Kite Party

[Mike]

Just a heads up for folks thinking of going to Kite Party.
Registration is about half full.
http://kiteparty.com/registration/
If you're a sport kite flier, you need to be a pretty good flier. You need to have the skills to fly on an impromptu team without taking anyone out.
SLK fliers have their own field, but space is also tight. Your kite has to play well with others.

[goestoeleven]

Fantastic event! Think about the IKE retreat, only with a lot more kite flyers . . . and it's in Huntington Beach in winter. It really is a kite PARTY, for kite fliers, and NOT a festival. There are very few demos taking up the field - I think the year I went there were maybe four or five over two days, and anyone can fly on the field as long as they can play well with others. Not sure if I can go yet, but I'll be thinking about it.

I've only been once (KP 10) and I had a blast. For those of you thinking about your skill level, Mike is right that you need to be able to fly team. The space is pretty tight, and impromptu teams form and fly all the time (taking up most of the flying field). The rest of the beach is covered in people (this is Huntington Beach on a weekend). Also, the field requires shorter lines (I think you have to fly on 80s due to the space restrictions, so the window is smaller).

That said, don't hold back from going if you don't already do lots of team flying. When I went to KP10 four years ago, I think I had been flying revs for less than two years. I wasn't very good at team flying, but I was eager and wanted to spend more time on it. I had flown some team, but not a lot. My skills were pretty basic - I had probably only just reached a point where I could fly figure 8s in a group consistently, and not take everyone down. That's where you need to be to enjoy this event and fly with others. Ideally, you also need to be able to hover/hold position, and do slides and other typical moves with a Rev. That said, if you can fly revs in groups, it's a great opportunity to spend an entire weekend doing nothing but team flying, and learn a lot.

P.S. - Lots of rev flyers, a small group of very good dual line flyers, and some single line flyers. Did I mention lots of Rev flyers?
P.P.S. - Mike forgot to mention there's an auction Saturday night . . . .

[goestoeleven]

For those who have not clicked thru the link yet, the party is March 12-13. I'll add it to the IKE calendar.

[Mike]

BTW, I'm going. :)

[basicbill]

BTW, I'm going. :)

Sure... rub it in.

[Jeepster]

Hey Mike, see you there.

[Mike]

Hey Mike, see you there.

[Jeff]

Don't know if I'll be able to do Kite Party, but I am making my TI plans right now. I don't suppose anyone else has that on the agenda...

[Mike]

which one are you going to?

[Jeff]

The regular T.I. fest mid-January.

[Jeff]

I just had some work travel come up adjacent to Kite Party, which makes it more likely that I can make it, since I can partly combine travel with work.

[Mike]

That'd be great!
I may only be on the beach on Saturday though.

[makatakam]

Which hotel are you staying at? Thinking about going. Got to be warmer than here.

[Jeff]

If this works out, I'd likely travel to CA Thursday night, and be on the beach Friday, Saturday, and however long until I'd have to leave on Sunday.

[Jeff]

I'm booked. I'm arriving late Thursday night, crash at the hotel, and I fly out Sunday night.

[Mike]

I just looked at the Kite Party Page (http://kiteparty.com/non-festival/)
He has a few shout-outs. One of which is IKE!

If there is interest, we should plan on big IKE attendance next year.
At least one year, we rented a couple houses and crammed a bunch of people in there.

I've been to almost all of them--from when Ben and I were about the only Revs on the beach, to now, when the beach is almost all Revs.

Start planning for next year. It really is the best festival for people who like to fly. It has become the best festival for Rev fliers especially. It's close to Rev so you get meet the Hadzickis and see new kites. And you get to fly with some of the best fliers from around the country.

You should do it at least once--and don't wait too long--most festivals don't last too long before the organizer gets burned out.

Think 2017 Kite Party, and lets start a new thread and start planning.

[Jeff]

Just have to get through this work week, CA, here I come!

[Mike]

Woo hoo!
See you there!

[prairierose]

Once again I'll just be watching the webcam
Maybe next year though

[Jeff]

Is it Friday yet?