American Kitefliers Association

hiya Donna    We'll be there and this time we're bringing some more folks 

Hey Rod,

Heard that rumor.  I'm so looking forward to seeing your whole gang down here.  Won't be long.

How was the festival ?  I had planned to attend...had reservations and tickets...but plans were fouled by 12 inches of snow here in Oklahoma City.  That wasn't enough to stop me, but the storm passed through here and went straight down to south Texas, and it looked like it would be miserably cold down there for the event.  I would really like to know how it turned out.

Charlie

The festival ended up being one of our best ever.  The weather was just about perfect once we got to the weekend.  The only problem was the traveling days.  What a mess.  I've lived down here for 14 years, and this is the first ice event we've had.  The highways were closed, flights were cancelled, the bridge onto the Island closed.  The power went out for over 16 hours in most places.  We froze.  Some people ended up renting cars in Houston since the airports were closed down here, and they made it down eventually.  In fact, right before the indoor fly Friday evening, everything started improving.  The bridge opened around noon.  Power came back late afternoon.  The Indoor fly was a success.  Saturday was in the 60s and Sunday was in the 70s.  So for all the suffering and pain we all went through to get to the festival, we were rewarded.  Had a great crowd.  Here's a link to two sites where you can find some pictures of the event.
www.spike.dwebz.net and go to the gallery link, then click under "Pictures" where it says to find all the pictures.  That takes you to the webshots page.  Or there's www.facebook.com/spike.kiteclub and go to the photos link.  Both places have several folders of the different days.

Or just go here........

http://good-times.webshots.com/album/579717894CywmTX


Stringfly <>+++++

Thanks Stringfly.  That does make it easier ;-)  That one is Saturday.
Here's Sunday http://good-times.webshots.com/album/579712054DbfhUl
Here's Indoor: http://good-times.webshots.com/album/579718101IkuBWD

I forgot the shortcut.

I understand that the KTAI voted on thier favorite festival a few days before this one occured. IT turned out that last years was voted the best. That made this years even better.

PS>The plan was to go to KTAI and then SPI. Problems at work canceled the first trip the week before. SPI was still on the calendar.  I had my room reserved and the kites packed then the cold/flu hit me and told me that I should not go. It was better to stay home and get well than to share my agony. THe worst part was seeing the weather forcast for the weekend on thursday morning when I had planned on leaving. Im glad everyone had a great time..Thier is always next year.

This post is kinda “cross thread” in that there is a lengthy discussion regarding festivals elsewhere.   The relationship is that SPI is one of my favorite festivals, I drive a couple of thousand miles to get there, because it is a festival which allows me a great deal of interaction with the spectators/crowd and IMO that’s a significant contributor to its success.  It’s also one of the reasons I encourage my kite flying friends to attend. A significant percentage of the crowd is what they refer to as “winter Texans.”  These are in large part a group of seniors.  I’m a senior as well so maybe that’s why I get along so well there, who knows.   This is a nice festival with pretty much a laid back atmosphere.   I expect there is more that could be and will be done to make it even bigger and better but I’m not sure how well bol races would go over.

Not sure I get the "crossthread" that you're talking about.  Maybe I'm missing something?  Anyway, bol races have been jokingly talked about before, but with all the artificial knees in the audience, just doesn't seem like it's a good idea LOL   If it wasn't for our Winter Texans, this festival wouldn't have become the huge success it has.  We have the audience ready and willing from January to March.  That's when the majority of them are here.  If you fly it, they will come, basically.  They've been trained over the years to not miss this event.

We really appreciate all our kiting visitors that come and put on the show for them too.  Without you, the audience wouldn't have anything to stay for.  They really are very appreciative of the fliers, as most of you have learned.  All you have to do is get out there with them, and they have lots of questions about what we're doing.


It was great of you to bring the Goat Hill Gang.  We loved meeting them and flying with them.  Keep bringing your friends down with you.