No, I don’t mean that as a punishment or harsh demand to leave me alone.  Honestly, if someone yelled at me to “go fly a kite,” I’d happily say, “OK,” and go enjoy the act of harnessing wind with a colorful kite in the sky.  

Flying a kite is a great activity for windy days, so rather than complaining about the wind, it is a good option to have a kite in reserve to take to a wide open park, field or even on a river or pond without any trees or power lines as obstructions.  

Kites come in many shapes and sizes; most people picture a diamond-shaped, colorful kite with a long, equally colorful tail.  This type of kite is often the simplest and easiest to fly without too much frustration in getting them into the air. There are also two-line kites that are shaped more like paragliding wings; these are more maneuverable and controllable for a more sporty fly.  

Kites have even developed into hybrid kite surfing boards for water and snow enthusiasts on lakes and wide open snowfields in the central and western United States.  

But here in the east, locating wide open fields and places to fly a typical kite can be a bit more challenging. When we have a strong enough and sustainable wind in our area, it typically comes from the northwest, so setting up on the northwest edge of a field, then letting your line out downwind, will yield a productive kite experience with hopefully plenty of open space in which to fly.  

It is often nice to have a second person around to help get a good launch of a kite, especially for beginners and novices.  One person holds the kite handle and line spool, and one person holds the actual kite up in the air during the launch.  It may take a few tries to get a good flight, but it is important to remain optimistic, because once the kite takes off in the air, you can sustain a long flight, really feel the wind’s power, and be part of the relationship of kite and wind.  

I have learned too that with a strong enough fishing line on most any fishing rod and reel setup, any single-line kite can be attached to a fishing rod and flown that way.  It is a fun way to hybridize the use of a fishing rod and reel to control a kite.  It can also teach an individual how to properly use 

the reel and drag systems on a fishing reel, and it actually feels like you are fighting a fish once the kite is in the air. 

I have found that the Synapse dual-line kites are most enjoyable to fly, with an element of control being part of the experience.  I also enjoy flying the standard single-line kites on fishing rods when the opportunity arises.  

Flying a kite forces you to look up to the sky and create an open and engaged body stance.  The side effects of kite flying will enhance your mood and likely bring a smile to your face.  Even if frustration sets in while trying to get the kite to fly successfully, once you achieve a good flight, it will feel like a well earned accomplishment, which also helps enhance mood and well-being.   

So the next time you hear the wind blowing before you even get out of bed, rather than complain about the wind and weather, go grab a kite, head to the park, and give the kite a fly. It is a surprisingly enjoyable activity that is often overlooked.  Plus, next time you go on a beach vacation, you will score major brownie points with other beachgoers for your kite-flying prowess.