It’s August and the kids are prowling, looking for new horizons to explore. You run through the repertoire, you rack your brain, but all you can think is: been there, done that. Next time your eyes roll heavenward, searching for inspiration, you may be staring right into the answer.

Pause for a moment, and think kites. Gliding, looping and gloriously pinwheeling in front of you. Kites are an art, a craft, a science and a constant wonder. The way they never cease to capture our imaginations, it’s no wonder they’ve been popular the whole world over, and for thousands of years.

Kites have a lot going for them. They can be inexpensive to own and operate. Small and light, they’re easily packaged and transported just about anywhere. They promote active lifestyles as well as being fun. Many models are easy enough for a three year old to fly. Their rich history is replete with fantasy, warcraft, creative and scientific endeavour, and the occasional use by daring humans to fling themselves through the air. Hey, what’s not to like?

For those interested in taking the leap, the first consideration is design style. Single line kites, those with only one string, are probably best for beginners. Although multi-line varieties have more show-off potential, single lines are a better choice for learning and practicing the basic manoeuvering skills. Single line is not, however, synonymous with ho-hum. These kites can perform amazing acrobatics.

Single lines are generally classified by shape as Diamond, Airfoil, Delta or Box types. Diamonds are one of the easiest to fly. They adjust automatically to changing winds and, with long tails, can be launched easily even in gusty winds. Wind inflated Airfoils are probably the easiest to handle, and are suitable for younger children. For the experienced user, they can be stacked in various sizes to lend more pulling power and visual effect. Box kites are rock-steady even in capricious breezes. They have an unusually light pull on the line and their open centres add stability. Deltas, with their bat-wing shapes, are good all-round performers. Lively and responsive, these kites are just plain cool. Regardless of the type, they are typically made from durable nylon fabric and aluminum framing. Most kites come with string and handle, although some, as Jon Levy of Mastermind Educational Toys points out, do not. When buying, be sure to ask. Replacement string and handles can be purchased separately.

Kites flutter and wiggle in an infinite variety of shapes, colours and designs. Jon offered such examples from Mastermind as the Butterfly Psychedelic (the store’s second most popular model after the Diamond style Super Flyer), the Duster Biplane, the Rainbow Sailboat, the Frog Diamond, the Aqua Fish 3D and the Green Dragon 3D amongst others. A more complete list can be found on their website: mastermindtoys.com. A kite enthusiast, he loves the 3D kites because they are fast, and steering them is great fun. Although they are not hard to fly, they do need more breeze.

For the more adventurous, there are Stunt, Ultra, and Multiline kites, each with their own styles and intricacies of design. If you want to try axels, backflips, helicopters and yoyos, Stunt kites, also called Sports kites, are for you. Ultras need amazingly little wind to fly, but may be a bit too fragile for inexperienced fliers. Multilines mean you have more control over characteristics such as speed, direction and pull. More lines mean more complexity though, so you may want to consider mastering a single line type first. Power kites are in a class by themselves. Big kites that develop tremendous pull, they appeal to risk-takers who use them for kite sailing and kite jumping.

No bricks-and-morter kite-specific shops exist in the city, but good quality models are available at other specialty retailers such as Top Banana and Efston Science. By the time this issue reaches press, Gary Mark, a 15 year kite-flying enthusiast and member of the Toronto Kite Fliers club (the TKF), will have his on-line kite retail outlet in operation at blueskykites.com.

For the industriously adventurous, there are make-your-own kite plans on-line, many providing links to other sites as well as flying instructions, tips and troubleshooting for their respective models. Find them using the kite search engine at kitez.com/search.html, or through the TKF at kites.org/tkf/club.htm.

As most shops offer, at best, only basic information related to their models, a bit of research can make your first few attempts rewarding. The library, as usual is a great place to start and kite manufacturers, resellers and some retailers often have an abundance of kite-related info on their websites. The TKF website has upcoming information, schedules and maps for kite events, demonstrations and workshops, a newsletter, and a comprehensive list of links to other sites including those to help you make your own aeronautical masterpieces.

The next step is finding the right place to fly. Most modern kites need very little wind to take them aloft. That said, the wind in some areas is definitely more kite-friendly than others. Gary Mark’s favorite areas: Downsview Park and the Ajax waterfront. Other open spaces, notably along the lake shore, in public parks and sports fields can be appealing. Keep in mind Gary’s caveat that tall buildings and large trees can cause “windshadow”, a disruption to air currents that can make flying more difficult. Other than the openness of the space, you need to consider two other factors. Wind direction is determined by the tried and true wet finger method. Wind speed is measured either precisely with good meteorological instrumentation, or, out on the field, by how fast you must run to catch the hat that blew off your head. It’s encouraging to know that if your toque, not known for its aerodynamic potential, can fly, there’s a darn good possibility your kite can get up too. Good kiting is possible from early May right up until the end of October. A few stalwarts, Gary included, even attempt winter kiting on wide, well-frozen rivers and lakes a a dedication most of us probably lack.

Okay, you’ve made it out to kite-flying land, you’re raring to go, but the kite just lies there unwilling to eagerly hurl itself into the sky. Now what? “It’s pretty simple, really,” say those who have actually done it once or twice. For the rest of us, the “First Flight Quick Tips” sidebar on this page may help. If you want hands-on assistance, try one of the organized events happening in and around the city. At the 2005 Heritage Kite Fly held in Mississauga on Father’s Day, for example, kite demonstrations and instruction were widely available, and volunteers helped make kites for hundreds of kids. Vendors were there both to sell their wares and to answer questions. On September 17th and 18th, the TKF are helping to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Industrial Alliance KiteFest, a great venue for both beginners and enthusiasts, in Toronto. All the necessary information is available on their website.

Kite flying, like all activities, requires safety awareness. Following the simple guidelines issued by the American Kite Association at aka.kite.org, will keep your experiences joyful.

With kiting, there is always room for new challenges. Ask Lam Hoac of Newmarket, the current North American kite ballet champion (think indoor dance involving man and kite). Or Torontonian Gary Janssen who, in August, 2000, using a 25 sq.m. Delta, achieved a world altitude record of 3,801 m. Big, small, square, round, simple, home-made or sophisticated and custom built if you have a bit of know-how, your choices are endless. As Gary Mark noted dryly during our interview, at times around here, as most people can attest, even the lawn chairs can learn to fly.

First Flight Quick tips:
• A moderate wind speed of 12-18 km/h is optimal. After checking for wind speed and direction, pick a place that will give you the clearest flight path.
• Lay the kite downwind from your control position, and lay out your line to make sure it is tangle free. If your kite has more than one line, make sure both are of equal length.
• If your kite is too fast, adding a tail slows it down, making it easier to manoeuvre. Tails not only work with any kite, they look great too.
• With your back to the wind, take up the slack, and pull the kite gently into an almost upright position. Taking a few backward steps while pulling on the line(s), should provide the kite with the necessary lift.
• Use gentle movements, pulling to left and right, to steer the kite.
• You will notice that the wind has areas of fall-off, where the kite slows considerably. Use these to help bring your kite down.
• Once down, lay the kite flat, unclip the line(s) if possible, in preparation for winding up. Walking around with the lines will almost ensure spending considerable time trying to untangle the bird’s nest you’ve created.