Up, up and away

Mike Sciacca

A giant green gecko lay in wait on the sand north of the Huntington

Beach Pier on Saturday, pumped full of air and in anticipation of its

first flight.

And when the wind did pick up in the early afternoon, so did the

Huntington Beach Kite Party -- and the green gecko soared into the

sky.

The three-day “party,” as kite vendor and organizer Dave Shenkman

called the weekend gathering, drew more than 100 kite enthusiasts

from throughout the U.S., Canada, England and Japan, as well as

several hundred onlookers, many of whom seemed to marvel at the

flights of fancy darting and dancing through a bright, azure sky.

“It’s a perfect day here in Huntington Beach,” said Shenkman, who

started the Kite Connection, located on the pier, 20 years ago.

“This kite party is just that, a party. There is no plan, no

schedule. It’s all about flying kites and having a lot of fun.”

T-shirts bearing the slogan, “Shut Up And Fly,” succinctly summed

up the party.

Kites were flown in a large area north of the pier that was

cordoned off by yellow tape. Onlookers watched above from the pier,

Pier Plaza and the boardwalk.

The people flying kites possessed various levels of experience,

although all shared the same level of enthusiasm and passion.

There were two- and four-line stunt kites used by the more

seasoned fliers, and Delta, Diamond, soft and specialized kites

shared the same sky.

A multi-colored “Bol,” a kite that resembled a giant, spinning

wheel that was anchored to the sand, required a heady wind in order

to rise and spin off the ground.

The green gecko, known generically as a “soft inflatable,” was so

large, that it needed to be chained from multiple points.

“That kite generates a tremendous amount of pull,” said Jim Cosca,

44, of Washington, D.C., of the giant lizard.

Cosca, who said he takes part in nearly half-a-dozen kite events

nationwide per year, was making his first trip to California as an

adult, specifically for the Huntington Beach Kite Party.

He gave up an 18-year career as an engraver four years ago to

follow his passion and vocation: kite flying.

Cosca works in marketing and sales for Premier Kites, one of the

nation’s leading manufacturers of kites.

He flew the latest offerings from Premier Kites on Saturday.

“I’ve been, what you might say, a ‘kite nut,’ since 1986,” Cosca

said. “This is such a great trip out here, and I’d have to say the

Huntington Beach Kite Party setting is incredible. The beach, the

weather is superb.

“It’s just amazing to look up into the sky and see a rainbow of

colors. It’s quite relaxing and enjoyable. I like to see the looks of

awe on the faces in the crowd as they watch these kites soar.”

Some of the top kite designers and manufacturers from around the

world were in Surf City to display their colorful creations.

The Huntington Beach Kite Party, which celebrated its second year,

is a lead-in to April’s Huntington Beach Kite Festival.

“The original idea was to have small party for kite fliers on the

beach, but this has grown into quite a weekend,” Shenkman said. “This

kite party truly has an international flavor to it and with all these

kites in the sky, it’s a phenomenal sight.”

* MIKE SCIACCA covers sports and features. He can be reached at

(714) 965-7171 or by e-mail at [email protected].