American Kitefliers Association convention

The American Kitefliers Association's national convention and Grand National competition was last week in Ocean Shores, Washington. (We didn't make it this year.)

The "octopile" (above) was a world record for the most octopi in the sky at one time. Understand, each one of those octopi is 88 FEET long! That's a lot o' ripstop!

Brooks Leffler, one of the world's great KAPpers (kite aerial photographers), has an amazing bird's eye view of the ocotpile taken with a camera suspended from a kite line. That picture is posted in the Kite Aerial Photography pool on Flickr.

Special thanks to Ann Vondriska Brinnehl who took all the photos on this page. More of her photos of the convention in day-by-day sets, can be found on Flickr. (www.flickr.com/photos/danbrinnehl. No, I didn't post that wrong: Ann took the pictures and posted them on husband Dan's photo stream.)

A number of our friends from the Midwest competed in the stunt kite competitions and did very well. Congratulations to all. Sorry we weren't there to cheer you on - or to compete against you!


Brothers Zach (lounging) and Josh Gordon are the pairs stunt kite team Eos. They brought home trophies for First Place in Masters Pairs Ballet and a second place finish in Masters Pairs Precision.

Zach also took first in Masters Individual Ballet and second in both Masters Multi-line (quad-line) Ballet and Masters Multi-line Precision.

Meanwhile, Josh was fourth in Masters Individual Precision and sixth in Masters Individual Ballet.

Elizabeth Gordon, standing with brothers Zach and Josh, took second in Novice Individual Ballet and third in Novice Individual Precision.






Mike Delfar (left) and Dan Newan are the pairs team O2. The were first in the Team Train event and fourth place in both Masters Pairs Ballet and Masters Pairs Precision.

Dan also competed individually, taking seventh in both Masters Individual Ballet and Masters Individual Precision.



Alison Newman (center, with Elizabeth and Josh Gordon) brought home the first place trophy for Experienced Multi-line Precision and the third place award for Experienced Multi-line Ballet.

Again, thanks to Ann and Dan for the photos and congratulations to ALL the Midwest flyers at the convention. Maybe we'll get to go next year!