Current Craze

Go fly a kite--literally.

The windy pastime has come a long way since the Wright brothers first flew box kites at Kitty Hawk on their way to inventing the airplane.

It’s also a lot easier than Charlie Brown made it seem.

There are national and international associations representing competitive and recreational fliers, and dozens of regional hobby and sport clubs.

The basic triangle kite is still popular, but now shares shelf space with many single-string models, including Little Tiny Dancer for kids as young as 2 and the 6-foot rainbow-colored Jumbo that has an 11-foot tail.

There are sport and power kites with dual lines that require both hands. Some models are strong enough to pull small buggies and sailboats.

“We carry more than 350 different kinds,” said Barbara Capute, manager of the 20-year-old Harbor Kite and Toy Store at Ventura Harbor Village, the county’s only retail kite store.

Dan Rubesh, owner of Wind Wizard in Ventura, a 10-year-old home-based Internet company that sells several lines of kites, says kite-flying started gaining popularity about 20 years ago.

“The surge of people kiting seems to have taken place since the late ‘70s and ‘80s and was brought on by the availability of more modern construction materials,” Rubesh said.

Pine and bamboo parts have been replaced with carbon fiber and lightweight fabrics. Kites can cost from about $7 for an “easy flier” to several hundred dollars for the fanciest custom models.

Besides demonstrating aerodynamics principles, and relaxation benefits, flying a kite can be easy and fun.

“It keeps me young. I feel like a kid,” said 42-year-old Garry Reid of Thousand Oaks, who spent a recent Saturday flying a dragon kite at Marina Park in Ventura.

April has been declared National Kite Month, and marking the occasion Sunday will be the Ben Franklin Kite Classic--a new event--in Simi Valley.

From noon to 4 p.m., children and families can enjoy flying kites at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. The event is free.

“It’s beautiful up here and we have great wind,” said Terry Saucier, a museum spokeswoman.

Kids will be given free kites to decorate and fly, and they will be able to explore hands-on exhibits, including a mini wind tunnel, boomerangs and rocket launches. Some displays were created by students at Redwood Middle School in Thousand Oaks.

Rubesh will also be there, giving flying demonstrations and showing off his kite collection.

He plans to fly a rokaku, a popular type of six-sided Japanese kite made for him by a man in Northern California who tie-dyes his designs.

“It’s as much art as it’s kite,” Rubesh said.

Depending on wind conditions, Rubesh also hopes to launch his Tumbling Star, a cellular, star-shaped kite that falls from the sky and then regains altitude.

A few guys accompanying Rubesh plan to fly tetrahedral kites--a figure with four triangular faces, first developed by Alexander Graham Bell.

Also, Camarillo Airport will host a demonstration by several members of the Experimental Aircraft Assn.’s Chapter #723, Saucier said.

Hangar boss Bruce McLemen said about a dozen home-built aircraft will fly over at low altitudes, starting at 2 p.m.

Teen actress Tina Majorino, who portrayed the title character in the recent television adaptation of “Alice in Wonderland,” will be on hand, as will a Ben Franklin impersonator.

The real Ben Franklin began studying the atmosphere in 1752 and learned while flying a silk kite that lightning is electricity, according to the Kite Trade Assn. International, which teamed up with the American Kitefliers Assn. to launch National Kite Month.

For this weekend’s event, families can take along a picnic or purchase food at the hilltop museum. People can also take their own kites.

For those who can’t make the classic, Oxnard State Beach Park, Marina Park and a park at the harbor offer plenty of room for flying whenever.

Capute’s store offers a comprehensive book on kite-flying and free instruction.

Capute’s 9-year-old grandson, Nicholas, helps at the shop after school and on weekends to match customers with the right kite for their ability. Nicholas gives the lessons in a large grassy area outside the store The Montalvo School student, whose mother owns a bookstore at the harbor, has been flying kites for nearly three years and is well versed in kite construction.

“If you have the book, the kite and Nicholas, that’s all you need,” Capute joked.

For more information about the Ben Franklin Kite Classic, call the Ventura County Discovery Center, co-hosting the event, at 494-7753.

To reach Rubesh, call 659-5769 or access his Web site at www.windwizard.com. The site has several links to the national and international kite associations, which offer information on activities, competitions, the how-tos of starting a kite festival and details for teachers on incorporating kites into their lesson plans.

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Holly J. Wolcott can be reached at [email protected] or by calling 653-7581.