Over the past several years, I have heard many comments from highly respected fighter kite pilots related to long-line vs. short-line fighter kite combat.
respecting their anonymity, let me just say there was a Canadian, at least one Frenchman and this English/Indian guy in white pants. =8-) Their comments share the vision of "true" fighter kite competition being longline using manjha...that shortline flying is cute, but not the "real thing"...and that, (most insultingly) when all grown up, north American flyers will be only flying long-line because that/s the way it's supposed to be...its been done that way for 2000 years, so any simpleton must know that longline the only way to fly...anything less is like half an orgasm.
whoa!!!!
poop, I say...double poop. poop.
I hereby propose that flyers here in the new world are extremely fortunate. We are creating a brand new ball game. we are on the leading edge of discovery...and whenever that happens we Americans start having a really good time and get these huge silly grins on our faces.
The authorities don't allow our use of cutting line so, in true American response, we invent a whole new sport. we have been legislated into creating lemonade from their lemons...we are engaged in developing a whole new kite fighting paradigm and we are now busily engaged in designing and building new flying machines appropriate to this new vision.
This is really a simple paradigm shift to follow...it's akin to the skiing/snowboarding issue. It is helpful for my skeptics to remember that the oldtime skiers were (still are) mostly disdainful, obstructionist and vindictive in their grudging acceptance of this new way of playing in the snow...but, after a few short years, snowboarders are in the Olympics, they're doing outrageous aerobatics (they're actually catching air on purpose, Martha!) and getting tested for the drugs that must make them do such weird stuff.
Returning to fighter kite combat, long and short line, I propose that it's two related, but different manifestations of the same sport. neither one better. Just different.
Let me just propose here that shortline combat is an XTREME sport.
The strategy and tactics are short term.
Eye/hand coordination is faster, quicker and more radical. The kite aerobatics are incredibly crisp and blazingly fast. ...thus our skills, coordination and kites must be developed to fit this model of flying...shortline flyers need to be quicker in thought and in action to succeed...their kites must respond in kind.
And that's why some of us are currently experimenting, designing and building new breeds of fighter kites...we're responding to the conditions this new sport requires.
Finally, in doing this great work, we will continually honor the ancient traditions and values that have guided our sport for 2000 years. We fully acknowledge the foundation that longline combat has provided us...that's vitally important.
But to those who scorn and pontificate to the contrary of my argument...poop on your shoes. we're having a really good time here.