WAA holding kite art auction

 

WHITEWATER – On Sunday, Sept. 28 at 5:30 p.m., 58 one-of-a-kind kites that have graced the streets of downtown Whitewater this summer will be auctioned off to the highest bidders during the Whitewater Arts Alliance's 10th and final (for a while) fundraiser at the Cultural Arts Center, 402 West Main St., Whitewater.

No tickets are required and there will be no admission charge to attend the auction.

Doors open at 5 p.m. with live music, refreshments and an opportunity to view all the kites and prepare bids between 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. (well after the Green Bay Packers are finished playing). Proceeds from the auction go to fund the works of the Whitewater Arts Alliance throughout the year.

The kites of the 10th public art project were up on ...more

Corniel and Pulido propelled into Big Air victory

 

Big Air kiteboarding competitions are getting more popular than ever. Ariel Corniel and Gisela Pulido have proved that humans can fly.

With winds gusting up to 35 knots, the Tarifa Pro Kite Tour 2014 held a Big Air contest. This kiteboarding discipline has its secrets: you've got to time the jumps nicely, as there were large holes on the inside of the competition area.

Riders combined their sky high jumps with variations on spins, kite loops and board-offs. Each high jump sent the crowds lining the beach into a roar, clearly pumping the competitors up with confidence to go even bigger on their next pass.

With the judging criteria consisting of 70% height and 30% technical difficulty, the strategy was definitely to go big at all costs.

Giselo Pulido was playing in her home turf. Ariel Corniel won the Men's final with consistent big jumps, combined with inverted spins, and a risky double handle pass.

"For me, the big air discipline is one of the most explosive aspects of ...more