Date: Sun, 7 Nov 1993 16:08:28 -1000 From: ahclem0013@aol.com Message-Id: <9311072108.tn81692@aol.com> Organization: Division of Applied Sciences, Harvard University Subject: Shonan Coast Stunt Kite Champion Arrived at Shonan Coast Fri Oct 22 light onshore breeze of 1 to 3, large mostly epty beach, small waves still alot of surfers out. Incredible view with small island to the left as you look out to sea. Mt. fuji still not visible to the right. Few people practising, looks like a great place for a contest, everyone assures me the winds are always light in Japan! Sat Oct 23 0700 meet in lobby (everyone on time!) go to Denny,s have breakfast. Miso soup(yay), lightly fried fish, rice, lots of other stuff i don't know yet but eat anyway as I know the kiteflyers rule! (eat now, may not get to eat later!) 0800 arrive at fields, everythings done! Tent set up fields roped off, people everywhere practicing, my kite bag there, Ye Gods these people have it together!! Looks like wildwood at about0930. I am the only foreigner and am treated as honored guest but still have to work for room and board, looks like i will have to demonstrate and judge, ok, no problem! The winds are building. 0930 my first event OPB i note no single lines flying. I'd like to say this was exciting but the pairs were just not that hot, I don't think anyone scored higher than a 6.8 on any particular catagory. The judges were very profesional with two of them having judged at world cups Tomoyo a new friend and Tomas Sasakii an old one. All of us were within about1.8 of each other the whole time, it was eerie we were so close. Tomoyo and Tomas both speak english so this helped, but as we went along i realized in kiting communicating is not a problem no matter what your 1st language. Time for at least one single line, so i puts up then Roger One rokaku that dave arnold built me for seaside, the winds continue to build. No reaction >From other flyers. Time to judge MIB the wind continues to build a mph every 45 min or so. First up Suzuki Akira. Right away I knew this was diferent from the last event, this guy is hot! Suzuki turned in a sparkling performance flying a spectra sport edge(as were alot of osnas flyers). Mr. Akira is someone to watch out for if he ever gets on the international circuit, using axles and coin toss's like he lived next door to Miguel. This guy's perfect timing and superb self confidence was a joy to watch as he did wintip sticks right on the beat along with many snap stalls, slides, wing tip stands launch relaunch ground loops and other barresi moves. Flawless, music ... a little er well Jappanese. Two other flyers of note, AIKO and ENDO, both capable flyers using the latest (i mean the latest) tricks and moves. My only negative comment, which was shared with the other judges, especially the ones who had been out of Japan, was that their music selection is a little weak with sappy western themes and Christmas music with a disco beat, yeeesh. Have I mentioned that the winds are still building? Oh, what's that, you want me to fly a demonstration? Oh well time to earn your lunch i think but it's already over may 16mph limit(i like buggy)and well here goes. sad really, but tomorrow is another day! That night we have a banquet with about 300 people, my friend Mr. Hashimoto is there tempting me with saki, some people are flying home made revs indoors in an extremly small space no overhead, in short a great party with a bunch of kite flying crazies. Then they bring in the food, yeowza uncle lou should be shipped here now for imediate instruction! Sushi, sashimi, tempura, barbaque chicken,stuff, lots of stuff, and all good!!! Oh and beer did i mention bear? lots of that goood kirin lager beer! These folks know how to have a kite party and they're just getting started, cause now they have prizes, lots of prizes! for free just play that game that you learned in grade school paper, rock, scissors! yep, no kidding here i was grinning from ear to ear as someone constantly refilled my small beer glass and we're playing a game i learned in grade school and i'm still pretty good at it because all of a sudden i make the final game for the grand prize(i didn't know)next thing i know everyones cheering cause i've won (scissors don't you know)and yow to much stuff to list here! SUN Oct 24 0700 meet, go to Denny's, more rice, good thing i already know how to use chopstik. Did i mention they like rice? 0800 man, what a beautiful day! Mt. Fuji clear and crisp off in the distance (everyone asks at least once if i've seen it yet[everyone])looking like some tower of speed on an eclectic plane! The winds are a light 3to6mph having topped out at about 35mph the day before so i'm grateful once again. Get my demonstration out of the way as the wind dies so i use the indoor kite on 20ft lines for some 3D flying as dave calls it, not bad, i don't fall or yell bonzaii or anything so i earn my lunch early! Next up my favorite(not) EIP oh boy how many? oh 22. let's go. Nothing new here, some better than others but as usual watching paint dry is preffered. Next up ETB again not to much excitement in this event until a team named NEW KIDS took the field. Everyone became real excited though all i saw was thes three little kids with big clothes. Two 8yr olds and a 6yr old. I thought I was watching a masters event, these kids are HOT! i don't mean cute i mean HOT! Every move, the spacing, timing, beginning, middle, end, with all the latest threads, freezes, wing tip stabs done perfectly to the music, i all most fell over! New Kids!! Another experienced team to watch is Team Happenings, an all girl team whose motto is practice, practice, practice, no date! I hope they can come fly stateside! After was a great awards presentation where everyone was quiet and attentive tho very spirited. When the winners were announced and the first three places were awarded the other flyers bowed down with respect to them, then every one bowed to Team Banzaii. We all said goodbye and wished each other well as we all went our seperate ways with that one common thread of shared experience. With over two hundred regestered participants, this event was equivalent to any nationals i've been to including Wildwood with the exception of international flyers. Japan definitly has world class flyers, Team Banzaii and Team Ninja could be world class contenders if they stay focused and more important stay together. Suzuki Akira could place in the top five here in the eastern league for sure. While this report is somewhat incomplete, i hope it gives some small window into the Japanese Sport Kite Scene. I am really gratefull for this opportunity to report on this. a o x o m o x o a = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =