19 replies to this topic

[Yippiee]

Hello Everyone - Here's the Deal - I'm new to kiting and Revs

It is extremely hard for someone new or the general Public to find out about Kiting Events. (unless you know what you are looking for or where to look) I did a search on Yahoo for "Kiting Events in WA Sept. 2008" - here are the results -Click Here- Search Results

I am totally amazed that information about upcoming events, competitions, and festivals about kiting are so hard to find. I did not know what AKA, KTAI, WSIKF, or all the others were without hours of research.

I think there should be ONE page (calendar style) dedicated to nothing but Upcoming Kiting Events (just the date, location and a link) on the INTERNET that everyone can easily find and access. (it should be linked on every home page not just in the forums)

It should probably be the #1 topic for everyone in the industry and fliers as well. (hint, hint Kite Industry People - KTAI, AKA, etc.,etc.,etc.)

*****More Spectators = More Fliers = More $$$ = More Events = More Fun *****

PLEASE POST - UPCOMING EVENTS, COMPETITIONS, and FESTIVALS on the Calendars provided so everyone can find them in one spot.

John Q. Public just won't read a bunch of separate forums and look up tons of acronyms when looking for something to do with his family next Sunday.

I will help make this happen in any way I can - Thanks for reading - Mike (One World One Sky - One Event Calendar) tee-hee

[Revkitedancer]

Hey Mike, I sent info for events to the rev forum, but I"m not sure if they are posting festivals or just Rev. events. None of it was ever posted. They probably need a dedicated person to take care of it due to John's schedule.

Your right though. People won't know where the festivals are to see Rev's if we don't get them up. BB Penny

[Yippiee]

Hey Mike, I sent info for events to the rev forum, but I"m not sure if they are posting festivals or just Rev. events. None of it was ever posted. They probably need a dedicated person to take care of it due to John's schedule.

Your right though. People won't know where the festivals are to see Rev's if we don't get them up. BB Penny

Yeah Penny you are probably right - I have offered my services several times. I think letting the general public know about ALL kiting events should be a #1 priority for EVERYONE - fliers included. It will only serve to help us ALL in the long run. Good Morning BTW - Thanks for the reply

[KYT ADIK]

I'm gonna have to agree, it's not always easy to find out about events... (without knowing the right people)

[Stone in Shoe Bob]

There is this, Kite Calendar, I have to say it is UK based, but it does include some non UK events such as this, this & this and I’m sure they would include more if they knew about them.

Some of the most useful information on the internet is put up and maintained by people who do it purely for the love of their hobby. If we want complete and accurate information we all have a duty to support these people by helping to keep them informed.

[RevWizard]

Hello Everyone - Here's the Deal - I'm new to kiting and Revs

It is extremely hard for someone new or the general Public to find out about Kiting Events. (unless you know what you are looking for or where to look) I did a search on Yahoo for "Kiting Events in WA Sept. 2008" - here are the results -Click Here- Search Results

I am totally amazed that information about upcoming events, competitions, and festivals about kiting are so hard to find. I did not know what AKA, KTAI, WSIKF, or all the others were without hours of research.

I think there should be ONE page (calendar style) dedicated to nothing but Upcoming Kiting Events (just the date, location and a link) on the INTERNET that everyone can easily find and access. (it should be linked on every home page not just in the forums)

It should probably be the #1 topic for everyone in the industry and fliers as well. (hint, hint Kite Industry People - KTAI, AKA, etc.,etc.,etc.)

*****More Spectators = More Fliers = More $$$ = More Events = More Fun *****

PLEASE POST - UPCOMING EVENTS, COMPETITIONS, and FESTIVALS on the Calendars provided so everyone can find them in one spot.

John Q. Public just won't read a bunch of separate forums and look up tons of acronyms when looking for something to do with his family next Sunday.

I will help make this happen in any way I can - Thanks for reading - Mike (One World One Sky - One Event Calendar) tee-hee

It would be a good idea.
I would assume that someone would have to volunteer to create it and keep it up to date.
As example on a volunteer basis, I started tracking all the quad teams in the world of which there is a thread on this forum. The first message in the thread is updated when ever I hear of a new quad team.
Most if not all of the four administrators for this web site are unpaid volunteers.

[Yippiee]

It would be a good idea.
I would assume that someone would have to volunteer to create it and keep it up to date.
As example on a volunteer basis, I started tracking all the quad teams in the world of which there is a thread on this forum. The first message in the thread is updated when ever I hear of a new quad team.
Most if not all of the four administrators for this web site are unpaid volunteers.

I fully understand John - As I mentioned before - I would be happy to volunteer my efforts and energy.
Although I am not a Webmaster, I would certainly do what I could or what is needed to pull it off. (data entry, phone calls, monitoring, mailings, etc.) I would think after the page is set up - it would take a lot of manpower and time to make sure that planners of events in the Kiting World are notified of the new website. (I commend all the people that work so hard on this and other forums volunteering their skills, efforts and time.) Once the calendar website was established and well know - it could be self generating.

With the Information Age upon us - it just makes sense to me to do what I can to promote the sports. And I think a Universal Calendar of sorts for Events, Competitions and Festivals would be a great help for Everyone in the Kiting Community as well as getting the word out to the General Public.

If the various search engines would pick up the Calendar - information would then be readily accessible.

QUESTION: Do you think a World Kiting Calendar is too lofty a goal ???

I have found the Drauchen Foundation its a non-profit organization formed to promote kiting throught the World and they have a world calendar. See here: (make sure you look on agenda - its AMAZING) Drachen Foundation Calendar I don't understand why the search engines don't pick this up?

Maybe each country should have their own Calendar with links to each other. (kind of like - there are different Ebay sites for different countries)

Please Folks - all comments welcome - Thanks Mike

[Stone in Shoe Bob]

Personally I think people are trying to reinvent the wheel here, we already have a wheel, there may be a little room for improvement, but hay lets not fall out over it, if everything were perfect we would have noting to work towards and life would be awfully boring.

This forum is an excellent resource for the Rev flying community and many events appear under “Upcoming Events” but it usually takes someone to say “I’m off to ………. on ……… who else is going.” but we have to ask, if that person had decided not to go would the rest of us have heard of the event?

The Kite Calendar site I posted a link to earlier is an excellent resource, true it is very UK centric at the moment but with the support of the kiting community by simply keeping them informed it could become a truly international resource.

The information is out there, all we have to do join it up. I hate myself for suggesting this because it is an idea used on Fractured Axel and many of you know what I think or those guys, but one possible solution (there maybe better ones) is a sticky, somewhere called “Links” a closed thread with one post, edited when necessary by the author.

The post would contain a request to readers to help to keep it up to date by keeping the author informed (probably by PM) of any errors, omissions, or dead links and a list of recommended links, with maybe a brief explanation, probably no more than a single sentence and maybe a credit to the person recommending the link.

It’s my guess we all have a few gems bookmarked here are a few of mine to start the ball rolling for whoever takes this on, if that’s the way it goes

Get Knotted - Knot Animations.
Poole kite flyers - they maintain a useful database of UK flying sites.
And of course -
Kite calendar - a list of up coming events, mainly UK based but if it's not there tell them.

[RevWizard]

There are quite a number of kite forums world wide that have information on events or can lead you to the information.
For starters these are some:
- France in French - http://www.bilboquet-kites.com/forums/
- Germany in German - http://www.bilboquet-kites.com/forums/
- Italy in Italian - http://www.stackital...rum/default.asp
- Spain in Spanish - http://foro.cometas.info/
- Japan in Japanese and English - http://www.tako.gr.jp/eng/index_e.html
- Holland in Dutch - http://www.designkit...ivals/index.php
- England - http://fracturedaxel.co.uk/phpBB2/
- USA - http://www.aka.kite.org/

[Yippiee]

Thanks Everyone for the replies and posts

UPDATE: I tried to post an event (WSIKF 2009 = Washington State International Kite Festival) to Rev and Kitelife forum calendars - I guess it is under review by the moderators. Event is not posted as of yet.

Its a recurring event - but when I tried to post it, under recurring events there were no options like: "3rd week" in Aug. "Every Year".

I know a lot people are probably really busy with AKA Nationals Event right now - (AKA = American Kitefliers Association).

So after that event is over - I am going to contact more people about the issue. (heck, maybe Bill Gates will help) Thanks Mike

[Theresa]

Thanks Everyone for the replies and posts

UPDATE: I tried to post an event (WSIKF 2009 = Washington State International Kite Festival) to Rev and Kitelife forum calendars - I guess it is under review by the moderators. Event is not posted as of yet.

Its a recurring event - but when I tried to post it, under recurring events there were no options like: "3rd week" in Aug. "Every Year".

I know a lot people are probably really busy with AKA Nationals Event right now - (AKA = American Kitefliers Association).

So after that event is over - I am going to contact more people about the issue. (heck, maybe Bill Gates will help) Thanks Mike

Hello Mike,

Thanks for your persistance! Yes, keeping calendars updated and current is a challenge! I applaud your willingness to volunteer for the task

I try, but always seem to get side tracked

I do have WSIKF 2009 added..... but not much inbetween yet. http://thekiteshoppe...a...;m=8&y=2009

Thanks for your help!
Theresa

[Yippiee]

Hello Mike,

Thanks for your persistance! Yes, keeping calendars updated and current is a challenge! I applaud your willingness to volunteer for the task

I try, but always seem to get side tracked

I do have WSIKF 2009 added..... but not much inbetween yet. http://thekiteshoppe...a...;m=8&y=2009

Thanks for your help!
Theresa

Hi Theresa - I guess that is kinda my point. There are great forums out there with calendars and great info. But it is spread all over the place on the internet - and the General Public will never find it. We must figure out a way for the search engines to pick up this info.

in a perfect world.....

***** Wouldn't it be nice if anyone could do a search for "Kites" - a website for World Map of Kite Events, Compititions and Fevestivals pops up - pick a region - month and year - and All of the events with those parameters popped up !!!***** Simple (in theory - lol)

It could happen - Mike

[Jim Foster]

When you do a search for anything, the first thing that shows in th search are sponsored links.

What would it take to get the link to the AKA calendar, a sponsored link?

[Jim Foster]

Just did a google seach "kite calendar". The AKA calendar showed up #8 on the page.

[Theresa]

Just did a google seach "kite calendar". The AKA calendar showed up #8 on the page.

[Stone in Shoe Bob]

Just did a google seach "kite calendar". The AKA calendar showed up #8 on the page.

Now I see the problem, this is what you get if you do the same search in the UK.

http://www.google.co...2006-22,GGGL:en

Until Theresa posted above, I didn’t realise she, or come to that, anyone else maintained a Kite Calendar other than the one I have been plugging. I think it has already been said that a large part or the problem is that what we do is very much a minority sport, there are not enough kite fliers doing enough searches to move kite related sites up the rankings.

In the UK, strange as it may seem, if you search Ebay for “kite” you are as likely to find condoms as kites, believe it or not there is a logical explanation for this. In the UK there is an organisation known as “The British Standards Institute” which tests all sorts of products for safety, anything from condoms to light fittings and motorcycle helmets, then awards a “kite mark” to those that pass their test. Ebay then selects any item that is listed as having a kite mark.

I’m sorry guys but the only solution is to raise the profile of the sport.

[big bri]

For every man,trying to do something with his self
Thers always thirteen,trying to stop him .

The late F,Dibner M.B.E

Crackon Mark,see how far it pans out for ya.Even if you start with just a Rev only Calendar,WHO KNOWS.

Best of luck to ya

BRIAN...

[Sailor99]

what we do is very much a minority sport

The 2002 census had a free fill in section about sporting and leisure activities. The largest but one summer participation sports (note participation) in terms of numbers of people taking part was yachting, boating and watersport activities. Surprised? (I bet you can guess why I have a copy strategically placed in our office reception!). It was beaten only by hiking, walking and rambling, with golf a close third followed by soccer. Also higher were things like tennis, rugger, keep fit/yoga/taichi etc, snooker, tenpin and running. At number 14 was operating model/toy vehicles and aircraft and kite flying. In terms of participation it beats such giants as badminton, darts, lawn bowls, weight lifting, volleyball, climbing, motor sports,netball, and gymnastics. I should say that the results exclude under 16's as it was focused on the health of the nation (activity=health), and had they been included the results may well have been even better.

Of course this doesn't cover observing sports, at which of course soccer would be off the scale. And before somebody else says it there are of course "lies, damn lies and statistics". But I have to say that it is far from unusual when you go to a playing field or beach during the summer to find more kite flyers than any other single non-sedentary activity - often the only other people you see will be dog walkers. And the festivals draw good numbers of spectators. Makes one think about whether kiting really is a minority sport, and indeed whether it is ripe for more organised commercialisation.


(Edit - these results UK only)

[Yippiee]

Ok Folks - Now you see what I mean....John Q. Public (the general public) has probably never been to a kite event or festival!!! (edit in the United States)

And he will never buy expensive or higher end kites and equipment unless he sees it in action somewhere. (and preferably gets to fly one)

I'm 48 YO - (I had never been to a kite festival [until recently] or seen high-end kites in action) I have always enjoyed flying kites (I've had a $40 dual line kite for years - I take it with me everywhere)

I went to one kite festival - and I saw what high tech kites can do - (I got to fly one - Thanks Lolly) and immediately bought 2 Revs, lines, stakes, rods, bag, etc. Not to mention a soft kite, and another dual line before I got to fly a Rev.

I went to one of the largest events in North America (WSIKF - Washington State International Kite Festival) I didn't know what WSIKF meant! And it was even tough to find info on this event. (see my - 1st post, "seach results")

Sorry Folks - but I think we all need to work on making information on the internet simple, organized and easy to find.
Please read all posts in this thread.
Comments Welcomed - Thanks for reading Mike

[Yippiee]

Stone in Shoe BobPosted Today, 08:10 AM QUOTE (Jim Foster @ Sep 25 2008, 03:42 AM) Just did a google seach "kite calendar". The AKA calendar showed up #8 on the page.
Now I see the problem, this is what you get if you do the same search in the UK.

http://www.google.co...2006-22,GGGL:en

Until Theresa posted above, I didn't realise she, or come to that, anyone else maintained a Kite Calendar other than the one I have been plugging. I think it has already been said that a large part or the problem is that what we do is very much a minority sport, there are not enough kite fliers doing enough searches to move kite related sites up the rankings.

In the UK, strange as it may seem, if you search Ebay for "kite" you are as likely to find condoms as kites, believe it or not there is a logical explanation for this. In the UK there is an organisation known as "The British Standards Institute" which tests all sorts of products for safety, anything from condoms to light fittings and motorcycle helmets, then awards a "kite mark" to those that pass their test. Ebay then selects any item that is listed as having a kite mark.

I'm sorry guys but the only solution is to raise the profile of the sport.

The 2002 census had a free fill in section about sporting and leisure activities. The largest but one summer participation sports (note participation) in terms of numbers of people taking part was yachting, boating and watersport activities. Surprised? (I bet you can guess why I have a copy strategically placed in our office reception!). It was beaten only by hiking, walking and rambling, with golf a close third followed by soccer. Also higher were things like tennis, rugger, keep fit/yoga/taichi etc, snooker, tenpin and running. At number 14 was operating model/toy vehicles and aircraft and kite flying. In terms of participation it beats such giants as badminton, darts, lawn bowls, weight lifting, volleyball, climbing, motor sports,netball, and gymnastics. I should say that the results exclude under 16's as it was focused on the health of the nation (activity=health), and had they been included the results may well have been even better.

Of course this doesn't cover observing sports, at which of course soccer would be off the scale. And before somebody else says it there are of course "lies, damn lies and statistics". But I have to say that it is far from unusual when you go to a playing field or beach during the summer to find more kite flyers than any other single non-sedentary activity - often the only other people you see will be dog walkers. And the festivals draw good numbers of spectators. Makes one think about whether kiting really is a minority sport, and indeed whether it is ripe for more organised commercialisation.


(Edit - these results UK only)

Really interesting stuff - There are places in the world where kite festivals have been commercialized for centuries.

The Kite Battles of Shirone Festival has been going on for 300 years!!! Check it out Kite Battle of Shirone Festival

I wonder if they have trouble finding it on the internet ??? - lol Mike