Dano Wright
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Posts posted by Dano Wright
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Summers in the south central US are often times not kind to kitefliers, and this summer was no exception. We had record dry weather and record hot days, mostly with little wind or with raging fires driven by strong hot winds, depends where you were located at the time. We sure are appreciating the cooling days of fall as it descends upon us.
Not to be shut out however, those hardier souls still managed to get some flying in.
Local clubs tried to keep monthly Fun Flys going, though at times it seemed a moot point. The following are some highlights of the summer season.
We have a new AKA Regional Director, wish to thank Dr Gayle for her many years on the sometimes thankless job and welcome Rick Hawkins to the post. Am sure we will be hearing from him via official avenues.
One event that struck a hard cord throughout the region was the loss of Charles “AJ” Jackson, he was universally liked and a great ambassador for traction kite sports. AJ was known for going all out, and he relished life. He touched many lives, and is sorely missed in our kite community. Click here to read the special piece on AJ in this issue of Kitelife.
South Houston Area Recreational Kiters – [ SHARK ] --
This very active club had a tough Fun Fly for Sept. with some kites breaking away. Again in October a night fun fly complete with a cook out, held at Galveston Island’s Stewart Beach, called Sonny’s Burger Burn, 13 members report the event as a rounding success. They had a couple of newbie’s on board and are sure that much education was emulated. This past month, SHARK again volunteered to assist in the annual two day Children’s Festival at the Cynthia Woods Pavilion at The Woodlands. They provided over 1400 kites for kids to make, fly, and take with them; and put on bols races for the kids to participate in. Kite flying is very challenging in this venue due to the proximity of many trees.
South Padre Island Kite Enthusiasts- [ SPIKE ] –
Lots of their members escape to northern climes during the hot weather most of the summer!! Nevertheless, the TEAM SPI does do regular practices, and occasionally just go out and fly together. In October they were all celebrating Brian and Sis’s birthdays with a cake, on the 29th Guy Blatnik and Windchasers Kite shop held a Kites, Kids, and Candy event with guess what ?? lots of candy drops, what a way to do a Halloween theme and get community involvement!!
Coastal Bend Skypirates--
The late summer temps are still tough in September but we went to Roberts Point in Port Aransas for our Fun Fly, wind was a scarce commodity, [image that on the coast??] – But several sport kites were flown by TC, Revolution was represented by Dano and single liners were hard pressed to stay aloft. It was however a beautiful day and any day flying kites beats a day at work, right??
October Fun Fly was basically a running event, run launch a kite, wait four minutes for it t to loose wind, run go launch it again when a puff was felt!! Finally a 9foot delta was put up and it managed to hold the breeze for a good couple of hours. TC got lots of practice with his Ultra lite sport kites!!
November the winds were a little light but Tom called to say he was taking his grandkids to the Beach Park Circle [ on kitemap.com] to fly some sport kites and would anyone care to join him. What developed was a great impromptu fly with numerous folks in attendance. There were classic Team Hawaiian kites, old school WASP kites, single liners of course, and even a buggy rider struggling for enough power. Ended up being a very good afternoon.
The monthly Fun Fly was a week later and it was a Veterans Tribute with military and red/white/blue being the theme. Winds were strong and steady, lunch was light and healthy thanks to Nancy, the group broke a little early as the afternoon started cooling off rapidly.
OTHER CLUBS/ EVENTS/ HAPPENINGS—
At press deadline there was not any information forwarded to the author about other events and happenings, hopefully we can gather more data for next issue from more of the other clubs and groups throughout the area.
Click here for event information for the Great Texas Kite Club Fun Fly on Dec 3rd, 2011.
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Hello to all you fellow windjunkies, breeze beggars, and silkworm farmers, sewing fanatics, etc, etc, etc. --
. We invite all the Texas kite clubs to Rockport for a winter kite-a-pa-loza-- is that a word?? it is now!!
This event was moved a couple of years ago because it gives a little more time between events i.e.- GTKCFF and SPI kite fest on February the first, and two it gives the City of Rockport a little extra color in the air for their annual "beginning of the season" celebration. They have asked for kite fliers the last three years of this event which includes street fairs, two parades, musical offerings outdoors, lighting of the big tree in the kite field, and in general a street party downtown.
It also has more for us windjunkies to do to keep entertained after 5 pm when the sun goes down--- lighted boat parade, various drinking establishments, and music and street dancing!!! This occurs on December 3rd, 2011, at 10AM, Saturday, the City is renting the "Festival Grounds" just for us kite flyers which is the tri-cornered field at the front of the beach facing Hwy 35 -- so we should have lots of room for everyone's favorite kite to be displayed.
As a special treat this year interested bird watchers can join a bunch of kiters on a Whooping Crane bird tour via the Wharf Cat, a tour leaves the Rockport Harbor on Sunday to view these magnificent animals in their natural habitats to the north of us.
More info as to reservations, fees, times etc with be forthcoming.
Further info inquiries can be made at 361-442-4608 -- also check out the Facebook page --Coastal Bend Skypirates, current info will be posted there i.e Friday nite meet/greet dinner etc . ---- Dano
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Hello to all you fellow windjunkies, breeze beggars, and silkworm farmers, sewing fanatics, etc, etc, etc. --
. We invite all the Texas kite clubs to Rockport for a winter kite-a-pa-loza-- is that a word?? it is now!!
This event was moved a couple of years ago because it gives a little more time between events i.e.- GTKCFF and SPI kite fest on February the first, and two it gives the City of Rockport a little extra color in the air for their annual "beginning of the season" celebration. They have asked for kite fliers the last three years of this event which includes street fairs, two parades, musical offerings outdoors, lighting of the big tree in the kite field, and in general a street party downtown.
It also has more for us windjunkies to do to keep entertained after 5 pm when the sun goes down--- lighted boat parade, various drinking establishments, and music and street dancing!!! This occurs on December 3rd, 2011, at 10AM, Saturday, the City is renting the "Festival Grounds" just for us kite flyers which is the tri-cornered field at the front of the beach facing Hwy 35 -- so we should have lots of room for everyone's favorite kite to be displayed.
As a special treat this year interested bird watchers can join a bunch of kiters on a Whooping Crane bird tour via the Wharf Cat, a tour leaves the Rockport Harbor on Sunday to view these magnificent animals in their natural habitats to the north of us.
More info as to reservations, fees, times etc with be forthcoming.
Further info inquiries can be made at 361-442-4608 -- also check out the Facebook page --Coastal Bend Skypirates, current info will be posted there i.e Friday nite meet/greet dinner etc . ---- Dano
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i feel the need to explore this realm of kiting now............. bought an indoor Rev for no wind days -- but rarely use it -- maybe i could into the gymnastics room next door to my workroom/sewing shop and try it out????
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sure -- will add to kitemap. -- will add the Rockport Beach Kite Circle as well [designated kite sports area within park]--
BTW was flying a REV I with lite upper frame, 60 foot lineset, extended handles with adjusters, lite breezes, no groupies!?!?!?
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looks like a quorum of opinion, keep the "magazine" collectively, issued bi-monthly, and make it easier to produce, browse, and with more reactive participation may even create a renewed interest in the magazine as a whole --
-- all points to this end-- so where is the down side??
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went to the park at Fulton Harbor, slight breezes, but enough to launch rev I [one of my favs] flew under the street ghts for a hour or so ,, winds would crash, dropping the kite periodically, county deputy stopped to ask "you ok?? as i was sitting in chair with kite flat on ground--- "just flying my kite and texting my pals" --- he was shocked -!!- should have told him i was a certifiable windjunkie and needed my head examined!!????LOL--
a good spot to fly on 60 footers, breezes usually in over the harbor and boats a little dirty but manageable --
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i just toss the leader/bridle into the mouth of the tube tails [omits tangled bridles] and start from there, winding the tube up over the "header" it soon takes on a "roll" of sorts and makes a small neat package when completed, not very fast..... wrap with a velcro strap when done or use a rubber band to keep it all in line inside the bag. Roger Horne made a device to use with a battery powered drill to wind his very long tubes with --- very nice piece out of hardwood etc.
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hey I use tube tails for single line displays all the time that are 60- 100 foot long-- I use a "stuff sack" and roll the tails over the "rings" at the head end of the tail folding over and over -- then just shove it in the bag and pull the zip cord--
-- when I deploy the tails I pull the "center" out of the bundle-- (the bridle and ring) attach to the line and let the launching kite unwind the balance of the tails-- very simple and no hardware to take up lots of room in my tails bag !!!
my big ribbon tails are 65 ft and I fold in half, roll like a newspaper, rolling the entire length, ends up about eight inches in diameter and 22 inches long!! == need to sew up some "stuff bags" for these two new additions
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Anybody wanna horse-trade???
in Quad Heads
Posted
My addiction to revs says I want them all................... but the budget says, "lets talk"..........
Can i buy a lottery ticket tonite
?? LOL