Date: Tue, 22 Jun 1993 15:53:38 -1000 From: kevin@hawaii.edu (Kevin Mayeshiro) Message-Id: Organization: University of Hawaii Subject: California Wasp - Info? Does anyone have any experience with the California Wasp (a.k.a. Miguel's Wasp?) I finally got a copy of the 1992 Berkeley Kite Festival/West Coast Stunt Kite Championships video and noticed that a number of people were flying the CA Wasp. I am looking for any information on this kite. (Construction materials, performance, price, who actually makes it, how to order one, etc...) All comments are welcome. Thanks - Kevin -- \ Kevin Mayeshiro : Go fly a kite. o --|\ University of Hawaii Computing Center : Really, /== ---|/ Internet: kevin@Hawaii.Edu : It's FUN! \ / ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Tue, 22 Jun 1993 20:04:13 -1000 From: steveth@netcom.com (Steve Thomas) Message-Id: Organization: VisionAire, San Francisco, CA Subject: Re: California Wasp - Info? In article kevin@Hawaii.Edu (Kevin Mayeshiro) writes: > >Does anyone have any experience with the California Wasp >(a.k.a. Miguel's Wasp?) I finally got a copy of the 1992 >Berkeley Kite Festival/West Coast Stunt Kite Championships >video and noticed that a number of people were flying the >CA Wasp. > >I am looking for any information on this kite. (Construction >materials, performance, price, who actually makes it, how to >order one, etc...) All comments are welcome. > The Wasp is just about the best kite there is. IMHO :-). Seriously, the Wasp is extremely responsive, has excellent tracking, and is rather loud (it has a loud "buzz" to it). This kite practically invented the snap-stall--which is does splendidly. Beyond anything else, this kite flies like no other kite I know of. The kite could be called the kite of choice for competitors, and is flown by several Master's class competitors here in the Bay Area. Personally, I own only one Wasp, but I'm a sponsored flyer and fly Buena Vista's XTC in competition (plug, plug). If I did not fly XTC's in competition, I would fly the Wasp. That's about as good a review as I'm capible of giving a kite... The Kite itself is about 7 feet, and pulls fairly hard for this size of a wing. It comes in several different frames, depending on what you want. Each Wasp is made special-order one at a time by Miguel Rodriguez. Miguel's method of selling Wasps is not really a sell, but more of an interview. Wasps are not made to be pounded directly into the ground a million times or other things that first-time flyers tend to do. Miguel usually likes to talk to the person he's selling his kite to and see how he/she flies. He also imparts a lot of "Avispa Culture" upon the would-be flyer (I don't know quite how else to explain it). Miguel himself is an innovator of flying, and his moves and attitude have touched hundreds of flyers all across the world. He actively competes, and although he doesn't always win, he never fails to impress. Here on the West Coast "circuit", his main competition is turning out to be his own proteges. I believe Miguel charges about $300 for the Kite, and in the peek season there can be waiting periods for the kite (I think I waited six weeks for mine...). In the off season, it probably takes a couple of weeks to get a Wasp... To get a Wasp, however, you usually need to meet Miguel (you might be able to get a friend who is a Wasp flyer to vouch for you). If you attend any of the West Coast events, Miguel will most likely be there (esp. Berkely). This is how to get a Cal Wasp... -- _______ Steve Thomas steveth@netcom.com "You'll never go broke appealing to the lowest common denominator." -- Lisa Simpson = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =