…and some somehow manage to keep hundreds of kite flyers and spectators happy and pointed in the right direction.
But sooner or later, there comes a moment when the organizers themselves have to step onto the flying field.
During the Sunday afternoon of the Blokhus Wind Festival, we decided it was finally time for the leaders of the organizing committee to experience the other side of the festival.
So, naturally, we handed them a pair of dual-line sport kites.
What could possibly go wrong?
At the agreed time, Rikke and Anne arrived at the demonstration field. While both appeared calm and composed on the outside, we suspect their heart rates were running a little higher than usual. After all, watching sport kites is one thing. Controlling them is something entirely different.
Fortunately, the weather gods were on our side.
The wind was almost perfect—steady, smooth, and flowing in directly from the North Sea. The conditions couldn’t have been better, and our Nirvana High Wind kites turned out to be the ideal choice for the moment.
After a brief theoretical introduction covering launching, steering, and the basic concept that flying a dual-line kite is “more or less like riding a bicycle” (a statement that may or may not be entirely accurate), they were ready.
Rikke teamed up with Anders and his blue Nirvana HW, while Anne joined Sven and the yellow one.
To maximize the chances of success—and minimize the chances of spectacular crashes—Anders and I stood behind our students, each holding onto their arms and helping guide the kites through the sky.
The result?
No major disasters.
No emergency landings.
No calls for medical assistance.
And, most importantly, both kites spent a considerable amount of time in the air.
In fact, the accompanying video provides undeniable proof that not one, but two sport kites were successfully flying at the same time.
For a first lesson, that qualifies as a major victory.
Of course, now that they’ve had a taste of dual-line flying, there’s no turning back. We fully expect both Rikke and Anne to be demanding longer lessons, tighter turns, and perhaps even synchronized team flying at next year’s festival.
Or at least another ten minutes without us holding their arms.
We’ll call that progress.
Until then, enjoy the video and witness the historic moment when the leaders of the Blokhus Wind Festival officially became kite pilots.