Date:	Fri, 2 Dec 1994 09:43:03 -1000
From:	Colin_Douthwaite@equinox.gen.nz (Colin Douthwaite)
Message-Id: <3bntc7$bei@southern.co.nz>
Organization: Southern InterNet Services
Subject: Fighter Contest

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             AKA Convention   *   Fighter Contest Report

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From:  Peter Lee LEEPM@LAKEHURST.NAVY.MIL

 the attach is an article i wrote for the Eastern Leagus News, it is
 ... fighter contest, feel free to share it, i'll answer all
 your questions after my final exams.


 The fighter kite competition was held on Thur and drew an 
 international group of 19 combatants.  From at least 7 different 
 countries of Asia, Europe and the Americas they came to test their 
 mettle.  The ranks were filled with champions, masters, and the 
 capable but unblooded.  Cutting line was not allowed so line 
 touches from below were counted as kills, with best two out of 
 three.  The rounds were fought two up with single elimination.  
 Amongst such company, there was no dishonor to be eliminated in any 
 round.  

 The most talked about and dreaded person was Min-Jin Kee of 
 Toronto.  Formerly from Korea he is a three-time champion in his 
 native land and was a member of the Korean kite demo team at the 
 Seoul Olympics. All who had the pleasure of witnessing Kee's 
 masterful white-gloved manipulation of his exquisitely crafted reel 
 felt that he would be unbeatable.  

 The exposure to the many unique fighting and flying styles along 
 with the variations of kites and flyers was an exciting experience.  
 There were Hatas and Indians entangled in vicious dog fights, 
 fluttering butterflies and Koreans whipped into sweeping attacks.  
 Frank Schweimann of Germany provided Todd Little and myself with an 
 excellent (and handsomely crafted) Indian fighter with which both 
 of us advanced into the semi-finals.  

 Personally, I was lucky enough to have had the opportunity to fight 
 against both the Hata's and the Koreans.  For each opponent, I had 
 to invent and adopt a different fighting style.  With the Hatas you 
 engage your opponent in maneuver down wind and if in trouble run 
 and hide at the edge of your window.  Against the Koreans, there is 
 no place to hide! they track like speeding freight trains and are 
 twice as fast.  This came as a nasty surprise to me as Kato of 
 Penn. using a unique short line technique ran me down at the edges.  
 In the end, 2 hours and 4 rounds later, the definitively American 
 fighter, a vintage and flamed Vic's fighter piloted by Joe Schiros 
 of Texas floated at the top of the hill.  Hey Joe! Give your wife 
 another hug.  

 The following is the semi and final standings.

 Joe Schiros------
                 ---- Joe Schiros ------
 Todd Little-----                    -
                                      ------ Joe Schiros, 1st
                                     -
 Peter Lee ------                    -
                 ---- Peter Lee  -------- 2nd
 Min-Jin Kee-----

                      Todd Little -----
                                      ------- Min-Jin Kee, 3rd
                      Min-Jin Kee -----

 One complaint I must voice is the scheduling.  There are many 
 fighter kite pilots that I know of that missed the melee because of 
 commitments to other events.  Fighter kite at AKA is not a side 
 show, it is a hot contest, which other event can boast more 
 diversity in the nationality of its competitors!  And I know there 
 are those of you out there that were too shy to come out and play, 
 drop your inhibitions its time for to promote more fighter kites.  
 I would like to thank Joe Vaughan of Grand Master Dancing Kites and 
 Sky Delights for sponsoring this wonderful event.  

 It is time for the promotion of more fighter kite events.  If one 
 on one dog fights are no feasible, then maybe limbo or obstacle 
 course games would be more suitable and FUN.  Kudos to Kite Loft 
 for adding TWO fighter kite game/events to their already fun filled 
 agenda at this year's Sun-Fest.  

 CATCH YOU LATER
 THE SANDMAN

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