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Chicago Fire Kite Team, 21
Chicago, IL
The Chicago Fire Kite Team is celebrating its 21st year. The team has been competing and demonstrating team sport kite ballet and precision since 1986. We are the longest-running competitive sport kite team in the United States.
Team Members include Eric, Russ, Dan, Kathy, Josh & Zach!
Chicago Fire in their own words
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Frank Mots
Milwaukee, WI
Frank Mots was Milwaukee's King of kites. During Frank Mots’ lifetime, he had a tremendous influence on kite flying in the City of Milwaukee.
Many people remember this “Kite Man” down at the old gun club, who made and flew strange looking kites. Frank is looking down on the Kite Society with
a big smile!
Frank
in his own words
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Josh Gordon
Oak Lawn, IL
Joshua has been flying dual line sport kites since he was 7.
He has been competing at the local and National level since
he was 12. In 2002, Joshua was invited to fly on the Chicago
Fire Kite Team. Joshua also flies on a pairs team with his brother.
He enjoys kiting greatly, for the competition and for the sheer
pleasure of the sport.
Josh
in his own words
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Zachary Gordon
Oak Lawn, IL
Zachary flies both dual and quad line kites. He flew his first kite at 6 and began competing when he was 8. Zachary competes locally and nationally, as an individual and with his brother as the pair "Eos". Zach is also the newest member of the Chicago Fire Kite Team. Zachary really likes the creativity that kiting offers and enjoys being a part of the family of kiting.
Zach
in his own words
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Team Pegasus..John & Elaine Cosby
Puerto Rico
Pegasus are the 2004 Midwest Conference Masters Pairs Champions and have been featured performers at festivals and competitions throughout the Midwest,
including Kites on Ice, the Milwaukee Family Festival, the Kenosha Outta Sight Flight, Mots Festival. They also produced the Michigan Kite Festival.
John Cosby
in his own words
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Mike Delfar
Franklin, WI
As a lifelong resident of Wisconsin, Mike will be splitting his time between Kite-skiing on the frozen lake, or flying ultra-light kites indoors,
choreographed to music. Mike is also the designer of the many colorful Windmills seen displayed on the Tour 'De Kites.
Mike
in his own words
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Yves LaForest
Montreal, QE Canada
Because of the shapes and the colors in the sky, kites have always attracted people's attention. It's also what attracted me when my father gave me my first kite at the age of 6. In early 80's I met a group of kiteflyers who were playing with stunt kites.
They gave me the opportunity to try one. "My preferences? Big kites! My favorite kite? The Octopus."
Yves
in his own words
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Jean Lemire
Montreal, QE Canada
Now this guy knows how to fly!!!Jean has been flying kites at the Family Kite Festival and at the Mots Kite Festival for many years. He is also a frequent guest flyer in France.
His specialty is flying multiple stunt kites at the same time. Let's see, 3 kites, 6 lines, 2 hands, and 1 hot tub!. WOW!
Jean
in his own words
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Jim Wirt
Milwaukee, WI
Jim has been flying sport kites for the past 17 years. His specialty is flying Revolution four line kites.
Jim also has competed in national competitions and flies indoors. In his spare time, you might catch Jim at the Bucks
game flying the 23 ft blimp or pounding the drums in his band Eidir.
Jim
in his own words
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Dan Newman
Kenosha, WI
Dan's specialty is flying his two line sport kites. He has competed in National competition and can be found often in Kennedy Park
on Kenosha's lakefront doing some practicing.
Dan
in his own words
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Paul Koepke
Milwaukee, WI
Paul has been flying sport kites for nearly 15 years. He has competed nationally and also flys in the pairs team known as Fire & Ice.
We think he is ICE. Paul hails from Minneapolis where he was the President of the Minnesota Kite Society.
Paul
in his own words
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Ann Vondriska Brinnehl
Oak Lawn, IL
Ann Vondriska Brinnehl is one of the organizers of the Tour de Kites. Her voice along with Scott Fisher and occasionally John Cosby
is heard throughout the park. A big giant thank you to Ann for her assistance.
Ann
in her own words
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Scott Fisher
Milwaukee, WI
Scott Fisher is the producer of the Tour de Kites. Scott owns the Gift of Wings kite store in Veterans Park
and works with all of the performers to make it happen. "I can't believe that I do this for a living" "It's so much fun" "Thanks to everyone for making it happen".
Scott
in his own words
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Paula Schenk
Madison, WI
Paula is the newest member of the Tour de Kites. She has been flying sport kites since she was 12 years old.
She has competed nationally and can most often be found flying at the Family Kite Festival and the Mots Kite Festival.
Paula
in her own words
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Charlie Sotich
Chicago, IL
Charlie Sotich from Chicago is internationally famous for his small kites. Some of Charlie’s kites measure fractions of an inch. Postage stamps are usually bigger.
His entire kite collection usually fits into a cigar box.
Charlie
in his own words
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Donna Schenk
Madison, WI
Master Kitemaker! Member and organizer for the Kite Society of WI & IL. Contrasting colors enhance this simple delta derivative with “swallow tails.” Donna takes you from “cutting to completion,” showing new tools and techniques for conquering curved seams.
Donna
in her own words
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Brett Williams
Milwaukee,WI
Need a lesson in a Revolution four line kite, or a two line stunt kite? Brett's your guy. He will take you from
zero to master kite flyer within a few short hours. Brett can be seen at Veterans Park on most weekends flying his
kites, giving lessons, and looking for a date.
Brett
in his own words
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Jim Cosca
Washington, DC
"Start Spreading the news...New York..New York.." Jim practically owns Premier kites. His voice can be heard at Premier and he is the number one salesperson
on the Premier team. Jim can most often be seen giving lessons with Premier products all over the country.
He also is an avid Flight Sim pilot, and is not looking for a date.
Jim
in his own words
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Dan Jones
Milwaukee, WI
Dan the Music Man Jones. Dan Jones is Mr. Music at all of the Tour De Kites Festivals. Dan can
most often be found picking the CD's for other performers. In addition, Dan is a master at flying the Revolution 4-8 kite,
and works as a sale person at Gift of Wings.
Dan
in his own words
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Paul Fieber
Madison, WI
Paul is a local flier who enjoys building single line kites and leading kitemaking workshops for adults
15 and children. He was the regional director of the American Kitefliers Association and is active in kite festivals around the country.
Paul is the coordinator for the Kites in the Classroom program.
Paul
in his own words
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Steve Shapson
Cedarburg, WI
Steve, 58, first tried to kiteski in 1985 using two large Skynasaur kites. He eventually began manufacturing large delta stunt kites
under the Force 10 brand. He introduced kiteskiing and his Force 10 Foils to Canada, Europe and Finland. He has kiteskied in a dozen states,
favoring the many wide open lakes of Wisconsin.
Jeff
in his own words
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Fire & Ice Paul Koepke and Kathy Brinnehl
Milwaukee & Chicago
Paul Koepke and Kathy Brinnehl, Chicago Fire fame, have been flying as a pairs team know as Fire & Ice.
We think Kathy is Fire and Paul is ICE, but no one knows for sure.
Kathy and Paul
in his their words
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Craig Wilson
Madison, WI
Craig Wilson is the father of kite aerial photography. He takes some of the finest kite aerial photos in the world.
He is also the founder of the kite festival called Kites on Ice.
Craig
in his own words
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