Hanging From A Kite (50MB MP4)

First Annual Blossom Kite Festival Rokkaku Challenge (150MB MP4)

Here’s the quick wrap-up on the National Cherry Blossom Kite Festival.

The day started out chilly, and the wind was near dead. However, the sun came out and the wind blew well by the end of the day. Chrooke, Skyamese, Lady Vader, the Tattooed Lady, Kalika, Complex, Bryan, and Nancy all attended.

Chrooke entered his logo rok in the kite-making competition, and got compliments on how well it flew.

Complex and Chrooke flew in the rokkaku battle, with Kalika catching and Bryan judging. The first heat was disastrous, but we got a couple points back in the second heat. Finally, Chrooke piloted an amazing third heat that took the team from nothing to third place.

Complex’s Photo Slideshow:

Despite all of my commitments to attack 2010′s Overbearing Responsibilities and fly kites more, this year’s been difficult for me. I gather that it’s been difficult for everyone to get out there and fly. Jobs and kids have kept all of us from flying half as much as we’d like, which you can easily see from the silence of our Events calendar.

Today’s gusty winds (and Sweetie’s gift of thermal underwear for Christmas) helped reinvigorate my resolve. I took an Expanding Object and my soft power kite out to the local field and has a fine fly. Apparently “Wind Advisory” means the wind doesn’t stop at sunset!

I had a couple dogs and people interested in the kites. The dogs all ran off when the power kite came back towards them, but I talked for a while with a man interested in KAP (and in boomerangs — I learned a thing or two that could have saved me some bruises).

So now I’m going to try to more regularly throw on some warm clothes and make quick trips outside to fly a few kites. It’ll still be a challenge, but hopefully this will make life a little brighter during the dim winter and unfriendly weather. I hope I can also help encourage others to come out and fly this season, however briefly.

–>complex<—

Write your ideas in the comments! Gods allowing, maybe we’ll get the chance to do some of this one day!

Two weeks from now: AKA in Minneapolis!

Update: Never mind, the rain won. There isn’t even any wind to speak of.

Stay warm inside and make a kite!

We hope you’ll join is on the field come Spring. Kids, feel free to bring your parents — kids of all ages can fly. We generally have spare kites you can borrow if you don’t have your own.

If you find it hard to catch up with us, or if you are too far away, check our links page for other area clubs. The American Kitefliers Association can help you find a club in your area if you are not in DC.