Baron Bliss Day is Sunday and synonymous with the Baron Bliss weekend are the Harbor Regatta - and more recently the La Ruta Maya River Challenge and a cycling classic. But while those are the official events – keep your eyes on the sky because this is kite season. The weatherman is predicting a windy weekend – and so you can expect to see kites coloring the skyline – from Yabra to the BTL Park. Kite season is a time honored tradition – loved by children – and appreciated by all. At one time or another, just about all of us have flown a kite, but few live kite season as thoroughly as the next young man we’ll introduce you to.. Keith Swift has his story.
Keith Swift Reporting,
Nicholas Moguel has been making and flying kites from as far back as he can remember - you can say it is a way of life for Nicholas. That’s because every March the now 28 year old – gets into a sort of kite frenzy – almost compulsively making kites – and flying kites - alongside his 2 year old son.
Nicholas Moguel, Kite Maker
“From we were young boys we made plastic kites and out of paper, we started from we were young. It is not just today, we were in kite contests in like Yabra. We were there with big kites, bigger than we –we couldn’t even hold it down – were and you had five of us holding down one kite but we enjoy it though. Last night I was up until about 2:30 making kite. It is just to make kids happy, especially my son.”
Keith Swift,
Is it fun making these kites?
Nicholas Moguel,
“It’s a lot of fun, it takes a lot of time and a lot of stress. Sometimes you get tired and sleepy, you are nodding while making it and all of that. It is fun though – I enjoy doing it.”
Nicholas began seriously “doing it” for sale about three years ago after his brother died.
Nicholas Moguel,
“Its three years now since my brother died and I started doing it for fun, just to help out the kids because you know some of them can’t make kite. So we just do it to help the kids, sell them a cheap kite –
not high class – it is just for the ghetto youths because some of them can’t buy a $10 or $15 kite. Some of them can make their own kite but for the others we do it for fun for the kids.”
Keith Swift,
How long does it take you to make a kite?
Nicholas Moguel,
“Like ten to fifteen minutes on one kite. What I do first is a frame everything, string up, paper, and then glue and then my frills. You hold it like this and then you just hear it sing, that is why people call it stringer. You can listen to it through the string. Moony is the kite everybody makes and then you have the ones they call starry. A lot of people don’t make starry but I make all kinds of kite, even birdy, but it takes time.”
Keith Swift,
How many of these will you make?
Nicholas Moguel,
“Well right now I am up to 19 but I still got more because today is just Friday and I have the whole of Saturday and then Sunday morning is the contest so I still have up to Sunday to make the kite. I have like a next forty more. It will take day and night to complete them. It is only when I come home from work that I have time. So as I come from work between 5:30 and 6, I get into it and I go through until like 2 in the morning.”
A lot of time but few materials – all he needs are coconut straw for the frame, kite paper for the body, and glue – and the knowledge. Nicholas says the process is simple.
Nicholas Moguel,
“You make the frame, you glue up, you put on the papers, and then you make the frills. It is all about how you make a kite. It is not professional, it is how you make it because everyone can make a kite I believe.”
But the key is its ability to fly. That’s where Nicholas says it could get tricky.
Nicholas Moguel,
“The key to raising the kite is the loop. If the loop isn’t set right or it isn’t made right, it won’t go up. The tail is also important. The bigger the kite, the longer the tail because the kite holds down the weight so that it can stay in the sky. This one is a mounting loop, so if you hold it like this you pull and this goes up.”
And we all know what happens next – the kite becomes airborne, carrying with it the hopes of the craftsman – as it frolics in the winds and bounces amongst the clouds – a sight priceless to children.
Nicholas Moguel,
“It is just the way kids see it how it flies because my son right here loves kites. It is just a sport which kids love. A kite is something all young kids are into. People just like to see it, if I would take this to town right now – they would be asking me how I made the kite – and people are surprised we still make kites like this because you can buy kites already made but we still prefer the real Belizean homemade kite.”
Nicholas Moguel is still taking orders – you can reach him at home on Supal Street or at the Safeway Drug Store on King Street. He sells his kites for $4 – which is the cost price. The City Council will be sponsoring a site contest at the BTL Park on Monday.
