THE

WESPORT WINDRIDERS

KITE FESTIVAL 2010

JULY 9, 10, & 11

ON THE BEACH IN
GRAYLAND, WASHINGTON

FEATURED GUEST
KITE ARTIST

JOSE SAINZ

OF
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA

I have been making and flying kites since 1989.  My fascination with kites started when I was introduced to them by a friend at worker.  My friend would go out in the afternoon and fly his beautiful "Stunt Kite" in tune to the music.  I went out with him several times and marveled at the way he could make his kite dance to the wind.  Soon after I bought my own kite and got hooked.

I work for the local Electric Utility Company in San Diego as a Senior Conversion Planner.  My responsibilities include the Design and Coordination of large construction project to remove existing overhead electric wire and pole from City streets and replace them with all new underground subsurface trench and conduit systems.

I was borne in the State of Sinaloa, Mexico in 1954 I immigrated with my family to California, USA in 1966. My family settled in San Diego making it our home until present time.  As a child, I was raised to embrace my new found culture in America but, I was always encouraged to keep close bonds and respect for my Mexican heritage.

I began the second stage of my life when I met and fell in love with my beautiful wife Carol.  We married in 1977 and proceeded to raised three wonderful kids, Allina, Eric and Alex.  I credit my mother for giving me the love and inspiration for sewing.  I remember as a child growing up, standing next to my mother's sewing machine watching her create beautiful bridal gowns.  My mother was a single parent and worked as a seamstress while raising my siblings and I.

My inspiration for kite making came from Randy Tom.  Randy is one of the early time "National Sports kite" and "Single Line" AKA (American Kitefliers Association) champion as well as owner of the now defunct "Hyperkite Co" in San Diego.  I met Randy as an early sports kite flyer and soon became a member of his "Hyperkite Elite flight team" based in San Diego California but made up of members from San Diego and Hawaii.

I soon discovered Randy's brilliant talent for sewing and kite making design.  I spent countless hours observing and learning Randy's kite making and appliqué techniques over the years.  It was Randy as my mentor who suggested I find a "niche" or a style of my own that people would recognize my kites by.

I took Randy's advice seriously and began building kite depicting ancient Aztec Gods and bold colorful designs.  My best recognized kite and winner of the 1992 AKA Grand National Championship is the "Aztec Calendar" kite.  The kite is a replica of the ancient Aztec Calendar on a 10-foot hexagon style shaped kite with a trailing 60-foot long tail.  In 1994, I built my second National Champion kite, the "Aztec Warrior".  This kite is a 12-foot tall Shirone style kite depicting Chuactemoc, a legendary warrior from the ancient Aztec civilization of Mexico.
My third and last Champion kite was built for the 2004 AKA convention in Ocean City, MD. The shape of the kite is an eight point star with a 55-foot long tail.  I call this kite "New Zealand Star".

I have built a variety of odd shaped and size kites over the last several years but the one I'm most proud of is a 12-foot tall Shirone style kite of an underwater mermaid scene of named "Catalina".  Over the years I have attended and displayed my kites at numerous National and International kite festivals around the world including Japan, India, Thailand, New Zealand, Denmark, Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom, Guatemala and Canada.

I have also conducted numerous kite-making workshops all around the nation and have appeared in several nationally televised Cable shows such as "The Canoll Duval Show" and "What's my Hobby".

My kites have been featured in several Algebra and Geometry text book publications as well as regional Tourist magazines around the country.  I'm an active member of the American Kiteflyers Association in the USA and also belong to the "San Diego Kite Club "in my home town of San Diego, CA.  I have been a long time member of the Kite Art Committee for the AKA and recently have been named to the Board of the directors for the Drachen Foundation in Seattle, WA.

I have recently discovered the wonderful world of making kites out of natural materials like paper and Bamboo.  It is a challenging but extremely creative and rewarding experience.  My most recent award was for a paper kite creation displayed at the 2006 Dieppe International Kite Festival in Dieppe, France were I had the honor of being the official representative of my birthplace of Mexico.  I was recognized as the winner of the prestigious "Cup de Coeur" awarded by Du Cerf-Volant Club de France for the most inspirational kite of the event.

I enjoy all aspects of kite making and kites flying.  I'm also fascinated with the history of kites and the diverse use of kites in cultural events the study of science around the world.  My greatest enjoyment in kitting is sharing the sky with all the wonderful friends I have met over the years.

The thought of it makes me smile!!
 

Schedule of events, click here.

For directions to the Festival, click here.