By Milton Drepaul

This Easter weekend in Guyana,my homeland,thousands of people,young and old will turn out to fly kites.It is a vivid kaleidescope of color and light,a warm,friendly family outing that give many children an important bonding experience with their parents.

I have been unable to find the origins of this national event in Guyana. None of the neighboring countries in South America and the Caribbean have similar mass kite flying. It has been suggested that Guyanese kite flying is their way of celebrating the risen Christ.In multi-cultural Guyana Kite flyers are not only Christian but Muslim and Hindu.Our nation of six peoples have among them people who originally came from China and India--two countries which have long kite flying traditions.

In Jamaica, where I lived for many years, Easter is associated with bun and cheese eating.The Easter Bun is loaf sized and spicy. Our minds have tremendous associative power.Easter brings images of kite flying,Palm Sunday processions,Hot Cross Buns, Good Friday Fish meals and Jamaican Easter Buns. This is a fusion of my years in Guyana and Jamaica.

Guyanese hot cross buns are small and round with a cross on them.I guess we inherited them from our British masters.As Easter Weekend kite flying is unique to Guyana so are Jamaican Easter Buns which, as far as I know ,are only available in Jamaica or in large Jamaican communities.

My mind goes back to the 80’s when I watched in fascination as our ‘helper’ Maureen made Easter Buns. It was a production that included stout,raisins,eggs,mixed spice,nutmeg and cinnamon.Jamaican Easter Buns are traditionally eaten with processed cheese available in large cans.

My childhood memories of kite flying Kite Flying in Guyana are of getting up at 5 a.m to be ready by six o’clock so that we could get a good space on the sea wall that protected the city of Georgetown from the Atlantic. My mind dredges up snap shots of a stark blue sky filled with many thousands of colorful dots swaying in the Atlantic breezes. Thre are other shots of long kite tails sky dancing,buzzing falling kites, the thrill of reeling out twine,hoisting kites,tangled twine and kite tails.

Many societies claim to be the first kite flyers –China,India and the South pacific islanders are among the most persistent claimers.The most famous kite flying story I know is about is Ben Franklin’s experiment to prove that lightning is electricity by flying a kite in a storm. Please don’t attempt to replicate this dangerous experiment!

This Easter Guyanese around the world will bond if you mention kite flying.For Jamaicans wherever they live Easter will not be Easter without bun and cheese.Simple images,everyday actions that bring people together making them feel special.

By Ispas Marin

There are so many options when you want to choose your kite and it can get very confusing. In this article I'll try to help you make the right choice because making the right choice means you'll have fun kitesurfing instead of being frustrated.

There are 2 types of kites, and these are inflatable and foil kites. Inflatable kites are better for water use, kitesurfing, while foil kites are better used on snow.

A low aspect ratio inflatable kite should be the best option gor beginner kitesurfers and the reasons are:

1. They are more stable and they are easy to fly. 2. Since they can be easily depowerd, they are more forgiving. 3. The inflatable kites can be relauched from the water while foil kites will have to be relauched from shore if not relauched in time. 4. With inflatable kites, you get more efficiency from the safety leashes, allowing you to completely depower the kite when needed. 5. Inflatable kites can be used as 4 lines too. Meaning that you can increase/decrease the power while kitesurfing which is a nice feature, in gusty locations especially.

There are three different categories that inflatable kites can be divided into:

- 2 lines, low aspect ratio - 4 lines, medium aspect ratio - 4 lines, high aspect ratio

High aspect ratio kites are recommended, in general, only to expreienced kite surfers

Higher aspect ratios, in theory, means better pull for jumps. And, high aspect ratio kites also go upwind better while having a wider wind range. However, high aspect ratio kites require more atention being so fast responsive, a drawback is the fact that they are harder to relaunch.

The best choice for beginners, as I judge, are 2 or 4 lines kites with low aspect ratio. Most 2 line inflatable can also be configured as 4 lines.

By Nitin Saini

The multihued kites pulling along people over water is a treat for the eyes of lovers of extreme sports. Extreme adventure sports have always held a special position in the hearts of teenagers hence it is no surprise the see the latest addition - kitesurfing - taking off in a big way. For those who are ignorant about this sport, the same involves harnessing the power of the wind, through a kite, to pull along the rider through the water on a kiteboard. These kiteboards are similar in build and nature to a surfboard. Like with all other extreme sports it is recommended that one first learns the rudiments of the same in the company of an experienced instructor.

The biggest advantage of this sport is that one can enjoy it anywhere where vast stretches of open water is available. However, you should check with the local people and learn more about areas which are dangerous and avoid them. The fun factor of this sport depends upon the type of kites used and hence it is necessary to ensure that you select kitesurfing kites that are suitable for your level of experience in this sport. During the early days of this sport there were no specifications about the kite and power kites were used by kitesurfers. As kitesurfing became more and more popular, kites specific to this type of sport evolved.

Nowadays one can find kites that can hold their shape... thanks to their inflatable sections. Since these kites do not have any rigid structure, they can be folded up into small shapes that are easy to carry. The kites used for kitesurfing come in two different forms: the foil kites and the leading edge inflatables. The foil kites are generally made from light weight ripstop nylon that has air cells to provide lift to it. They also have a fixed bridle which helps to maintain the arc shape of the kite. An advantage of using the foil kites is that it does not require bladders to be manually inflated.

The foil kites are available in 2 different configurations: The open cell one and the closed cell one. The leading edge inflatable kites are also manufactured from ripstop nylon. What differentiates them from the foil ones are their inflatable plastic bladder (the main bladder) which spans across the front edge of the kite along with separate smaller bladders that are arranged perpendicular to the main bladder. When inflated, the bladders give the kite their shape and also keep it afloat if it gets dropped in the water.

By Barbara Feldman

Kites date back 3000 years, when the Chinese made them from bamboo and silk. Over the centuries kites have been used in religious ceremonies, scientific experiments, military maneuvers and, of course, for fun. Today's sites explore the history, the science and the sport of kite flying. Learn more at the following sites:

20 Kids * 20 Kites * 20 Minutes

Can a classroom of twenty students make twenty kites, and be outside flying them in twenty minutes? You betcha! Uncle Jonathan from the Big Wind Kite Factory on the Hawaiian island of Molokai shares the kid-tested instructions he's been using with tour groups for fifteen years. The kites are folded from 8 « x 11 inch paper, so they are smaller than the usual kite, but the simple directions are easy enough for kindergartners, yet fun enough for big kids too!

How Does a Kite Fly?

This eye-pleasing site, created for a Physics course, starts with a short explanation of drag and lift, then quickly moves on to other disciplines. Don't miss the folk tales from China, Bali and Hawaii (found on History of Kites page) or the interviews with kiters Michael Graves and Peter Peters. Instructions for building a simple diamond kite and a large list of kite links complete this site.

Learn2 Make a Kite

This Learn2 lesson is actually two tutorials in one. The first set of instructions (Method 1) is a kite made from tissue paper and straw that costs almost nothing to build. Method 2 constructs a classic Scott Sled kite. It is a bit more time-consuming, but also more durable, as it is made from plastic tarp and dowels. To print the instructions, click on over to the last step of the second kite, where you'll find a link to All the Steps at Once.

By Harold Stevens

There are many kite festivals in China. The custom of kite flying is tied to the ancient religious rituals of releasing diseases or calamities with the kite. The Ch'ing Ming Festival falls 106 days after the winter solstice. It is a time to remember ancestors. Families pay respects to their dead relatives by visiting and cleaning their grave sites. Ch'ing Ming means "Pure Brightness." It is a celebration of springtime and the renewal of life. This festival takes place on the 4th or 5th of April. This year it takes place on April 4, 2009.

Now lets make a tiny Chinese Kite to celebrate Ch'ing Ming. First off you will need to pick the Chinese symbol for your kite. Make sure it's bold enough to be seen from the ground.

Supplies you will need:
manila file folder
scissors
disposable chopsticks or a bamboo skewer
washable markers
pin or paper clip to poke kite holes
sewing thread

Directions
With scissors, cut out a small, heart-shaped kite (without the dip in the top) from a folded manila file folder. Match the size of your kite to the length of the disposable chopsticks or bamboo skewers you will use for cross pieces. Unfold and draw your Chinese symbol on both sides of the kite with washable markers.

Fold your kite vertically along its center line. Punch out two small holes using a pin or the tip of a paperclip near the top and bottom of kite. Unfold and fold the kite horizontally about one third of way down from its top. Punch three holes each on the left and right sides of the kite. Weave the disposable chopsticks or bamboo skewers through the holes in a lower-case T shape.

Cut a piece of strong thread for the kites bridle and tie it to the spine. Tie a small loop of thread to the bridle. Attach another loop to the bottom of the spine and connect a long length of ribbon to it for the kite tail. Tie a kite flying line to the thread loop on your bridle. Your kite is ready for take off. Adjust the length of the tail to help the kite fly evenly.

This April celebrate the Ch'ing Ming Festival with your own tiny Chinese kites.

By Tim Parish

Ever flown a kite or taken a photograph? Well, that's most of us isn't it! No wonder aerial kite photography holds such a fascination for so many people. More correctly, it's known as Kite Aerial Photography, or KAP, which is less of a mouthful.

Some have theorized that it's part of our human nature to want to see things from the air. Consider the fact that aerial views of cities and landscapes were sketched or painted long before any flying machine was invented!

The hobby of aerial kite photography got started in earnest around the mid 1980s. However, the very first examples of such photos date back to not long after photography itself was invented. In 2007, KAP is more popular than ever. The subject matter varies widely, but buildings and landscapes are particularly popular.

Digital cameras are widely used in aerial kite photography. In fact, their use in KAP has pretty much stayed in step with their acceptance by the general public. Initially, the cheaper cameras just couldn't take a decent picture compared to a 35mm film camera. As we all know, that is not the case now! Some digitals are very small and light, which is an advantage for doing KAP.

At the cheapest end of the scale, disposable cameras combined with ice triggers and balsa wood cradles enable small, cheap kites to be used. On the other hand, this approach allows bigger kites to take pictures in very gentle breezes which wouldn't allow heavier gear to stay airborne.

Some enthusiasts are after quality at any cost. Hence, they spend many hundreds of dollars on high-end cameras, radio-control gear and special equipment to suspend it aloft with a minimum of movement. The R/C gear allows the camera to be panned around to get the best shots, and the shutter clicked on command.

Some Aerial Kite Photography Highlights

Here's just 3 of the more notable activities of these photo-artistic kite fliers:

A quite famous aerial photograph was taken from a kite in 1906, documenting the San Francisco earthquake. A KAP enthusiast named Scott Haefner did a re-shoot of this striking picture, close to its 100th anniversary.

A small group of experts known as Team Drachen made good use of some grant money by using KAP to document whale behavior. This took place at San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja, in Mexico.

In November, 2002 a 360-degree panorama of the San Andreas Fault was created from KAP images.

The Equipment

You've probably gathered by now that this hobby requires a kite, a flying line, and a camera. It might come as a surprise to learn that the camera is usually suspended from the flying line, not the kite itself.

Although other types can and are used, flow-form kites are very popular in kite photography. With no spars and therefore no assembly required, you can just turn up somewhere and get your camera in the air immediately. These kites are convenient to transport as well, since they roll up into a small bag. Another advantage is that they are tolerant of quite strong winds.

Interestingly, zoom lenses are of little use in kite photography. In fact, people often try to cram more scenery into the field of view by using wide-angle lenses, even fish-eye lenses. Another popular technique is photo-stitching, where a number of images are combined into one super-wide panorama.

Accessories

A piece of gear commonly used by serious KAPers is the Picavet, an arrangement of lines and pulleys. Yes, it was invented by a Frenchman, in the early 20th century. However, it wasn't until the late 20th century that it was re-discovered and put to widespread use in KAP. It's purpose is to provide a stable and self-leveling platform for the camera, while suspended from the flying line. Some aerial photography enthusiasts add other devices such as vanes and porous sheets to reduce the movement and give even more opportunity for getting good pictures.

Finally, it's handy to know what the average wind strength is. With a little device called an anemometer or wind speed meter you can decide what kite and camera rig to put up. In stronger winds, it can help you decide whether to attempt flying at all. Kites and cameras can get lost when the flying line snaps!

By Eddie Tobey

Kite flying is an extremely popular sport in China, India, Japan, Thailand and several other countries. 'Kite fights' are held in numerous countries, where kite fighters try to cut competitors’ kites down or tear them if possible. Kite fighters pass their strings through an amalgam of glue and ground glass powder, making it more potent and liable to cut the strings of competing kites. This practice can be hazardous, since the strings also have the potency to injure people.

A kite competition is known as “Gudiparan Bazi” in Afghanistan. Before the start of the war in the country, “Gudiparan Bazi” was a hobby for many Afghans. From the beautiful designs of the kites, which came in several shapes, to the making of the “tar” (wire), it was a matter of prestige to compete for the title of the best kite fighter in the neighborhood. This sport became a means of escapism for Afghans during the troubled times of the war.

In India, the festival of Makar Sankranti is involved with flying kites. Celebrated every January 14, you can see million of kites all over North India. It is particularly popular in the state of Gujarat, where the festival is a public holiday.

The Japan Kite Association organizes a gathering of kite fliers every year at Uchinada. The ""traditional"" festivals here are centered on one geographical area and one type of kite. This festival, however, attracts kites and fliers from all over the country.

The kite-flying event at Weifang, China, attracts competitors from all over China, and some from the rest of the World. This festival witnesses an amazing diversity of handcrafted kites. Numerous international competitors are also present.

The Thai Kite Heritage Group organizes a kite-flying event of international stature every two years on the Royal Palace’s polo field. It is no overstatement to call the festival "majestic".

By Ray W Clarke

There is an inseparable link between a kiteboard and a kite - one cannot do without the other. A kiteboard is worthless without the support of a kite, even if the kiteboard has been custom made from the best materials and is very expensive. A kite is what gives life to the kiteboard and it is not the other way round. Hence, the sport lovers always spend time with the kiteboarding kites.

Resourceful manufacturers take proper care that the needs of their customers are fulfilled. Take for instance, the Cabrinha kites. It is the result of Pete Cabrinha's sheer hard work (whose devotion to water sports won him world titles in three famous events), that these kites are ideal for the most difficult situations. Thus, people can't stop falling in love with Cabrinha kites.

North Kiteboarding and Slingshot are two of the hot favorite kiteboarding entrepreneurs the world has ever seen, and they have come up with the most stunning kiteboarding kites that pull people over the roughest waters the world over. With the new RPM kites introduced by Slingshot that come with the latest Intelligent Depower System or IDS system, the kite producing industry has seen a new surge of life.

Spleene produces kites which are high on performance as well. Their kites vary from the beginner's model to advanced types that are fit for champions. Earlier many people kept themselves away from water sports fearing fatal accidents but now their expert kites and instructional videos have made them to go for it.

Following are the top of the line kites that have created history in the domain of kiteboarding.

Slingshot RPM 10 m is the newest line of kites to have been introduced to the market by the company. The RPM has few competitors since it is capable of offering high grade performance along with 'unhooked freestyle' riding.

Slingshot Rev - 7Meters is creating ripples among the pro players and the lovers of the game as it is a hybrid kite with great benefits, high-class consistency, superb reaction mode, sparkling efficiency and smooth maneuverability.

Cabrinha Switchblade IDS 14 m is a popular kiteboard among the veteran C-Kite riders who simply love the features of these kiteboarding kites and they have joined its fan club. It is capable of giving assurance and balance to riders of all capabilities due to its equilibrium and effortless pull and it is also the easiest kite for long shot thrusts. The Cabrinha Switchblade IDS has been declared by the testers as one of the models for 'unhooked freestyle' riding and it belongs to the top tier. It is very easy to adapt with this and it can also be carried easily as well.

By Nick Harris

Some tips from to maintain your precious kiteboarding kite and maintain it's longevity.

1. Sun and wind: Sun is one of the major causes of kite damage. Don't leave your kite on the beach un-necessarily and don't leave it flapping in the wind as this causes surface fatigue.

2. Setup on the beach: Pumping on the grass and carrying your kite down to the beach means you may get your kite/lines caught on rubbish bins, twigs and paths. All these things cause un necessary damage to your kite so pump on the beach to avoid this.

3. Unfold kite: Always unfold your kite before pumping up. Failing to do so will cause twists in your leading edge bladder as you pump and the kite unrolls itself.

4. Pack away your pump: Take the hose off your pump after each use, this will prevent the hose bending at the attachment point and causing leaks in your pump hose.

5. Avoid self launching: Try to get someone to launch you every time as self launching causes scraping on your kite which will cause damage.

6. Waves: If you drop your kite in the waves let it go! Waves are powerful and can rip through a kite easily, especially if there is tension on the lines holding it back. Let it go to avoid it tearing and swim after it!

7. Lines: Keep your lines knot free as a knot weakens your lines and puts you at risk of a line break. Always wash your bar and lines in fresh water after each use as this prevents the salt water from eroding your lines.

8. Avoid sand: Sand is the devil for kites, always wipe away excess sand as this causes wear on the kite cloth, eventually leading to the cloth wearing through.

9. Dry kite always!: Never pack your kite away when it is wet. You don't need to wash a kite off that often but if you do then ensure it is completely dry before it is packed away. Packing away a wet kite can cause mould and colours to run.

10. Use your bag: Especially if you have your kite in your boot with the rest of your gear. Fins, screws and other sharp objects can pierce your kite so use that flash bag to keep your prized kite safe.