Free flyin’: Outer Banks Kite Festival offers lessons and fun

Published 6:09 pm Friday, September 20, 2024

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Kitty Hawk Kites founder John Harris (left) never gets tired of seeing people experience kiting for the first time. Phillip Clausen (right) gives lessons on this two-string stunt kite on Saturday at the Outer Banks Kite Festival on Jockey’s Ridge. Summer Stevens photo

It was a perfect weekend for kite flying on Jockey’s Ridge. Summer Stevens photo

Up to a dozen large kites were flown at Jockey’s Ridge State Park at the annual Outer Banks Kite Festival September 13-14. Summer Stevens photo

John Harris, founder of Kitty Hawk Kites, brought in several professional stunt kite pilots for the 2024 Outer Banks Kite Festival. Summer Stevens photo

Children loved the giant inflatable kites at the Outer Banks Kite Festival, an annual event sponsored by Kitty Hawk Kites. Summer Stevens photo

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“You put a kite string in someone’s hands and they automatically start smiling,” said Glenn Davison, kite designer and builder, and author of a dozen books about kites.

Some of the kites he designed were on display at the Outer Banks Kite Festival, an annual event sponsored by Kitty Hawk Kites that brings some of the best kite pilots together with the public for two days of fun.

September 13-14, atop the dunes at Jockey’s Ridge State Park, hundreds of people trekked along the sand to the ridge to enjoy the skills of professional stunt kite-fliers and to take the lines themselves for free lessons.

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“What’s cool about coming to festivals is you’ll see generations of families coming out,” said Chris Shultz, vice president and sales manager for HQ Kites, the company that produces many of the kites sold at Kitty Hawk Kites stores. “You’ll see mom and dad and kids flying kites but sometimes you’ll see a grandparent and even a great grandparent. It kind of brings families together because it imprints memories. Usually someone has a kite flying tradition or a story to share.”

Shultz added: “The thing about a kite, too, is it makes you look up.”

Hundreds, and probably thousands, of people looked up last weekend as they walked or drove past Jockey’s Ridge, admiring the brightly colored kites soaring in the sky.

There were as many as a dozen kites flying during the festival, including a 100-foot octopus, an 80-foot panda, and a 50-foot fish. There were single-line kites, double-line kites, specialty kites, and power kites gliding through the air in harmony.

The wind blew through giant anchored inflatable crabs designed to mimic the real movement of the crustacean. Brightly colored flags fluttered in the wind. It was warm and breezy, and the whit-whit-whit sound of kites in flight filled the air.

Unassuming in his faded Kitty Hawk Kites t-shirt, founder John Harris walked the ridge throughout the festival, chatting with visitors who likely had no idea who he was. The slogan of Kitty Hawk Kites is Teaching the World to Fly Since 1974. It’s clear that Harris still finds joy in helping others to experience the thrill of flight – whether it’s on a hang glider or at the end of a kite string.

Harris said he does the festival for three reasons: to inspire, to promote kites and kiting, and to give people something fun to do. Kites have timeless appeal, and though he said people were particularly drawn to the sport during Covid, there continues to be continued interest from adults and children alike.

When asked what his favorite kite is, if it’s just John and a wide-open beach, he said, “The giant 100-foot octopus. It’s one of my favorites because the kids love it.”

Harris walked down to the other side of the ridge where Phillip Clausen was giving stunt lessons on a pink and purple Synapse, a two-string stunt kite with paragliding technology that people use to power a ski, a snowboard, or a buggy. Or, for those looking for an arm workout, you can keep it on land.

With a grin on his face, Harris watched as Clausen gave a middle-aged woman her first power kite lesson: The right string makes the kite go to the left; the left string makes it go to the right. Keep your arms straight. Clausen patiently instructed her to place her hands on the strings above his, and then gradually released control of the kite to her. And just like that, she was flying!

Davison was right – it’s hard not to smile when your hands are on the end of a kite string.

The Outer Banks Kite Festival is held annually in September. Find out more at kittyhawk.com.

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