SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1977
GROWING INTEREST IN KITE FLYING
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KITE-FLYING, AN OUTDOOR GAME WITH A POPULARITY THAT HAS NEVER WANED FOR CENTURIES, IS BEING PROMOTED IN HONG KONG BY THE RECREATION AND SPORT SERVICE OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
+BY CONDUCTING LESSONS ON THE DIFFERENT TYPES AND CONSTRUCTION OF KITES, AND THE PROPER WAY TO FLY THEM, WE HOPE TO STIMULATE THE VERY POTENTIAL INTEREST IN THIS HEALTHY AS WELL AS INVIGORATING GAME, SAID MISS EDITH LAU, RECREATION AND SPORT OFFICER (TAI PO).
+ IT IS EXCITING TO BE ABLE TO SEND A KITE UP IN THE AIR. THIS IS ESPECIALLY SO WHEN IT SWOOPS FREELY ACROSS THE SKY, SWAYS GENTLY IN A BREEZE OR SPINS OR DIVES UNDER YOUR CONTROL,+ SHE EXPLAINED,
+THE SPORT CAN ONLY BE PLAYED PROPERLY AND SAFELY IN LARGE OPEN GROUND AND REQUIRES A LOT OF CO-ORDINATED BODY MOVEMENTS. THE PLAYER NOT ONLY ENJOYS THE FRESH AIR AND SCENIC BEAUTY AROUND HIM, BUT AT THE SAME TIME EXERCISES HIS BODY.+
FLYING A KITE IS NOT AS SIMPLE AS IT SEEMS, HOWEVER.
THE PLAYER MUST BE ABLE TO TACKLE HIS KITE IN DIFFERENT WIND SPEEDS AND DIRECTIONS AND KNOW PRECISELY WHEN AND AT WHAT ANGLE TO LAUNCH IT. HE MUST ALSO BE ACQUAINTED WITH THE AREA ABOUT HIM WHILE MOVING AND MANOEUVRING ON THE GROUND.
DURING THE SIX-WEEK KITE-FLYING COURSE, THE YOUNG PARTICIPANTS ARE TAUGHT HOW TO FLY HOBBY KITES AND ARE SHOWN THE SPECIAL TECHNIQUES OF FLYING OTHER TYPES OF KITES, FOR SPORT OR FRIENDLY COMBAT.
ALL THESE KITES HAVE A PLASTIC SPAN AND A WOODEN KEEL. THEY CAN BE IN A VARIETY OF SHAPES, COLOURS, AND SIZES AND CAN BE AS WIDE AS EIGHT FEET.
NYLON LINES ARE COMMONLY USED. THE LENGTH OF THESE LINES ALSO VARIES. FOR A CHILD OF EIGHT TO THIRTEEN, A ROLL OF 120 FEET IS GOOD ENOUGH.
THE LENGTH VARIES WITH THE KITE-FLYER BECAUSE A SMALL CHILD IS ONLY ABLE TO COUNTER AND MANIPULATE THE AMOUNT OF FORCE EXERTED ON HIM BY A KITE AT CERTA IN HEIGHT IN NORMAL WINDSPEED.
AT ALTITUDES, AS HIGH AS 2,000 FEET, THE KITE MAY HURTLE ACROSS THE SKY AT 100 FEET A SECOND.
MEMBERS OF THE KITE-FLYING CLASSES ARE ALSO TAUGHT HOW TO USE BODYWEIGHT TO DIRECT THE MOVEMENT OF THE KITE IN THE AIR, TO MAINTAIN ITS ALTITUDE BY MEANS OF A STABILIZER, AND TO FORESTALL DIFFICULTIES AND OBSTACLES IN ITS WAY.
/INSTRUCTIONS