TABLE OF CONTENTS

ON THE COVER: Children in Port-au-Prince, Haiti fly kites over a tent city.

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APRIL 2010

VOLUME 2, NUMBER 3

• From the Editor
• Contributors
• Discourses from the End of the Line
• Kites in Haiti JACLYN OWINGS
• Adventures in Kite Traction Recollections on (Almost) 20 Years of Kite Buggying SCOTT SKINNER
  • Images of NABX JOSE SAINZ
  • Welcome to the Mad Way South VICTORIA CRAFAR
• Intro to Snowkiting SNOWKITE SOLDIER
• Japanese Kite Scene EISHIN IDDITTIE
• Flyin’ High at Zilker SHELLY LEAVENS
• A Festival of Flying Kites VIJAY NATHANIEL

FROM THE EDITOR

Sitting in The Mad Greek restaurant in scenic Baker, CA, I listened to one of the most unlikely kite stories: kite-buggying on the rainy beaches of Senegal, watched by millions of crabs! As explained by Kiwi Craig Hansen, the Senegalese use monofilament fishing nets, and many fish are injured but not caught. Crabs take care of these unfortunates. Because the predominately Muslim population doesn’t eat crab meat, crabs’ numbers have multiplied to huge proportions. Illuminated by the buggiers’ headlamps, some crabs gave way to the beach side, while others scattered into the surf, just deep enough to keep their eyes above water to watch their three-wheeled quarry. Unbelievable, but only a small part of the story of four kite-buggies crossing the Sahara.

Continuing the buggy theme is a quick review of this year’s North American Buggy Expo (NABX). Notable this year was a world kite-powered speed record, 82.9 mph! And just in time for spring is a reminder that there is another form of kite traction practiced in Idaho by Snowkite Solider.

For more conventional kite subjects, read Eishin Iddittie’s recollections of Masaaki and Shingo Modegi, kite maker Teizo Hashimoto and his wife, and the formation of the Japan Kite Association. Masaaki Modegi has been one of the world’s great kite ambassadors, following his father’s tradition. A photo gallery of Indian kites is brought to us from Indian kite flier and enthusiast Vijay Nathaniel. Finally, Shelly Leavens brings us wonderful memories of Texas’ Zilker Kite Festival shared by Richard and Marian Robertson. “Kiting’s First Family” has experienced Zilker for almost 50 years!

Scott Skinner Board President

Drachen Foundation