Kite flying is one of the oldest past-times known to man, dating back thousands of years to ancient days of yore when men were men, women were women and you couldn't get hold of a decent carbon fibre rod or lightweight, zero-stretch, airtight fabric for love nor money (which hadn't yet been invented).

Freestyle flying is dragging kite flying kicking and screaming into the 21st Century. Hi-technology, space-age materials and advanced aerodynamic designs have turned the humble kite into a highly tuned instrument, capable of incredible precision, control and accuracy. Trick kites evolved from melting pot of kite design during the 1990's, bringing to life a radical monster capable of incredible, string twisting and mind-warping tricks. Freestyle kites and the freestyle way of flying is the natural progression from that point, being a fusion of trick-oriented, slack-line combinations and classic, controlled flying. It defies accurate definition by its very nature, being entirely free-form and open to interpretation. Anything goes, but on the whole the emphasis is on improvisation, control, clean flying and a good helping of radical moves. It's about freedom of choice and plenty of style.

In May 1998, the first Freestyle Knockout competition, was run at Bath Kite Festival in the UK. It has evolved and grown over the past 2 years, with minor tweaks and variations in the name and format, to become a regular fixture at many UK kite festivals. It has also been adopted in several other countries along with other variations and similar competitions. We now also present a new, embyonic competition format, Technical Freestyle, which we plan to start running in the UK during the 2000 season.

• London Kite Festival, Hackney Marshes, London. 17-18th June 2000.
  We'll be running an open Freestyle Knockout competition at the London Kite Festival. For more details on the festival, see http://www.netspaces.com/londonkitefestival

• Bath Festival, UK, 27th May 200
  A high standard of flying from all competitors in difficult wind conditions. Robin Smith beat Richard Beckett in a closely fought final to take the first freestyle round in 2000.

• UK Rankings as of 30th May 200
  The results from Bath give us these inital rankings.

• Freestyle Knockout Competition Rules
  Rules and guidelines for the original Freestyle Knockout competition.

• NEW: Technical Freestyle Competition Rules
  Preliminary rules and guidelines for a new freestyle competition format loosely based a league-style precision format.