LONG BEACH ISLAND – Sandy beaches, crashing waves, and lustrous sunshine gave rise to an idyllic backdrop for yet another year of the annual LBI FLY International Kite Festival. What better setting to lift the eyes and spirits of thousands who attended the event after days of torrential downpours?
Two humpback whales added to the breathtaking scenery as they majestically trekked near the shoreline not far from a sailboat gliding through the ocean waters.
Jeff Via of Dauphin, Pennsylvania, drove more than two hours to volunteer for the event put together by the LBI Chamber of Commerce. He walked up and down the beach to hand out programs to ensure spectators knew the times and locations of numerous displays during the three-day festival.
Via said that although he didn’t bring a kite himself, he’s been enjoying them for years. He’s attended kite festivals in Ocean City, Maryland, and Wildwood. However, Via found LBI FLY to be the most outstanding show. In addition, the kite enthusiast was able to offer some insight concerning the challenges faced by those trying to keep their kites in the air.
“You have to think about wind like what you see with water in the ocean,” Via said. “When the water hits the beach, it rolls over. The wind comes across the dune and comes in rolling. The buildings also create some blank spots. With a variable wind, there can be a problem.”
Some of the giant kites lay on the ground waiting for the wind to stir them into action. They brought to mind blow-up holiday lawn displays – momentarily flat and deflated on the sandy surface. That’s not to say the occasional lulls in the wind stopped the fun or the excitement generated from a battle between some of the event’s sponsors.
“It was a fantastic way to spend a Saturday,” shared Amanda Lynn, a Waretown resident. “Between the local business fights and the humpback whale sightings, it was a great time.”
Lynn said it was fun to watch kites branded with area business logos shoot up and crash into each other to take each other down. Surf City’s “How You Brewin Coffee Company” came out the victor in the competition.
Event organizers offered simple kites to children who quickly launched them in the breeze and held them with a single string. Lynn’s seven-year-old daughter, Eliza Kertis, stood a few feet from the water’s edge and watched as her kite pointed up and headed to the sky.
Meanwhile, Eliza had already decided on her favorite of the many giant inflatable kites that soared up and down the kite fields from 18th to 28th Street in Ship Bottom and 68th Street in Long Beach Township.
“I loved the astronaut kites,” Eliza exclaimed. “They reminded me so much of my favorite astronaut toy, Thursday. They were so amazing!”
Had he known it, Eliza’s declaration would have surely brought a smile to the face of Toms River resident Tom Smith. While his kite collection includes three astronauts, Smith had two who seemed ready to fly from the beach to outer space. They were positioned next to his oversized colorful pterodactyl kite – with a truckful of others bagged up to be set up for a flight on other days of the kite festival. Smith and his wife proudly own hundreds of kites of assorted sizes and designs.
Smith said he became interested in flying kites twenty years ago and has participated in the LBI event for all of its eight years. His wife actually does most of the building of the kites, which come from various places around the globe. The astronauts, for example, originated from New Zealand.
All three of Smith’s kites on Saturday were anchored in the sand. He said the wind was less trying the day before, allowing his 30-foot sea horse kite with babies to fly up over 100 feet in the air. His octopus kite made it up over 150 feet on the festival’s first day.
“What’s happening today is the wind is gusty and coming in from the west,” said Smith. “It comes off the building and it swirls. We want north, south, or east – nothing out of the west.”
As he ran off to check on his astronauts, Smith returned and revealed that his love for kites extends beyond the ones he owns and flies.
Like many true kite enthusiasts, Smith constantly surveyed the skies to marvel at the multitude of designs navigating the winds. He showed genuine appreciation for some of the other creations around him, like a large colorful spiked wheel and an enormous black dragon. However, Smith became extra excited when he spotted what appeared to be a bunch of smaller box kites further north from his position.
“They (event organizers) brought in a kite maker from Holland,” said Smith. “They flew him in and gave him a place to stay. He charged for the materials and instructed people who sew how to build the kites.”
Smith said the people who took advantage of the kitemaking lessons were all seasoned kiters. He pointed out they flew their finished products, with 15 of them going up in three different waves.
The LBI Fly event dominated the skies. Meanwhile, professional kiters put on an indoor kite show at the LBI elementary school. Kite flying lessons were also available for those wanting to learn the “ropes.” The festival culminated with a Night Fly Extravaganza at Barnegat Lighthouse State Park.
While telling someone to “Go Fly a Kite” brings up negative connotations, kiters focus on their positive energy. In a sense, kites present something magical and proof that even the simplest of creations have the opportunity to soar under the right conditions.
