# Ray Bethell

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{{Short description|Canadian kite flier (1928–2018)}}
[[Image:RayBethell2006BKF.JPG|right|thumb|Ray Bethell flying three kites at the 2006 [Berkeley Kite Festival](/source/Berkeley_Kite_Festival).]]

'''Ray Bethell''' (March 1, 1928 - December 18, 2018) was a professional [kite flyer](/source/Kite_flying) who resided in [Vancouver](/source/Vancouver), British Columbia, Canada. He holds multiple endurance world records related to simultaneously flying three [stunt kite](/source/stunt_kite)s, one from each hand and one from his hips. Using the same technique he can fly multiple stacks of kites (up to 39 kites in total). Bethell has travelled extensively since 1991 displaying his prowess at International Kite Festivals.<ref>{{cite web |title=Raymond Bethell |url=http://vancouversunandprovince.remembering.ca/obituary/raymond-bethell-1928-2018-1072184349 |publisher=Vancouver Sun |access-date=12 May 2019}}</ref>

He was the subject of a [documentary](/source/Documentary_film) [short film](/source/Short_subject) by Matt Nie of the [Vancouver Film School](/source/Vancouver_Film_School), [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0465480/ "Good Stuff"], which won first place at the 2005 [TriBeCa Film Festival](/source/TriBeCa_Film_Festival) in [New York City](/source/New_York_City).<ref name="UW student honored">{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=PD&s_site=twincities&p_multi=SP&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=109F1A95FA1FCCA3&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=UW student honored for short film |last=Kowalik |first=Pam |date=May 4, 2005 |work=St. Paul Pioneer Press (MN) |access-date=2009-05-19}}</ref>

In October 2006, a commemorative bench was unveiled at Ray's home flying spot, Vanier Park in [Vancouver](/source/Vancouver), British Columbia, Canada.  This project was initiated by Michelle Welsford and Gary Mark of Toronto and an international campaign to raise funds for this bench began in January, 2006.

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite news|url=http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/mar/28/record-smashing-kite-flyer-gives-a-lift-to-fest/|title=Record-Smashing Kite-Flyer Gives an Entertaining Lift to Kingston Fest |last=Henry|first=Chris |date=March 28, 2009 |work=Kitsap Sun|publisher=The E.W. Scripps Co|access-date=2009-05-19}}
*{{cite news|url=http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2008/oct/07/late-starter-now-high-flyer/|title=A real high-flyer |last=Lee |first=Nikita |date=October 7, 2008 |work=The Daily |publisher=APN News & Media Ltd|access-date=2009-05-19}}
*{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CC&s_site=contracostatimes&p_multi=CC&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=10BBD6999607CD10&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=King of kite flies skies around the world, world record holder Ray Bethell will showcase his mastery to crowds in 20 countries this year |date=July 31, 2005 |work=Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek) |publisher=Bay Area News Group |access-date=2009-05-19}}
*{{cite news|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-87145672.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025150537/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-87145672.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 25, 2012 |title=Sky dancing: "fly a kite for 15 minutes and you're a different person". |last=Werb|first=Jessica|date=June 22, 2002 |work=Beautiful British Columbia Magazine |access-date=2009-05-19}}
*{{cite news|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-32995250_ITM |title=Kite-flying icons to abound: 2007 festival opens three-day stand in Niagara Falls today. |last=Kowalik |first=Pam |date= September 27, 2007 |work=Buffalo News (Buffalo, NY) |access-date=2009-05-19}}

{{refend}}

==External links==
*Bethell's website
*[http://www.kitelife.com/videos/demo/bethell_promo.htm An amazing promo video of Ray Bethell flying three Kestrels]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bethell, Ray}}
Category:Canadian kite fliers
Category:Sportspeople from Vancouver
Category:2018 deaths
Category:1928 births

{{Canada-sport-bio-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ray Bethell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Bethell) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Bethell?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.