Bay Harbour: November 28, 2024

<strong>Bay</strong> <strong>Harbour</strong> News Thursday <strong>November</strong> <strong>28</strong> <strong>2024</strong><br />

24<br />

NEWS<br />

Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz<br />

Jim’s in his element at Kite Day<br />

A QUIET hero of the annual<br />

kite-flying event, Jim Nicholls<br />

returns to New Brighton beach<br />

each summer to delight crowds.<br />

The 84-year-old kite-flying enthusiast<br />

and YouTuber said ever<br />

since he started flying – about<br />

15 years ago – he’s encouraged<br />

others to do the same.<br />

“To understand the pleasure<br />

that kites can provide, you need<br />

to actually experience it, so I<br />

encourage as many people as<br />

possible to bring a kite and join<br />

with other fliers – it’s a lot of<br />

fun,” Jim said.<br />

“Unlike some kite festivals,<br />

which are merely spectator<br />

events, Kite Day is open to<br />

participation by anyone. I enjoy<br />

seeing people, especially children,<br />

who don’t usually fly kites<br />

taking part and having a lot of<br />

fun,” said Jim.<br />

Jim has attended all but one<br />

Kite Day since he started flying,<br />

and has amassed a wide array of<br />

kites.<br />

“On Kite Day I try to fly kites<br />

that appeal to children, as it’s<br />

really their day, I feel. I’ve flown<br />

SpongeBob, Mickey Mouse,<br />

teddy bears, and various cartoon<br />

and game characters, as well as<br />

other colourful and attractive<br />

kites, including large octopus<br />

and other sea creatures,” he said.<br />

With the ability to fly large<br />

groups of kites all at once, Jim<br />

puts on a spectacularly colourful<br />

show.<br />

“What kites actually get flown<br />

depends a lot on the wind conditions.<br />

Last Kite Day was probably<br />

the best we’ve ever had, with<br />

sunshine and a steady easterly<br />

breeze all day.”<br />

Great weather conditions also<br />

assisted Jim in achieving his personal<br />

kite-flying record in May<br />

2017, when he flew over 50 smiley<br />

kites on New Brighton beach<br />

to celebrate his 1000th YouTube<br />

kite video.<br />

“It was fun until the time came<br />

to pack them all away,” he says.<br />

Jim’s channel has more than<br />

11,000 subscribers, about 7<br />

million views, and is watched by<br />

people around the world.<br />

“I have made many overseas<br />

friends because of it.”<br />

Kite Day is a free event for<br />

all ages, with entertainment<br />

hosted by The Hits, including<br />

a sandcastle competition. Food<br />

trucks and a kite shop will also<br />

be onsite at the event hub.<br />

• Kite Day will be held on<br />

Saturday, February 1,<br />

from noon to 4pm, at New<br />

Brighton beach,<br />

with the event’s hub<br />

at the car park south of the<br />

New Brighton Pier and the<br />

adjacent beach front<br />

FLYING HIGH: Kite<br />

enthusiast Jim Nicholls<br />

has more than 11,000<br />

subscribers to his YouTube<br />

channel. PHOTOS: CCC<br />

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