea Bay, Kiholo Bay, and Green Sand for yourself. But be As with any hike, it’s important to bring sturdy shoes or Cris Benton’s KAP website. I knew I wanted to do it, but for a Beach at Ka Lae, though there are countless others. Most of careful of swimming boots and plenty of water. Because of the volcanic nature of variety of reasons the time just wasn’t right. My start in KAP my beach flying has been done on the west side of the island at any of them. There the island, the biggest risk to be aware of is the risk of cuts came seven years later, after I had moved to the Big Island of is no protective reef from rocks. Lava rock almost always presents sharp edges that Hawaii. In many ways I regret not jumping into KAP earlier, but Wailea Bay beyond the beach, and can catch an unwary hiker’s ankles, or the kite line, bridle I couldn’t have picked a better place to learn and fly. the cross-currents are line, tail, and sail cloth of the unwary kiter or KAPer. Be care- If you’re planning a trip to Hawaii, bring your KAP gear treacherous. Except ful when kiting on lava rock and be aware that without due with you. The island has numerous places to fly kites and do in times of drought precaution it’s possible to wreak havoc on your kiting gear. photography, and the wind blows year round. If you’re star- the vegetation in the The practice of walking down a kite is very difficult to accom- ing at your kites and camera gear, and wishing for new vistas valleys is a range of plish on lava rock without damaging the kite line, so it’s not a to photograph, consider planning a trip to Hawaii to do KAP. brilliant greens that bad idea to practice other methods if you plan to hike and KAP And if you already live in Hawaii and have wondered what the can benefit from the on the Big Island. place looks like to the i`iwi, `apapane, and other birds that use of a polarizer to Even if you don’t plan to do any KAP when you come to live in the islands, I can say first hand it’s tough to find a bet- make the colors pop. Hawaii, bring your kites anyway. Kites are a rare sight on the ter place to start. Big Island, and seem to be welcome almost everywhere I have Winds come in two general varieties in the Hawaiian Urban KAP been. It’s rare to put up a kite here and not have someone Islands: trade winds and konas. Trade winds come in from “Urban” is a strong come and tell you how much they enjoy seeing it. It’s instant the east, and are generated by the earth’s own rotation. Kona term to use on the Big aloha. k winds typically come in from the west, and are generated by Island, where the largest city boasts a population of the sun’s thermal action. Depending on where you’re flying, around 50,000, and where you can’t find an overpass Manini Owali trade winds can range from balmy tropical breezes to howling or an eight lane highway. But the island does have gales. Kona winds are almost always calm by comparison, but two main cities, Hilo and Kailua-Kona, and numer- can be unstable, especially toward sunrise and sunset or during ous smaller towns including Waimea and Honokaa. cloudy weather. If in doubt, watch the winds at your chosen Wind conditions vary from place to place, so use flying site before launching. Depending on location, wind best judgment. Don’t expect skyscrapers on the Big speeds vary from zero to forty knots, though a good number of Island, but do expect to find excellent subjects on a flying locations can be managed by a handful of kites spanning smaller scale. half that range. There are two main points of caution regarding Finding good weather information in Hawaii can be chal- urban KAP on the Big Island. The first is airports. lenging. Most of the weather reports focus on the island Because of the relatively small sizes of the urban of O`ahu, where the city of Honolulu is located. Weather areas, you need to check to make sure you are fur- reporting for the surrounding islands is often spotty at best, ther than five miles from the nearest airport before and weather websites that are useful in most other parts of launching. The second is overhead power lines,

40 Kiting | Spring 2011 Spring 2011 | Kiting 41 welcome them here.” Anne Merrill, the Adirondack Snowtacular Lewis County Chamber of Commerce Direc- tor is happy with the festival. “The kiters are friendly and grateful to have the opportunity to come here and fly. The festival takes a lot of behind the scenes work to make it happen, but we believe it will grow and continue to bring people If you haven’t checked us out, you into our County and make them can find us flying most weekends on the happy.” Tug Hill. Don’t be surprised if travelling Patrick Nadel, the North American The future of the festival is across the plateau, you spot some kites 2010 snow kiting champion attended last bright. As long as we have participants, dancing to the rhythms of the wind off in year’s festival. “This festival is all about and funding from the County, we will the distance. promoting snow kiting, Lewis County, the continue to sponsor the event. Sponsors Information on the Tug Hill Snow Tug Hill Region, getting people outside in of the event are local businesses. Otis Kite Festival is at www.lewiscountyrec- the winter to experience the beauty of Technologies, a local manufacturer of reation.com or by calling the Chamber snow country, and promote recreational gun cleaning kits, is a big supporter of of Commerce at 315/376-2213. As Lewis tourism in our region,” Diehl said. “The this event and the Chamber of Com- County looks to the future of snow kiting County legislators understand the impact merce. Wake Robin Farms, four year and the Tug Hill Snow Kite Festival, they of recreational tourism to our County, sponsor of the festival, donates quarts of will continue to hold it as long as the and they not only encourage but em- their all natural yogurt made with pure wind blows and the snow falls, which on brace the snow kiting community, and maple syrup from Lewis County. the Tug Hill should be quite awhile. k by Bob Diehl photos by Jan Brabant and Bob Diehl

he Tug Hill Snow Kite Festival always Clayton, NY, and the Lewis County Cham- King Jr. holiday weekend in January. This Tdelivers wind and snow and the 4th ber of Commerce all do their part in the year the snow and wind didn’t disap- annual festival was no disappointment. organization and running of the festi- point. On Saturday, visibility was only a “Last year we had 2’-4’ of powder that val. With the largest wind farm east of couple hundred feet, and the wind was many people experienced for the first the Mississippi, and average snowfall of blowing up to 40 mph, much too strong time in their lives,” said Bob Diehl, Lewis over 300”, Lewis County is a snow kiters for even the best kiters. Even though the County Recreational Trail Coordinator, paradise. One of the main assets of Tug weather was fierce, many still braved and one of the event organizers. This Hill is the generosity of our landowners, the wind and snow and flew as long as year we’ve had a slow start to our win- allowing the festival to take place for they dared. When the conditions were ter, and we were a little nervous about four years on private property, as well as too dangerous, they came to the base the snow conditions for the festival. letting kiters use their fields throughout camp tent and warmed up with good Luckily we had a fresh foot fall the night the winter. Lewis County is in a unique food and conversation. Zebulon Jakub, a before the event,” Bob, along with Jan situation for snow kiting, with sites scat- power kite instructor from the Interna- Brabant of T.I. Adventures Sport Shop in tered over a 30 mile spine that runs from tional Mountain Climbing School in New Lowville to Hampshire, has been attending the festi- Adams Center. val since its conception. “This is the best A kiter can place on the East Coast for snow kiting, pick the best I love coming here, we want conditions site for their to work, and this area happens to have abilities; the better conditions than really anywhere wind and snow I’ve seen.” Zeb offers lessons through differ from the IMCS to anyone who wants them, and one end of the will come to Lewis County throughout Tug Hill to the the winter if he has students for a class. other. Jean Dunoyer travels with a group called The Tug Mass Kiters out of Massachusetts and Hill Snow has attended and filmed all four festi- Kite Festival vals. “We’re here for the steady wind, takes place on the powder snow, the camaraderie, the Martin Luther group feeling, and a good time.”

42 Kiting | Spring 2011 Spring 2011 | Kiting 43 Kite Trade Association International Showcase Gomberg Kite Productions International www.gombergkites.com and www.mycatalog.biz/GKites/

Gomberg Kite Productions now has a full range of products de- signed especially for your local kite store. Check out the entire line at the G-Kites online interactive catalog. We’ve got sport kites, soft stunters, performance lifters, inflatables, and tons of fun for experienced kiters, new fliers, families, and kids. At G- Kites, we’re focused on flying satisfaction, durability, and perfor- mance. Forget the fancy throw-away plastic packaging. G-Kites come in permanent fabric bags. All Gomberg Kites are now test flown and test marketed in our Northwest Winds retail stores. At The Kite Shop NWW has the largest kite retail space, and the largest inventory of kites and accessories on the West Coast. You can also see our Been to your local kite shop lately? Frustrated that custom show kites and advanced flying products at www.Gom- you can’t find the latest Prism release, or that perfect bergKites.com. winder? Ever wondered about the “International” in Kite Trade Association International? Then it’s time for you to go shopping on the streets of India, where you can have any Revolution kind of kite — as long as it’s a fighter — and the manjha is www.revkites.com made right in front of you.

Utilizing the same design characteristics as the JB Signature Series, the B2 was made in a slightly different size as our clas- sic Rev II, making it quicker and even more responsive than The next step in Revolution light wind flying is the 9’ Zen it’s larger B-Series siblings, with all the same performance which has taken the need for wind down to almost nothing. aspects, refined inputs and a great deal more speed. We’ve The Zen is created by Bazzer Poulter and as such you can worked closely with John to bring everything that made his expect both beauty, function and unsurpassed light wind fly- original series so popular into this small and explosive pack- ing. This is the project which gave iQuad the ability to team age. John says, “Small, fast and agile, the B2 just leaves me fly in near zero wind, with a wind range of about 0.5 mph to 5 giggling to myself with its nearly auto-completing flic flacs and mph. The Zen comes alive in those low to no wind conditions axels.... One hit that would give me a single on axel on the and gives the flier the ability to fly when nothing else is in the 1.5 B-Series sends this bad boy into double axels half the time. air. So for those days when nothing else will work, we here at Sideways flic flacs are easier than ever, and it’s so responsive Revolution have taken the time to develop and produce the that I’ve really found an opportunity to further refine my con- next step in low wind kites. trol! And for short line flying? Oh yeah! This kite is so easy to move around, 3D catch and throw flying is a breeze.”

Tori Tako Wind Designs www.toritako.com Sublimation House Banners and Garden Natures Symphony Mobiles: laser cut, 18 Flags: new exciting designs! Floral, gauge steel powder coated for durability, beach, hot air balloons, military. All vi- inside or outdoor on your patio/deck. Vibrant brant colors with designs on both sides. colors accomplished with our infusion process. 100% polyester blockcoat fabric with Made in the USA. stable coating.

Spring 2011 | Kiting 45 44 Kiting | Spring 2011 in a little village of temporary tents; as soon as the winter is over, everyone A Teen In India by Will Sturdy there will pack up and head for higher photos by Jorge Román, ground. Because it’s covered by the sea for a significant portion of the year, the Fevzi kir, Will Sturdy, ground isn’t dirt or sand but pure salt. Erhan Tufekcioglu, At a first glance the landscape looks like a huge desert of snow, but in reality the and Barbara Meyer, entire area is white salt stretching as far as the eye can see. Even though it was winter there, the temperatures were quite hot, approaching what we get in the summer in much of the States. Since the area is sparsely populated, very few people came out to watch us fly so the experience in the White Rann was very different from what we had in Ahmedabad. We focused on flying and socializing with the other kiters. The wind was ridiculously good though, since it had had miles and miles of nothing, not even a wave, to cross before it reached us. After a day flying in the White Rann, Will Sturdy all of the kitists headed over to Mandvi Beach, which is a resort area on the Jorge Román’s hexagon Indian Ocean. There the tourism bureau treated us like royalty. As we got off the bus, we made our way to a red carpet that led us to the kite field, which was also covered in carpeting. I must say that I didn’t exactly feel like I was at the beach since I didn’t have to empty any sand out of my shoes all day. In India they sure know how to make you feel special! Axel The number of people at Mandvi Kostros’ The 2010 AKA Grand Champion surrounded by new friends in Ahmedabad. Beach was once again jaw-dropping. kitemaking Mobs pressed against the lines guard- he Gujarat International Kite Festival with a gigantic kite festival. The fo- soon as any of the kitists approached the contest ing the kiting fields. The kiters all flew winner. Tattracts fliers from all over the world cal point of the festival is the flying of perimeter fence, a mass of people would single-line kites that we bought locally. to India to, as you probably guessed, fighter kites, but the organizers schedule crowd up to the fence hoping to feel the This was a really fun day. The local Carlos Soares fly kites. The festival is loosely based a few extra days to allow us to fly our line, take a photo, or just shake hands. people were so friendly and so interest- of Portugal in around the Uttarayan holiday. Uttarayan Western style kites before the skies fill The Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd ed in talking with all of the kitists about the White Rann celebrates the start of lengthening days with fighters and manjha, the glass-coat- worked hard to make us feel important their kites and countries that it was hard ed kite line. as well, organizing a full state function This beauty by the UK’s Michael God- to pack up at the end of the day! Held on the Sabarmati riverfront with the president and chief minister of dard was inspired by the view from We then returned to Ahmedabad area in Ahmedabad, the international Gujarat presenting the various awards atop the Empire State Building. for the “big day” of the festival. For festival was quite an interesting affair. for the kitists with outstanding kites. once, the international kitists were Unlike many American festivals, the local At this festival one of the coolest not the center of attention; the entire government was heavily involved in orga- things for me was meeting all of the oth- city turned out onto the rooftops to nizing the event so it ran very smoothly. er international kitists and seeing some fly fighter kites in a giant free-for-all. They stretched out some sort of fabric of the amazing kites coming from other This truly was a city-wide festival. In all across the whole field, so we didn’t need parts of the world. I hadn’t attended any directions, the city was covered in kites. to worry about getting messed up in the festivals with many other international Some in the air, many already cut down dirt. The police enforced the perimeter folks before, so I really appreciated the and mangled in the streets or on the of the flying field, so there were no is- opportunity to meet the people behind power lines. The only stores open were sues with spectators getting in the way. some of the kites I admire. those selling kite supplies! The general atmosphere of this festival After flying for a few days in Ahmed- Between the amazing number of was quite different from American fes- abad, we went on an overnight bus trip spectators, the high caliber of the other tivals. Because of India’s huge interest to the White Rann, an area near the kitists, and the generous hospitality of in kites, an immense crowd turned out Pakistan border. Interestingly, during the the Indian organizers, this was certainly to watch the kiters. We did not have to monsoon season the entire area floods, a festival I’ll remember for quite a try very hard to find folks interested in but in the winter months the area is dry while. k sharing the experience of kite flying. As and people actually live in it. We stayed

46 Kiting | Spring 2011 Spring 2011 | Kiting 47 Gujarat Int’l Kite Fest Kristian Slater Contest winners Axel Kostros (Germany), January Jorge 10 - 14, 2011 Spencer Watson Paul deBakker Román (Ecuador), and Oscar Munoz (Colombia). Lisa Willoughby 10th Windless Kite Fest Long Beach, WA January 15 - 16, 2011 photos by Don Ostey

Scott Davis

Phil Burks

Amy Doran Connor Doran

Paul deBakker & Lisa Willoughby

Toby Arndt Jerry Cannon

Spring 2011 | Kiting 49 48 Kiting | Spring 2011 found at www.flyingkites.nl/video/In- door_English_V2.pdf. New and experi- Inside Job enced fliers will benefit from reading this manual. It gives detailed step by by Lisa Willoughby step instructions to many different basic to advanced moves with a dual-line was asked once to do an indoor workshop at indoor kite. It also gives great informa- a school close to my home. I spoke to the I tion on setting up lines, selecting a kite, principal when I arranged the workshop. We and what to expect from different kite discussed what to expect and the specifics for designs. I enjoyed reading this myself. the program. When I arrived the day of the If the new flier is interested in workshop, I reported to the front office. The competing in an indoor competition, secretary told me that she would call the janitor they should become familiar with the to meet me at the back entrance of the gym to rules and regulations for indoor flying in help me unload the fans for the kites. Well, you the AKA rule book. Finding music that can imagine their amazement when I flew my best demonstrates the flier’s skill with kites without fans. the kite, is entertaining for the audience Indoor kites act much like outdoor kites. and enjoyable to listen to over and over They require pressure on the sail to create lift again can be a challenge. The length of in order to fly. While the wind creates the lift the music is also important. The AKA for the outdoor kite, the flier creates that same rules dictate the music to be from two force for the indoor kite. The flier has to main- to four minutes in length. The indoor tain constant pressure on the kite and keep the the flier uses is also important. The weight of the line can vary routine is judged on choreography 60%, kite lifted and moving. If the flier stops moving, the kite will from 30# to 90# line. The height of the facility will determine execution 25% and entertainment value stop flying. The advanced flier learns how to manipulate the and fighter kite demonstrations were done as well as fun antics the length of the line. Generally, the flier will fly on lines from 15%. Flying indoor kites is much more intimate than outdoor lift and pressure on the kite to do various tricks. Launching, using a skateboard and lots of laughs during hot tricks. Indoor 8’ to 12’. Single line can be longer to accommodate the height flying. The audience is with the flier in the same room. The catching the kite, throwing or tossing the kite, flipping, spin- teaching time is part of the festival and allows new fliers and and width of the facility. When flying a dual or quad indoor movements of the flier and the kite can be seen up close and ning, stopping, sliding, and fading are among a few examples spectators who are interested in learning a new skill to have kite, Spectra lines are best. immediately. Because of this, the audience is part of the of changing the way the pressure effects the flight of the kite. lessons by the experienced fliers. Here is some of the advice When I teach someone who has never experienced an in- indoor experience. They are excited, surprised, worried and The flier learns to execute the right timing of hand movements the experienced fliers have for new indoor fliers: door kite, I find a single line kite is the easiest to use. The flier enthusiastic throughout the performance. They can share the and speed and rate of body movement to accomplish the tricks “Keep crashing. Know that you will crash a lot. Keep do- should remember that learning to fly an indoor kite requires experience with the flier and help build the excitement of the effortlessly. When you begin flying, it is important to remem- ing it, because the more you fly, the harder it will become to an investment of time. Don’t give up too quickly and become program. ber one thing: every flier you watch started out exactly the crash.” — Amy Doran frustrated because you will miss out on a very rewarding expe- Many of the best indoor fliers attended the 10th annual same way you will. They launched and then they crashed and “Practice and don’t give up. The door to the really cool rience. When first learning how to fly an indoor kite, the flier Windless Kite Festival hosted by the World Kite Museum in Long crashed again. They kept at it until they had moments of suc- stuff will only be opened after you learn the basics. Also, style should learn to feel how the kite reacts to the air in the gym. Beach, WA, January 15-16. This is one of the longest running cess that turned into minutes and finally into full routines. So is more entertaining than tricks. If you can make it look easy, The kite should become a continuous motion from the flier’s indoor competitions and festivals in the US with a solid field of let’s start out with the basics. you know you’re on the right path.” — Paul de Bakker body to the kite. The flier should feel how the kite floats and 11 competitors from both coasts. Single gliders, dual, quad, The first step to learning to fly an indoor kite is to find a “Practice, practice, practice. Every time you go back to glides. As the flier continues to experiment with the movement indoor it’s easier. Listen to music. It soothes you and gives space to fly. If you talk to any indoor flier, this is the biggest of the kite, the next step is to learn how to pull the kite up hurdle to flying. Many gyms, auditoriums or large spaces are you balance. Have fun and share the joy of kiting.” — Penny and over the head. The flier will then learn to regulate how Lingenfelter rented out to be used for sporting activities, community recre- fast or slow the movements should become to look smooth and ation events or private functions. Many of the people who run “Don’t give up. Kite flying is a lot of fun. If you need help, continuous. The new flier should remember to move their body ask.” — Toby Arndt these facilities don’t understand what an indoor kiteflier will during this process. Move away from the kite to give it more be doing in their buildings. They will charge fees and require “Don’t be afraid to ask an experienced flier for help. It is momentum and lift. what we do best. A good lesson can take you a long way in hav- insurance policies. I’ve always commented that getting to With dual-line and quad-line kites, the first steps to fly- use a gym is worth a million dollars and it’s not far from the ing fun flying indoors.” — Jerry Cannon ing are the up and over and a 360. For the 360, the kite is “Be willing to try new things. If something intrigues you, truth when you factor the amount of insurance needed. A few launched (the kite can be propped up against a wall to start) easy ways to get around some of this is to offer to give kite give it a try. The more experiences you have will make you a and the flier will pull the kite up and level with his body. Then better flier and a better person.” — Spencer Watson workshops to the community associated with the facility. This the flier turns the kite to the right or left and begins to move teaches them what an indoor kite does and promotes kiting in “Relax and have fun. Experienced fliers are great at giving backward and in a circle away from the kite. Keeping the kite lessons and helping you learn. They also make good friends. your community. Many school administrators love to have a at a steady movement through the air will help to maintain kite-related program as part of their curriculum. Another way Above all, don’t give up. It’s all worth it!” — Bob Wendt control. When flying a quad kite, the flier’s hands should be “Relax, have fun and don’t be scared. Start with simple is to organize a group of fliers who can each give money to- stacked and parallel to each other, with slight forward pressure ward the rent and insurance fees. Kite clubs are a nice way to things and once you get that down do stuff that’s a little bit on the handles. The up and over requires the flier to lift the harder. Practice and come to the kite festivals because it’s an involve members in a new aspect of kite flying and socialize as kite with the nose facing to the ceiling. Then the flier will pull a club function. Sometimes it is as simple as knowing someone opportunity for you to learn. Also, have an experienced flier the kite up to its highest point in the arc, as the kite continues help you.” — Connor Doran associated with a facility that is excited and curious about in- down the flier turns his body moving his feet to the opposite door kites. I’ve given lessons to many janitors, principals, and “Fly to music in your ears. Put a string of slow songs you direction. When the kite reaches the bottom of the arch, the like on your iPod and fly with the music in the background. It their children and grandchildren in order to ensure continued flier can move back and turn the nose up to do the process in excitement and interest of indoor kiting in their facilities. will help you find the calm you’ll need.” — Scott Davis reverse for another up and over. When flying a quad kite, the The most important thing to remember is to have fun and Once you have a facility, the next step is to decide what hands are in front and side to side with slight forward pressure kite you want to fly. There are many types, but to simplify enjoy the experience. Think of it as a new adventure. Enjoy on the handles. the times you will end up with the lines wrapped around your there are single line, dual-line and quad-line kites. Each type A fantastic and comprehensive guide to indoor kiting was is designed to fly differently, but require the same technique feet. Know that every time this happens you are one step written and then translated from Dutch to English by Harold closer to becoming an indoor flier. k of continuous movement away from the kite. The type of line Slit, Peter Massey and John Farrell. The document can be

50 Kiting | Spring 2011 Spring 2011 | Kiting 51 Taste the Season Starbucks launched an intriguing campaign for the holiday Exotic & unique kites! Fly a kite for fun! Kite making competition! season. The ad opens with graceful snowflakes falling from the sky. Person after person looks to the sky, intrigued by the Friday, April 1 − 9 a.m - 2 p.m. (Student Day) cornucopia of interesting snowflakes that seem to be floating − everywhere. Saturday & Sunday, April 2 & 3 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. And then the perspective changes. You learn that “Classic Sounds by Jude” they’re not really snowflakes. That is, they’re not snowflakes created by Mother Nature. These are man-made snowflake 2011 kites that are being flown by people. As an increas- WEST BATON ROUGE SOCCER COMPLEX ingly larger number of onlookers gaze upon these Highway 415 @ Rosedale Road in Port Allen kites, you find yourself drawn to the kite strings, the unique shapes, the happiness that seems to be multiplying as more and more kites fill the sky. What’s amazing is that you have no idea whose commercial this is ... and you really don’t care. It’s just so enjoyable to hear the “Snow Days” music in Watch pros fly huge kites! the background and to watch the graceful and deli- Presented By: See amazing kite ballets! cate snowflakes create artistic splendor in the sky. The kites were made — hurriedly — by dean jordan, Mike Dennis, Pam Kirk, and Blake Pelton. You can find the commer- cial on YouTube, and the kites are now for sale online. 800-654-9701 • www.westbatonrouge.net Listening To The Landscape Of Wind British artist Luke Jerram is about to give voice to the wind. His new instal- lation, named for the Greek wind god Aeolus, is soon to begin touring the United Kingdom. Jerram explains, “An investigation into acoustics, wind, architec- ture and light, Aeolus was inspired by a research trip to Iran where I interviewed a Qanat desert well digger about his life. The well digger spoke of the wells singing in the wind. “Aeolus is an acoustic and optical pavilion designed for the public to contemplate the landscape; to make audible the silent shifting pat- terns of the wind and to visually amplify the ever changing sky. “Beneath the arch a viewer can look out through a field of 310 internally polished stainless steel tubes simultaneously, each of which draws the landscape of light through the structure whilst humming at a series of low frequencies. These light pipes act to frame, invert and magnify the landscape around the pavilion enabling the viewer to contemplate an ever-changing landscape of light. As the clouds and sun move across the sky throughout the day, the visual expe- rience for the public will dramatically alter minute by minute, hour by hour. “Aeolus is designed to resonate and sing with the wind without any electrical power or amplification.Aeolus will sonify the three dimensional landscape of wind, using a web of Aeolian harps. Almost like cats’ whiskers sensitive to the slightest touch, the tubes register the shift- ing landscape of wind around the artwork. The public will be able to visualise this shifting wind map by interpreting the sound around them.”

52 Kiting | Spring 2011