Paul and his quad.
1. Tell us a little bit about yourself: Hi, I am Paul LaMasters from Germantown Maryland, Something special ’bout me? Well, I like to fly kites and have for a very long time, even used ’em to get dates in college (late 70’s) I’ve been thrown out of Machu Pichu and chased eagles in the Galapagos Islands too but I have the most fun on the grounds of the Washington Monument the 1st Sunday of every month.
I have been actively flying kites since the mid 1970’s and strongly associated with the Wings Over Washing ton Kite Club since it’s inception, currently serving as the Vice-President. Please visit our website at <http://www.wowkiteclub.com> to learn more about our dedicated group of flying enthusiasts! I significantly contribute to annual demonstrations with our club, inside the Smithsonian Museums (since 2001), occasionally as a financially compensated performer. I enjoy flying under these priceless displays in no wind on short lines, even involving the public directly with hands-on activities. I have been invited to fly with several international tourism office groups entertaining people in Canada and Tobago, chased eagles on the Galapagos Islands and llamas in Machu-Pichu, Peru with the Friends of the National Zoo (FONZ).
Flying in close ground proximity to the general public every month at the Washington Monument (since 1993, all year, regardless of the weather!) I am used to working with security personnel and without boundaries involving spectators, extremely comfortable around children and with all-wind conditions. I enjoy wearing entertaining costumes, flying to a variety of classical and contemporary sound tracks.
I typically compete on the National level in 3 flying categories, open indoor individual unlimited, masters multi-line ballet and open individual freestyle as an improvising “soul-flyer” without the use of any formal routines or a pre-determined musical score. I am in possession of a unique variety of single line and multi-stringed sport kites, many specially made for crowd interacting activities. I build and fly my own designs as well, they are almost always quad-lined creations. Teaching my great passion is certainly one of my favorite sport kiting activities.
2. Why did you join the AKA? seemed wise to support a national organization and I enjoy the magazine3. What is your favorite kite to fly? Quads, indoor, under-water, high wind or bad weather, there is a quad-lined kite for any set of conditions
4. Where is your favorite place to fly? Monument grounds of Washington DC, regardless of the hassles (they are many) the great part is there’s always a crowd. I don’t enjoy myself nearly as much without spectators.
5. If you could fly with anyone dead or alive, who would it be, and what would you fly? Night-flying in San Diego with Rich Comras. Using Ben Dantonio’s infamous Helix, each of us flying one of his handles and giggling together again as the magic stick LEDs scare pedestrians assuming aliens have finally arrived.
6. What is your favorite event or kite festival? The next one coming up, I can’t hardly sleep waiting for it
7. What is one thing you wish more people knew about kite flying? How wickedly cool a kite can be if you just relax and enjoy it,… a soul flier!
8. What is the best color combination for a kite? back-lit? lots of white naturally, being from DC can’t go wrong with Red/White/Blue, always been partial to Rainbow and black key lines too
9. You’re a new addition to the crayon box. What color would you be and why? hexachrome silver (with sparkles) I’m made of many colors and given the right conditions I can shine too, not for long or too reliably
