Date: Fri, 4 Jun 1993 03:01:17 -1000 From: jeffy@syrinx.umd.edu (Jeffrey C. Burka) Message-Id: <1unh2t$g2v@hecate.umd.edu> Organization: University of Maryland at College Park Subject: cool stuff at Wildwood I saw a number of cool things at Wildwod which contributed to making it a memorable event: a) Ray Bordellon is experimenting with a new bridle on his EFM. When he gives the bridle slack, its towpoint shifts down 4 inches, allowing the kite to hover/fly in reverse/etc. It's a tremendous effect, and Ray confused a *lot* of people who were looking for the extra line or two! Ray says he's working on making the bridle work universally with other kites. When he does (and perhaps takes out a patent?) he'll let everyone know just how he's doing it. It sure isn't obvious though! I got a look at the bridle while the kite was flying, and it looked like a standard EFM bridle. b) Not too many people got to see it, 'cause it was the very last thing flown on Sunday evening before the banquet, but Bay Area Sundowners and 3 of the 4 members of Paragon, both of which are sponsored by Hyperkites, flew a routine together at the very end of Open Team Train Ballet. The 'mega team' was not part of the competition, but flew as a demonstration. There were 7 stacks of 12 kites each up in the air, doing figures that teams of 3 and 4 have trouble making look good. 84 kites, each with long tails, and there wasn't a *single* tangle or snag. It was _astounding_. *So* beautiful! Apparently both teams fly together on occasion back home in San Francisco. If you ever get the chance to see 'em, GO! c) High Performance's Revolution ballet was spectacular. They performed it twice; as a demo on Saturday and in OTQB on Sunday. Very whimsical routine, with great moves, showing an incredible degree of control over the kites. 5 Revs seems to be the perfect number in the sky at once... d) Indoor flying by Dave Brittain, Dean Jordan, and Bob Childs. Brittain must be seen to be believed. The man is *scary*. He does things inside with a stack of 3 Rev IIs that I wouldn't want to try _outside_! Childs' kite was rather interesting to see. It was a single-piece 1/2oz Icarex sail. The pockets for the leading edges were sewn. All other "hems" were merely lined on the back with a bit of tape. There were no fittings; all 1.5 wrap spars were held in place by a bit of electrical tape. The kite weighed almost nothing. I would guess somewhere in the 3 or 4 oz area. For a FULL SIZED KITE! e) Lee Sedgewick had a new toy to play with: Leo. It's a little stuffed-animal lion, with huge plastic hooks sticking out in all directions. Lee flies a stack of 6 or 7 Rev Is down and picks up Leo and then plays with it in the air. I saw Lee drop Leo and then catch him with another train line. Very, very impressive! Those are the main things that stick in my head right now. There were lots of great routines, lots of 'new' tricks, and the whole weekend was great. Wildwood is without question *the* event to make... Jeff -- |Jeffrey C. Burka | "When I look in the mirror, I see a little clearer/ | |SAFH Lite [tm] | I am what I am and you are you too./ Do you like | |jeffy@syrinx.umd.edu | what you see? Do you like yourself?" --N. Cherry | = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =