Competitors at the indoor kite competition at the Wildwoods International Kite Festival need to give a performance with best choreography, execution, and entertainment value, while being the wind for their kites, writes Susan Snyder for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The Memorial Day competition earns the winner bragging rights and points toward a national indoor kite competition entry that has no wind at all. Held in a convention center, all the windows and doors are closed with no fans blowing for the performances.

This is why the kites for the indoor competition weigh only a few grams, even though some are nine feet tall and three feet wide.

One of this year’s performers was a first-time competitor, Rich Cairncross, a Drexel professor from Media who builds his own kites. He flew one on Memorial Day that weighed just 14 grams and was shaped like an autumn leaf.

The audience of around 100 was treated to amazing performances from eight competitors. Thomas Harris, a Villanova professor who teaches aerodynamics, came to the competition to film it and show it to his students.

“They were amazing,” said Harris. “They have to balance the weight with lift; that’s a huge challenge.”

Read more about the indoor kite competition in the Philadelphia Inquirer by clicking here.