One Year

[riffclown]

So this is the week. A year ago, I was futilely trying to keep ANY conversation alive over on the Revolution forum when @John Barresi said, join us over here at KiteLife. Now, I been at Kitelife a year and what a year that has been. In that time my kiting world has changed immensely. I started out like many others, as a free member and quickly saw the advantages of this special community and now I'm a paid subscriber for at least the next 2 years or so. I feel I've made some lifelong friends here and I wholly appreciate the open arms and open minds with which you, my fellow KiteLife members and kiters, have extended to me. I've made my first (and second) overnight kiting trips.  First to the Corolla Quad Clinic followed by Private JB Lessons. Until the Corolla clinic, I had never made more than a day trip for kiting. Second trip was to the Rogallo Festival which quickly became a Corolla Class reunion.  It's an event I go to every year but this year was very special because I was able to stay over and enjoy night flying and comradery with some fellow quad friends (Almost all of the Corolla group in fact).

Since January, I've started spending more time with the sewing machine and gained drastic insight into the flying characteristics of the bowtie style quads. I even made my first Stack from tails. The "Sails from Tails" thing started out as a shortcut to be able to make myself a mesh since I couldn't budget a Shook when I started. Now I have two Shook Masterpieces and a great relationship with Eliot who advised me on some finer points of kite engineering. He and Cath have even flown some of my designs which I considered an honor.  For those that don't know Eliot Shook, there's a reason his kites are called masterpieces. In his hands, the Icarex takes a life of its own on the form of his mesh and weave kites. My mesh kites are in homage to the creative genius that Cath and Eliot of Flying Smiles Kites, harbors. 

For those that don't know me, I get a lot of satisfaction from having others that I respect fly my kites. That's one reason my bag is always open to ANY of you. At the Corolla clinic, my Symphony 2.2.4 was placed into the very capable hands of @John Barresi with amazing results and fortunately for all of us, several cameras were recording. If rumor is true, as I celebrate my first year on KiteLife Saturday, a few of my Symphony 2.2.4 conversions may be debuting at the Berkeley Kite Festival in the hands of two members of Team KiteLife. @John Barresi, V-I-D-E-O!!!

@SHBKF @dragonfish @photomom @khsidekick @Wayne Dowler @Bill Clay& @John Barresi the chat sessions we've had, have given me ideas I've incorporated into some of my kite designs and flying style. When the announcement was made to the effect that chat would be phasing out, I was not only honored, but obligated to do whatever was needed to keep it alive. For those of you that don't frequent the chat channels, you are missing out on conversations that easily rival the fun conversations at a festival or convention, but without the heat.  @everyone, drop by the chatroom and say "Hi!"   We'd love to chat with you about most anything (especially kites) but PLEASE remember to close it out when you leave. It's no fun talking to an empty room and it makes it harder to connect with active chatters when the ghosts are sitting there.

All in all, it's been a great kiting year for me. I've learned a lot about kiting, flying and people in general. This shared hobby of ours has not only made me a better kiter, but interaction here with many of you has hopefully made me a better person.

[Wayne Dowler]

Forum over there has pretty much dried up, just a few die hard people post there regularly. Do still check in there at times, but not as often as I used to. More info here or on FB.  

[makatakam]

1 hour ago, Wayne Dowler said:

Forum over there has pretty much dried up, just a few die hard people post there regularly.

I believe there would be more activity if the staff of Revolution Kites became more responsive and took part in the discussion there. It seems to me like a lost opportunity to further your own cause. I can only compare it to John Barresi never saying anything on this forum. They could, at the absolute least, acknowledge that we exist.

P.S. -- I apologize to riffclown. No intent to hijack your post. I truly do appreciate the joy and satisfaction you feel as your involvement with flying kites progresses. Long may it live.

[riffclown]

Revolution no longer lives up to their name.. But that's one of the reasons I'm here now..

[Wayne Dowler]

I had one person tell me that Rev wasn't too up to date on dealing with the "new" social media that works today. You would think that if they can't do it, they would hire someone that can!

Oh well ....

[makatakam]

I'm sixty-six years old. If I can handle "new", so can they. You gotta wanna!

[riffclown]

Today's the day.. I actually feel different somehow.. I feel I've said what I wanted to say in the first post but upon reflection, I very much acknowledge the difference this community has made on my kiting in the last year. I've met and befriended people I had only ever heard of before. Today, my pride and joy for kiting the Symphony 2.2.4 should be debuting in the hands of  @John Barresi & @windpoacher. I don't think that kite would have ever gotten the attention it truly deserves without JB's influence.. Thank You John! 

Here's to a great community and Thanks again to all of you for allowing me to be a part of it..