Who should win the snowkite quiver???

[Kenny]

I realize that my contest has the potential to make for me more enemies than friends - oops! Anyway, to lessen the blow to those that did not take the prize, I would like to hear from the crew. Who wrote the best post? I will award the kites on Monday, March 21st. If you wish to point out why your post should win, feel free to do so.

Thanks for the fun posts. A few of you missed your true life's calling of working for Hallmark writing greetings cards

[Chris G]

Competition is an interesting thing. It has potential to bring out the best and the worst in everyone. I think that through this past few weeks as we have all tried to be on our best posting behavior in hopes of winning some sweet gear we have done pretty well at keeping things friendly, and I think I speak for everyone when I say Thank You Kenny for helping to renew all of our stoke, and our desire to share our stories, but also for being such a valuable member of our kiting community. Your forecasts keep us all in the wind, and your glides are legendary and inspiring. On two separate occasions you have saved my sessions by letting me use your gear, and I know you have also helped countless others.

By all of these things I am just hoping to say that I don't think you will make enemies by picking your favorite post. I think we are all grateful that you gave us the opportunity to perform, both behind the kite and on the forum. And if by chance someone is angry that they didn't win, I am sure they will change their mind in time and be grateful for the chance they had. One of the risks of competition is dealing with occasionally not taking first and I am sure everyone will have this in mind when the winner is announced.

With that said,if you are still looking for input, I say give the kites to Tyler for having the balls to hit the water first and for posting visual proof (sweet picture) of his adventure, but also because I have watched him share the stoke of our awesome sport all winter long with new, and potential new kiters all winter long via lessons and just talking to people.

Thanks again Kenny, for everything you do. Good luck with your decision.

-Chris

[bigwavedave]

Honestly I think that most people on here are using more modern kites than the giveaways and aren't likely to use them themselves. Some I'm sure would think about selling them, which seems a little selfish. Not that I'd want the responsibility, but if it were up to me I'd want to see that they were used to allow new potential kiters a chance to try the sport just long enough to get a feel for whether they were committed enough to get their own gear or to move on to something they're more comfortable with. It's rare that with a sport like this someone invests the price of a new kite without knowing it's a sport for them. And honestly, once someone's hooked they'll usually justify buying a new quiver of kites. I wish there were some way to have a checkout system where the kites could be checked out (or rented for a ridiculously low price so as to keep newer lines on them maybe?). If there were someone that might be willing to take on this responsibility (and maybe to whom others could donate their older and unused kites to as well) then I'd vote that they get the kites. That way if I have friends that would like to try it I can help teach them the sport without them beating up my gear and others can do the same. Just a thought.

[Leo Chan]

I agree with Dave. Josh has a set of beginner windsurf gears for check out, right? I think we can have someone on the kiting side to keep them for teaching/practicing. The danger is, of course, there is a higher chance it being damaged or damaging the people who try it.

[Mark Johnson]

I agree with Dave also.

[Chris G]

I hope this is not offensive, but doesn't this direction sort of defeat the purpose of having a contest? I think the recent races and raffles would have been a little anti-climatic if it was announced that all the racers and the spectators got to share the prizes.
-Chris

[Kenny]

Chris, I will award the kites as promised.

Dave brings up a good point. I have a couple trainer kites that I loan out. I think due to liability concerns that cheap kite rental gear is a pipe dream.

[bigwavedave]

So it's not rented, it's loaned out with a disclaimer signed and a repair paid for if it's damaged. I think the whole idea of this contest was to actually get people to post something more than "Sat 15m wind blew". Which in some cases is better than the more commonly found failure to post at all. Honestly I think Kenny's post would have won as his was one of the best IMHO but I don't think too many tried too hard or acted as though it was a big competition (no one even posted in the wind log at all for what seemed like a week after Kenny came up with the Idea . . maybe our group is really just that creatively challenged). Most race prizes aren't worth the entrance fee and the winner of most contests is simply content with the fact that he won. Maybe Kenny can select a winner and the winner can decide if he needs the kites or not. I wouldn't use them personally. I would LOVE however to have some available for friends to learn on and I'm sure there are others out there that feel the same. Had I had an opportunity like that when I first had interest in getting on a kite then it would have happened much earlier. Of course I'm just putting the Idea out there. If not with these kites . . then maybe with other kites that people have that might not be worth their time and energy to sell.

[Todd Jacques]

### argg double $$sehot..
haha
Too funny. i think i should rule the world.

thanks for the kites kenny!!

[RickHeninger]

Kenny,

This was a great addition to the community. Thanks for giving out of your own resources to better our forum stokage. And for showing us what were are and aren't capable of! Not to mention the dedication to the winter forecasts.

I liked the Limerick... It kept my attention and had a great finish! Actually all the posts were pretty funny and creative... You got a tough decision to make Kenny.

[Travis Cook]

The limerick was my best shot since I got skunked. But at least I had plenty of time to think of it driving around.