I was in Saudi, 91. Afterwards, it was the most desolate boring place on earth with nothing to do but wait. Time was passed with whatever you could think of, collecting scorpions and fighting them just wasn't my thing.

What if we would have had a few kites? Plenty of sand, wind and open spaces for sure, hundreds of miles of it in all directions and nothing but time. I can see a bad days becoming great days.

Right now I'm thinking KITES FOR TROOPS!!!

Some companies might find this a very attractive adventure for years to come. I know you just can't give a group of non kiters a big kite and turn em loose.

But they might send a few guys out with them. Show em the ropes.

Troops are government property. If they hurt themselves even sun burn, it’s destruction of government property under the UCMJ. With 4629 troops loosing their life already, I don’t think the kites would be a problem.

Even so, some smaller kites might get things started for life. I have a vision of thousands of troops with a new hobby having a little fun relieving stress and taking it to the next level after their safe return home. Not to mention what dreams they would leave behind with the kids in country. It might open some political eyes around here for flying places.

Could you imagine the world recognition a kite company would see? It might even create a few more jobs away from the front lines as well.

Count me in HQ.

Kite Fighting is big in Afghanistan. Kiting might help the cross-cultural difficulties troops have over there.

lad (2 time novice line-touch kite fighting champ) :saint:

check catchsomeair website.....kting for fitness by our troops has been going on now for about 2 yrs..................................:duh::duh:

fighting period is big in Afghanistan......................too rural......too tribal.......too f**ked up..........we need to go!

i'd like to float softly over afghanistan with a 19 m depower,rocket launcher in hand,and BLOW THE CRAP out of some terrorists......BBBBBBBAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!! sorry-got carried away--too much caffeine,i guess........

I know that a lot of times it's hard to get stuff over there-lived there myself as an ARAMCO contractor in '01. With a direct contact though (which I might be able to round up -friend of a friend is in Iraq) maybe we could donate some of our used gear or get a sponsor to donate some stuff.

Last weekend at Sunset Beach there were some soldiers walking by and I offered them a go at my kite. I asked if they would like to try it to which they replied "Hell Yea". So I handed over a 2.5M and they had some fun and a few chuckles when they crashed it.

Yeah- the guy driving the white van just about ran over my girlfriend. Missed her by about 8-9 feet at 40 mph and just honked. Most were cool; couple were turds.

understand/respect your passion kitejumper but you take out two and 5 more camel jockeys are right there to take their place....................round up the gear and we can get it over there..........its been done as I posted earlier. Troops have been flying for a couple years now................equipment donated by a local shop here in Charleston..................................:duh::duh:

I had a customer take a Sting 1.7 with upgraded Extreme lines to Iraq. He enjoys high wind flying. My only concern was the high visibility making him a target.

I was also on the same stretch of sand at the same time you were USMC. Look I like your idea but I am not sure you have thought the full implications of the idea out. It is a diffrent war than when you and I were over in the sandbox. The idea of our troups keeping entertained and in shape is great however what you are speaking about is putting a targets of diffrent sizes and colors on our troups. Your idea is not so well thought out when you fully take into consideration the type of war we are currently engaged in I can see it now 45 guys out flying 4 - 10m kites with some towel jocky taking aim from a distant hillside. Not to mention the mine fields and risks of IED's.

If you want to get these guys engaged donate some kites to the guys who are back on leave or who are coming back from the sand. Marines have miles and miles of beaches to fly on give a few to them so they will have something to look forward to when they get back.

They know where they could fly and what areas they couldn't. All base's arn't in hostile areas.

I know that sounds impractical to a marine, because marines woudn't be there if it wasn't hostile.

Charlie,.. ahem
i mean
Ack-med Don't kiteSURF!

Quote:

Originally posted by Hardrock They know where they could fly and what areas they couldn't. All base's arn't in hostile areas. I know that sounds impractical to a marine, because marines woudn't be there if it wasn't hostile.

I am sorry but I just dont think that it would be a great activity for our guys. The problem with your position on this is that all areas are hostile. Even the "safe" positions are in a war zone. Our camps are under survaliance all of the time just like we do to them.

I am just as thrilled with this sport as anyone on this forum and would be pro support the troops with kiting activities located state side all day long. We have thousands of men and women here who are serving this great country who will never be shipped off to Iraq however every actaion that they make is in support of the men and women who are away from us. Plus we have thousands of troops who are rotating. Lets bring the sport to them lets show them how greatful we are for there service.

If you want to put together a program that supports our men in women in uniform I am all for it and will be out with you. Shoot I will spend the day un-twisting lines and running water to them, I will go pick them up and bring them to the flying location no problem.

However suggesting that they fly in a War Zone is just not something that I think is a wise project to get involved with. If only one guy was a target of violence due to me sending a kite to fly I would never be able to deal with it. The thought that my wanting to share the joy of kiting caused a parent to loose a child or a son not getting to have his mom or dad see him graduate is a cross that I do not want to bare.

Again I love the fact that you want to support the troops I just think it should be done here at home.

Quote:

Originally posted by Wallwalker I was also on the same stretch of sand at the same time you were USMC. Look I like your idea but I am not sure you have thought the full implications of the idea out. It is a diffrent war than when you and I were over in the sandbox. The idea of our troups keeping entertained and in shape is great however what you are speaking about is putting a targets of diffrent sizes and colors on our troups.

Always good to see some fellow vets. I was over there three years ago and on almost every base there was at least one great place some one could kite. I understand what you mean about the targets but they are flying blimps over the bases. I don't think a couple of kites would really put soldiers in more danger than they already are from what is already in the air there. Now going out into the desert and flying outside the wire is a different matter. Big banner attracts attention. Patterns are established that when the kite is in the air a bunch of americans are distracted. Yeah that could be bad, but if flying inside the bases, I don't think that would get them mortared any more.

I really like the idea of getting them involved when they get home too. When they get back they need something to fill the void. A passion for kiting might fill in nicely.

Looks like some have already been flying over there. Thats great and maybe it will catch on for those who can without being a target.

Now that I'm sick with this kite thing, I can't stop thinking about the places I've been before I knew.

yea guys, coming home too or with a new hobby would be a big plus.

4 years navy, 4 years army. There are safe enough places out there to fly. Boredom is a killer when deployed. Might keep a few kids from picking up an article 15.

Well I have a cuz coming in next week for a week before he's heads to Afghanistan for a year. I got to get him out one day and let him hold some handles.

He will absolutely love this sport and have a little something to look forward too if the area is right.