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CJQ · Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2005 10:18 pm Post subject: Smithsonian Kite Competition

Hi marc, are you going to enter the Double Star??? DONT be nervous.The judges are realy nice guys and gal's. Quick story, Back in the early 90's I entered a kite my wife and I made together. At that time I did not sew. The kite we made came from plans printed in the kitelines magazine. It was called the crossdeck. Upon completition we brought it to a club meeting for show and tell . Club members urged my wife and I to bring it to the Smithsonian Festival and enter into competition. Extreemly reluctant we agreed and the following month we went. The judging line was long and gave us ample time to be nervous. We looked around and saw some pretty neat kites. At that point we became a little discouraged.We arrived at the first judges table and the lady directed us to put the kite down in front of her. She grabed the sail and looked down the rows of stiching with eyes that were like micrometers checking a straight edge steel rule. She fired questions like ,why did you do this , how was this done. And, questions that I had no clue how to answer as This was our first kite. Finaly she thanked us and said go to the next set of judges. Walking away I said to my wife we just got beat up. My wife responded Get ready for the next one. Well we got thru the rest of the ground judges and flight was next. Flight was the easiest part. When all competition was completed there was awards presentation. We hung out to see who got what. Much to our amazement my wife and I won a first place Medalion in the novice catagory. Now we were hooked. Getting back to the first judge we encountered who was judging craftsmanship I later learned was just doing her job. Some time after we became very good friends. THe lady I refered to is Cinda Shannon. She taught me something that day about kite making that will remain with me forever. When I make a kite I strive to do it with infinate care and utmost pride, often saying to myself is this good enough, would Cinda aprove? Cinda and I would see each other at various events and she would ask if I was entering a kite and I would say not if your judging, and we both would get a chuckle. Before going into our first competition nobody in our club explained what the drill was. Had we known it would have been much easier. So the moral of the story is Marc dont sweat it,it's a patty-cake.

CLIFF

KiteSquid · Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2005 8:47 am Post subject:

Marc,

You will do fine!!!!!!!

Just have FUN!!!!!!
_________________
VR/
KiteSquid
AKA TakoIka
AKA Harold
King George VA

P.S. Yet another post by the Squid..... Shocked

Doesent he ever shut up???

P.P.S. The wind is like the air, only pushier.

conklincomputer · Joined: 12 Jan 2004 Posts: 58 Location: Midlothian, VA

Mountain Man · Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2005 10:37 pm Post subject:

dont be afraid of flying your double star ! I flew mine at a festival on ICE just outside of Montreal this last weekend and the double star was up sunday from 8am to 5pm never came down for a rest ! anchored in ice I was flying it at about 150 feet and was as steady as a rock ! will post pics as soon as I receive them ! just go and fly your DS Wink

_________________
Bernie
the Mountain Man
Paint the sky...
"Fly a Kite!"...put snowshoes on if needed