Important Sources of Kite Information

AKA American Kitefliers Association 352 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, MD 20850-4117
A basic individual membership is $25 US for 12 months + $8 Canadian mailing fee. The staff at AKA are quick to respond to any questions you may have.
Multi-year memberships, at a reduced per year cost, are also available. The Kiting Newsletter publication of AKA is a bi-monthly publication with great kiting news! The AKA also hosts the Annual AKA Grand National Kite Gathering each October. Workshops by world famous kiters, and a sky full of wonderful kite creations, many flown for the first time for the judging in the prestigious awards categories, makes this event one that every serious kiter must attend periodically.

KiteLife E-zine Published bi-monthly and now serving as an e-commerce on-line outlet for the KiteLines Book Store. A truly outstanding current source of news and information on "the kiting life and kite people". Excellent, current coverage of events, happenings and people involved in modern day kiting. In addition, there are discussions on topics of current interest in the world of kiting.

The Drachen Foundation is located at 1905 Queen Anne Avenue North Seattle, WA 98109-2549 . The foundation is dedicated to the increase and diffusion of kite knowledge by teaching the historical, cultural, scientific, and artistic aspects of kiting. The Drachen website outlines information on the many exhibits and archival materials that the foundation is gathering to meet their objective of being a top-notch repository for kiting history.

KiteLines Magazine, one of the finest journals of kiting in the western world, has ceased publication. The demise of this print publication, which dated back to the 1960's, is a real loss to the kiting community. As a means of continuing some of the rich resources found in the former KiteLines journal, KiteLife.com has worked with Valerie Govig to present on-line reprints of some of the excellent articles from the vast archives of this magazine.

Kite Clubs

Toronto Kite Fliers (TKF), Toronto, Ontario, Canada Contact: Don Brownridge Kitchener Waterloo Wind Climbers, Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Contact: Carlos Simoes or Mark Groshens (President) Great Lakes Kitefliers Society (GLKS), Buffalo and Western New York, USA. Contact: Russ Kelly (President) Ohio Society for the Elevation of Kites (OSEK), Cleveland, OH, USA. Contact: Jim and Barb Gibson or Nancy Lockwood-Harry Gregory. Mid-Michigan String Stretchers (M2S2), Lansing, MI, USA. Contact: Terry McPherson Black Swamp Air Force, Toledo, OH, USA. Contact: Terry "Gizmo" Gerweck New York Kite Enthusiasts (NYKE), Albany, New York, USA.. Contact: NYKiters Royal City Fun Flyers, Guelph, ON, Canada. Contact: Royal City Fun Flyers Renegade Strings Kite Club, Manheim, ON, Canada. Contact: Dennis Ische.

Kites and Kite Building Supply Sources

In Canada, the following on line suppliers offer commercially produced kites. Some also offer a limited range of kite building supplies:

• Boreal Kites of St. Thomas, ON. Operated by Eric Curtis and Anne Sloboda. Their kites are fashioned from original designs and elaborate prints are stunning show stoppers in the sky. Eric and Anne are world renowned for their unique, limited edition kites.
• Blue Sky Kites, Oakville, ON - an excellent supply of kites for families or serious kite flyers. Owned and operated by Gary Mark, a renowed kiter who is a frequent flyer at International Kite Festivals.
• Horizon Kites, Calgary, Alberta, Canada - an excellent supply of kites for families or serious kite flyers. Owned and operated by Vince Herchmer who is very knowledgeable about all aspects of kiting.

In the United States, the following suppliers offer kite building supplies and/or kites for all levels of kiting. All of these companies will ship to Canada. Be prepared to pay shipping and Customs Brokerage fees as well as GST on all orders.

The Kite Studio at 5555 Hamilton Blvd Wescosville, PA 18106 USA, is the most comprehensive source of kitemaker materials. Their website offers insights into championship and award winning kite design. Their on-line catalog is a great source of materials and fittings that will help you to make that dream design in your head take flight in the sky. Steve Ferrel is one of the most knowledgable kite builders in the world! His assistance in helping to provide materials and fittings for you next project will be invaluable!

Hang-em High Fabrics is the other major source of materials and fittings for the kitebuilder. Located at 1420 Yale Ave., Richmond, VA. 23224 USA these folks are open from 10:00 a.m. through 8:00 p.m. Monday to Friday to take your order by phone, or you can do your order on-line through their e-commerce store. A complete on-line catalog is available.

Into the Wind, 1408 Pearl St. Boulder, CO 80302 has been in business since the 1970's supplying kites, kite accessories, wind toys and a good selection of kitemaking supplies. Their downloadable PDF catalog of kites is like a "wish book" of everything you would like for your personal kite bag!

Mackinaw Kite Company,106 Washington St. Grand Haven, MI 49417 also have an on-line catalog and a substantial array of kites and accessories. Mackinaw Kite Company sponsors the Great Lakes Kite Festival at Grand Haven State Park, MI, in mid-May of each year.

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