Date: Mon, 22 Aug 1994 08:42:18 -1000 From: uspehmev@ibmmail.COM Message-Id: Organization: Division of Applied Sciences, Harvard University Subject: Pairs Mystery Tape Competition ----------------------- Mail item text follows --------------- The New York Stunt Kite Championships had a new event this year: the Pairs Magical Mystery Tape Tour (or whatever they called it) The Competitors signed up as leaders or followers (don't know how they got that to work out even). The flying order was set for the leaders. The 1st follower was selected and they had 5 minutes to discuss strategy and pick a kite before flying. When they were ready to go the follower for the next leader was picked so each pair had about 5 minutes to plan. They had choices of vented Ultras, regular Ultras, Speed Limits, Pro Speed 6 Flexis, or any other kites they could get in time. The other catch was that they wouldn't know the music they were flying to until their ballet started. It went surprisingly well (no one killed their partner ;-) Most of the ballets were good and some were exceptional. Abel Ortega and Michael Polifrone finished 1st using the Aviator's (Jim & Jeff Poy) kites,the ones that look like Kestrals, but not quite. (It almost looked like an Aviator's routine. OK, they didn't do matching axels but the did do slides together and the circle around stalled kite maneuver (is there a name for that yet? I'm sure High Performance has a name for it. Orbit?) Jeff Poy also used his own kite but paired it with George Baskett's Flexi for an interesting routine that included docking (refueling) the flexi with the delta. They took 2nd place. Father Jim, being a gentleman, went with Dorothy Wagner's choice of an Ultra and found it doesn't fly exactly the same as his kite. They turned in a pretty ballet anyway, also using the orbit. (for lack of the real name ;-) Dorothy's husband & pairs partner, Lance, teamed up with Art St. Pierre from Uproar for 3rd. Art's teammate, Dick Bateman flew first with John Tavolacci and they set the pace by docking and doing side by side stalls, show other teams that it would take more than follow the leader. Quite a few of the competitors fly pairs in competition. Sherry Arnold and Jenny Gross left their spouses (not permanently ;-) to combine on a Hendrix tune. Mike Polifrone's KFAN partner, wife Ruth, flew with Valley Boy Tim Waters. Mike Allen and I learned the Windswept method of flying from Tom & Sue Mason. There were a few mishaps. John Rose and Dave Barressi managed to get one flexi to fly through the others lines and Dave jumped through John's lines to correct it. Joe Perron looked like he was trying to dock with Ming Quock while they did multiple line wraps. (Joe's not used to flying just one kite) All in all, everyone had a good time. The competitors cheered every time the flyers had a mishap. (not necessarily the usual good sportsmanship but there was a lot of kidding going on) I learned something about pairs flying and aside from being a little nervous, had a lot of fun. Maybe other rec.kiters out there who participated will share their experiences. Mark V = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =