CALL HIM the king of kites if you wish.
However, David Robinson is not about the titles. All the 50-year-old wants is for the popularity of the kite flying competition to make a rebound.
The resident of Weir’s Gap, Britton’s Hill, St Michael said he actually made a living from making kites and the best part was that he enjoyed what he did.
“Youngsters of today aren’t interested in anything so,” he said.
Walking the NATION team down memory lane during a recent interview, Robinson said he started making what were called “two sticky” kites at eight years old from coconut bones, flour mixed with water as adhesive, and plastic bags and graduated to the bigger kites from there.
The kite lover has since upgraded to different materials including deal board (a very soft wood), aluminium, pine, rope and sheets.
He said he treasured the good old days and frowned upon the current interests of youngsters who he said have strong loyalties to technology.
In the 90s when the competition was in its zenith as Robinson explained, the Garrison Savannah was the place to be.
“I don’t want to spend my Easter watching TV in comfort; I want to be at the Garrison hot and sweaty,” he said, laughing.
“But [seriously] the kite flying competition should come back; it was a great sport. Barbadians need this competition, it needs to come back to the community,” he said with passion bulging from his eyes.
Recounting the stories of the competition days which ended in the “early 2000s”, the man who confessed that he preferred the simple way of life, boasted of never losing the advertisement title.
“I won 20 years in a row and many companies would have come to me and sponsored me the materials [including] the Nation newspaper.”
He said some kites were almost like floating social commentaries dealing with issues and personalities of the day, including Osama bin Laden, Obadele Thompson and Winston Hall.
Robinson was quick to point out a select few who were part of his unofficial kite crew in Brittons Hill, including the Badenocks family and good friend Winston Jordan.
One year he said he had no problem making sponsored kites for ten companies.
With a smile, Robinson counted on his fingers the winnings – “We win first, second, kite of the year and best overall kite – I win everything that year with a 25-foot kite sponsored by Simpson Motors.”
He went back to his longing for the kite competition.
“I would love the competition to come back. Somebody take up the event and sponsor it. It should not be left to go down,” he added.
He said he was not yet ready to give up on his love for kites, but rather was anticipating the revival of the competition. (MR)
