sailor99 Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 Wish I were able to have put it so well myself Jonesey, but my mind was moving down a similar route this morning. I think the only objective I would add, which is kind of complementary to your points 2 and 3, is that of encouraging newer fliers/an all inclusive happening. To me this was the nub of what caused so much heat and light a while ago, and personally led to me being dragged against my will in divergent directions - something I was not prepared to accept. And I personally think it reared its head again on Saturday and Sunday in a particularly unpalatable form. However, if the objective is to put on a 'professional' display for the public then inclusiveness, and probably world record attempts, go by the board. If on the other hand it is all about record attempts then possible failure must be an acceptable outcome and the 'public show' would be all about the attempt. If it is about an activity by fliers for fliers, then that is an altogether different thing. I think you are correct that the objective needs to be defined in advance for all sorts of reasons. But not least to manage the expectations of the fliers, to manage the expectations of the festival organisers, and to allow a clear sponsorship presentation (ie a flier activity just for the fun is not IMHO a sponsor proposition) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Felix Posted September 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 Wish I were able to have put it so well myself Jonesey, but my mind was moving down a similar route this morning. I think the only objective I would add, which is kind of complementary to your points 2 and 3, is that of encouraging newer fliers/an all inclusive happening. To me this was the nub of what caused so much heat and light a while ago, and personally led to me being dragged against my will in divergent directions - something I was not prepared to accept. And I personally think it reared its head again on Saturday and Sunday in a particularly unpalatable form. However, if the objective is to put on a 'professional' display for the public then inclusiveness, and probably world record attempts, go by the board. If on the other hand it is all about record attempts then possible failure must be an acceptable outcome and the 'public show' would be all about the attempt. If it is about an activity by fliers for fliers, then that is an altogether different thing.I think you are correct that the objective needs to be defined in advance for all sorts of reasons. But not least to manage the expectations of the fliers, to manage the expectations of the festival organisers, and to allow a clear sponsorship presentation (ie a flier activity just for the fun is not IMHO a sponsor proposition) All very good points above, and in the previous posts, and obviously part of the learning process. I was, and wish to remain, 'blissfully unaware' of any finger pointing. On Saturday the commentators didn't see that we were, 'as ready as we were going to be', in the marginal conditions! Thanks again to all who took part. I think everyone did 'brilliantly'. Felix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 We can make this happen. All I need is for all you people to say you want it. Getting the space is not an issue in February. Getting media coverage is definitely NOT an issue, I can almost gaurantee that several of the major networks would cover it, and I know the papers will. Just let me know and it will be as good as done! Oh, just one thing...I WANT TO FLY IN THIS ONE!!Dave The Kite Connection A little more information on Kite Party: There is a sound tent playing music all day and the fields are roped off, but there are only a couple demonstrations during the day--mostly for the media. There is no schedule of events. Kite Party is for kiters to hang out and fly together. It's a party, not a festival! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sailor99 Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 Sounds good Mike. May have to put it in my diary what ever the outcome of this thread. A bit of sun in February sounds nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonesey Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 Sounds good Mike. May have to put it in my diary what ever the outcome of this thread. A bit of sun in February sounds nice! Hmmm... 50th Birthday party somewhere warm ... I feel a plan coming on.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sailor99 Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 Hmmm... 50th Birthday party somewhere warm ... I feel a plan coming on....WAY HEY!!! The Hampsters are going on tour! And all for 50,000 BA Miles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Felix Posted September 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 A little more information on Kite Party:There is a sound tent playing music all day and the fields are roped off, but there are only a couple demonstrations during the day--mostly for the media. There is no schedule of events. Kite Party is for kiters to hang out and fly together. It's a party, not a festival! 6 - 24 February 2008 looks like a 'long' event. Is there a focus point? Felix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hezz Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 Here is the last list I have of the Japanese teams:-RISING (4) NAVY ROAD (4) WIND RIPPER (4) GJ BOYS (5) KARASU (2) SUITENGU (2) AILE (6) NO RIVISION (10+) EZO (4) KITAKAZE KOZOU (2) In Europe we have:- Decorators (8) The Flying Squad (10) Force 3 (3) Flic (7) Crazy Drivers (4) Team Bolau (5) Time Out (4) Team4Fun (4) There may be others that I have 'forgotten' / missed. Is there an equivalent list for the USA/Canada? Felix With all due respect to everyone, are you counting a "team" as "a group of people who fly together" or as "an entity who have between them competed / been invited to events / demos / have many years of proven experience"? (or would you call them a 'pro' team?) To demo in the arena requires 'pro' team flyers, to break a world record requires everyone with some previous team flying experience (including the non-'pro' teams). It's useful to define the two. Perhaps the issue at Bristol was that in the low (challenging!) wind, the non-'pro' flyers didn't have light wind sails, frames & lines like the 'pro' flyers, and also didn't have the experience of how to deal with it in a confined space. Not their fault, just unfortunate. There had to come a time where Stephen made the decision 'pros' only, and I think that was right. It had worked at Portsmouth, the wind was better for everyone who had more standard kit. I think there was only one breakage at Bristol on Sunday and that's when we all had lightweight spars in, the wind picked right up, Stephen called "Fast Burst" and CRACK, one of TFS's kites exploded... ouch .. I felt his pain... Hezz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Felix Posted September 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 With all due respect to everyone, are you counting a "team" as "a group of people who fly together" or as "an entity who have between them competed / been invited to events / demos / have many years of proven experience"? (or would you call them a 'pro' team?)<snip> Hezz Hezz, I am well aware that there are considerable 'ranges' of ability 'within' the 'teams', even the best ones. <grins> I watched the Japanese 'teams' as well in the light conditions at Uchinada back at the beginning of May. I started this thread hoping for discussion regarding objectives for 2009. This time last year I was 'hoping' to find a way to get a 'large' number of Rev fliers together to see if the grid concept was viable. Walking the grid is maybe the next step! (Sorry) Felix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hezz Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 Walking the grid is maybe the next step! (Sorry)Felix For some reason the phrase 'walking the grid' brought an image into my mind.. 50 Rev flyers doing the "Timewarp" ... "and now a jump to the left ... aaaaand a step to the riiiight...." Putting hands on the head might be hard, but the pelvic thrust shouldn't be a problem for some. Hezz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest groz Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 Perhaps the issue at Bristol was that in the low (challenging!) wind, the non-'pro' flyers didn't have light wind sails, frames & lines like the 'pro' flyers, and also didn't have the experience of how to deal with it in a confined space. Not their fault, just unfortunate. There had to come a time where Stephen made the decision 'pros' only, and I think that was right. It had worked at Portsmouth, the wind was better for everyone who had more standard kit. Funny. Very Funny! Don't let the facts get in the way of blaming the newbies! Nice one, not laughed so much for a long time. Of course the 'Pros' never make mistakes, or have difficulties. Must delete the shots I have on camera from several kite fests showing just that. Wouldn't want the facts to get in the way of a good story!!! I'm crying with laughter here - brilliant! You've made my day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andelscott Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 Walking the grid is maybe the next step! *Please* can we have that on video? I can't wait to see the kite flyers' answer to line dancing! But seriously, this sounds a great idea for a bit of distributed practice for grid equipped flyers and "one day I'll be grid capable" flyers! Can you please publish the choreography? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Choccy Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 I'm going through the rushes from Portsmouth (Saturday 23rd) and it's not a pretty sight! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lummas Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 Dave, Please can you reconfirm the dates for the 2009 Kite Party, as there seems to be some uncertainty here. Thanks, Mark 6 - 24 February 2008 looks like a 'long' event. Is there a focus point?Felix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 6 - 24 February 2008 looks like a 'long' event. Is there a focus point?Felix I see your confusion. In 2008, it was Kite Party 6 (the 6th year of Kite Party). In 2009, Kite Party 7 will be centered on the weekend of February 28th and March 1st, 2009. Folks usually start arriving on the beach a couple days before the weekend, and some will still be there on Monday too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 Hmmm... 50th Birthday party somewhere warm ... I feel a plan coming on.... I'll be celebrating the same birthday that year. It'd be great to meet up with you there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Felix Posted September 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 I see your confusion. In 2008, it was Kite Party 6 (the 6th year of Kite Party).In 2009, Kite Party 7 will be centered on the weekend of February 28th and March 1st, 2009. Folks usually start arriving on the beach a couple days before the weekend, and some will still be there on Monday too. Thanks Mike! I should have looked further.. Felix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Felix Posted September 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 *Please* can we have that on video? I can't wait to see the kite flyers' answer to line dancing! But seriously, this sounds a great idea for a bit of distributed practice for grid equipped flyers and "one day I'll be grid capable" flyers! Can you please publish the choreography? Stephen called '4 steps forward' a couple of times. As I was at the front of the grid at that time I made sure they were large steps. Maybe the call should have been 'face down, maximum reverse and run forwards'* to make even more ground. Being sensitive to changing wind direction is often the issue in light wind flying. What is felt at ground level may not be the same 'at the kite'. 'Feedback' from the lines is crucial. *This could be a 'kite game race'. Felix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonesey Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 For some reason the phrase 'walking the grid' brought an image into my mind.. 50 Rev flyers doing the "Timewarp" ... "and now a jump to the left ... aaaaand a step to the riiiight...." Putting hands on the head might be hard, but the pelvic thrust shouldn't be a problem for some. Hezz Just spent 30 minutes Photoshopping one of the Bristol pictures to put everybody in full Frank-n-Furter kit ... it was far too disturbing and I am now doing a full format and re-install of my systems to destroy all evidence of the image which is now regrettably burned into my brain ...... Thanks Hezz!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 I think everyone who can hold a hover and do a 180 without falling should be able to join in the mega fly. It should not be a "teams only" thing. If we have a crash or two, that's not such a big deal. If Felix wants to do something very tricky that not all the fliers can do, we can do two flies. One with tricky stuff with qualified fliers (regardless of team affiliation), and the other as a world-record-setting-crazy-mega-good-time-awesome-fly. Even folks who can't quite yet hold a hover should come to this event. We can have fun in smaller group flies. I truly believe this. I founded a club here in Illinois, started a Rev team, and wrote a manual explaining team moves, all based on the idea that what makes the Rev so cool is that people can stand next to each other and fly, and laugh, and have a great time even if they aren't great fliers. And I think we should fly to "Lets do the time warp again" or whatever that song is called. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonesey Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 And I think we should fly to "Lets do the time warp again" or whatever that song is called. Dont pretend you don't know the song .. I found a pair of fishnet stockings in your room when you left Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hezz Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 Funny. Very Funny! Don't let the facts get in the way of blaming the newbies! Nice one, not laughed so much for a long time.Of course the 'Pros' never make mistakes, or have difficulties. Must delete the shots I have on camera from several kite fests showing just that. Wouldn't want the facts to get in the way of a good story!!! I'm crying with laughter here - brilliant! You've made my day! Oh purlease! Groz, get a grip. I am not 'blaming' anybody and never have. If anything I'm giving you guys a valid reason WHY it was so damn difficult for EVERYONE out there, especially the ones who DIDN'T have ultra low wind kit. Oh yes well of course the pro's aren't perfect either. We mess up. Lots. Hey, sometimes we don't even start on time. Er hello, this is not serious stuff, this is kiteflying... it's fun. At least I think it was last time I looked. Hezz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiteLife Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 Ya'll pretty much know what I'm about by now, so I'll just let ya have it... It's just kites. If someone did or didn't make comments, SO WHAT? We don't have enough room in the forum for all the things people have said about me over the years, but I never made it an issue, it's not my weight to carry. Keep on keeping on, the only thing that will reliably sour someone's experience is how they respond to it, and what they do from that point forward. Life is what you make it. == That being said, take these complaints to email or PM from here on out... The point has been made, let's get back to positive and growth-oriented discussion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Felix Posted September 4, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 I think everyone who can hold a hover and do a 180 without falling should be able to join in the mega fly. It should not be a "teams only" thing. If we have a crash or two, that's not such a big deal. If Felix wants to do something very tricky that not all the fliers can do, we can do two flies. One with tricky stuff with qualified fliers (regardless of team affiliation), and the other as a world-record-setting-crazy-mega-good-time-awesome-fly. Even folks who can't quite yet hold a hover should come to this event. We can have fun in smaller group flies. I truly believe this. I founded a club here in Illinois, started a Rev team, and wrote a manual explaining team moves, all based on the idea that what makes the Rev so cool is that people can stand next to each other and fly, and laugh, and have a great time even if they aren't great fliers. And I think we should fly to "Lets do the time warp again" or whatever that song is called. Mike, I think that what was achieved at Portsmouth and Bristol was excellent. I do think that participants should be able to hold a hover and do a 180. If the hover is at all of the 360 degrees so much the better. <grins> Central to the Grid Concept was the idea that for most of the time the fliers would be in the centre(ish) of their wind window. This should avoid anything too demanding. I have no wish to do anything tricky as such and just want to see the whole idea pushed forwards based on everyone getting to know the moves that Stephen or others are calling. I am aware that Stephen avoided diagonal hovers so maybe that is something that the 'less experienced' could work on for future events. Equally, I think that it would be very exciting if the more experienced fliers collaborated on a 'real' routine, a ballet even, and work on moving on the ground in the event of light wind or to achieve greater accuracy in the air! In my dreams... Felix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonesey Posted September 4, 2008 Report Share Posted September 4, 2008 Equally, I think that it would be very exciting if the more experienced fliers collaborated on a 'real' routine, a ballet even, and work on moving on the ground in the event of light wind or to achieve greater accuracy in the air! With my spectator hat on (and I watched the Sunday Mega fly at Portsmouth ..oops) ... I want to see the big bursts, shapes and numbers ... they always get the ooooohhs .. how about a 30 kite blender Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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