Sport Kite Podcast

A field report from the Sport Kite Camp Hampton Beach. Not quite on the field, more after, but there was some great discussions at the camp and I wanted to capture them here!

Fireside chat recorded live at the 2024 Washington State International Kite Festival with Ron Gibian about how to 'Get Exceptional'. What are some ways and inspiration that we can look to for really elevating our flying. www.Sportkite.org

Fireside chat recorded live at the Washington State International Kite Festival with Colin Wilson of the Canada Sport Kite Team and his journey 'There and Back Again': From newbie to the world stage in a short time.    Video of this talk is on our youtube channel.

Ever wonder what it is like to fly as a professional kite performer everyday and night for a month regardless of the weather? Join us as we kick off the new season chatting with Kiteman Group as they perform at the Boardwalk Nights Show!   To find out more about Worlds Greatest Kiting check them out on Youtube!

We are back with the new season!!! Have you missed us? For roughly a month the crew from Kiteman Group performed at the Boardwalk Nights. We check in with them at the event and find out what it is like to be a full time kite performer, regardless of the weather!     To see more about the event Look for 'Worlds Greatest Kiting' Youtube Channel!

Over the weekend Sportkite.org and Kite Forge teamed up to host the first 'Comp and Skillcraft' an event focused on helping flyers get more out of their routines, whether they are a competitor or a performer, or just someone looking to do and get more out of their flying.  In this episode we talk about how we figured out the event format and give an example of some of the feedback given to the fliers. 

Following after the 'new era' discussion, we gathered a group of more experienced fliers and had them share their thoughts. In this one we discussed some important aspects about finding strength in believing yourself and in balancing the various priorities in your life. 

Over the weekend host Nic O'Neill was at an adventure motorcycle rally and had a chance to learn not only a few different techniques for handling a 500 pound bike, but also some insight into how to change up ways of training a for sport kite flying. Sometimes you need to shift gears, sometimes you need a mental shift! RIDE YOUR RIDE!

Following up on the previous conversation with the 'new era' of sport kite fliers, we bring you part 2

A recent conversation in a Sport Kite Facebook group highlighted a common theme that has been happening over the past few years. There is a big difference in the learning and approach of the folks that came up during the heyday of sport kite competition and those that have just taken to flying in the past few years. It's like there are two completely different eras of kiting, and thus two different kinds of understanding and approaches to learning. In this episode we start a conversation with a group of folks that are 'new' to sport kiting. In this episode they share not only who they are, but also what has been a piece of good advice, and a piece of not so good feedback. This is part one of a longer conversation, so stay tuned for more.

Interview with Team Taiwan during the World Kite Cup in Berck-sur-mer France. Taiwan was a new comer to the world kite cup stage and wanted to share some of their insight as first time competitors!

Interview of The Flying Squad representing Team Netherlands - for the Sport Kite Podcast. In this interview they share their thoughts about the World Kite Cup and their history in the sport kite world. http://www.theflyingsquad.org/about-us/the-kites/ 

This episode can also be found as a video on your youtube channel.  USA Sport Kite Team would like to thank the various sponsors and supporters that made this trip possible. There is a lot of work that went into making this happen, and that was only made possible by all of their generous support. 

Interview of Team UK - Josh Mitcheson and Harry Neale - for the Sport Kite Podcast. In this interview they share their thoughts about the World Kite Cup and their history in the sport kite world. Video of this interview is available on our Youtube Channel!

We did a post competition day interview from the banquet hall at the World Kite Cup, and the audio was just so bad that we had to take it down. We didn't want to lose the feelings or the thoughts, so we sat down again and tried to recreate some of that interview and add a bit more. 

final quick note from the world kite cup. :)

Final discipline of the competition - team - and daily recap talking wth Brett Marchel the captain of the USA Quad Team. This podcast was recorded at the banquet so there is a lot of background noise we tried to minimize. We will do a more in depth debrief with the teams in a quiter space in the next few days.

quad line pairs from team USA Linzy Abbott and Katrina Bruland share their recap of today's competition

recap of today's dual line pairs competition at the world kite cup....get ready....this episode is recorded in the house with about 20 people!!!!!

A noisy evening in the team USA kite house as we talk about the quad line individual competition with friends from France, Spain and Canada.

Doing today's daily recap with Lam Hoac and Paul de Bakker two of the competitors in today's dual line competition. To see more about the competition check out our home page and click on the world sport kite tab.

it's been travel and demo day for the past 24 hrs for Team USA Sport Kite Team and many others. here is a short recap of the days events.

On the day that Team USA Sport Kite team heads to the world kite cup in Berck-sur-mer, France, we bring to you this interview conducted on the beach at the final training week for most of the team in Long Beach, Washington.  While there, Jerry and Marcia Cannon joined the crew to not only support them, but to offer wisdom, guidance, and feedback on the flying.  As former world sport kite champions they have a lot of insight to share. Hope you enjoy!

Following up on our conversation with John we talk about some of the important things to learn when you start getting 'serious' about your kite flying. Field etiquette, basic moves and ground work, getting in your reps, and body position, are all things that are worth spending the time on to learn!

With a few decades of kite flying as a competitor and a performer, take it from John Barresi when he says there are some important things to learn when you get started that go above and beyond just learning a new trick. Approach the field right, use the system that is in place, and have the right attitude.... it goes a long way. John comes back to the Sport Kite Podcast and we discuss World Kite Cup, Competition and more. This is the first part of a longer conversation that we will continue you on in the coming episodes!

Reading from an article in Kiting Magazine and highlighting some of the overlap with the current Team USA, we get a great sense of deja vu!!!

Stephan and Igneborg of Fenix Pair share their story and some of the details about their preparation for the upcoming World Kite Cup in Berck-sur-Mer France at the end of April. 

A follow up episode where we meet the other members of Team USA Sport Kite Team and talk to them about the preparations and expectations of the upcoming World Kite Cup in Berck-sur-Mer France. 

Welcome to the new season of the Sport Kite Podcast! We are kicking off this season with a chat with the co-captains of the new TEAM USA, Spencer Watson and Paul de Bakker, and about their preparations for the upcoming World Kite Cup in Berck-sur-Mer.    Check out www.watty.us and www.levelonekitesusa.com two of the great sponsors of Team USA!

This is our final episode of the season and of 2023 and we are so happy to end it with the second part of the Interview with Carl Robertshaw. In this one we talk a little bit more about re-inventing competition, the need for mentorship right now, how kite flying can make a person feel relevant, and how kites is able to transcend politics.    We will be taking an extended break as we prepare and catch up for next season and get fully back into the swing of things. See you in the new year!

In this episode we catch up with Carl Robertshaw after he left the Washington State Int'l Kite Festival and headed back home to England. What stood out for him about the various kite festivals, what is inspiring him, and what teams continue to make him think about the future.  This interview is broken up into a few different episodes that will be released over the coming weeks. 

Finishing up the second half of the interview with Torrey where we talk about past inspiration, what is keeping him active now, and who is inspiring him for the future. Don't forget to listen to the first half!

In this episode host NIc O'Neill sits down with Torrey Lindemann and talks about his history in kite flying and on the sport kite field.  While he has a past that spans working with some top brands, and developing friendships with many folks, he is now making waves with his social media channels pushing the joy of kites!

Following up the conversation with Kurtis Jones of Wind Wolves Kite Show!!

Kurtis Jones joins us for an introductory interview about him, sport kites and the Wind Wolves Kite team/show. 

Join us for this post Sport-Kite-Camp chat with Michel Gagnon where we talk a little bit more about his history and start to dive deep into Team Flying. This is the part 2 of a longer conversation. 

Join us for this post Sport-Kite-Camp chat with Michel Gagnon where we talk a little bit more about his history and start to dive deep into Team Flying. This is the first part of a longer conversation. 

Michel Gagnon brought his passion for not only dual line team flying, but in getting folks 'on the line' when it comes to team to the Sport Kite Camp at WSIKF. In this talk he goes over some the basics that will help you if you are thinking about starting a dual line team, or wondering if you are able to join one that already exists... by the way, the answer to both of those questions is a resounding YES, DO IT!!!!!!!

Carl Robertshaw has an extensive history of working together collaboratively in a team. From flying with one of the elite sport kite teams, to working at the Super Bowl, and to a multi day interactive community art piece called the Hatchling that is a dragon born in the city that grows and eventually takes flight. Each team brings a unique environment with learnings that can be brought back to the kite field.

Paul de Bakker shares his insight into how to get the most out of a piece of music, regardless of your skill level, when it comes to sport kite flying. Whether you are doing it just for yourself, for competition, or for a performance, there is something you can gain from getting a better understanding of choreography.  You can find the workbook handed out along with this talk on our homepage. Just look for sportkite camp, and then fireside chats.

Spencer Watson shares his views about how he approaches Spatial Awareness, not only the awareness of the space you are flying in, but also your body and the space you are taking up. 

from the beach at WSIKF after the first full day!!!

Just a Quick update as we run around and pack and get ready for mini Sport Kite Camp at WSIKF! Stay tuned here and to our facebook page for live updates!

This interview was recorded earlier this year, and is a perfect follow up to the previous episode about 'finding our way back'. In this interview I sit down and chat with well known kite designer Scott Hampton and discuss the creative spark and motivation. This is relevant to all kite fliers, designers, performers, etc..... This is part 1 of the discussion. 

Well, life hit pretty hard and kept us from posting as much as we wanted, but we are back with some great content planned. But first, lets do a little update of what has happened and what is to come. 

Straight from the 'kite field' at Sport Kite Camp on Jockey's Ridge!!!

Using this bumper episode to share some of the great things going on in the sport kite world, including 2 Sport Kite Camps in the US this year! We are working on making a few more happen, find out more at sportkite.org

This episode is a continuation of the conversation with Paul de Bakker, Mario di Lucca and Spencer Watson. In this one we talk about not only the difference of some of the big kite events out there, but also the difference in approach of a 'top flier'. Do you, and should you have a different mindset when it comes to being an invited flier versus showing up to a fun fly?

Hunter Brown and Paul de Bakker discuss the past of the widely successful boutique sport kite brand Focus Kites, and about what is in store for the future. 

More about dealing with anxiety and performance prep from some of the fliers at the South Padre Island Kite Festival Indoor Show. In this episode we do a small roundtable discussion with Paul de Bakker, Spencer Watson, and Mario di Lucca.