Just saw 'The Kite Runner'- what a fantastic and inspirational movie- a must see, but read the book first! I found the idea of kite fighting fascinating and am wondering if anyone out their knows all the ins and outs of this sport. Apparently it has been huge in parts of Afghanistan particularly in the capital Kabul. I'm still bewildered how single line kites are able to 'dive', 'loop' and manoeuvre so easily. From what i could gather the idea with kite fighting is to loop the lines of your kite around those of others, pull the line hard, cutting the line of your opponent. The losing kite then falls from the sky. Apparently the Afghanis dip their lines in a glass resin which make it easier to slice through the line of a duelling kite.
Who knows, maybe one day we'll see Kite Fighting on the water! Manufacturers of kites take note of glass resin idea. To all the safety consious out there- JUST JOKING!- but go and check out the movie anyway if you haven't already.

yeah pretty much.

They also Auto zennith.

Someone could really clean up in Afghanistan with a two line trainer

His latest book A thousand splendid suns is also a cracker.

I have spent time in India and seen some of the kids doing this kind of thing, my nephew included. Its very difficult and requires a tremendous amount of skill.
Plus you get your hands all cut on the crushed glass which is glued to the lines.

There is a huge contest in Kabul every year that thousands enter and always results in at least one death when someone falls off a building.

Great fun.