The Pilots Meeting: A Sky Rider Limited Podcast

On this first part of our first two part episode we are catching up with my friend Cassie Shook, the Kite Shop Lady. Cassie and her parents, Cath and Elliot, run Flying Smiles Kites in Corolla, NC. While rain and extra high winds made flying a bit rough on Sunday during the recent Maryland International Kite Expo we decided to retreat and record this episode. This was very much unplanned and so its more than a little all over the place but that's the best part! so buckle up and come for the ride as we dig into just what it means to be "the kite shop lady".Chapters0:00 Introduction1:04 Kite Shop Lady Origin Storie2:32 Kite Shop Dynamics6:09 Keeping Things Diverse15:29 Kite Selection and Customer Service23:19 Kite Flying Stories36:38 Foil Kite Challenges39:07 Customer Service Philosophy

This month we are spending some time with a kiting icon, John Barresi. John has done just about everything there is to do with a sport kite, from competing and preforming all over the world to teaching and coaching the next batch of flyers. John is probably best known for his pivotal involvement in the progression and expansion of quad line flying and in particular quad line team flying. Join me as we go behind the scenes and all the way back to John's start in kites on this episode of The Pilots meeting.Chapters00:00 Early Exposure to Kites05:20 Signature Routine and Kite Evolution11:35 Formation of iQuad and Global Tour19:35 Community and Content Creation25:01 Kite Life Magazine and Kite Forums32:00 Revolution Kite Series and Evolution37:50 Team Kite Life

This month on The Pilots Meeting we are catching up with my friend and one of the most talented kite flyers I know, Carl Robertshaw. Carl's life in kites has taken him some truly remarkable places. From massive kites that drink in the light to world championship performances Carl's in kiting life is pretty accomplished. But outside of kites his skills have taken him even farther to places like the Olympics, The Commonwealth Games, Broadway and even space. so come along was we dig into Carl's stories here on The Pilots Meeting.Chapters00:00 Early Kite Experiences10:58 Competing in Sport Kites and Team Flying18:03 Venturing into Live Events22:56 Space Knitting29:24 The Olympics and Beyond35:18 Art Kites and Installations45:31 Scale Models and Hobbies

Welcome to The Pilots Meeting, a podcast dedicated to uncovering the behind-the-scenes stories of kiting through the voices of the people who lived them. Each episode dives into the moments, decisions, and experiences that shaped the world of kiting, offering listeners a closer look at what really happens beyond the colors in the sky. Today we catch up with Brett Marchel of Brett Marchel Adventures. Brett has been a staple in kiting for over a decade, performing at festivals with teams like Kite Life and Sky FX as well as individually and in shows by groups like Kiteman Productions. Brett is also an artist, support and lover of all things kites. Brett’s mentality, approaching kites as toys and looking at what we do from the point of view of a circus mirrors my own in many ways. The seriousness and work ethic he brings to the table at the same time has made him one of the best and most well rounded flyiers today. So, join us as we take a stroll back through Brett’s journey from the first kite all the way to Disney and the World Cup. We talk about some of his projects and even get a behind the scenes look at some of the things that never quite worked along the way. 0:00 Introduction1:11 Brett Discovers Kites4:07 To The Internet7:01 A Well Rounded Pilot11:28 You Can’t Fly There15:53 Invitation to India – Brett’s First Festival19:05 Forming SkyFX24:30 Kite Design and Prototyping25:26 Collaborating with John Barresi28:12 The Original Djinn Prototype32:07 Open-Minded Kite Design33:28 Transition to Shows – First Experiences With Kiteman37:46 Cedar Point and Boardwalk Nights43:29 The Aurora Project50:15 Art Kites For South Padre52:43 Enter The Forest56:03 Upcoming Events and Performances

Welcome to The Pilots Meeting, a podcast dedicated to uncovering the behind-the-scenes stories of kiting through the voices of the people who lived them. Each episode dives into the moments, decisions, and experiences that shaped the world of kiting, offering listeners a closer look at what really happens beyond the colors in the sky.In today’s episode, we’re joined by John Lutter of the Kiteman Group, an organization that has been bringing kites to audiences around the world for decades. Known for producing large-scale kite shows, the Kiteman Group has helped introduce kiting to countless people through performances at major theme parks, including Disney World.Together, we explore how it all came to be—from the early days at balloon festivals to putting on shows of Disney proportions—and take a closer look at what it truly takes to create memorable kite experiences for audiences everywhere. So, settle in and join us for a behind-the-scenes conversation that takes a closer look at just what it takes to be the kite man. 0:00 Introduction - Welcome to The Pilots Meeting01:07 John Lutter's Journey Into Kiting07:27 John's First Show14:50 Bruce Flora and Kiteman Productions17:46 The First Disney Show24:09 Kite Tales and Recent Productions28:49 Equipment Evolution34:36 Disney Magic - The Show Must Go On42:47 EPCOT Forever47:04 Getting into Character54:30 John's Favorite Show56:55 Broadening The Offering1:01:42 Wrapping Up - Bruce's Legacy