“It is often the kite that pilots us and not the other way around,” explains Michaël Gagnebin while pulling the strings. This Saturday, a few enthusiasts and curious people gathered at the sporting venue in Colombier on the badminton courts to fly kites. “Indoor kiting or indoor kite flying is about flying a sail when there is no wind,” explains Damien Jakob, who has been practicing this sport for four years. This discipline combines dexterity, movement and adaptation. “It’s very precise. The slightest movement of the hand causes the kite to take a different trajectory.”
Damien Jakob carefully pulls the threads of his sail. And immediately, she rises into the air. A few manipulations later, it turns, changes course and sometimes even turns around. “By practicing, we begin to understand the behavior of the kite following our movements.” Beyond the physical mastery of sailing, it is also the mastery of an element: the air. “The idea is also to become aware of this matter that surrounds us. We really gain this tactile awareness when we are in the room,” says Michaël Gagnebin, who became interested in kite flying during the Covid-19 period. Indoor practice offers freedoms from the outside and does not allow:
A return to simple things
Damien Jakob and Michael Gagnebin met about four years ago at a “spot” in the region. Their shared passion for kite flying and their philosophy of “returning to simple things” quickly brought them together. The two kite flyers also like to share moments in nature to fly their sails in beautiful places. Their friendship allowed them to exchange and perfect their technique. “At first I was afraid of damaging my kites so I didn’t dare to do too much complex manipulation. It’s thanks to Michael that I got through this stage,” explains Damien Jakob.
Tips for Beginners
If this sport was very successful in the 90s to 2000, today there are only a small community practicing it. Damien Jakob and Michael Gagnebin organize initiations, but have no ambition to form a sports club. However, they are happy to provide some advice to curious people who would like to get started.
When you start a sport like indoor kiting, you shouldn’t be afraid of being a little frustrated at first. “It takes time to find the right kite for what you want to do and to master it. In addition, you really have to dare to put your body in motion and not just pull the strings. », explains Michael Gagnebin. The choice of the first kite is also important. “The best way to choose is to approach people who are practicing to ask for advice. But in terms of budget, if you want a good sail, you need to count on 100 to 150 francs.” /crb
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