Thursday

August 18, 2011

HANDCRAFTED COMPREHENSIVE COMPETITION

9:30a.m. FIELD A
Carol Bechard, Cindy Kroeger, Sandee Rogers & Kara Zubal, Co-Directors
  • All kites entered in today’s competition will be flown and judged by the “RULES AND GUIDELINES FOR COMPREHENSIVE KITEMAKING COMPETITION,” published by the AKA, as a guideline.
  • Every participant in the Handcrafted Kite Competition will be a winner! A special participation pin will be given to every competitor that enters at least one kite for judging.
  • Judging criteria includes craftsmanship, structural design, kite flight and handling, and visual appeal.
  • Each event (except Smallest Kite) will include four competitor levels: APPRENTICE, JOURNEYMAN, MASTERS, & KAHUNA. A questionnaire form will be available to determine each competitor’s skill level. Fliers may choose to compete at higher skill level than the questionnaire determines.
  • Registration will be open for three hours on Wednesday afternoon. Listen for announcements.
  • Kites that have placed in Handcrafted Competition at WSIKF in previous years are ineligible to compete.
  • Kites can be either built by an individual or cooperatively by two or more people (hence no Cooperative Kites category in this year’s competition).
  • Upon the completion of the competition, a drawing will be made from the APPRENTICE winners for a free ride scholarship to Fort Worden Kite Makers Conference (room, meals and tuition).

Events (in no particular order, schedule will be posted Thursday morning):

  • ARCHES, TRAINS AND CENTIPEDES- Kites of any shape or structure that is connected by lines to each other.
  • THE SMALLEST KITE- The kite should demonstrate stability in flight-. Once meeting this requirement, the kite with the smallest amount of lifting surface will be declared the winner.
  • FLAT OR BOWED KITES- The lift surface is a single plane. Diamonds, Della Portas, Eddys, Edos, and Bermudas are all examples of Flat or Bowed Kites.
  • ROKKAKU KITES – Kite shape must be six-sided and framed as a traditional Sanjo Rokkaku
  • CELLULAR OR DIMENSIONAL KITES- A three dimensional structure with the wind flowing through channels formed by the sail surfaces which are also lifting surfaces.
  • DELTAOR DELTA DERIVATIVES- Usually a triangular winged kite
  • SOFT & SEMI-RIGID- The shape of the kite is maintained by the interaction of the wind on the sail and the proper bridling of the kite. Semi-rigid kites may have spars going in one direction only.
  • FIGURE , MULTI-LINE FIGURE OR NOVELTY KITES- Shapes of these kites represent persons, animals, or other objects. May be controlled by two or more lines. Kites whose surfaces are decorated with pictures or representations of the above are not considered figure kites.
  • STUNTS OR MULTI-LINE KITES- Kites which require more flying lines to lift the kite in the air and keep it steady as it flies.
  • TRADITIONAL KITES- Kites include eastern or western kites using designs that might have been found before 1950 and/or based on designs indigenous to the region they represent. This includes countries such as Bali, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand.
  • LINE ACCESSORIES & GROUND ART – Sometimes referred to as “line art,” this category will included any tethered object. The object may be tethered to a kite, line, or the ground. Examples would include wind socks, bols, wheels, etc.
  • FIGHTER KITES- This category is open to all types and designs of fighter kites
  • INNOVATIVE CONCEPTS & DESIGNS- This category recognizes new designs or styles of kites that do not fit within any other category. Imagination, innovation, experimentation, and originality are added emphasis.
  • OPEN OR COMBINED KITES- This category will be used only when there are kites entered in the competition that do not readily fit within any other category, or if there are insufficient entries in more than one of the other categories to warrant a separate competition in that category.

John Freeman Tribute

The kiting world had a huge hole put in the sky over the northwest when John Freeman passed away on December 11, 2010.  John, and his wife Marzlie, have been very active in the local kiting community.  Not only have they participated in the festivals around the northwest, they have also shared their knowledge of kite building with many people.

John has taught classes at Oregon Kitemaker’s Retreat, Fort Worden Kitemaker’s Retreat, and many classes at the World Kite Museum and Hall of Fame right here in Long Beach, Washington.  John had a talent for taking quilting patterns and adopting them to kites, some of which he actually designed.

John’s kites have won many awards both many of the festivals in the area as well as at the American Kitefliers Association annual convention.  The “Kahuna” class of competition at the Washington State International Kite Festival was created to find a spot where John and other notable kite builders could compete and give other kite builders a shot at receiving the recognition they deserve as well.  Not content to just flying one type of kite, John’s creations spanned many types and styles.  His craftsmanship in all of his kites was impeccable.  His innovative kites, his smiling face, and hearty laugh will truly be missed in our skies

As a way to celebrate the gift John shared with so many we will take some time to honor  John on Handcrafted Kites Day.  For one hour, kite flyers are invited to bring kites that have been made in any of the many workshops that John taught.  If you have more than one kite that fits the category you are encouraged to grab someone to fly it with you.  John would be pleased and humbled to see such a display!

Plans are being made to make this an ongoing part of the day in year’s to come.  Kite builders that has passed on will not be the only people that will be honored but living kite makers will also be paid tribute.  Please give your suggestions to the Handcrafted Kite Making Competition Director.

“Mad Mary” Dance Card Marathon

10:00am, Fields D & E

Mad Mary was inspirational to the founding members of the Northwest Fighter Kite Association.  This event will be a short line competition open to any single line style fighter kite, and to anyone who would like to participate.  Each flier will compete with as many or as few fellow kiters as they want. This event is all about having fun and encouraging very big grins!  There will be a pilot’s meeting prior to the event at the SE corner of Field E.

Registration For Mass Ascensions

10:00 a.m., Registration Tent

 

Dragon Attack

11:00 a.m., Field C

Do you have a dragon kite  –  any dragon kite?  Our Dragon Master will help you get it ready to fly!  Come and join the fun.