Date: Tue, 27 Sep 1994 03:47:50 -1000 From: ajb@oasis.icl.co.uk (Adam Buckley) Message-Id: Organization: ICL, Bracknell, UK Subject: Funniest Kiting Experience These 'WORST' experiences are a little upsetting, why not post some funny ones ? Here's my effort: I had my 10' Flexi in the back of my car when I went to pick a friend of mine up to go to the driving range (golf). This guy is nearly as big a kid as I am, so as soon as he found out what it was, the idea of golf went out the window. We pulled up at a field nearby and started to assemble the kite. I told him he should put his golf spikes on (I always wear these when I fly) and he laughed at me. When we assembled it, he commented that it wasn't very big. This guy had only ever flown simple deltas before. The look on his face when the Flexifoil hit some solid wind was only slightly less funny than the sight of him sliding on one knee in the mud as he desperately tried to get to his feet again. It wasn't even a strong wind. He ended up with mud all over his jeans and all down one side. I nearly made him walk home. Tee Hee. :) Adam = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Date: Tue, 27 Sep 1994 10:30:46 -1000 From: bwg001@carina.unm.edu (brian wad gordon) Message-Id: <369vdm$lk4@lynx.unm.edu> Organization: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque Subject: Re: Funniest Kiting Experience So I'm flying a home-built UL Tracer-like kite in a small park near my home. 50' lines. No Wind. I'm messing with the bridles a lot and trying to optomize for no wind. Each time I pop the kite up I can hear this large hound dog barking loudly at my kite. As I'm flying, I look over my shoulder and see the head this HUGE floppy-eared hound dog bobbing up and down behind a 5 foot fence about 30 yards away. I set the kite down, the dog stops barking. "Hmmm, maybe thats too far forward, I'll lean the kite back further" "Houuw! Houuw! Houuuuuw!" I'm working the kite through the air and am starting to get tired. Suddenly, an erie quiet falls over the park. "Listen no more barking" Then I hear the pounding of dog feet and heavy panting coming up fast behind me. The dog zooms past me and begins franticly barking at my kite. Ok, thats fine, the dog is on the ground and my kite is in the air; all I have to do is keep flying. "Geez, I don't know how many 360s I can do in a row" No matter where the kite goes, the dog is directly underneath, barking wildly and slobbering profusely. Now I'm beginning to pant louder than the dog. "Wheez, Wheez, Cough... MUST KEEP... Pant... KITE IN AIR!" Knowing what damage a large dog can do to a 1/2 oz Icarex sail, I decide I need a better plan. "How about a controlled crash in to a small tree out of the dog's reach?" There are only two small saplings in this small park. I don't know how long I've kept the kite aloft thus far, but I am getting quite disoriented, the dog is holding up fine, no shortage of saliva. "MUST LAND K-K-KITE... Wheez...IN TREE... Cough... MUST... *WHAM*" I had backed into the smaller tree at full speed. I pull my head out of the dirt in time to watch my kite flutter helplessly to the waiting jaws of "Cujo". The dog instantly went for the kite. There was a flurry of movement to fast to see. The dog then trotted happily away with the string tangled around his legs dragging my kite for about 20 yards before pulling free. I walked over to my kite and found *no damage* other than half of the kite was covered in foamy dog drool. Well the drool wiped up and dried nicely, and IMHO offers UV protection far superior to anything on the market today including Armour-All. :) Keith Kidder Albuquerque, NM = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =