AKA Featured Flier – Paul Dugard

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself: Well, I did not have a name for 2 days. I was a number in a crib. I have two older sisters and odds were another girl. So after two days Paul Dugard is my name. I have lived in the Washington DC Area all of my life. My parents would take the family to Ocean City Md on vacations when i was very young. My first recollection of kiting was a box kite made of paper and balsa wood. I would fly the kite then it needed repairs and I would search the beach for kites that were abandoned and kite string. This was the beginning. Next was brown grocery bags cut as a Eddy Diamond and Mom would rip the bottom of an old sheet for a tail. This was all before I was 10 years old. Later on after I was married and had 2 children on vacation at Assateague Island my mother bought a Trilby 3 pack and I have never looked back since then. I was hooked. I started to make my own kites and learned that I needed help. My help came in the way of Kite Work Shops. Maryland Kite Retreat’s. Learning from the Masters. Applique techniques. One advantage was Wings Over Washington Kite Club. The membership includes National Champions, Sport Kite Champions. Plus everyone is willing to teach others. It is a great family. When the first Revolution kite was introduced at the KTAI, I got my Neos Omega the next weekend. I have been flying quadline kites ever since. I am proud to have been a alternate on Iquad, an Official RED on Team 180 Go, Island Quad, Forever a member of Rev Ryders and formost a Quadfathers of WOW team member. One of my proudest moments came when I was the Grand Champion at the Smithsonian Kite Festival and Paul Garber presented me with my award. I fly single line indoor kites. I like doing demo’s and compete once in a while. I never have put in enough time to come up with a great routine one that is good enough to take first place, yet. Quad Line Revs are my passion. You will see me out early and only coming off the field when the sun goes down. I love flying team and teaching. I am just as happy leading as I am in the middle of the group. I am one of the Mutants. I can fly 2 Rev’s. So, if you come up on me at the beach and see me flying, come and talk to me and lend me your kite.
2. Why did you join the AKA? I joined back in the 80’s. The AKA supports all of the kite clubs and kiting in general and I needed to be a part of that.
3. What is your favorite kite to fly? Quad Line Rev’s.
4. Where is your favorite place to fly? I have so many favorite places to fly. So, my answer is this. Clean wind off the water.
5. If you could fly with anyone dead or alive, who would it be, and what would you fly? Rich Comras. Plus a quote from Rich. “Rev’s what else”
6. What is your favorite event or kite festival? From the big to the small festivals, I always look forward to WISKF. A week of nothing but flying with friends and making new friends.
7. What is one thing you wish more people knew about kite flying? The feeling of not having to think about the events going on about us, there is war, Roc Battles and Fighter Kites. Teams competing against each other and sharing their secrets. Life would be so much easier if we could just relax and fly a kite.
8. What is the best color combination for a kite? Kite color is easy. I am not an artist. I will ask for a kite to be custom built for me and let that person choose the colors.
9. You’re a new addition to the crayon box. What color would you be and why? Cinnamon Twist. Just not a normal color but a Team Rev Move..