Date:	Wed, 15 Nov 1995 16:01:59 -1000
From:	mr.nasty@ix.netcom.com (Frank Kenisky )
Message-Id: <48e62n$4qp@ixnews5.ix.netcom.com>
Organization: Netcom
Subject: SPI

South Padre Island Kite Festival
November 10, 11 & 12, 1995

As many event organizers and managers know, running a kite festival is
pretty stressful. SPI Kite Festival was no different. With the SWSKC
Staff and a host club like the Border Winds Kite Club and support from
the South Padre Island Convention and Visitors Beueau it was smooth
going all the way.

Friday night the Host's BWKC, provided a table of munchies. Richard and
Marti Dermer set up a kite workshop in the lobby and attracted the
attention of a nice crowd. Every once in a while you could hear them
clapping when he would complete another miniture and fly it around the
room.

At about 10ish we all headed to the hospitatility suite, (my room) for
an extra surprise. A micro brewery provided 10 cases of some of the
best beer. It was almost too much. But we all enjoyed the spirits and
fun.

Next morning was the wind from hell. 50 mile an hour winds with what
looked like no end in sight. With the hopes of a future kite event in
the works, this didn't look good. Kiters started gathering in the lobby
and we tried to decide what to do. At about 11:00am, most went out to
the flats. The wind calmed down a bit but was still gusting to 35mph.
The wind had blown up the field tent and knocked over the porta johns.
The field was a bit damp but that didn't stop the likes of a few of the
buggiers.

Fritz Gramkowski set up his buggy and tested out the flats. At first it
looked like he wasn't going to get too far but soon found a great hard
packed area and just went ballistic. By the time I saw him again he
looked lik
e the swamp thing. As the day went on the clouds cleared but the winds
were still howling at about 25mph and gusting to 35mph. The field
judges decided it would not be safe to run any events.

The banquet auction was held to benefit the SWSKC for annual awards at
the 1996 AKA annual convention. The turn out of donations was great.
Although there were only a few kiters there was no lack of enthusiasm.
I only feared that Sunday would be another blow out. The forcast was
for clear skys and winds to 10 mph.

Sunday was great. The staff and the host's worked together to set up
the fields. And we were on our way. The event got praises from the
5,000 spectators. (this was a count from the SPI Convention and
Visitors B.) Most said that the kite festival was the most organized
event they had ever been to in SPI. It looks like this event is a
thumbs up for next year.


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