Spring 2007 Volume 29, Issue 1 $7.50 KiteShipKiteShip SailsSails OnOn National Kite Month Kite Trade Show Afghan Fighters KAPiCA/06 Painting The Pollock Way Giant Kites of Guatemala CONTENTSCONTENTS Dave Culp KAPtions Kite Plan Q&A 5 24 36 David John Pollock KiteShip’s boss Wheeler slaps on a few looks toward the looks down coats of paint future... on on the world Mars Navigating Maximum Online Kite History 26 7 Guatemala’s Carry-On 40 Forums incredible paper The Brits fight Kites and kites the battle of computers join the bulge forces Voices From KTAI Show 8 National Kite 28 The Vault 41 The industry Month Junction’s takes a right April is going favorite son, Bill turn at Albu- to fly by! Lockhart querque Blowing Your Regional Own Horn Windless 30 Reports 42 Make sure 12 Indoor flying in On the set of people are Long Beach “The Kite talking about Runner” and you more K-Files 13 Jacques 31 Sailwinds 52 People + Letourneau gets Bayside flying on Places + surreal in Quebec the Eastern Shore Things Wedding bells are ringing Fightin’ Words KAPiCA/06 20 32 “The Kite KAPpers trade Runner” comes secrets in to California California 2 AKA Directory 3 Mailbox 4 President’s Page 6 In Balance Oregon Kites In 6 Empty Spaces In The Sky 21 34 Kitemakers 10 FlySpots Afghanistan Retreat Will the Army 11 AKA News Fancy sewing on 11 AI: Aerial Inquiry turn to fighter the Left Coast kites next? 14 Clubs 15 Event Calendar 16 The Sporting Life Maryland 18 Member Merchants Kite Builders KiteShip 22 35 Really big kites Retreat pulling even Fancy sewing On the cover: KiteShip tests bigger boats on the Right the next wave of traction kites. Coast SPRING ’07 | KITING 1 AAAAKKKA DDA IRECTORYIRECTORY american kitefliers aka committees association Mel Hickman, Executive Director education & public service Mailing: P.O. Box 1614, Walla Walla, WA 99362 Web/Internet Outreach Chuck Sigal 510/524-3459 Phone/Fax: 800/252-2550 National Kite Month Mike Dallmer 215/722-4092 Web: www.aka.kite.org Kite Records Ted Manekin 716/639-7679 E-mail: [email protected] Education Ronda Brewer 541/994-7556 officers and festivals / competitions executive committee Fighter Kites Sharon Champie 707/545-6737 Susan Skinner, President Kitemaking Barbara Meyer 763/424-2571 2381 Nobili Ave., Santa Clara, CA 95051 Sport Kites Jim Barber 360/289-4915 408/554-8399 [email protected] World Championships David Gomberg 541/996-3083 Kite Art Paul Fieber 608/271-8265 Barbara Meyer, First Vice President 10361 108th Place, Osseo, MN 55369 administration 763/424-2571 [email protected] Ways & Means David Butler 503/524-3315 Gayle Woodul, Second Vice President Contract Services Gayle Woodul 830/598-2414 106 Main Street, Marble Falls, TX 78654 Safety & Insurance Jerry McGuire 513/831-8379 830/598-2414 [email protected] By-laws Ted Manekin 716/639-7679 Archives & Records Mel Hickman 800/252-2550 David Butler, Treasurer Elections Al Sparling 630/369-9682 14550 Chesterfield Lane, Tigard, OR 97224 Nominations Kathy Brinnehl 630/271-0765 503/524-3315 [email protected] promotion & membership Kathy Brinnehl, Secretary Membership Russ Faulk 630/530-8690 60 W. Piers Drive, Westmont IL 60559 Renewal and Retention Mel Hickman 800/252-2550 630/271-0765 [email protected] International Linda Sanders +61/885-562696 Ronda Brewer, Director at Large annual meeting 735 SE Jetty, P. O. Box 988, Lincoln City OR 97367 Convention Mike Shaw 303/984-4159 541/994-7556 [email protected] Hospitality Susan Gomberg 541/996-3083 Fly Market Ron Lindner 636/677-3029 Mike Dallmer, Director at Large Mass Ascensions Al Sparling 630/369-9682 7204 Oakley Street, Philadelphia, PA 19111 Workshops Deb Lenzen 701/463-2661 215/722-4092 [email protected] Russ Faulk, Director at Large 177 W. Vallette Street, Elmhurst, IL 60126 630/530-8690 [email protected] Mike Shaw, Director at Large 6910 West 25th Place, Lakewood, CO 80214 303/ 984-4159 [email protected] convention management Maggie Vohs, Convention Manager Cameo Management Solutions, Inc. P.O. Box 410, Otis, OR 97368 Phone: 541/994-4252 Fax: 541/994-3459 Web: www.cameomanagement.com E-mail: [email protected] K iti n g Kiting magazine Phil Broder, Publisher/Editor Mailing: 904 Bayview Road, Rio Grande, NJ 08242 Phone: 609/465-6575 E-mail: [email protected] Kiting is published quarterly by the American Kitefliers Association and distributed free to Summer issue deadline: April 15 members. Please contact the editor for information on submissions, advertising, and deadlines. Autumn issue deadline: July 15 Winter issue deadline: October 15 Spring issue deadline: January 15 Founded in 1964 by Robert M. Ingraham, the American Kitefliers Asso- ciation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public in the art, history, technology, and practice of building and flying kites. 2 KITING | SPRING ’07 MMMB AILAILAILBBBOXOXOX all kites, competitions, demos, hot tricks, open flying and workshop. The AKA needs not be, or appear to be, discriminatory. Beside, “Windless” sounds better than “indoors.” Nelson Borelli Woodstock, IL Back In The Fold I feel eager to reinstate myself as a member of the AKA. The Dallmers receive the Edeiken Award trophy the week after the Des Enclosed is my check with applica- Moines convention from ‘05 winner Pete Dolphin and Erin Edeiken. tion and a photocopy of my last issue of Kitelines dated in the fall of 1980. Edeiken Thank You AKA Convention rotates from Central to Twenty-seven years ago. My, how time Cel and I are deeply honored and Western to Eastern regions. The 2007 does fly! (The pun is intentional). humbled to receive the 2006 Edeiken Convention is in Ocean Shores, Wash- I am surprised however as to the Award. Looking at the names that are ington, and in 2008 we’re headed back current price of Kitelines ($30) com- on it, we are even more awed to think to a yet-to-be-decided spot on the East pared to $9 annually. that the selection committee chose us Coast. 2009 is back in the center of the I would welcome a notice of exist- to be included in the list. We would like country, and locations in Wisconsin and ing world records as I am interested in to thank those that nominated us and Minnesota, as well as Des Moines, have attempting at least two different the Award Committee for selecting us. all expressed interest. approaches for milestones next year. We spent the last 30 years in kiting If you could inform me in your and it never gets old, we really love Windless Vs. Indoors estimation of the wisest and ablest what we do. We’ve met a lot of people The World Kite Museum chose current kiteflyers that would also be who we consider friends and their “Windless Kites” as the title for its appreciated. creations keep this exciting. It never wonderful January 13-15, 2007 indoor Sincerely, and forever flying, gets boring. Another reason we love kite event. Windless Kites or Windless Robert Reichert what we do is the family aspect; no Kite Flying/Competition is a most Lawrence, MA matter how young or old you are, there felicitous denomination for the fast is always something for you to do. growing indoor kiting specialty. Editor: Welcome back, Robert! We’ve Thanks so very much for this honor!!! The AKA has been using “Sport been wondering where you’d gone. Mike and Cecilia Dallmer Kites” as an overall title for indoor While you were away, there were some Philadelphia PA competitions. That should change to changes. Kitelines folded its wings, and “Windless Kite Flying/Competition.” the AKA’s magazine is now known Loving the Midwest The name “Sport Kites” has been simply as Kiting. And yes, the price has The other night I was looking at some reserved exclusively for multiple line gone up a little. By my calculations, $9 photos taken at Iowa’s convention. I kites. Thus, single line kites do not fit in 1980 would equal $22.86 in 2005 was so pleased with the number of first in “Sport-Kite-Indoor-Competitions.” (the last year for which inflation attendees. It was told that we ran out That is not just nit-picking seman- figures are available). The cost of an of first-timer ribbons. Also, I had a tics. “Sport Kites” brings Sport Kiters AKA membership was $30 in 2005, but chance to see others who I haven’t to the competitions. It brings judges that got you not only the magazine but seen since Kites on Ice in Wisconsin. who are Sport Kiters. And it brings all the other benefits, including insur- Iowa may not have the appeal that Sport Kites’ fans and relatives of the ance coverage. Even at $35, it’s still Niagara Falls has, and that’s OK. The Sport Kiters, pilots and judges, all of cheaper than dinner and a movie. AKA gave a chance to those who lived whom think, know, admire and cheer Kiteflying records are monitored by the closer to attend the event, and that is the wonderful skills and tricks per- Kite Records Committee (see page 2), why we move the site. I am blessed to formed by the Sport Kite pilots. Single and to a lesser extent, by the good have had the opportunity to fly kites liners, such as fighters, do not have folks at Guinness. And who are the with those came to the event and look much of a chance in such an over- wisest and ablest kitefliers? Oh no, we forward to the next Convention in one whelming (and possibly biased) Sport know better than to open that can of of the Central regions.