[101admin] Kites101

[Ellen Smith]

Andrew Ghezzi wrote:

Greetings and Welcome Andrew!

> Caught the link on kites101.com.  Looks great.  I like
> the idea of laying it out "progessively" so the new
> user can be brought into the sport gradually.

For over three and a half years now I've hung out periodically on an
internet relay channel called #kites. It has been one of the best
resources in garnering "newbie" information I could have hoped for.
rec.kites is good, but often times seems more intermediate to advanced
in content. The idea of a progressive or check list layout seems natural
to me...much like what an aircraft pilot would do for a pre-flight
checklist and post-flight checklist. 

> I also agree 100% (as a web retailer no-less) that the
> best source of information is the local kite store.  I
> say get in there, get to know the staff, heck...even
> buy what you need from them.  The big catch is that
> the new user can go in there INFORMED and EDUCATED.
> That will do wonders to what they end up purchasing.

It sure is a good place to start. And if we have less productive contact
with certain kite stores, I think it's perfectly acceptable to let them
know by coming in informed and educated as you said. They'll get the
message quickly that kite consumers are savvy to what's to be expected
in their retail experience.

> 
> At for links in the industry, I've always depended on
> my KTAI directory for that kind of stuff.  Would you
> like me to contact Maggie and see if I can get an
> electronic version of the directory (which I think
> already exists) and then gleen out all the retailers
> in there?  The good news about this source is that its
> an "international" directory so many locations to
> point to that are outside of the US.

The KTAI list is certainly a super place to start, BUT it doesn't
include all kite stores in existence. I've noted, while putting my
personal list together that it represents around 60-70 per cent of the
total. 

I guess the question of the day is "are we going to promote kite
organizations" or keep this fairly "purest"? Granted, kite oriented
organizations should be included as valuable resources, but how far do
we go in "recommending" them?

> Also, I didn't notice an answer from before but how is
> the site going to support certain kites?  Are we going
> to put a group of kites through some sort of test
> (durability, stability, flight) and then decide which
> ones are suitable for the beginner kiter?

Well, I hope this section is one of the ones that truly grows and
prospers. I'm anxiously expecting our entry level/intermediate kites in
next month. Peter and I are going to be doing a series of
reviews/journal entries aka Crash Dummy and Top Gun. Of course I'm the
Crash Dummy...lol. 

Seriously though, I am not a very good flyer but have decided to work
with the Ignitor, Firecracker, Nitro and Dynamite to see if a rank
amateur can become a real honest to goodness flyer working thru them
step by step. Now I'm not a Susan Shampo or Ms. Lummas wanna-be, but if
I can learn to fly, ANYONE can learn to fly...lololol.

Peter, being VERY experienced will review these kites from his
perspective as a designer, builder and masters class pilot. Very honest
and forthcoming too. He's very interested in growing new flyers [and new
customers of his fantastic kites...hehehehe]


Ellen