From: Frank Kenisky IV Subject: 1996 Westlake Kite Festival (Article) Date: Fri, 12 Apr 1996 04:01:22 -1000 Organization: Fiesta Kite Ideas Message-ID: <316E6232.1BAC@ix.netcom.com> 1996 WestLake Kite Festival By: Steve Thomason We held the third annual westlake Kite Festival on March 30 and 31 in Lahoma, OK. Sponsored by Thomason's Sport Kites and Westlake Recreation and many others. We joined our fellow kite flyers in "flying for a cure" raising money to venefit the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. we had great support from our local flyers as well as those who joined us from Texas and Kansas. Things got well under way by mid morning on Saturday. We started with the Junior Precision with Michell Thomason beating out her brother Keith by a 1/2 point. Ken Monahan placed 1st in novice precision and ballet. Tomarra Taylor (age 11) beat out those guys to take home first place in the intermediate precision class. Steve Thomason took 1st in intermediate individual ballet. Then the rains came! With the competition half way finished we took a weather break and we regrouped early that evening for an indoor fly on the dance floor at the restaurant (indoor kites were provided by Precision Kite Company) before we finished out the evening with all you could eat buffet and a great auction. On Sunday morning we got an earlier start, the sun was shining and we had plenty of wind. On hand to show his new kite design was kite builder Jeff Howard. Jerry Hershey took 1st place in both experienced individual precision and ballet. Noel Nester also took 1st place in both masters individual precision and ballet. Troy Gunn showed off his stuff and placed 1st in masters qad ballet and open innovative. Larry Christensen and Troy Gunn (TKOII) placed 1st in masters pairs ballet. Spectators were treated to a near flawless routine by the 1995 Grand National championship team (Troy Gunn, Larrry Christensen, and Jerry Hershey) with a new member Paul Beugelsdijk, and new name TKO. Walt Mitchell from Lubbock, TX, won smallest and largest kite contest. As event coordinator I've gained a whole new resprect for those who put these festivals together and have gained some new perpective on how I view kite flyers as a whole. What camaraderie they have, the fellowship they share in the love of kiting. It was a real pleasure to host such an event! = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =