I trick stunt kites (dual-line stunt kites) — for exercise and as a hobby — and have been doing it for many years. The tricks within the video may look easy; however, they are extremely difficult. Many of the tricks in the video take a very long time to nail and perform properly. For instance, when I, a few years ago — at a kite festival — asked an experienced kite trick flyer about how to do a trick called the Comete… he told me that he has been trying to learn the trick for 3 or 4 years so far, and still has not learned how to do it. Stunt kite flying is a lot like playing a musical instrument; it takes a lot of skill and a lot of practice to get it right.
I love the exercise that it provides! You wouldn’t believe how you get out of breath and burn calories when stunt kite tricking properly! There is nothing like being out there with nature, with the soaring birds and other creatures… just enjoying the moment! It is a very environmentally friendly hobby to have! No gas residues, emissions, or waste materials are involved! It sure beats staying indoors, stagnantly playing some video game. Oftentimes large hawks or other types of birds will stop, hover, and stay and watch the kite tricking for quite a long period of time (as if mesmerized)! Give it a try sometime! You’ll be glad that you did! Invest in a more inexpensive kite at first… but do give it a try! (Watch learning videos, on how to do it; and if the kite is quickly heading for the ground… give it plenty of slack; don’t panic and pull, as most people do!) You are never too young or too old to be kite flying! I’m in my 60’s… and don’t plan on quitting any time soon! (Be sure to always wear a good quality pair of sunglasses and to use plenty of sun screen!) Get out there, have a blast, and fly! And, above all, never get discouraged about things and let go… life is too (eternally) precious!
The music with the accompanying video was composed and played (on synthesizers) by myself.
from E. E. Cummings:
o by the by
has anybody seen
little you-i
who stood on a green
hill and threw
his wish at blue?
with a swoop and a dart
out flew his wish
(it dived like a fish
but it climbed like a dream)
throbbing like a heart
singing like a flame
blue took it my
far beyond far
and high beyond high
bluer took it your
but bluest took it our
away beyond where
what a wonderful thing
is the end of a string
(murmurs little you-i
as the hill becomes nil)
and will somebody tell
me why people let go?
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The photos, that follow, except for the first, were taken at the Grand Haven Kite Festival, in Grand Haven, Michigan.
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Here’s a direct link to the video website, which you can alternatively go to and watch if (quality-wise) the following attached video doesn’t work within this post well (for you):
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xxv9or_stunt-kite-tricks-to-homemade-rock-music_sport#.UTATEjCsiSo
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Older photo of Sea Devil Kite… by Thomas Peace 2013
Grand Haven Michigan Kite Festival (1) by Thomas Peace 2013
Grand Haven Michigan Kite Festival (2) by Thomas Peace 2013
Grand Haven Michigan Kite Festival (3) by Thomas Peace 2013
Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog 