February 22nd, 2021 Newsletter
What a fun week this last week was! Hopefully it was the same for you. Whether it was working on a new project, recording the next Sportkite Podcast, reigniting conversations with old friends, and finding time to enjoy the wonderful changing weather. Looking ahead I wanted to let you know about the 2021 Kitemakers Conference on the weekend of March 20th. This is a free event hosted by the fine folks at U-MAKE and Fortuna Found, and you can find more details about it at the end of the newsletter.
While it is hard to schedule in person events in the coming months given the Covid situation, I am happy to schedule and plan some virtual events. If you have an idea and want to make it happen, don't hesitate to reach out to me at info@fortunafound.com
~Nic
Check out this video from Aerialis Kites experimenting with a Softer Leading Edge
How to Calculate the String Angle of a Kite vs. a Balloon
I'M READING RANDALL Munroe's book How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems. I probably don't have to tell you this, but it's awesome (as is everything from Randall Munroe, the creator of xkcd comics). The whole idea of the book is to go use some crazy ideas to solve mostly common problems. One chapter focuses on how to cross a river. He gives you lots of options. You could change the course of the river or even evaporate all the water in the river (both ideas are silly and fun). Another option is to use a kite to get across the river. And here is the fun part—Munroe states that both a kite AND a balloon could extend over a river. As the wind speed increases, a kite gets higher in the sky. However a balloon gets lower as the wind increases.
So, at some value of wind speed the kite and the balloon would have a string at the same angle. Oh! I want to calculate this. That will be fun.
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We had some extreme winter weather in the Netherlands. Lakes were frozen. The conditions that asks for a new adventure. With frozen lakes there was no way to go kiteboarding. We needed some other gear to get stoked! I wanted to hit the ice with my kite and found some wood and old ice skates in my shed. With some improvisation, I made my own Ice-kite-buggy!
Venezuela's largest impoverished district marks 400th anniversary with kite festival
In Venezuela’s sprawling impoverished Petare neighborhood on the east end of Caracas, dozens of children and residents flew kites to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the founding of what was once a small village outside the capital.
Petare was founded in 1621 by Spanish settlers who took advantage of the lush mountain surroundings to grow crops including coffee, cocoa and sugar cane, according to Venezuelan historians. .....
Mille Lacs Kite Crossing event permanently canceled
A post on the official Facebook page for the Mille Lacs Kite Crossing, made Feb. 7, has indicated that the kite crossing will not continue in 2021 or beyond. The annual event, beginning in 2005, has occurred for the past 16 years with windsurfers of all skill levels racing across the icy surface of Mille Lacs.
Read more: https://www.messagemedia.co/millelacs/
Come join this free kite makers/builders conference hosted by the fine folks at U-MAKE and Fortuna Found. Come join your fellow kite makers, builders, designers, enthusiasts, and more at the Kite Makers Conference! Whether you are an experienced maker/builder/designer or just getting started, there is something for everyone. Much like the wonderful kite making conferences traditionally held throughout the year, there will be chances for you to learn new techniques, engage in fun conversations with pros, and share your own knowledge!
With the current Covid Pandemic, travel to these conferences simple is not possible in person, so, the fine folks at U-MAKE wanted to create a full virtual event that everyone can attend. The best part.... it is free!!!