Active Member If the wind is right, you'll be flying a kite.
Posts: 34
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Hello everyone, I'm Gary Mark from the Toronto Kite Fliers.
I figured it was about time to write my introduction having contributed to so many other posts.
Although I've flown kites as a child in the 1970s, I really began avidly flying in the late 1980s as inspired by one of the greatest international kite ambassadors, Ray Bethell while living in Vancouver, British Columbia. (Visit www.RayBethell.com if you haven't yet been acquainted with this kiting legend and Hall of Fame member.)
Kiting in Vancouver's Vanier Park was an almost daily affair for three seasons of the year in the early 1990s. �Whilst honing my dual-line skills, I became acquainted with the prominent giant kitebuilder of the Northwest, Art Ross, whom I regularly aided in launching his signature giant flowform kites in the gentle Pacific breezes at English Bay.
With this kite passion, I travelled with my now wife Michelle to the Washington State International Kite Festival for several consecutive years. �This afforded the opportunity to meet many prolific kiters of the time such as David Gomberg, Corey Jensen, Scott Skinner, Ken Conrad, Kathy Goodwind, Randy Tom, Mark Reed, etc... �
Moving to Toronto in the mid-1990s gave me a new perspective on kite flying as the region boasted the experienced pairs champions, The Aviators (Jim and Jeff Poy), kite altitude record-holder Richard Synergy, AKA multiple champion Lam Hoac, Kitelines editor/reviewer Michael Graves, and prolific kite artists Adrian Conn and Eric Curtis and Anne Slaboda of Boreal Kites (www.gothicdesign.ca).
My kite collection grew from historical kites, to cultural kites (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Indian). �I collected kite specimens of Kevin Shannon, Ron Gibian, Richard Gareau, Dan Flintjer, Reza, Joel Scholz, etc... �And finally making the jump into large show kites with a purchase of a used Sutton 252 at the Buffalo kite auction in 2000.
I now own several Peter Lynn pieces, various show pieces, along with an extensive collection of Art Ross pieces, one of which is a 60 foot diameter bol which I have yet to fly (it weighs 75lbs!). I've traveled to a few places with my kites (see my signature) and cherish the many international relationships that I've developed in my two decades of kiting.
I am the GKPI distributor for Canada and service a couple dozen kite retailers in this small, seasonal market. �I also organize kite events on behalf of the Toronto Kite Fliers, Canadian Kite Federation and the Drachen Foundation. �The family of Alexander Graham Bell presented me with a genuine Bell tetrahedral cell in 2007 in recognition for a kite gathering I produced -- a highlight of my kite career.
I struggle with my sewing machine but have produced a couple pieces in last few years (see fishy below). �I have a sizeable kite book collection and dabble in KAP, para-critters, miniatures, pins and patches, and fighters. �Kites continue to capture my fascination and imagination everyday. I hope to capably fly a Revolution kite some day!
I hope to meet you on the kite field soon! �Say hello!
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Weifang 06|Berck-sur-Mer 01,07|WSIKF 91-96, 01|Wildwood 98,02|Grand Haven 96,02|St-Honor� 02,08|Thailand 02|Singapore 02|Dieppe NB 02,05,07|Toronto 96-07|Verdun 96-98,00|Niagara 05-08|Epcot 95|St-Placide 06-09|Pacific Rim 90-95,07|Varennes 06,08|Houlgate 08|FrankMots 08|Cape Fear 07|Windscape 06
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