Date: Mon, 11 Dec 1995 15:22:21 -1000 From: yagdp@ntx.city.unisa.edu.au (Graeme Poole) Message-Id: <4ailgd$1bs@ntx.City.UniSA.edu.au> Organization: Uni of South Australia Subject: Re: Why no WC news??? (long) In article <818092971.51649@minster.york.ac.uk>, tom@minster.york.ac.uk says... > >I'm amazed at how little news we've has posted here regarding >World Cup '95. This must be one of the major events in the >kiting calendar and we've had little info except the final results. > >Hasn't anybody got any more news on what happended 'down-under'? > >tom. Ok Tom - make me guilty - I will try to enlarge on some on the events of the World Cup, which was combined with the Australian Nationals the weekend before... Qualification : I have been involved in kiting for approximately three years, interested in making, as well as flying all types of kites. I ain't no 'world cup judge' thats for sure. The only other kite festival I had been to was our own club's championships last March, which I was part of and helped organise. So as you can imagine, I was really looking forward to the World Cup and my first international kite festival. The program for the festival was spread over ten days, from November 10th - 20th. The Australian Nationals were held on the first weekend with the event culminating in the World Cup on the following weekend. The program was something like this : AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL KITE CHAMPIONSHIPS Friday 10th November - Sunday 12th November 3.30 Open Teams Ballett WILDCARD Monday 13th November 10.00 Integration Day - All available flyers will demonstrate all aspects of kite flying and assist elderly, physically and mentally disabled to make and fly kites. Tuesday 14th November 10.00 Krazy Kite Kapers - Will include kite flying on both sides of Cunninghame Arm and large single line kite displays. 12.00 WOrld Record Attempt Box Kite LAunch - A team of kite flyers will attempt to launch over 100 2' box kites on one line to set a world record in celebration of Lawrence Hargraves 101st anniversary. Wednesday 15th November 10.00 am SUNSMART Children's Day - Kite Arch Launch.- Presentation and selection of kites developed and built by school children of East Gippsland, for culmination of SUNSMART Artist in REsidence in Schools Project - the construction of the arch across Cunnighame Arm. 7.00 World Cup Opening Ceremony and Koori Cultural Evening. WORLD CUP VI CHAMPIONSHIPS Thursday 16th November 10.00 Sponsors Rokkaku Challenge - Sponsors Day with all avilable Australian and interantional kite flyers. 12.00 Buggy Roo 95 - Inaugural power kite slalom event. Buggy Roo 95 will test both the pilot'sstrength and ability to guide their powered vehivcles along a staggered course completing a randomly spaced gate system, whilst achieving the best possible time/speed throughout. Friday 17th November 1.00 World Cup VI Teams Precision Event Saturday 18th November 10.00 Exhibition Flying 12.00 World Cup VI Teams Ballet Event Sunday 19th November 10.00 World Cup VI Games 2.00 Riviera Rokkaku Challenge Final - Supreme Rokkaku 3.00 Closing Ceremony Well, due to work and other commitments, I was unable to attend the Australian Nationals, but planned on arriving at Lakes Entrance sometime Monday 13th, as I was booked into am applique workshop run by international guests, Scott Skinner and Pierre Fabre. As Adelaide (my home town) is approximately 1300 kms from Lakes Entrance, my wife (Tania) and I planned to take two days to get there, dropping in on relatives in Melbourne on the way through. We arrived at our cabin to find our friend Michael Luscombe (who we were sharing with) together with three kiting enthusiasts from UK and one from Denmark.Great - I thought - this is what international festivals are all about -meeting and making new friends from overseas and indeed other parts of Australia! Within 30 minutes, we were around at Michael Alvares unit, helping trace 400 pictures drawn by local school children onto a kite arch made by Michael and to be flown on Wednesday at the Krazy Kapers day for children. There I met other kiters - (approx 50-60) including Peirre Fabre, Corey Jensen, Scott Skinner, Anne Harris, etc etc On arriving at the Bellevue Motel, where most of the teams and guests were staying, it was immediately obvious that psychological warfare had started. Team Tsunami had posters made up with a 'T6 warning' Tsunami posted on most windows of their apartments and their hire van. I found out the results of the Australian nationals and that In4mation >From the UK had won the WILDCARD entry into the world cup. Other major results were : Masters Ind. Precision - Patrick 'Speedy' Guggenheim Masters Ind Ballet - Warren McIntosh Masters Team Precision - Team Vertigo Masters Team Ballet - Team Vertigo Open Freestyle Innovative - Ray Bethall TUESDAY - applique workshop / world record box kite attempt The two organised events for today. We had a quick look at the team gathering to assemble to the 101 box kites to be attached in one continuous train and flown. Richard Dutton and Michael Decker from Buffalo, New York had put the whole idea together and worked in with Lawrence Hargraves' descendant Dick Hargraves. The official launch was to be 12.00 pm. We wondered off to the local recreation centre, where the applique workshop was being held. Scott Skinner started off the workshop explaining the techniques he uses in designing and making his 'log cabin' style patchwork kites, followed by Pierre Fabre, who talked generally about applique techniques. At 1.30 pm a call went out for bodies to assist to transportation of the box kite train to the launch site at 2.00 pm. We made our way to the local shopping centre where the kites and train had been constructed, (rain and wind caused a relocation of this from the beach front launch site), but now added a further dimension of the procession down the main street of Lakes Entrance for a distance approx. 1 km. with a police escort and traffic being controlled. The procession was lead by Corey Jensen and Piers Day each armed with World Cup feathers, and a number of other feather wavers marching along as well. Richard was nervous as the time neared for the launch, issuing last minute instructions to all helpers and a stern warning not to let go of any of the kites to avoid costly tangles of the train lines. A crowd of approx. 1000 people had gathered at the launch site and after waiting a few minutes for the wind to lift the lead kite (a box Cody), Richard was running the length of the train yelling for each helper to release their kites. The moment was electric and the sight of seeing train of 101 kites lift into the sky was truly a magic and memorable experience. At approx. 2.40 pm the train rose without a hitch and flew for at least 10 mins. Spectators were given the opportunity to feel the pull on the lines. This was indeed a highlight of the festival and a new world record. The individual box kites were later individually numbered, signed by the construction team and sold of at $30.00 per kite. Wednesday. Krazy Kapers Day. Today was a fun day for the local school children and their families. About 20-30 busloads of school children came to town to see the kite arch across the Cummingham arm of the lake and a general display of kites. Unfortunately, the day was overcast, and winds were gusting to 35 knots. Despite this, Michael Alvares launched the arch in four separate sections- so was unable to cross the arm of the lake. Anne Harris from the UK had her huge inflatable dinosaur, hedgehog and echidna lines toys bouncing on the sand and being pulled by anything up to 100 kids at a time. John Daniels from NSW had a huge bouncing ball for the kids, teams come out and did some displays, other kite flyers tried to get as many kites as they could in the air and Scott Skinner, unable to launch his big kites held an impromptu Synergy Deca flying demonstration for the kids, including hands on experience for them. The great thing about today was that despite the weather, kiters all worked to make sure they still enjoyed themselves. I am sure that all the kids will have ever lasting memories of this day. The world cup opening ceremony was held this evening, but was a basic introduction of the teams and a koori music and dance ceremony (local aboriginal tribe). Thursday. There was a rok battle at the flying field, which was average, and later in the afternoon, a buggy roo at the local air field, followed by a Bar-b-que and barn dance that night. I didn't attend so can't report. FRIDAY. This was it. First day of competition for the World Cup - precision. I made it to the field by 9.00 am, in time for the pilots meeting. The day had started with strong winds blowing???, causing Dan Buxton to delay announcing which of the choices were to be the landing precision manoeuvre. As competition was to start at 2.00, it would be announced at a meeting to be held at 1.00 pm. The other manoeuvres were presented and there were few questions asked by the competitors. The wind had slowed down a little,but we had a fine blue sky and it was filled with lots of single line kites. Being a Friday, the crowds were not large, but many were treated with the best display of kites, together with team demonstrations and practices happening all day. By the mid afternoon the winds was really starting to drop, as were the single line kites. Focus moved onto the competition field where teams started competing. The heat of the day caused me to continually seek some shade, and the drink stalls would have done a booming trade. I made a point of watching the Australian teams, Team Tsunami and Airkraft, the later being the hot tip for taking out the competition. The sun was hot, sunscreen was provided free by the sponsor and plenty of water was needed. I am not sure what temperature it got to, but what a contrast it was to be with tomorrow. Ray Bethall was entertaining the crowd as usual by flying seven stunts at a time. The Australian favourite, Team Vertigo, were very nervous going into their first World Cup, and it unfortunately showed in their routine, but watch out, if this guys stay together and keep practicing, they will be a force in the future. Team Tsunami and Airkraft both put in a good solid performance in Precision, Airkraft however had much more radical stuff in their freestyle routine and the crowd erupted at the end of it. Team Tsunami were precise, but nothing spectacular, and restricted there freestyle to conservation but precise manoeuvres. As the winds died during the afternoon, Pierre Fabre lost his famous 'No 9' into the fast flowing Lakes system, and although it was retrieved, it was unrepairable according to Pierre. A cocktail party that night, and it was confirmed, Airkraft had won the precision by only .5 of a point, Tsunami second and Aftershock third. The French LungTa and Lucky Landing Albatross coming up 4th and 5th. The scene was set for an Airkraft / Tsunami showdown. SATURDAY I woke to an overcast sky. It had that early morning look that it was going to clear to a nice fine day. Wind was very light - not unusual first thing in the morning. As I walked down to the field, it started to drizzle on the way. Was it my imagination, or was the rain getting heavier ? The pilots meeting was held in the large storage tent, the decision was the event would proceed, regardless of rain, as long as wind conditions were OK. Well, rain it did, non-stop for most of the day. The winds were very light to start with, in fact the French team who had called a Wind check, went on to fly, but because they didn't understand the English that well, and the wind was below the required 3 mph, they were allowed to fly again at the end of the competition. The two Australian teams got some of the worst weather to fly. As the afternoon progressed, teams went from UL kite setups to using vented kites. By the time LungTa come back for their re-fly, a thunderstorm swept through, with lightening to boot, causing Lungta to setup for a third time in their ballet routine after a 30-40 minute delay while the storm blew through. They eventually finished their routine, but it had been a testing time for them. Once again, I made a point of watching Team Tsunami flying at around no 7. and Airkraft flying at no 12. Team Tsunami, had near perfect winds, their opening was spectacular, and impact of six kites in a ballet sequence was also very spectacular. To my untrained eye, they flew a perfect routine, extremely tight formations and very, very neat. The crowd, what there was, certainly were impressed. By the time Airkraft made the field, the wind had picked up substantially, there routine was certainly more radical the Tsunami, but they didn't have the same tightness in formations. One crash, though not bad and didn't disrupt the flow, and I'm sure that they didn't have as much radical stuff in the routine as they would have liked due to the conditions. To my mind, Tsunami had produced the better routine. (I am not a judge, or even an experienced pilot) Another outstanding performance in my mind was that of Skydance, the three man team from the UK. After saying that six kites in a ballet was spectacular, this two man and one women team produced a snappy, tight well balanced performance that also was crowd pleaser. Watch for these young fliers at future cups as well. The conditions of the day had been a real let down, after the perfect weather of the previous day. During the squall, Peirre Fabre had another of his kites broken and while helping him to launch another kite, we broke yet another spar, this was not turning into a good trip for Pierre. Most of the other single liners had their kites down in time. The crowds were way down, not wanting to get wet, and the public probably thinking the event was cancelled anyway. Tonight was the banquet, I didn't go Next morning, I was to find out the winners of the Competition was Airkraft, Tsunami second and Aftershock third. I was of two minds, one it was good to see the cup out of USA, but I thought Tsunami's routine was in fact better. (see my earlier qualification). SUNDAY Today started with the kiteflyers' breakfast given by the Bellevue MOtel. Entertainment and as much as you could eat from 8 - 10 am. Sunday was demonstration day. It started out overcast and some drizzle. The rain soon cleared up, but it never really cleared and winds were moderate building to strong throughout the day. Teams were invited to do their demonstration routines, without the pressure of competition, and all put ion fine performances, the single line field was crowded with the internationals and locals trying to turn on a good show. An impromptu eight man team fly happened with Invisible Winds and Team Vertigo. Ray Bethall was out there doing his routines, as he had been all week. At about 3.00 the great rokkaku challenge was on again, unfortunately so was the rain and the winds had picked up to about 30 knots again. 3 or 4 roks were lost to the lakes, while the Airkraft boys and Team Great Lakes Michigan were battling it out, John Daniells lost his 360 sq ft parafoil and Neil Taylor lost his 87 metre long serpent to the lakes. Sunday was the best day for the public, numbers wise, probably 5-10000 people. 4.00 oclock the closing ceremony and suddenly the World Cup and Lakes Entrance international festival was over. The general felling among competitors was that it had been a great festival. None of the international competitors and guests had any complaints about the hospitality they had received, The crowds were a disappointment, but that was a combination of the remote location from a major city and the weather .All in all a successful event, and credit to the organisers and certainly enjoyed by all participants. (please excuse spelling typos) There you have it - my view of the World Cup ! -- Graeme Poole Graeme.Poole@unisa.edu.au or yagdp@ntx.city.unisa.edu.au -- Information Services Officer Phone +61-8-302-2121 University of South Australia Fax +61-8-302-2122 AUSTRALIA = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =