The virtuosity of Rakesh's Indian fighter kite and Catch-a-Tail Contest produced an afternoon of laughter, exercise, and exhaustion. Children and parents alike ran, leaped and spasmed into the air in their attempts to grab the kite tail that was “there just a moment ago.”
Kids take off as another flight of the Catch-a-Tail Contest begins.
BIGGEST: Dan Whitney
Dan Whitney launched his beautiful, giant Gecko in the early hours before the Family Day Kite Festival began. Designed by New Zealand's Peter Lynn, this 91-foot by 31-foot kite amused and amazed the crowds with its humorous design and giant size.
David Sabilino, Sr., won the Smallest Kite Contest with this Charlie-Sotich-designed paper and bamboo kite that portrays a famed character from Chinese opera.
LONGEST TAIL: Mike Hagen
Mike Hagen cinched the Longest Tail Contest with this premier delta kite. He launched the 9-foot wingspan kite in only 6 to 8 knots of breeze and suspended a 444-foot long, multi-colored tail. The tail was constructed by heat-sealing over one thousand pieces of plastic end-to-end.
MOST INNOVATIVE: David Sabilino, Jr.
David Sabalino, Jr., the youngest winner at the Family Day Kite Festival 2006, took home the prize for the Most Innovative. His Synergy Deca Quad Line Kite was an ingenious construction of intricate struts and trusses.
BEST GROUND DISPLAY: David Sabilino, Sr.
David Sabilino, Sr., presented a colorful and fascinating ground display that included an menagerie of feather banners, ribbons, wind socks and kites.
MOST BEAUTIFUL: Mike Baker
Mike Baker captured the Most Beautiful category of the Family Day Kite Festival 2006 with his large, rainbow-colored HQ Flowform 7.0 sled foil kite, which was stunning against the bright blue backdrop of the Marina Green sky.
BEST OF SHOW: Dan Whitney
Even while grounded and awaiting flight, Dan Whitney's giant 91-foot by 32-foot Gecko dwarfed nearby buildings. Throughout the day, as the Gecko undulated hundreds of feet in the sky overhead, it won the hearts of Festival judges, spectators and even people from neighborhoods blocks away.
