American Kitefliers Association

Watching the indoor competition at Seaside, It was interesting to see that many of the competitors had returned to dual line kites, including the top finishers.
It was so exciting to watch, can't wait to see where they go with their skills 7 talents next. John B, watch out!
Barbara

barbarameyer wrote:

Watching the indoor competition at Seaside, It was interesting to see that many of the competitors had returned to dual line kites, including the top finishers.
Barbara

Greetings -

Makes me wonder how many competitors we would need to reach a point where we could have separate competitions for single line and multi-line kites.

Mel at AKA

melhickman wrote:

Makes me wonder how many competitors we would need to reach a point where we could have separate competitions for single line and multi-line kites.

Mel at AKA

Ha  you make me laugh. Several years ago I started a push to include two classes ( Experienced/Masters or something similar) just so that the indoor field would be more competitive. I was told flat out that the AKA doesn't create events or classes, it is driven by the needs at the competition level. Apparently they never heard of "If you build it they will come" I was told to send separate scores....to whom? for what? if they weren't being recognized by the AKA what would be the bother?

Pairs competition wasn't recognized by the AKA until regional competitions started to run the category, same with innovative, team train, experienced multiline and others... It's ALL about "build it they will come".

I was at the forefront of your aforementioned discussion with the AKA sport kite committee Quinton... In the NW, they are already awarding both experienced and masters at their indoor events and sending those scores (combined and divided) to the AKA for at least 2 years now, case in point.

Soon, the NW folks would be well served to show that track record as part of an official proposal to the current sport kite committee for AKA recognition.

Sorry for the hijack, but it's relevant to the primary topic.

It is interesting to think about pairs. Originally, team was 2 or more. Once teams of 4 became common, then pairs was split out. At first, there was a restriction that 2 members of a team couldn't also compete in pairs
Now we are back to very few teams competing nationwide, with only 2 or 3 at nationals each year, And, very few pairs. Perhaps it is time to put them back together?  Or, to go to only an open team instead of 2 levels?
In Seaside, we had only 7 indoor competitors. In Rochester, only 3 and in Gettysburg there were 13. In the last 2 years, there were several others that also flew demos, but the flyers had not qualified to compete. Many of those routines were fabulous and at a level equivalent to or better than those competing.
Until there are more people competing at the national level to justify 2 classes, it probably won't change.  Then the question becomes how to open up national level competition. At Seaside, none of the top 5 from the east cost accepted the invite. The person that placed 6th, a very good flyer and in most years nationally ranked, could not compete.Should the invite system be done away with? Should the top 10 be invited? If either of these happened, it is doubtful if the judges would be overwhelmed with too many competitors.
If you want this to change, contact either your sport kite commissioner  or the commitee chair and express your concern.

barbarameyer wrote:

At Seaside, none of the top 5 from the east cost accepted the invite. The person that placed 6th, a very good flyer and in most years nationally ranked, could not compete.Should the invite system be done away with? Should the top 10 be invited? If either of these happened, it is doubtful if the judges would be overwhelmed with too many competitors.

As you know, the  issue of how far to go down the rankings to invite to AKAGN has been debated a lot over the years.  Top 3 w/ 2 alternates, top 5, top 10, etc.

I think we need to decide what "Grand Nationals" means.  Is it "the best of the best", or "the best we can get to show up"?  If the latter, is it truly a "national championship" anymore?  I don't think you can have it both ways.

Maybe it's time to stop calling it the national championship and start just calling it "the sport kite competition we run at our annual convention".  Forget the invite system, and just let anyone who wants register to compete on a first-come, first-served basis.  As you point out, given the current state of things it's not likely we'd have to turn many people away, even with open registration.  It's how sport kite competition at Convention began, and maybe it's time to return to it.

Dare I say it, I think I agree with Ron on this one, at least in part...

With so few competitors showing up for AKAGN, and often not even the "favorites to win", it doesn't carry as much of a National Championship feel... We've had a lot of folks walking out of AKAGN having competed only against themselves and defaulting into a championship.

Opening the doors, either as the "AKA Invitational" (example - top 10 can come - or whatever), would hopefully increase the participation (and accordingly, the judging pool) to some extent, but I'm not really sure by how much... Probably not as much as we'd hope.

The flip side though, this is the last "Championship" event we have in North America, and we have no national ranking (like we had with American Kite Magazine)... So if AKAGN is no longer a championship event, we won't have any national champions, none at all... Of course, one could ask so what? (insert your answer here)

Tough spot, not sure I'd be pleased to see that go away, no matter how devalued the title of champion may be these days.

I'm positive that combining pairs and team is a HUGE step backwards, beyond simple reorganizing... Open? Maybe... But how much time would that actually save between 2-5 teams total amongst two classes? Nothing measurable, especially if you run 'em back to back with the same judging panel.

I'd stake money that indoor will continue on, and see both ups and downs, well worth keeping intact... I do agree however, that the national representation isn't enough currently to make two classes worth the effort... Still better done on a regional basis, as I described for the NW.

Take all of my words with some salt of course...
I'm a veteran on the competition field, but I acknowledge that I'm sitting on the outside at the moment.

Hey Guys,

I want to buy the right kind and size foil kite just to to have fun on the beach.
No water or scating thing. Jusat want to have enough pull to have a little occasional lift.

I was thinking a 2.5 or 8 footer?   I weigh about 155.... what do you think??

Thanks,

Joel

That should be about right for some fun - a little arm stretching - but not too much power.  You might want to see if there is anyone local to you who will let you try one out first - that is the best way to determine the size for you.