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At
10-years-old, my father and I visited a kite shop near my
grandparent’s house in Florida. Once inside, our eyes darted
around all the skillfully crafted wind art dangling among the rafters.
After about an hour, we found ourselves gazing at the same 2-line
controllable kite. It was obvious we were both mesmerized as we
dreamed flying it.
My
father bought that stunt kite and we took it to the beach for first
flight. As the kite launched, my mind went blank and all thoughts
vanished…except for that kite dancing around the sky. For
me, it was therapeutic and I soon became infatuated with anything
that flew in the wind. As I grew up, it was one of the few things
my dad and I uniquely shared interest in.
A few years and kites later, I found that a big enough
kite could loft me into the sky for a few brief seconds of flight.
As I grew, so did the kites. Till one day, a friend dared me to
take out his surfboard with a power kite stack. Even though it would
be another 10 years before kiteboarding would become an official
sport, I took to the waves and kite sports. While my first experience
was cut short by a wave crashing on me head, “catching some
air” became extremely exhilarating. I soon began experimenting
with kites that pulled and lifted.
Three schools and four degrees later, I found my self in business meetings often gazing out the window
hoping to find a flag or some leaves blowing around. For creative
inspiration, I would fly a kite or just sit outside in the breeze.
Then one day it happened. My passion got the best of me and on July
1st, 2001, I said adios to my software executive career and created
air.
Two years later on July 19th, 2003, air opened it’s first
brick ‘n mortar shop in Mt. Pleasant, SC. Based on the art
of interacting with the wind, air is passionate about offering great
stuff to help invigorate the soul. Whether watching a spinner out
side the kitchen window or catching 50 feet on a power kite, air
is about using fung (the wind) as a healing power to rejuvenate
and enlighten. Ancient cultures have
been doing it for centuries.
It's practice it today, only we call it
thairapy |
