Without a stable northern wind,the larger kites are helpless. The odako teams must wait for a change in the weather, and hope that they're ready when the north wind finnally arrives. While they wait, the teams step back from the excitement of the riverside to ensure that their ropes are strung correctly. These ropes are made bu hand, which makes them extremely strong so they can serve two purposes : controlling the kite, and standing up to the tugs of war. Teamwork constitutes another important part of the kite competition. The most important thing is teamwork. Everyone runs around clinging to the same rope, so they have to work together. This is very important. Without teamwork, these kites won't fly, they'll fall right to the ground