From: reich@cod.nosc.mil (Ronald S. Reich) Subject: MONTREAL Date: Tue, 8 Jun 1993 22:18:08 GMT WORLD KITE FESTIVAL MONTREAL 3 - 6 JUN 1993 by Ron Reich SUMMARY: This was an international kite festival at its best. There were approximately 40 kite fliers representing approximately 12 countries. The 4 day festival entertained approximately 105,000 people. The weather was good, some high wind, some very low wind, and even a little rain, but all in all Kites were able to fly all day every day. The sizes of kites ranged from very small ( about 3/4 on and inch from Thailand) to the largest kite in the world from Holland. ( I'm sorry I forgot the actual size of the largest kite in the world maybe a Holland reader on the net can tell us. KITES OF INTEREST: PETER LYNN from Austrailia put up several very large flow forms. OCTOPUSS, & GEINKO (LIZARD) etc. He also put on quite a show with his buggie. He zips around the field in low slung buggie being pulled by a dual line kite. PIERE FABRE, from France put up several very large flat sail kites of unique shapes. RANDY TOM, from the United States flew a 6 foot Batman as well as his world renouned Neigal 7 sisters. The THEILAND TEAM flew their cerimonial CHULLA/PAPAH routine. The HOLLAND TEAM not only flew the largest kite in the world but always had trains of hundreds of kites stretching hundreds of meters into the sky. They also put up several large 3 dimensional single line kites one of which was a 10 foot high castle that must have been about 40 feet wide and 5 feet deep. The FLY EUROPE TEAM from Belgiam flew lots of Rokakus and Stars as well as stunters. The CANADIAN FLYERS showed their versatility with lots of single line kites as well as some dual line routines. DAVID BRITAIN performed almost non-stop in a forward corner of the field with his bag of tricks. THE USA DELEGATION was the largest and includes the star tumblers of Kathy Goodwind, Stretch Tucker, George Peters, David Gomberg, Randy Tom, Corey Jensen, and the Flight Squadron. I'm sure that I have forgotten some of the names of other members of the AKA that were there putting up their kites. INDONESIA was represented by two persons from BALI. JAPAN was represented by a delegation led by Mr Modege, They flew large traditional hand painted Japanese kites. ENGLAND and GERMANY were also represented. MICHAEL and his crew from France put on an incredible night show which included the flying of kites highlighted by spot lights and pyrotechtics. Fireworks were also discharged in the sky above the kites and all of this choreographed to music. Truely an incredible happening. SPECTATORS: I arrived at the field around 9:30 am on Sunday and the spectators were already taking their positions in the bleachers. There was a light mist of rain and the spectators sat there under their umbrellas waiting for the international guests to start putting their kites into the wet sky. I couldn't believe it. During the periods of no wind the kiters were propelled around the arena on the back of golf carts. Both single line and dual line shows were presented from the back of golf carts. My 4 person team used 2 carts running side by side. After the closing ceremonies there must have been several thousand spectators that just hung around and watched the kiters pack their gear. The moral to this posting is that if you are ever within travel distance to an international kite festival DON'T MISS IT. Look for the write-up in the next issue of American Kite Magazine. Wishing you all could have been there, Ron Reich