American Kitefliers Association
35th Annual Convention
What are you doing the first week of October 2012? Many kite flyers are coming to Enid, OK for the 35th annual AKA convention! The fun begins Monday night, October 1st, with a reception hosted by the Enid Convention and Visitors Bureau. Workshops, competitions, challenges, and open flying starts on Tuesday morning and continue thru Saturday night.
Flying takes place on the fields surrounding the Autry Technology Center. This was the location of the attempt to set the world's record for most kites in the air. Although they did not set the world record, it is the North American record. 5 minutes away, workshops and gatherings will take place in the Cherokee Strip Conference Center located in beautiful downtown Enid.
The AKA is made up of men, women, adults and children, from all walks of life. Their interests run from kitebuilding to multi-line kite competition, from miniature kites, to aerial photography and more. Some of them are in the kite trade, but they are not a trade organization.
The AKA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to sharing kiting with the world. They strive to promote public awareness of the pleasures and educational opportunities that kites provide.
The Convention schedule looks something like this:
Monday, October 1
Registration, Early Bird Reception
Tuesday, October 2
Registration, auction receiving, workshops, board of directors’ meeting, mass ascension, sport kite competitions, kitemakers' competition fighter kite competitions, open fly all day, and indoor fly.
Wednesday, October 3
Registration, auction receiving, workshops, mass ascension, sport kite competitions, fighter kite competitions, kitemakers' competition, bag raffle, open fly all day, and annual business meeting.
Thursday, October 4
Registration, auction receiving, workshops, mass ascension, sport kite competition, fighter kite competition, challenges, fly mart, open fly, kite gallery.
Friday, October 5
Registration, workshops, fly mart, kite gallery, mass ascension, learn-to-fly, festival fields, open fly, loud auction, and banquet.
Saturday, October 6
Registration, workshops, fly mart, kite gallery, mass ascension,
rokkaku battles, open fly, festival extravaganza, members' choice, awards and
banquet.
PUBLIC EVENTS
One of the highlights of the week is the Mass Ascension, which occurs each day Tuesday-Saturday around 1 pm. That is when AKA members release their kites at once, filling the sky over Enid with magnificent color.
Another highlight will come on Saturday when the Rokkaku Competition is held. Rokkaku kites are known as fighter kites, and the competition is like a demolition derby in the air with several kites in the air at once trying to take down the other kites. Children are invited to come out at 2 pm Saturday to take part in a fighter kite competition.
The flying fields are located behind Autry Technology Center, 1201 W Willow. Access to the flying fields will be by turning west on Mulberry St. from Van Buren Ave. Fields 1-4 are restricted to AKA members only. There will be a field marked for public use. You can be part of the fun by flying your kites on the public flying field anytime during the AKA national convention.
AKA suggests when you come to the fields you wear a hat, use sunscreen, do not wear dress shoes and bring a lawn chair to be able to sit and relax while watching the magnificent kites soar over Enid.
Schedule highlights
Monday, October 1
2:30 pm, Patang, The Kite. Movie shot in India (English subtitles) surrounding India’s national kite festival. At Autry Technology Center, 1201 W Willow.
Tuesday, October 2
Noon-5 pm, Sport Kite Competition
Experienced Multiline Ballet
Experienced Pairs Precision
Experienced Team Ballet
Masters Individual Precision
Masters Team Precision
Open Individual Outdoor Unlimited
Open Multiline Pairs Precision
Open Team Trains
1 pm-2 pm, Mass Ascension, Rokkakus & Fighter Kites. Everyone at the field raises their kites at the same time. A great photo opportunity you won’t want to miss. (Time is approximate and depends on conditions; AKA recommends arriving no later than 12:45 pm).
1:30 pm-5 pm, Fighter Kite Competition, Novice Line Touch
Wednesday, October 3
Noon-5 pm, Sport Kite Competition
Experienced Individual Ballet
Experienced Multiline Precision
Experienced Team Precision
Masters Multiline Ballet
Masters Pair Precision
Novice Individual Precision
1 pm-2 pm, Mass Ascension, Cellular & Dimensional Kites. Everyone at the field raises their kites at the same time. A great photo opportunity you won’t want to miss. (Time is approximate and depends on conditions; AKA recommends arriving no later than 12:45 pm).
1:30 pm-5 pm, Fighter Kite Competition
Skill Building Games – all levels
Thursday, October 4
Noon-5 pm, Sport Kite Competition
Experienced Individual Precision
Experienced Pairs Ballet
Masters Individual Ballet
Masters Multiline Precision
Masters Pairs Ballet
Masters Team Ballet
Open Multiline Pairs Ballet
1 pm-2 pm, Mass Ascension, Soft & Flexible Kites. Everyone at the field raises their kites at the same time. A great photo opportunity you won’t want to miss. (Time is approximate and depends on conditions; AKA recommends arriving no later than 12:45 pm).
1:30 pm-5 pm, Fighter Kite Competition
Skills competition, novice & experienced
2 pm-3 pm, Kites That Make Noise or Fit in Your Pocket
3 pm-4 pm, Kites and/or Tails with Moving Parts
4 pm-5 pm, Your Favorite Kite
Friday, October 5
1 pm-2 pm, Mass Ascension, Sport Kites. Everyone at the field raises their kites at the same time. A great photo opportunity you won’t want to miss. (Time is approximate and depends on conditions; AKA recommends arriving no later than 12:45 pm).
1:30 pm-5 pm, Fighter Kite Competition
Experienced Line Touch
1:30 pm-5 pm, Fun with Four Lines
2 pm-3:30 pm, Art Gallery in the Sky
3:30 pm-4:15 pm, Keystone Kiters’ Mystery Kite Fly
4:15 pm-5 pm, Old Kite Fly (30 years old or older)
Saturday, October 6
1 pm-2 pm, Mass Ascension, Delta Kites. Everyone at the field raises their kites at the same time. A great photo opportunity you won’t want to miss. (Time is approximate and depends on conditions; AKA recommends arriving no later than 12:45 pm).
1:30 pm-5 pm, Mystery Ballet Challenge
2 pm-5 pm, Rokkaku Competition: Individual and Team
3 pm-5 pm, Mini Rokkaku Challenge
To find out more or to join visit http://www.aka.kite.org/.
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