I.K.U.

Like many others I made my first kite at a young age (5) and was very proud it actually flew!

Many years later, around 1972 I flew for the first time a two line kite, the Peter Powell. Together with a friend even a 'stack' of three. A few years later, after a friend (Gerard van der Loo) started a big kite store, I regulary helped other kiteflyers with their experiments and of course flew many different kites myself.

In 1988, together with 5 other flyers we started a team (first called DUST, later The Dike Hoppers), flying two line kites. That team came 4th at the World Cup in 1991.

Judging

Early 1992 (after the team fell apart) I started judging. With the help of a few experienced international judges I could judge international for the first time at the Euro-cup in the Netherlands end of 1992.

Since then I judged at at least 70 big International events and many more National championships.

About 15 Euro-Cups ; 5 World Cups (in Australia, France, Japan, USA; two as Chief judge) and invitational events in Malaysia, France, Germany, Italy and China (since 2005 !).
All in all more than 5000 score-sheets filled!

Rules

In 1993 I made sure the text of the then current rule-book (STACK/AKA version 3) was available on the Internet (had to type it again..) and later wrote the amendments. The same year I started to collect compulsory figures for a new rule book. Together with other International  judges I designed many figures (many still in use) and I was the first to design figures for pairs (two lines) and figures for four lines (individual, pair, team). In 1995 I issued a compuIsory book and started to improve the then current rule book. I also took the initiative to translate the books (in French, German and Dutch) in 1996. In 1998 I wrote a new rule book and issued it early 1999, a few months before the IRBC one. The book from 1999 is now revised completely, including two completely new compulsory books. (revised -minor changes-; added a few figures and published it 2015-01-02)

Support

Supporting kite flyers was always (and still is) important for me. Not only with flying. I have assisted many times at the Scheveningen festival and assisted many organisers of festivals and competitions, including World cup and Euro cup.  Coaching competitors to give back the knowledge I gained while watching them fly for many hours.
I developed the materials for judging (score sheets, scoring programs etc) and equipment for competitons.

I also wrote a number of articles on judging and running competition for Kite Life magazine and “Drachen Magazine” (which does not exists anymore). Of course a web site too, since 1997. To assist “kite-”people I wrote small handbooks for organisers, judges and -of course- flyers.

My involvement in rules, regulations and support of competition was and is directed to make kite competitions as fair, honest and -most importantly- as enjoyable as possible!

Organisation.

In 1989 I became member of STACK, the World wide (but practically mainly European) competitive kite flyers organisation. Since then I have been Member-at Large, President, International Head Judge and -still- Event Coordinator [see note]. I maintained the STACK web site.

Since its start -also in 1989- I have been involved in the Dutch branch of STACK.

Note: due to lack of interest (and some negative actions of a few people) STACK International has been resolved, and it no longer exists officially in any form.  As the last working member of the governing body (SIEC) I had to, and finalized that process.