The History of the Bay Area Sundowners
The Bay Area Sundowners were founded in March 1980 in San Francisco, California, by kite-flying pioneer Mix McGraw (Ace) and newcomer Wayne Peterson (Kamikaze).
Brought together by a shared passion for precision stunt-kite flying, they set the stage for what would become one of the most enduring and influential performance kite teams in the world.
A Chance Encounter
Mix and Wayne met while working at EDS (Electronic Data Systems) at 1 Beach Street in San Francisco. One afternoon during lunch, Wayne noticed a crowd gathering at the Pier. Curious, he went over to see what was happening.
As he got closer, he realized the crowd was watching kites performing intricate tricks and precise maneuvers. It was Mix, his co-worker, flying the kites. Absolutely captivated, Wayne approached Mix a day later and asked if he could teach him to fly. Mix agreed, marking the beginning of a lifelong friendship.
Taking Flight at Pier 39
Since KiteMakers at Pier 39, owned by Michael McFadden, sponsored Mix at the time, Wayne was brought into the fold. Together, they took to the skies at the Pier, wowing crowds with their precision team flying and intricate kite routines.
How the Name Was Born
The team’s name was decided during a meeting at a small Chinese restaurant in the city. Since the team often met and flew after work at the Marina Green—often until the sun went down—it was suggested that Bay Area Sundowners would be a better fit.