South Bend Tribune July 27, 1999

Jasper Carlisle, 2, tries his hand at flying a kite during the festival Saturday.

Kite fliers of all ages compete

By DEANNA CSOMO MCCOOL
Tribune Staff Writer

SOUTH BEND -- A low buzz and flutter sounded as the kites took flight, almost like giant butterflies against a cloudless sky. Some flew to music, in an event called "ballet." Others turned in precise loops and lines, showing off the skill of the kite flier.

Sport kite fliers from across the Midwest gathered last weekend to compete and show off their talents at the third annual Michiana Area Sport Kite Festival, affectionately nicknamed "Mars."

"Our first was in '97, the same year and month as Sojourner landed on Mars," said organizer George Wright as he registered competitors at a field at Michiana Regional Airport.

Kite fliers of many skill levels, from the children's group to the master's group, competed in two areas.

The first competition was for precision, in which the flier had to complete four predetermined patterns for the judges.

It's akin to the short routine in figure skating competitions, where skaters have to complete certain moves to score their points.

In other words, fliers joked, it's the boring part of the competition.

Head judge Terry McPherson and the fliers prefer the kite ballet, which is choreographed to music and judged partly on how the kite fliers "feel" the music with the kite.

Teams also competed in the precision and ballet competitions.

Kite fliers don't win cash prizes but earn points toward national rankings when they compete, said Dan and Kathy Brinnehl of Chicago.

Wright, of South Bend, is part of Detroit's Windjammers Stunt Kite Team, which competed in several events.

He travels every Sunday to Detroit to practice with the team, which bills itself as the oldest team in the country.

Like others, Wright said that kite flying gets into a person's blood.

"It's always been derogatory, like, 'Go fly a kite,' " McPherson said. "But we take it really serious."