Events

26 results.
Apr02

2017 Cherry Blossom Rokkaku Challenge!

on April 2, 2017 at 12:50 pm

We tied for second place this year — tied with Running with Scissors. Charlie Don’t Run won first place. They really didn’t run, but still won pretty solidly, which tells you they got skills. It was a tough field — five teams, no newbies, and I think all were past winners.

I don’t have any photos of this year’s battle, yet, so here’s an old Washington Post photo of Charlie (left) and Running (right).

Fighting rokkaku kites held by their pilots, including the teams "Charlie Don't Run" and "Running With Scissors."

(That photo comes from a good 2014 Washington Post article that preceded the 2014 festival that I believe got completely snowed out.)

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Mar31
Featured Post

2013 Cherry Blossom Rokkaku Challenge

on March 31, 2013 at 11:56 am

3rd place!

Midnight Squadron Logo RokkakuWe held first place through the first two heats! This was an impressive showing after a year without any practice at all. The field presented 9 teams, including Jim Cosca, Harold Ames and Charlie Don’t Run; we’ll add more detail later.

Kalika and Complex flew the kite on the field, while Chrooke kept the score and Safeties Ironkite and Lady Vader chased fallen kites. We took an early lead by cutting one down and lasting to the end of the first heat; other teams closed the already narrow gap by cutting down more and, in the second heat, lasting longer. We flew Chrooke’s Midnight Squadron logo rok, an incredibly responsive and flat-sheeted kite. ↓ Read the rest of this entry…

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May06

Blossom Kite Festival Video

on May 6, 2011 at 10:17 pm

Thanks to Skyamese running a Flip video recorder, and Mike VanMeers’ kindness in letting us capture the final score sheet, we have been able to put together an almost complete video of the First Annual Blossom Kite Festival Rokkaku Challenge, complete with official scores after each heat. We’re missing only the end of the second heat, when a Junior Squadroneer went on the lam and Skyamese had to give chase.

 

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

 

 

 

 

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Apr15

Blossom Kite Fest News

on April 15, 2011 at 8:43 pm
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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:

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Apr09

Blossom Kite Festival Rescheduled: 4/10

on April 9, 2011 at 10:19 pm

UPDATE 4/9/11: The Blossom Kite Festival is on, as scheduled! Government shutdown averted for now.
Sunday, April 10, 10 am – 4pm, with always-awesome Kitemaking Competition, Indian kite fighting, stunt kite competitions and artistry, and the Rokkaku Challenge at 3pm (show at 2pm).

UPDATE b: We’ll be meeting up at the Blossom Kite Festival’s registration tent at 12:30. Chrooke will be holding his blue logo kite (on display at right) there as a sign.
Also, you can message Complex during the day by tweeting @midnightsquad, or simply call him if you have his number.

The Blossom Kite Festival was rescheduled for Sunday, April 10th!

The schedule is up, too:

Blossom Kite Festival Schedule
10:00 AM Opening remarks; Registration begins

Demonstration Field
10:15 AM – 12:00 PM Kite Ballets & Demonstrations
12:00 – 1:00 PM Youth Kite Makers Competition
1:00 – 2:00 PM Kite Ballets & Demonstrations

Competition Field
10:15 AM – 1:00 PM Kite Makers Showcase (Hand-made kites only)
1:00 – 2:00 PM Kite Makers Competition
2:00 – 3:00 PM Hot Tricks Showdown
3:00 – 4:00 PM Rokkaku Battle

But keep in mind that they may move events around as weather and politics demand; for example, the Rok battle has been moved to 2pm in the past.

Hope we see you there on April 10th!

The Blossom Kite Festival has been postponed due to expected inclement weather. The organizers expect to announce a new date on Monday.

6 Comments
Apr08

Squadron Kiting at Blossom – 4/10/11 2pm

on April 8, 2011 at 4:30 pm

UPDATE 4/9/11: The Blossom Kite Festival is on, as scheduled! Government shutdown averted for now.
Sunday, April 10, 10 am – 4pm, with always-awesome Kitemaking Competition, Indian kite fighting, stunt kite competitions and artistry, and the Rokkaku Challenge at 3pm (show at 2pm).
Read the Blossom Festival announcement or the Blossom Kite Festival schedule.
Please plan and comment on the earlier Squadron post of the Blossom Kite Festival.

The Midnight Squadron will be flying at the Washington Monument on Sunday.

I will be flying at the Washington Monument on Sunday, April 10, from 2pm to 4pm. I intend to fly on the Mall where the Blossom Kite Festival should be, in the corner of Constitution and 17th. We will fight rokkaku.

I will do this regardless of any government closure or shutdown. I state this because the Kite Fly must happen, and it’s not practical to postpone it indefinitely at the last moment. Flying during a government closure won’t stop our participation in the Blossom Kite Festival, when it happens. I will make plan the details and discuss in the comments.

The only things that will keep me off the Mall are official fences, armed guards and lightning.
Let nothing less stand in the way of our flying!

your Scribe and Rokkaku Battlemaster,
Complex

1 Comment
Mar28

Smithsonian –> Blossom Kite Festival

on March 28, 2011 at 2:53 pm

Just a note for anyone searching for info on Washington, DC’s Smithsonian after 2010: as of 2011, this became the Blossom Kite Festival, part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.

See more under the “BlossomKiteFestival” tag.

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Mar28

MIKE – Ocean City, MD – 4/29 – 5/1/2011

on March 28, 2011 at 2:37 pm

The 17th Maryland International Kite Expo is at the end of April and very start of May – April 29 – May 1.

You can read more detail at the Kite Loft page.

OceanCity.com lists rokkaku fighting as one of the events, which you know got my attention.

Expo features impressive ground & air demonstrations of color & imagination. Activities include sport kite demonstrations, giant kites and lessons in kite making. Events & other competitions such as candy drops & rokkaku battles throughout the weekend. Come enjoy one of the largest kite festivals in the USA. Located on the beach at N. Division St. on 6th St. Hours: Friday through Sunday from 9am – 9pm. For more information, contact Jay Kerr at 410-289-7855 or visit www.kiteloft.com.

Interested in going? Arranging travel & rooming? Discuss in comments!

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Mar25

2010 Smithsonian Kite Festival

on March 25, 2010 at 12:00 pm

The Smithsonian Kite Festival is this Saturday, 27 March. It runs from 10 AM to 4 PM The kite-making show & competition starts at 10:15; I expect to see some interesting designs and engineering from Harold Ames and Mike Mosman, among others. Our favorite rokkaku combat is scheduled for 3 PM, but remember that they held it early, at 2 PM, last year.

Please come out and cheer for the Squadron in the Rokkaku Challenge. I think we’ll give you a lot to cheer for — we usually put on an energetic and noisy show, and we’ve been winning a lot. To brag a little, last year, our various teams won at Smithsonian and Wildwood and took second in the AKA Nationals, and I won the individual combat in the Nationals. So I can promise that your enthusiasm will be well placed and rewarded with action.

I’ll continue posting info and follow-ups here, so check back in. You can also find more details about the festival’s schedule, children’s events, and rules at the Smithsonian Kite Festival website.

Read ongoing festival news at our twitter feed, MidnightSquad, which is also shown on the right side of our home page.

1 Comment
Mar17

2/21 Kite Fly and 2/27 Smithsonian!

on March 17, 2010 at 11:09 pm

Interested in flying 2/21? I’m planning on flying Sunday the 21st (1pm) at the Capitol College Field.

A week and a half from now, Saturday the 27th, is Smithsonian! Join us for a good time, a good crowd, great events, and maybe another Rokkaku win!

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