I think what makes the difference between a good hobby and a GREAT one is the people you meet and get to share time with. I have had the pleasure of meeting a few fine individuals on kite fields, and one such is John Barresi.
I have had the privilege of getting to know John personally over the past ten years, and my respect and admiration seems to increase with each meeting. Not only is he an amazing kite flier, but I have also found him to be a thoughtful, relationally generous, kind soul.
I joke that John could fly the hood of a car - he's just that good with a kite. In his forties, John has been flying kites since he was fifteen. His list of accomplishments are legion - National Championships (7x American Kite Magazine Circuit (cumulative season) 19x AKA Grand Nationals (single event face off))
Also, John has been active and innovating in the kite industry, kite associations, 
and kite events. He has participated in kite events in over a dozen countries. Not just a very skilled, creative flyer he is a true ambassador of the sport.
Many people know John from his popular online Kitelife.com and his extensive online video kite tutorials, both free and on a subscription basis. Kitelife.com is one of the most trusted and significant sources of multi-line kite information anywhere.
John is also highly regarded for his work with IQuad. In 2006, John co-founded iQuad and together they prolifically promoted the world of Rev team flying which ultimately led to the creation of his Signature Series with Revolution Kites in 2007 (the B-Series)… This later spawned the B-Pro (2008) and larger Zen kites (2010) which are handmade exclusively by teammate and kite maker extraordinaire Bazzer Poulter. Barresi, not being content with "good enough" saw another innovation in 2011 with the B-Series Xtra Vent and smaller, nimble B-2.
After performing at over 125 events worldwide in just seven years, Team iQuad disbanded peacefully in September of 2013.
If the great outdoors and west coast breeze didn't provide enough opportunity for quality airtime, Barresi also flies indoors. Flying indoors since 1992, John is a master with the Indoor Rev, dual line or various gliders. Together with his charming wife TK and teammate Spence Watson, he co-founded the indoor show team FlyForm in January of 2012 with an explosive debut routine set to “Pump It” by the Black Eyed Peas.
Personally, in addition to all the above (and much more - American Kitefliers Association, Kite Trade Industry Association)) what impresses me most about John Barresi is his generosity of spirit. I have had several opportunities to share a kite field at festivals with JB, and one can't help but notice how even in the midst a demanding demonstration schedule, John is often found out on the public flying fields giving folks the opportunity to fly his kite, provide one-on-one instruction, and advice to young and old alike. Barresi is an effective communicator with infectious joy of kites, which in my books makes him a top notch spokesmen for the kite industry and a great guy to share a flying field with.
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