Welome to the kite den news where you will find all the up to date antics of the kite dens kites and friends.
Jan 2nd
Well here we are in another new year and a new start to the 'Daily news page'.
Last year 2011 was not my best kiting year both on the field and here at the kite den,it had it moments but in all its was not very exciting.A lack of new items on the market,bad weather and me not doing any festivals made 2011 a low flying year....But 2012 has already changed that.
Hear I am with so much to tell you and its only Janurary 2nd,already I have found new items that are on my 'wish list' and a new kite den ground theme has been planned for this year,things are being made for me elsewhere and I am going to Southsea kite festival this year.The kite den events page has already some dates booked for local events and what ever free weekends I get I will be out flying local with Pete and the Haven flyers.
Talking of the Haven flyers they have have thier own web site running for some time now and makes for a good weekly read,Colin does most of the weekly write ups,Bruce is editor and the rest of the Haven flyers add thier stories and photos.The quad flying group has increase this year by picking up a couple of new flyers that had watch,had a go and now turn out for that weekend fly with thier own kites in hand.
Last year Daz just got the 'bug' for single line kites and has a good collection of them already its always his 4m Ostend bird and banner kite that flys all day,I will be back flying at the haven when the beach gets to busy for me and Pete and dust of my quads with the haven flyers.
Its where it all started years back for me and Bruce,just a couple of blokes that liked kites and since then has grown into a superb group of local flyers that over the years having tried new paths in the kite world,these kiters now also design,make,fly single line,quad line,kapping,night flying the hobby is ever ending with something new to try...
Pete and Lyn Smith have thier own name and display kites..... SKYART.... and will be seen more around local events as well as flying local with me,Petes collection of kites has grown to addiction proportions (but I can't preach about that cos I'm the same)and he has some really large crowd pleaser in his kite bags for this years displays.
In our years we started off as the MARTELLO FLYERS to form into THE HAVEN FLYERS....SKY ART.....and THEKITEDEN,but put us all together on the same field and you got yourselves the best bunch of kiters in Clacton.
So thats a quick intro into thekiteden and my kiting friends but if you want to talk to any of us then use the forum in the kite den we don't bite and do actually know a thing or two about kiting.Got a question just ask :)
So welcome old and new readers back to a fun filled year with thekiteden.
Jan 15th
Over the last few year I have been asked to do the Makarskantri festival for Sushila and although its around January 15th a rather cold time of the year yet again the weather was good on the day.When I arrived at the martello tower the sun was shining and a nice break in the clouds made it feel warmer than it was.
I had already thought of a plan for the kites so set about putting up the display,wind was perfect for the 36's and 24 sleds and soon the kio fish were in the air one on each lifter,'Willy' was next to come out the bag and he was ok flying without a lifter,below him was the horse and a small dog.
I had got to the tower around 10.30 so had a hour and a half to get things ready before Sushila arrived with her group,so next I got the banner errected and put the hippo next to it.Phew, I was getting warm keeping busy getting things set up and thats just what Pete (airart) said as he arrived,Pete and Lynn had just flown back from spain saturday night so were a little worse for wear,soon after Sushila arrived and we sorted out that anyone that wanted a kite to fly could get one of Lynn that they use for the Suffolk kite flyers workshops,soon lots could be seen in the air and Pete had up 'Lulu' his 10m penguin.
Sushila and her group had a great time on the beach with their kites and children,satsuma's and sesame seed biscuits was given to all,part of the festival is giving food,flying kites but if you want the full information on this Hindu festival your have to google it........ :)
By 1.30 it was starting to get colder and Sushila and the group said their goodbyes and thank me for the kite display side of things.Lynn looked very cold so by 2 we had everything down and packed away ready to return to our warm houses.Big thanks to Pete and Lynn for turning up with the kites and it was nice to see a few friends throughout the day,Pete,Val and Simon had a nice chat with us all and Lynn from work with here husband come for a look and chat.
Once again I was lucky with the weather and wind direction and lets hope it all goes as well as today next year......
Nice start to this years flying and lots more to come.
Jan 17th
Dragons
There are dragons hatching all over the world here in the UK,Germany and Indonesia and all three are on my wish list.One has beed ordered but which one is under wraps untill it arrives at the kite den,it was a hard choice to make but with price,design and size taken into my thoughts I went with the one I wanted for 2012 new items.
The others are now one step higher on the wish list and will have to wait till funds build up and will be sort after later in the year.So what are my three choices of dragons!
I will start here in the UK with Dave Holt one.
I heard rumous in 2011 that Dave was making a dragon but until now no designs of it had 'leaked out' so it was a pleasure to see another Dave holt design hits the skies this January.Dave based his dragon on the Welsh dragon symbol so an all red dragon was produced,measuring 4m long and 2.5 high and costing around £500,but of coarse when you oder yours it can be any colour you wish,I want a purple one with red eyes.
Soon Dave had it almost finished,inflated in his lounge the shape could be seen and a bridle needed to be done for it,all before its maiden flight at Lytham St. Annes on Sunday 15th.
It's another superb item from Dave and I am sure I will be seeing a few on the kite fields this year.But before I can make up my mind I have to see it in the air,how it 'hangs' on the line!,what sort of lifter will it need!what best wind speeds!and its 'wow' factor.
Sunday arrived and Dave is on the kite field with his new creation,a Premier sled 36 was used on the test flight and the wind on the day blew between 8mph-15mph which was fine
for the lifter to lift the dragon high into the sky.Other than the wings the dragon hangs pretty much the same as indoors and its looks great on the line.It is another Dave Holt successful design to reach us flyers on our kite lines.
This is the newest Dave Holt item but he has made many other superb items,aeroplanes,dogs,seals,horses and lots more.... Have a look at this superb kite designers website and see all the rest of his designs he has made over the years........ Daves website
So lets go see the next dragon that lives on a island far far away.....
Indonasia....Here lives Endang Layangan and the Museum art team,the place where my beautiful kio fish come from,but for 2012 the team has come up trumps with a awesome Komodo dragon.This ground dwelling monster measure a huge 15m long 4m high and had the wow factor as soon as I see the first one.
The komodo starts of in a plain green ripstop and has only the eye and mouth detail on it,but this has a long way to go yet before its finished.Once test inflated to see the superb shape of the dragon it is ready to go to the artist for him to do his part on the dragon,the skin.
The pictures below show just how much work the artist has to do before the finished komodo dragon is ready,and off coarse no two dragon skins will be the same as its all hand painted.The price for this masterpiece is around $800 and although I usually change the colour on my things this dragon looks just perfect in green/black I will ask for a red tounge and green venting for my only changes.
After the final bridle fitting fixing the legs in an upright postion its up in the air looking like the real thing,this piece will look awesome low to the floor for the public to get photos with.
The museum art team must be so happy to have produce such a fine komodo for us in the kite world and like the kio I can see many getting to the kiters here in the UK.
If you havn't seen the kio from these wonderful designers click here,as for the komodo dragon I will have to write up my third choice for this years dragon.
So here it is all the way from Germany comes this cartoon dragon designed by
