Ben,
thanks alot for the tide info and everything else. im glad a small fee
doesnt sound bad since we will be able to offer alot more. everyone
will still be a volunteer but we will be able to pay for food, the
theater, a tent and possibly a pro kiter to come up and show us a
thing or two. I was also thining of having a few shirts printed, if i
can come up with a cool design people will wear. if we have enough
money left over from other sources, we may be able to give them away,
otherwise the money from them will go to help pay for other aspects of
the event. i dont want to get carried away, and i do want to keep it
simple and fun but i think a large 'event' tent would be great. one
with sides to shelter us from the wind. we could partition off an area
for changing and rig lines for drying suits. there is a party supply
place in anchorage that rents them, i dont know how much they are, but
maybe i could have someone with a truck bring it down. Ben, your boat
would be great. i have a 10 horse motor thats old as shit but still
runs. i think a small, caryable boat would be ideal for a safety net.
as long as the motor was dependable we could zip out and save anyone,
or at leased help them if they need it.

here are some ideas for classes, please feel free to add to them. last
year the most well attended classes where the beginning classes.
kiters, and especially Alaskan kiters feel they dont need instruction
if they can get their kite in the sky and the board under their feet.
i for one, though would like to have some intermediate classes with
techniques like water relaunch, general safety (what safety gear to
have with you, right of way etc), and some tricks. here are some other
ideas:

---kite repair - If Tom was willing to teach this class, we could have
a sewing machine setup in this big tent im talking about and we could
all learn how to sew up and otherwise fix out busted kites.

---self launch - I have learned a number of ways to self-launch from
Tom and all have proven extremely valuable and i never would have
figured them out of my own. there are lots of ways to do this and i
think intermediate riders would benefit.

---tricks - If we can get a pro kiter up here, or Tom if he is
available, i would like to have a trick class. we could talk about the
theory, then hit the water to try it out. maybe we can get someone to
do a kiteloop!

---gear - gear is a huge part of most outdoor sports, and especially
kiting. maybe this info could be worked into the beginning class. some
of this info includes: a huge board can make bad wind rideable, no
fins can be a boon in some cases, directional boards are good for this
or that, skim boards can be really fun with a kite, different line
length for different goals etc.

Here are some ideas for fun competitions:

---kite pumping up race - we get a big ass kite, like a 21 and see who
could pump it up the fastest. i know those big kites kill me. could be
funny to watch.

---body drag race - participants race against each other without
boards, just body dragging. i have never tried body dragging as fast
as i can, but i think it could be fun, and funnier to watch!

---spit race - this race could be a little more competative and less
about the spectators. we could race from mariners park at the base of
the spit all the way to the end.

thanks Ben
and if anyone else has ideas or concerns, please let me know.

ps
im going to start posting relavent info the the www.kitesurfalaska.com
site. ill be trying to keep up with alaska events and expand the scope
of the sites atlas feature which tracks kite spots in the state.
please add info if you have it for any kite spot in the state. please
dont add a marker without adding info.

Traveler




--- In kitesurfalaska@yahoogroups.com, Ben Belfiglio
<benbelfiglio@...> wrote:
>
> Hey Traveler,
>  
> Thanks for starting to get things together already for next year. 
Debbie and I and our friends Rhett and Kelly had a great time last
year.  The classes with the trainer and the tips for getting launched
and riding were great.  $25-50 sounds more than reasonable for the
amount of instruction and gear you guys provided.
>  
> First weekend in June from the Thurs to Mon, lows run between 7 and
10 pm.  The second weekend, the 13th and 14th low tides are at 12:44
and 1:24pm with tides getting later in the day through the rest of the
week.  Somewhere between the 12th and the 19th looks good for tides.
>  
> I have a small inflatable, about 9', but I don't have a motor for
it.  But it would be easy to have on the beach  and can be moved by
one person. I also have a sit on top kayak that could be used for a
rescue and would be easier to paddle if a motor's not available for
the inflatable. 
>  
> Let me know if you need anything else.  I'll plan on being down
there, hopefully for most of the week this year.
>  
> Ben
>  
>
>
> --- On Sat, 12/13/08, Traveler Terpening <travelerphotography@...>
wrote:
>
> From: Traveler Terpening <travelerphotography@...>
> Subject: [kitesurfalaska] KiteFest 2009
> To: kitesurfalaska@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Saturday, December 13, 2008, 2:36 PM
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Hey everyone,
> I am emailing to start the brainstorming process for the kitefest in
> 2009. I had alot of fun this last summer meeting everyone and teaching
> some new people to kite and would like to make a regular thing out of
> the kitefest. Some of us have been planning for 2009 and i wanted to
> run the ideas past everyone.
> -The first issue is the time of year. june 20-something was great for
> last year and could work again this year but anyone fishing Bristol
> Bay wont be able to come. So i am proposing early june, perhaps the
> second week but i would like to hear from people on this. I would also
> like to know what the tide book says for that time. low tides in the
> afternoon and early evening are ideal of course.
> -next i wanted to hear from people on what was good about last year,
> what sucked and mainly how we can have more fun, learn more etc next
> year. Some of my thoughts are as follows: I would like to have a small
> zodiac with a motor on the beach so we can rescue people if need be.
> Though we didnt have any injuries, i wished i would have had for last
> year. Anyone willing to donate a small zodiac please let me know.
> next, i would like to have a registration person so we make sure
> everyone signs in (liability etc). registrants will get a braclet or
> something. with the bracelet they will be able to take all classes for
> free and have use of any gear on hand. those who dont wish to register
> are free to hang and kitesurf, they just wont have access to any of
> the gear or classes. registrants will pay a small fee ($25??) for the
> whole weekend which will cover a few meals, demo gear, classes and all
> the other stuff we will be providing such as a large canopy tent,
> changing area, water, etc.
> -i would really like to get a pro kiter up to do some classes and
> bring some demo gear. Trace and I talked to some companies who sounded
> interested but bagged at the last minute. With one year under our
> belt, i think we can get a company to send one of their pros and some
> demo gear for all of us to thrash. We may have to pay for some of
> their expenses, but hopefully much of this would be taken care of with
> the funds raised by the registration fees.
> -Another idea i am pretty excited about is working with the homer
> family theater (movie theater) to show some great kiteboarding videos
> on friday night (the first night of the festival). The theater will
> charge their normal rate and we take a percentage which goes to paying
> for other aspects of the event. It would be a great way for kiters and
> newbies alike to get amped about kitesurfing. i think alot of the
> general public would come too and it might help bring more people out
> to learn.
>
> These are just a few of my ideas for now, i would love to get feedback
> from you all.
>
> Thanks, Traveler
> 907 299 1119
>