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Welcome to <strong>The</strong> <strong>Kiteboarder</strong>’s Online Experience.<br />
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Location: Dominican Republic Rider: Jose Luis Lens: Raphael Faux<br />
Featured Video: Taking Davenport<br />
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Taking Davenport is a film about the growing territorial<br />
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Available at <strong>The</strong> <strong>Kiteboarder</strong> store for just $29.99,<br />
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piC: BiLDERBaCK<br />
MiG 12<br />
DENVER COON<br />
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For more info on the ‘07 MiG kite and Recoil board<br />
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Many people do not realize that<br />
Shannon Best is one of the most<br />
talented and stylish riders in our<br />
sport. From the most technical<br />
move to burning turns at mach<br />
speeds, Shannon makes everything<br />
look effortless. <strong>The</strong> photo on the<br />
cover was shot in Cumbuco, Brazil,<br />
and is a typical day in the office for<br />
the man behind Best Kiteboarding.<br />
Photo Gavin Butler<br />
F e a t u r e s<br />
26 Paul Menta<br />
Instructional Guru Speaks Out.<br />
56 speed Management<br />
Slow down to speed up.<br />
44 Forum Face-Off<br />
Online personalities revealed.<br />
62 Dominican republic<br />
<strong>The</strong> allure of <strong>Cabarete</strong>.<br />
Bruna Kajiya works on her handlepass 3’s off the coast of Brazil.<br />
Photo Gavin Butler<br />
D e P a r t M e n T S<br />
12 Launch<br />
Speed riding with Matt Gerdes.<br />
30 Close Up<br />
Get to know Peter Trow and Tonia Farman.<br />
38 Backwoods Pismo Beach<br />
Discover the home of the annual Kitexpo event.<br />
48 exposed<br />
Riding shots, places and people from around<br />
the world.<br />
60 Bladder Issues<br />
How to repair your one-pump leading edge.<br />
70 Head Case: anatomy of a Helmet<br />
Guide for protecting your dome.<br />
72 Product Watch<br />
new gear and accessories available this spring.<br />
thekiteboarder.com thekiteboarder.com
THINK<br />
Coming to terms<br />
Recently, I came<br />
to the harsh<br />
reality that I am<br />
now considered<br />
old school. Living<br />
with two young<br />
up and coming<br />
kiteboarders<br />
here in Corpus<br />
Christi has made<br />
me come to this<br />
conclusion. I<br />
have learned to<br />
embrace my old school ways and am ok with it. For those of you<br />
out there who are still coming to terms with your old school ways,<br />
it is really not that bad of thing.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Kiteboarder</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> compound is split into two levels. <strong>The</strong><br />
boys live downstairs in the coach’s quarters, and I live upstairs in<br />
my own area. <strong>The</strong> six-bedroom house is situated on one of the<br />
best kiteboarding launches in town and my editorial office looks<br />
out over our little flat water wonderland. Most of you probably<br />
think I am crazy to live with two young bucks, but they are under<br />
threat of death and know the compound is a training center and<br />
not a party house. Everyday I learn something new from these kids.<br />
What I once thought was cool and legit, I am quickly learning is not<br />
cool anymore.<br />
Zach Kleppe and Josh Griffiths teach lessons for South Coast<br />
Kiteboarding during the day and at night they pour over the latest<br />
kiteboarding DVDs, magazines and forums, critically examining<br />
every detail. Hand placement on the bars, extensions on kiteloops,<br />
where you grab on the board, the angle of a kite during a<br />
powered moves; nothing gets past these kids. If it isn’t legit,<br />
they call bullshit. Sitting back and watching this is an education<br />
in itself. <strong>The</strong>y heckle me for flying bow kites, but respect me<br />
for getting out there and trying. It’s usually just hot air and<br />
testosterone, but this has made me realize how important this<br />
process is to evolve our sport.<br />
As I said, I have come to terms with the fact that I am old school.<br />
I started kiting on a two-line kite and a Jimmy Lewis Picklefork.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re was a time when I was just as adamant about “legit” riding,<br />
and I called out the “posers” myself. I have definitely changed my<br />
thinking over the last eight years. While I love watching the boys<br />
push each other to up their level, I also have to remind them to<br />
have fun. Over the years I have learned that kiteboarding is about<br />
personal progression. When I go out and pull that new move I<br />
have been dreaming of trying, I feel like a million bucks even if it is<br />
not “legit” in their book.<br />
It’s ok to jump high and wiggle. I still get the same rush as when<br />
I learned to jump on a two line. I try to grab, but if I can’t, I am ok<br />
with it. I don’t want to do knee-breaking kiteloop handlepasses,<br />
but I do try to loop my kite. My main goal is to go out and have<br />
fun and live to kite another day. So to all of you old schoolers out<br />
there, keep charging hard and progressing your level on your own<br />
terms. Don’t worry about trying keep up with the young bucks.<br />
And, to all you hardcore young riders who are critical of everyone<br />
around you, keep pushing the level, but don’t forget to have fun.<br />
*ATTENTION TO DETAIL<br />
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‘07 Lineup<br />
Freestyle, Waves,<br />
Unhooked Riding,<br />
Freeride<br />
...You choose<br />
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nathan, Glenn Dubock, Bryan elkus, VanMalson, Brian Ackerman, Michael Jones,<br />
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Karen Tone, Rory Monroe, John Holzall, Real Kiteboarding, Slingshot, Vela, Dave<br />
Loop, Ocean Rodeo, nikki Ivanoski, Sandra Franco, Marina Chang, Carl Preston,<br />
Lance Graham, Liquid Force, Rachael Miller, Paul Menta, Raphael Faux, Guido<br />
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<strong>The</strong> <strong>Kiteboarder</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> is a subsidiary of <strong>The</strong> Ring Media Inc.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Mystic Warrior waist harness is better than<br />
ever this year. New structure and new materials<br />
provide unsurpassed comfort for overpowered<br />
riding as well as the flexibility for new school tricks.<br />
With the handless pass system and the secured<br />
leash rings this is the best waist harness to date!<br />
<strong>The</strong> first harness of its kind, specifically<br />
made for the snow. With unique features<br />
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this is the "must have" product for<br />
the winter season.<br />
Breathable, reinforced, very comfortable and high<br />
performing the Lightning dry suit introduces a whole<br />
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For the complete Mystic Kiteboarding catalog visit www.mystickiteboarding.com - For dealer and product details email us at info@mystickiteboardingusa.com, or call us at 415.722.7884.<br />
thekiteboarder.com thekiteboarder.com
LauNCH<br />
SPEED<br />
RIDING:<br />
By Marina Chang Lens Alex Habeler<br />
D e F Y I N G t H e L a W s O F G r a V I t Y<br />
the Start<br />
People have been ski-launching<br />
with paragliders since the 80s, but<br />
speed riding as we know it began<br />
about four seasons ago in the<br />
French Alps. A few adventurous<br />
paraglider pilots thought it would<br />
be fun to use skydiving canopies to<br />
descend from some of the biggest<br />
mountaintops in France. <strong>The</strong> rigs<br />
allowed them to go down the<br />
slopes fast and catch air, but left<br />
something to be desired in terms of<br />
glide, stability and maneuverability.<br />
<strong>The</strong> sport slowly evolved and<br />
gained the attention of companies<br />
involved in both paragliding and<br />
kiteboarding like Ozone, Gin,<br />
Flysurfer and Advance. This winter<br />
It’s on days like this that test pilot Matt Gerdes most loves his job.<br />
season the first production speed<br />
riding wings were launched along<br />
with the sports first organized<br />
competitions and demos. We<br />
caught up with Ozone test pilot<br />
Matt Gerdes to find more about<br />
this crazy new sport that is starting<br />
to gain the attention of adrenalin<br />
junkies worldwide.<br />
What is speed riding?<br />
Speed riding or flying is the practice<br />
of flying beneath a small paragliderlike<br />
canopy using skis to launch and<br />
land. Because of the high speeds,<br />
skis are necessary to launch and<br />
land with because the normal flying<br />
speed of the wings is faster than<br />
most people can run!<br />
What is the feeling of speed riding<br />
like and what do you think is the<br />
sports appeal to those who are<br />
interested in trying out this sport?<br />
<strong>The</strong> feeling is fast. Anyone who likes<br />
to go fast in the air or on the snow<br />
will instantly love it.<br />
are there any parallels you can<br />
draw between kiteboarding and<br />
speed riding?<br />
Lessons learned in stability from<br />
Ozone’s snow and water kites have<br />
been applied to our first speed kite,<br />
the Bullet. As a general rule, if it is<br />
strong enough to kite, then it’s too<br />
strong to speed ride most of the<br />
time. Speed riding requires much<br />
lighter wind conditions.<br />
Is this only done on snow?<br />
Officially, yes, although it is<br />
possible to foot launch the wings<br />
in some areas, if the pilot is<br />
experienced enough.<br />
What skills are needed to check<br />
out this sport?<br />
You should be an intermediate to<br />
advanced skier, and willing to spend<br />
the time to progress slowly with the<br />
flying part of it! Rushing into it without<br />
lessons or training will almost certainly<br />
lead to serious injury. Flying sports are<br />
extremely unforgiving.<br />
What are the ideal conditions/<br />
terrain for speed riding?<br />
Wide open, low angle snow slopes to<br />
begin with, and as pilots progress,<br />
they may choose to fly steeper<br />
terrain. Most importantly – neVeR<br />
FLY AROUnD PeOPLe. It is<br />
extremely important to not speed<br />
ride in populated areas or in any area<br />
with obstacles, whether they be<br />
powerlines or skiers.<br />
What do you think is the growth<br />
potential of this sport?<br />
It’s hard to say, given that it may<br />
appeal to a few of the 35 million<br />
skiers on the planet-but I would be<br />
surprised if the numbers pass 2000<br />
pilots in 2007, and 4000 in 2008,<br />
worldwide. It’s still a fringe sport<br />
that requires a good site, solid skills,<br />
and weather.<br />
Ozone just launched its first<br />
speed riding wing, the Bullet. Can<br />
it also be used for snowkiting/<br />
landboarding?<br />
no. It’s not a traction kite, and it can’t<br />
be used in water.<br />
are there any other applications for<br />
this type of kite/wing?<br />
So far, everyone is still learning to fly<br />
these things well on snow. Since it’s<br />
such a new sport, we haven’t even<br />
begun to see what is possible.<br />
thekiteboarder.com thekiteboarder.com<br />
Resources<br />
Rob Whittall fine tunes the Bullet.<br />
Matt and Rob share a Kodak moment on the mountaintop.<br />
<strong>The</strong> French Alps provide unlimited opportunities for this new sport.<br />
• ulrichprinz.com/air/speed/<br />
• acro-base.com/fr/calendrier/calendrier.htm<br />
• flyaboveall.com/speedflying/index.htm<br />
• flyozone.com/paragliders/en/products/gliders/<br />
bullet/speed-flying/
411<br />
Ben’s riding style and passion is getting the attention of the surfing world. Lens Ben Kotke<br />
sLINGsHOt teaMs uP WItH surF WOrLD<br />
Leading surf travel company World Surfaris has joined Slingshot’s Ben Wilson’s crusade<br />
to get the attention of the surfing world. Join Ben on a series of expedition trips to kite<br />
and surf many of the surfing world’s coveted destinations including the Caroline Islands,<br />
New Caledonia, the Mentawais, Tonga, Fiji and even snowkiting in New Zealand. See<br />
worldsurfaris.com for more info. Ben is also working with legendary surfboard shaper<br />
Darren ‘DHD’ Handley whose fans including world re-nowned surfers like Mick Fanning.<br />
Darren shares Ben’s vision of kiting in the waves and will be working closely with Slingshot<br />
on Ben’s signature models, to be released early to mid ‘07. See basesurfboards.com or<br />
sskiteboarding.com for more info.<br />
Some of the world’s largest lagoons and best surf can be found in the Tuamotu. Lens Tim McKenna<br />
DIsCOVer tHe tuaMOtu atOLLs bY bOat<br />
Live2kite has designed an unforgettable wave and kitesurfing trip of the Tuatmotu Atolls, 84<br />
miles northeast of Tahiti. Available starting this May to September, eight lucky kiters per trip<br />
will explore this 87 island chain in a luxury, 64-foot power boat. If you are looking for killer<br />
wave and kite conditions, this is the one trip you need to check out. www.live2kite.com<br />
Smack Smack<br />
Get style<br />
pointers and<br />
learn the latest<br />
wakestyle moves<br />
by watching <strong>The</strong><br />
Truth, the new<br />
Liquid Force<br />
Wakeboarding<br />
Film. It was just<br />
awarded Best<br />
Core Film, Best<br />
Cinematography<br />
and Best Soundtrack at the X-Dance<br />
Awards this January in Salt Lake City,<br />
Utah. X-Dance is an annual Film Festival<br />
and celebration which showcases the<br />
year’s top action sport films along with<br />
cutting-edge bands, DJs and key figures<br />
from the entertainment industry. LF<br />
Founder Tony Finn was there to receive<br />
the award along with LF Films Guru<br />
Justin Stephens. Get your DVD at your<br />
local LF dealer or www.liquidforce.com<br />
Mystickiteboarding.com has updated their<br />
website to include their entire new 2007<br />
product line up consisting of over 150<br />
products made specifically to withstand<br />
the rigors of kiteboarding. From wetsuits<br />
to lycras to harnesses to accessories, you<br />
will be hard-pressed to keep your wish list<br />
under control.<br />
If you’re in the North Carolina area, be<br />
sure to check out Flexifoil USA’s latest<br />
demo center, stocked with the complete<br />
Flexifoil Kiteboarding and traction line for<br />
you to try before you buy. Wind Toys is a<br />
brand new Extreme Kite Store located on<br />
Topsail Island, which is only a short drive<br />
from Wilmington, NC. This location allows<br />
riding in all wind conditions with 26 miles<br />
of wide open beach and perfect waves for<br />
epic down-winders and endless flat-water<br />
riding in the Sound. <strong>The</strong>se guys are also<br />
land traction specialists, with some great<br />
hard packed beaches for landboarding and<br />
buggying. www.windtoysusa.com<br />
Photo courtesy SCK<br />
South Coast<br />
Kiteboarding<br />
recently<br />
partnered<br />
with<br />
Momentum<br />
Surfshop<br />
in Corpus<br />
Christi, TX.<br />
Momentum Surfshop is a full-service<br />
surf shop located in Port Aransas and<br />
will be stocking kiteboarding gear. www.<br />
southcoastkiteboarding.com for more info.<br />
Photo courtesy Liquid Force<br />
Mauricio shows off his Rawson. Lens Tracy Kraft<br />
NeW PartNersHIPs FOr LIquID FOrCe<br />
Liquid Force Kiteboarding is proud to announce the addition of Mauricio Abreu and legendary<br />
surfboard shaper Pat Rawson to their team. Maui’s Kite Beach icon has been riding the new LF<br />
Havoc kites as well as prototypes of his new pro model board and bindings that will ready for<br />
the public by 2008. Also signing on with LF is Legendary North Shore shaper Pat Rawson. Pat<br />
will be working on four new LF 2008 kite surfboards with LF team riders Davey Blair, Moehau<br />
Goold, Jason Slezak and Mauricio Abreu. For more info, listen to the Asnews.net podcast at<br />
asnewswire.com/podcasts/podcast64.mp3<br />
<strong>The</strong> Pismo event always serves up a good time for all. Lens Kinsley Wong<br />
5tH aNNuaL KIteXPO DeMO eVeNt<br />
Don’t miss your opportunity to see and test all the newest gear for free at the 5th Annual<br />
KiteXpo, May 19 and 20 in Pismo Beach, California. Brought to you by xtremebigair.com, <strong>The</strong><br />
<strong>Kiteboarder</strong> and kiteforum.com, you only need to be an intermediate level rider to participate.<br />
Come join the festivities and don’t forget to stock up on raffle tickets for cool swag giveaways<br />
from your favorite brands. See xtremebigair.com/kitexpo for the latest info.<br />
tilmann Heinig from Westerhever,<br />
Germany is leading the pack in the<br />
2007 GPS-Kitesurfing speed rankings,<br />
clocking an average speed of 48.3<br />
knots on his stock, 9m Caution Answer.<br />
Heinig is beating out the leading-ranked<br />
windsurfer Dave White, whose fastest for<br />
cumulative average speed so far is 46.2<br />
knots. <strong>The</strong> current world speed record of<br />
48.7 knots is held by windsurfer Finian<br />
Maynard from the BVIs. See www.gpskitesurfing.com<br />
for the current rankings.<br />
Location: Los Barrilles/Photo courtesy of Vela<br />
Ikiteurf.com is now providing daily<br />
wind and weather forecasts for Baja,<br />
Mexico including Ventana, Los Barilles,<br />
El Sergento and Cabo Pulmo/La Ribera.<br />
Mike Godsey has been forecasting for<br />
the West Coast for over 15 years, but<br />
the Sea or Cortez is new to him so he<br />
asks us to bear with him. We’re just<br />
stoked that the service is being offered<br />
at http://www.iwindsurf.com/travel.<br />
iws?genID=22. If you are using this<br />
service, email mike@iwindsurf.com. If<br />
they hear from enough people, they will<br />
make this a yearly Baja service.<br />
effective January 23, all travelers will<br />
be required to hold a valid passport to<br />
enter the United States by air. <strong>The</strong> new<br />
passport requirement means that all<br />
travelers, including U.S. citizens, who<br />
are departing the U.S. and intend to reenter<br />
the United States are required to<br />
hold a valid passport upon departure.<br />
This requirement also applies when<br />
traveling from Canada, Mexico, Central<br />
and South America, the Caribbean and<br />
Bermuda. It can take up to six weeks to<br />
process a passport so unless you want<br />
to pay rush fees, plan ahead!<br />
Starting this March, the Kite House<br />
will be working with Cabrinha’s<br />
Cameron Dietrich to offer “Go with a<br />
Pro” trips in Maui. <strong>The</strong> trips include<br />
accommodations, gear and great riding<br />
spots with space for only three riders<br />
max per week. www.thekitehouse.com<br />
thekiteboarder.com<br />
thekiteboarder.com
tIPs FrOM aN OG<br />
By Marina Chang Lens Ed Dubois<br />
Name: Chris Glazier<br />
Profession: Engineer<br />
age: 58<br />
Hood: Vancouver, BC<br />
Hero: Robby Naish<br />
ride: Naish Thorn 131<br />
Claim: have kitesurfed over<br />
100 days in each of the last<br />
three years.<br />
Shouts: Have fun out there!<br />
rOOtS: When I windsurfed, that’s all<br />
I ever wanted to do. <strong>The</strong>n one day in Maui<br />
in 1999 I saw a kitesurfer. It looked like fun<br />
so I took kiting lessons with my buddies.<br />
Of course nobody knew what they were<br />
doing back then; our instructors couldn’t<br />
even stay upwind! I bought my first kite,<br />
a Wipika 5.0. Now, 24 kites later, I am still<br />
having a hoot.<br />
FaVOrIte SPOt: <strong>The</strong> best spot<br />
to kite is always with your friends. I like<br />
Squamish, BC, Canada. It has the best flat<br />
water kiting with steady reliable wind and<br />
a great group of kiters.<br />
SYSteM: I used to ride Ravens, but<br />
this year, have a quiver of new Boxer SLE<br />
kites. <strong>The</strong>y sure make kiteloops easier!<br />
Chris boosts some air in Squamish.<br />
C H r I S G L a z I e r t I P S .<br />
1. Be supportive and helpful with beginners.<br />
We were all there once.<br />
2. Wear a good drysuit or wetsuit in cold<br />
water. Hypothermia can be a real risk.<br />
3. Buy good gear. newer kites are a lot better<br />
than older models and they really do help<br />
make you a better rider.<br />
4. Fix your equipment before it gets windy.<br />
When a windy day finally arrives, don’t<br />
show up at the beach with tangled lines<br />
from your last session. Be safe.<br />
5. If you’re interested in kiting in Canada,<br />
skypilotkiteboarding.com is a great resource.<br />
It’s not<br />
too early<br />
to start<br />
thinking<br />
about<br />
November<br />
and<br />
December<br />
Smack<br />
Fleixeiras, NE Brazil Lens Karen<br />
Beber Futernick<br />
travel to the incredible kite-Mecca of Brazil!<br />
Ozone travel Kiteboarding offers world-class<br />
service, a wide selection of kiter-friendly<br />
accommodations and custom kite safaris to<br />
northeast Brazil. Space fills up very quickly,<br />
and airfares are now at the lowest they will<br />
be, so check your calendar and make your<br />
plans now. If you’re thinking about where to<br />
travel this summer, Ozone is also offering<br />
tours of Greece with the famous, funny<br />
and friendly Dimitri Maramenides as well<br />
as packages to the always fun and reliable<br />
<strong>Cabarete</strong>! Contact karen@ozonetravel.<br />
com for tour info and air specials<br />
including last minute travel deals for air,<br />
lodging and instruction.<br />
Litewave Designs welcomes 21-year-old<br />
Mike Bradley to its team. Mike just won<br />
the best wave category at the Jupiter Kite<br />
Invasion. He is currently sponsored by<br />
Viking but will soon be riding Litewave’s<br />
new 5’8” surf-shape directional. Dave’s new<br />
surf-specific kiteboard is a quad fin, concave<br />
bottom epoxy semi-custom that will be<br />
available next month. You can test the new<br />
board along with all the new 07 products<br />
from Litewave and Globe Kites at one of<br />
Dave’s many demos happening this spring<br />
and summer. www.litewavedesisgns.com<br />
to Cross the<br />
Moon was an<br />
expedition in<br />
January that<br />
attempted<br />
to cross 375<br />
miles in North<br />
Dakota to raise<br />
awareness<br />
Lens freesolophotography.com<br />
for the state’s<br />
wind energy<br />
resources. Sam Salwei and Jason Magness<br />
departed southbound from the Canadian<br />
border on New Year’s Day and finished<br />
up in mid-January. Although they didn’t<br />
make it to South Dakota, the two crossed<br />
over 230 miles, mostly under kite power. A<br />
support crew led by Eric Byers and Jason<br />
Schaefer were able to speak thousands of<br />
locals about snowkiting and North Dakota’s<br />
vast potential to make electricity via wind<br />
power. Another crossing will be attempted<br />
in 2008, hopefully with more snow.<br />
www.2xtm.com<br />
thekiteboarder.com<br />
thekiteboarder.com
411<br />
KIte-LINe LauNCHes MaIL-OrDer DeMO PrOGraM<br />
Take the guessing out of gear purchasing and demo before<br />
you try. In 2007 Kite-Line.Com is going the extra mile for<br />
its customers by offering a demo program for the latest<br />
kites, and soon boards, from all major manufacturers.<br />
Customers can select the appropriate kite model and<br />
size for a fee of $199 which includes a two-week demo.<br />
Demos are shipped free of charge via FedEX ground. If<br />
you decide to purchase the kite then the entire $199 will<br />
be refunded back to you. It doesn’t get any better than<br />
that. Visit kite-line.com for complete info.<br />
DCbOarDz stICKer CONtest<br />
Post a DCboardz sticker in the most original place you can<br />
think of and take a picture of it. <strong>The</strong>n upload the image to<br />
kitescoop.com for a chance to win a cool t-shirt and $250 gift<br />
certificate good toward any custom DC kiteboard or surfboard!<br />
A select group of finalists will be chosen and the winner will<br />
be picked by vote on kitescoop.com. Contest ends March 31.<br />
Need Stickers? Contact dereck@dcboardz.com<br />
VIDEO REVIEWS<br />
INSaNe rOaD GaP<br />
Needing a little adrenalin?<br />
This video clip will throw<br />
chills down your spine and<br />
have you hitting your replay<br />
button! Watch as this snowkiter gaps from<br />
snow bank to snow bank with cars driving<br />
underneath. http://www.cherrytap.com/<br />
stashentry.php?stashId=390049<br />
HaDLOW at<br />
CaPe VerDe<br />
From 720s and mobes to<br />
head high surf and kiteloops,<br />
Aaron Hadlow throws down<br />
every trick in the book in this clip. http://www.<br />
youtube.com/watch?v=GHfbrI38YIU&mode=r<br />
elated&search=<br />
ePIC MaUI SeSSIONS<br />
Elliot Leboe is at again with<br />
his new DVD, Epic Maui<br />
Sessions. <strong>The</strong> name speaks<br />
for itself: surfing, windsurfing,<br />
kiteboarding and more! http://wwwaclproduct<br />
ions.com/videos/eMSFinalaCLtrailerMed.mov<br />
aNDre PHILLIP PrOMO VIDeO<br />
ACL Productions and Andre Phillip team up<br />
to deliver some insane kiteboarding clips. I<br />
wonder how his knees feel after a day of<br />
riding? http://wwwaclproductions.com/videos/<br />
dre/Dremedium.mov<br />
By Zach Kleppe<br />
<strong>The</strong>re were no new DVDs at press time, so we decided to point you in the direction of some<br />
FREE clips to keep you video junkies happy. <strong>The</strong>re are a bunch coming down the line so be<br />
sure to stop by www.thekiteboarder.com/catalog for the latest DVD releases.<br />
JUPIter KIte INVaSION<br />
Kiteflix.com put together this cool little clip of<br />
the 2007 Jupiter Kite Invasion.<br />
http://www.kiteflix.com<br />
LeNt10 GOING BIG!<br />
You think your huevos are<br />
big? Check out this insane<br />
video clip of Ruben Lenten<br />
throwing HUGE insane<br />
kiteloops at kitecinima.com. http://www.<br />
kitecinema.com/len10/Len10-StormSjees-<br />
480p.mov<br />
SPeeD rIDING tHe eIGer<br />
This quite possibly will be<br />
the craziest video clip you<br />
will ever see. If you read<br />
our Launch feature about<br />
Speed Riding, then you<br />
won’t want to miss this clip.<br />
Be prepared to drop your jaw! http://www.<br />
alpinist.com/doc/aLP18/eiger_skiing<br />
GLK: tHe MOVIe<br />
Brian Elkus from Michigan<br />
put this together of him<br />
and his crew tearing up the<br />
Great Lakes. If you are sick<br />
of the same eight guys in<br />
every DVD, be sure to check out their clip.<br />
http://www.greatlakeskiteboarding.com/<br />
video/GLK2006/media.html<br />
Smack<br />
<strong>The</strong> new training DVD Getting School’d<br />
will be released this spring/summer.<br />
This DVD will be available on disc or via<br />
download with a kite support hotline to<br />
answer any questions. <strong>The</strong> website will<br />
be highly interactive with a download<br />
section for tricks and travel footage. See<br />
kiteboardtraining.com for more info.<br />
Location Sardinia Lens Jessie Hassell<br />
Starting this May, Kite Adventures is<br />
offering tours to Sardinia, the biggest island<br />
off the coast of Italy. Famous for its blue<br />
Mediterranean waters, authentic food and<br />
beautiful people, the tour begins in Cagliari<br />
in the south, where you can find 280-300<br />
windy days every year (15-30 knots). <strong>The</strong>re<br />
are more than six beaches to kite along<br />
and KA scouted out each spot to find the<br />
best conditions for waves, flat water and<br />
pure desolate beaches. <strong>The</strong> typical wind<br />
here is called the Scirocco from the south<br />
and southeast; it blows between 18 and 24<br />
knots. It comes from the desert of Libya and<br />
Tunisia. <strong>The</strong> locals call it the perfect wind,<br />
like a fan. KA has two very knowledgeable<br />
guides who have been living in Sardinia<br />
for most of their kiting careers. <strong>The</strong>y will<br />
handle all of the arrangements, support and<br />
are also keyed into the hottest parties in<br />
town, which there are no shortage of!<br />
www.kiteadventures.com<br />
Location: Hatteras Lens Jeoffrey Nathan<br />
Catch up with the Flexifoil USa team as<br />
they hit your local beaches this spring on<br />
a massive road trip from the East to West<br />
Coast. Come ride and share the stoke<br />
with professional riders Aaron Hadlow,<br />
Billy Parker, and Peter Trow. <strong>The</strong>y will be<br />
demoing all of the latest ‘07 Flexifoil kites,<br />
boards, and land traction equipment. Do<br />
not hesitate to ask for some free swag<br />
and get yourself some new threads! www.<br />
flexifoilusa.com for schedules, travel<br />
stories, photos, and videos.<br />
0 thekiteboarder.com<br />
thekiteboarder.com
sHOP taLK<br />
COLOraDO KIte FOrCe<br />
Name: Anton Rainold - Owner<br />
Nickname: Antizel<br />
age: 38<br />
Contact: coloradokiteforce.com<br />
Location: Summit County, CO, Dillon<br />
Reservoir, Sanitarium Riding<br />
riding for how long: 7 years<br />
What is the kiteboarding scene like at the<br />
Sanitarium?<br />
It has doubled every year in the past four years.<br />
<strong>The</strong> riding is great for all levels. And we are<br />
proud of our terrain park!<br />
How does your shop support and help the<br />
kiteboarding community?<br />
Our primary goal is to support the growth of<br />
this sport. We want to make it safer and more<br />
fun for all. We have a specific area that we<br />
groom for teaching as well as a launch area for<br />
the general public.<br />
any issues with access or usage rights?<br />
<strong>The</strong> kite area is actually private, so having a<br />
permit to operate my business is essential. But<br />
anyone is welcome to come out and ride.<br />
Where do you draw riders from?<br />
Most of our riders are from the Front Range<br />
or Denver area, but it has also become a<br />
destination for snowkiters all over. <strong>The</strong>re are a<br />
lot of ski resorts and other activities in the area,<br />
which is a bonus for vacationing here.<br />
What tips can you offer experienced kiters<br />
who want to kite at the Sanitarium?<br />
Don’t be afraid to explore the whole reservoir.<br />
By Zach Kleppe<br />
Anton hits the rails at his terrain park. Lens Karen Tone<br />
Forum dork<br />
By James Brown<br />
Lens: Rory Monro<br />
<strong>The</strong>re is no need to crowd the launch and<br />
lesson area. Check out the forum on our<br />
website to hook up with other riders.<br />
What is the best way for people to check<br />
the forecast and current conditions for the<br />
Sanitarium?<br />
Our best conditions are sunny, high-pressure<br />
days with steady thermal winds from the north<br />
at 10-15 mph. Most websites are unreliable<br />
at predicting our mountain weather, but<br />
Wunderground.com seems to be all right. Or,<br />
just call us for current conditions…everyone<br />
else does!<br />
Where do you think the industry is headed<br />
in the future?<br />
Snowkiting still has a long way to go. <strong>The</strong>re<br />
are certainly areas that are untapped and once<br />
they are, it has the potential to go mainstream.<br />
I look at it the same way snowboarding got<br />
its start. It is going to be ReALLY big in a few<br />
more years.<br />
What brands are you carrying this season?<br />
In no particular order: Ozone, Slingshot, HQ,<br />
Cabrinha, Peter Lynn, DaKine, 661, Ultra nectar,<br />
Zeal optics, Unity Snowboards and more!<br />
WeatHer NOW<br />
If you haven’t checked out weatherunderground.com<br />
or ikitesurf.com in awhile, be sure to stop by and get<br />
all the latest weather information as it breaks. Both<br />
have great wind sensors and forecasts on kiteboarding<br />
spots around the world. <strong>The</strong>y even have options to<br />
sync wind alerts to your mobile phone.<br />
If you find a cool site you want to submit, email zach@thekiteboarder.com<br />
Neil, Ian and Hamish at<br />
Vgames’06<br />
Smack<br />
the 07 Velocity<br />
Games in Corpus<br />
Christi, Texas, is<br />
back on -- we<br />
think! Tentatively<br />
scheduled for<br />
May 11-13, final<br />
planning was in<br />
the works as of press time. Check out www.<br />
velocitygames.us for the latest.<br />
Speaking of competitions, word has it<br />
that one, possibly two new competitions<br />
will be held in the US this year. Bookmark<br />
www.thekiteboarder.com for your<br />
daily dose of the latest breaking global<br />
kiteboarding news.<br />
Thanks to a new service by Brightcove,<br />
an awesome online video distribution<br />
company, Fat Sand is now able to offer<br />
downloads of their full DVDs. Previous<br />
DVDs were available for download through<br />
Total Vid, but Fat Sand can now offer both<br />
a 7- day rental for $3.95 and an unlimited<br />
purchase at the trial price of $23.95. <strong>The</strong>y’re<br />
kicking this off with Progression: Advanced,<br />
but over the next few weeks they’ll add<br />
downloads for Beginner and Intermediate,<br />
across all the languages offered on the<br />
DVD. www.fatsand.com<br />
COrreCtION: In the Jan/Feb07 issue of<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Kiteboarder</strong>, the photo for the 2007<br />
Tampa Bay Kitemasters was taken by<br />
Oxana Blagushyna, not Chris Moore. We<br />
apologize for not crediting Oxana and<br />
thank her for her contribution.<br />
Do you need a place to sell your used gear or maybe chat up some other<br />
kiteboarders around the world? kitetrader.com offers new and used equipment<br />
for kiteboarders to review, buy and sell.<br />
Lens Oxana Blagushyna<br />
ONLINe Gear reVIeW<br />
I was cruising kite sites and found a 2007<br />
online gear review hosted on kite-surf.com.<br />
<strong>The</strong>y have a cool rating scale for 2007<br />
equipment under the kite review section.<br />
Don’t believe everything you read, but this is<br />
a great place to get some feedback.<br />
LIVE INTERVIEWS WITH<br />
DESIGNERS, PRO-RIDERS,<br />
INDUSTRY LEADERS AND<br />
KITE PERSONALITIES<br />
PODcAST #65:<br />
Caution Kites:<br />
Get to know the Caution Boys, the new<br />
07 line up and the weirdest thing that<br />
ever got caught in their beards.<br />
ASK QUESTIONS REAL-TIME<br />
DURING THE SHOW OR<br />
POST THEM ON YOUR<br />
LOcAL FORUM<br />
PODcAST #64:<br />
MauriCio aBreu<br />
Find out about why kiteboarding pioneer<br />
Mauricio left Wipika after 9 years with<br />
the brand and joined Liquid Force..<br />
TEcH OUT WITH THE R&D<br />
TEAM AS THEY ROLL OUT<br />
NEW GEAR.<br />
PODcAST #63:<br />
JeFF toBias<br />
Live from australia, asnews.net was the<br />
first to bring you info on slingshot’s new<br />
turbo 2 with pro-rider Jeff tobias.<br />
Live broadcasts every Thursday at<br />
http://cherrytap.com/lounge.php?l=1293<br />
Post show available every Friday at<br />
ASnews.net and <strong>The</strong><strong>Kiteboarder</strong>.com<br />
Got a suggestion? Email info@theringmedia.com<br />
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Rider: Remi Meum Lens: Alfredo Escobar<br />
LETTERS<br />
What Our<br />
Readers<br />
Have To Say<br />
Olympic Opportunities!<br />
Dear Editor:<br />
I had my first kiteboarding lesson, and<br />
I’m hooked! Tony Brady of Zero Gravity<br />
gave me a quick one while on vacation<br />
in Corpus Christi, and I can’t wait for the<br />
next one. I put my house up for sale and<br />
as soon as it closes, I’m moving to Corpus.<br />
When Tony and I talked, he mentioned that<br />
kiteboarding is the fastest growing sport in<br />
the world, and we talked about it becoming<br />
an Olympic sport. Have you heard any<br />
chatter about that? I know snowboarding<br />
was the biggest hit in Turin, Italy. I am sure<br />
kiteboarding would be even bigger. Let me<br />
know what you hear.<br />
Thanks!<br />
Varian T Criser<br />
Carson City, Nevada<br />
Welcome to your new found addiction!<br />
Be sure to look us up when you finally<br />
make it to Corpus. We would love to see<br />
kiteboarding become an Olympic sport.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re have been a few stories about the<br />
idea, but no action YET! Let’s keep our<br />
fingers crossed –Ed.<br />
An 11-year-Old’s Thoughts<br />
on Kiteboarding<br />
Dear Editor:<br />
<strong>The</strong> reason I like kiteboarding is it puts<br />
everything together. I have always loved<br />
the water and air, but couldn’t put them<br />
together. I have tried everything--even<br />
cannonballs, but they didn’t seem fun. I<br />
even tried diving. I thought hang gliding<br />
and swimming were my dreams, and then<br />
I finally saw kiteboarding. Now all I dream<br />
about is kiteboarding. I like the thrill of the<br />
wind. I can’t believe people go so high.<br />
Well that’s why I love kiteboarding!!!<br />
See you later bro!<br />
Sincerely,<br />
Billy Wade Wiseman<br />
P.S.<br />
I hope someday I will change the world,<br />
just like you bro.<br />
Thanks for your great letter. Make sure to<br />
take this into your class and share your<br />
stoke on kiteboarding with your friends.<br />
Hopefully, we will watch you grow up to<br />
do great things and boost big airs—Ed.<br />
Letter Of <strong>The</strong> Month<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Kiteboarder</strong> Bible<br />
Dear Editor:<br />
First off, <strong>The</strong> <strong>Kiteboarder</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> is the<br />
standard in kite media, it’s like a bible<br />
in our house and we are stoked for the<br />
next one.<br />
We can’t thank you guys enough for the<br />
write up a couple issues back on our<br />
college kite club. <strong>The</strong> feedback was sick.<br />
We are putting together the first college<br />
kite competition with Paul Menta and<br />
<strong>The</strong> Kite House this spring break in Key<br />
West. We hope ya’ll can make it. If any<br />
college riders want in or information on<br />
starting a club at their school, hit me up<br />
at sextonmg@eckerd.edu.<br />
Check out our website for more on<br />
collegiate kiteboarding.<br />
RESPECT,<br />
Matt Sexton<br />
TritonKiteboarding.com<br />
We are stoked to hear you love our<br />
magazine! It sounds like you are hooked<br />
up with the right people in Key West.<br />
Please keep in touch and let us know<br />
how we can help support your efforts.<br />
I can’t wait to see the video of your<br />
event—Ed.<br />
Chilling in Minnesota<br />
Dear Editor:<br />
Thank you for your support, and thank<br />
you for the magazines you sent. <strong>The</strong><br />
January issue is sick! I will make sure to<br />
give them to my students. <strong>The</strong>y will be<br />
stoked! It’s so awesome you guys have<br />
respect for the snow.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Kite Freeze in Minnesota has been<br />
postponed due to funds, but we are<br />
still having an expression session on<br />
Lake Swede. It should be good, but our<br />
conditions are holding us back from<br />
being able to drive on the lakes. We are<br />
still going to put out rails and fun boxes.<br />
Thanks again,<br />
Nathan Borer<br />
US Snowkite School<br />
<strong>The</strong> Red Bull, Kite Freeze was the<br />
very first snowkite competition I ever<br />
attended. Sorry to hear the event has<br />
been downsized. <strong>The</strong>re is no doubt in my<br />
mind that snowkiting will snowball—no<br />
pun intended. Keep us in the loop, and<br />
keep up the good work—Ed.<br />
Send your banter, happiness, rants, raves to editor@thekiteboarder.com<br />
24 thekiteboarder.com<br />
thekiteboarder.com 25
COMPETITIONS<br />
Jupiter Comp Goes Off<br />
Words and photo courtesy of Rick Iossi<br />
Jupiter’s reputation for great wind and waves was once again confirmed for a<br />
fourth year at the annual Jupiter Kiteboarding Invasion. Despite bouts of light,<br />
uneven wind on day one which postponed the competition, day two served<br />
up consistent, 15 to 20 mph side shore winds which bumped into the high<br />
20s late. <strong>The</strong> riders ate it up, shredding hard on directionals, twin tips and<br />
surfboards. A high level, intense competition was the order of the day from<br />
both pros and amateurs alike. Special thanks are in order for Jeremy Green,<br />
owner of Jupiter Kiteboarding for all his hard work coordinating and keeping<br />
this event going.<br />
Pro Men: 1. Damien Leroy 2. Dimitri Maramenides 3. Jon Modica<br />
Pro Women: 1. Melissa Gil 2. Morgan Skipperdene 3. Stacey Fonas<br />
Amateur: 1. Packet C. 2. Evan Netsch 3. Brandon Pelly<br />
Youth: 1. Eric Merill 2. Matt Collins<br />
Third Annual Speed Ranking Contest<br />
Words and photo courtesy of Rachael Miller<br />
<strong>The</strong> Stormboarding Speed Ranking contest is blazing on with riders from<br />
all over the world. Speeds are recorded as top speeds during a snowkite<br />
session from a GPS attached to the rider. Early conditions have favored<br />
riders in Minnesota, but with mid-season conditions improving worldwide,<br />
we are sure to see high speeds from all over. Past winners have gone nearly<br />
70mph under power of kites alone. Prizes from Peter Lynn, Ozone, Dakine,<br />
Ultra Nectar and Himaya are awarded weekly with a Scorpion kite going out<br />
to the fastest Peter Lynn rider at the end of the season. This contest is open<br />
to everyone. See the list along with contest rules and specific info on what<br />
kites are used, what riders have on their feet (skis, boards, skates…) and<br />
their thoughts on how and why they go fast at: www.stormboarding.com<br />
then click on speed ranking.<br />
Jupiter is one of Florida’s best wave riding spots.<br />
05-06 winner Chris Krug displays his winning speed of 69.1mph.
Paul Menta may promote safety while kiteboarding, but that doesn’t<br />
mean he doesn’t take chances every once in a while.<br />
interview with<br />
If a Harley blows by you on your way to check wind at the beach, it<br />
might just be Paul.<br />
PaulMenta<br />
t h e r o a d l e s s t r a v e l e d<br />
By Paul Lang All photos courtesy Paul Menta<br />
In every sport there are people who are criticized<br />
for walking down their own path, causing their true<br />
contributions to be often overlooked. For over a<br />
decade Paul Menta has dedicated his life to traveling<br />
and teaching people to kiteboard. His scraggily, long<br />
hair and signature tattoos perpetuate the image of the<br />
stereotypical beach bum. He may look the part, but he is<br />
also an accomplished businessman, professional chef and<br />
dedicated father.<br />
Paul is the kind of guy who doesn’t feel he has a need to<br />
explain his every action. He was among the first to begin<br />
kiteboarding in the United States. Instead of becoming a hot<br />
shot pro, he channeled his efforts into developing the first<br />
structured instructional programs in our sport. Paul loves<br />
kiteboarding as much as any of us. He told me he gets just as<br />
excited when he goes out now, as he did ten years ago. Over<br />
the years, he has taken strong stances on safety issues and<br />
has a reputation for coming off to some people as arrogant.<br />
Whatever your opinion of Paul is, you cannot deny that he is<br />
a kiteboarding pioneer.<br />
28 thekiteboarder.com thekiteboarder.com 29
Few people realize that you were a<br />
pioneer in this sport. How did you get<br />
involved in kiteboarding?<br />
I did a little land kiting in 1988 and kited on a<br />
skateboard in ‘89, but my first real taste was<br />
on a snowboard in ‘92. It was so unreal riding<br />
a foil kite, getting smashed and going really<br />
fast. After that I tried the Kite Ski, which was<br />
cool but very hard; going upwind wasn’t really<br />
an option. At the time, I was really into<br />
wakeboarding, so I tried a foil kite with a<br />
wakeboard. That didn’t work out so well, but I<br />
got some cool rides and very unintentional air.<br />
Everything changed when Bruno Legaignoux<br />
produced his first inflatable kite. At that point,<br />
I was convinced that the sport would work. I<br />
laugh now when I think back because everyone<br />
told me inflatable kites would never last.<br />
Who were some of the people learning to<br />
kiteboard at the same time you were?<br />
Ty Lucket, Jason Slezak and Jamie Herraiz<br />
were a couple of the guys learning at the<br />
same time I was. I learned from guys like<br />
Lou Wainman, Elliot Leboe, Max Bo and<br />
Flash Austin. <strong>The</strong>se guys were just starting<br />
to push the limits of the sport.<br />
What was it like learning to kiteboard<br />
back then?<br />
It was like trying to learn to drive a tractor trailer<br />
instead of a car when you were 15 -- hard<br />
and painful! <strong>The</strong> directions that came with the<br />
kite were written in French, and I don’t speak<br />
French. I didn’t even know how to launch the<br />
kite. I launched it like a ram air, straight downwind.<br />
I remember one particular launch with<br />
my friend Carl, who asked, “Are you sure?” before<br />
he let the kite go. I said yes, and was drug<br />
so hard I lost my shorts, ended up with sand<br />
burns on my knees, balls, and face, and suffered<br />
a huge blow to my pride. Thinking about<br />
it now, I believe being humbled like that taught<br />
me some serious respect for the sport and has<br />
kept me alive.<br />
What inspired you to develop a kiteboarding<br />
instructional program?<br />
I knew that kiteboarding was such an unreal<br />
sport, but man, you could kill yourself trying<br />
to figure it out. I learned by trial and error,<br />
well, mostly error! I started introducing<br />
other people to the sport and found a teaching<br />
pattern that seemed to work the best. I<br />
developed a progression program based on<br />
the steps to learn the sport and then made<br />
adjustments to the program daily. This was<br />
at a time when the only other people kiteboarding<br />
were getting good at it, but not<br />
sharing many secrets. Nobody really knew<br />
what they were doing. <strong>The</strong>re were no actual<br />
schools until about 1997. After some time, I<br />
wrote everything down and created a book. I<br />
have since rewritten it seven times.<br />
Paul spends a lot of time helping to promote the sport of<br />
kiteboarding as a whole.<br />
“<br />
at that point, I was convinced that the sport would<br />
work. I laugh now when I think back because everyone<br />
told me inflatable kites would never last.<br />
Paul’s best friend, travel partner and<br />
inspiration, his son Paul J. Menta IV.<br />
“<br />
Paul’s son scrounges up a healthy seafood<br />
snack in the Caribbean.<br />
Why do you think there are still no<br />
widely accepted standards in kiteboarding<br />
instruction?<br />
Money and ego. I feel knowledge should not<br />
come at a cost. You will see what I mean by the<br />
summer. I will offer clinics to new and current<br />
instructors for free. After ten years in the sport,<br />
I want to give back.<br />
You do more than just kiteboard. What<br />
other sports do you do?<br />
I wakeboard, surf, free dive, spearfish, stand up<br />
paddle and anything else I can find to keep me<br />
on or in the water. When I was young, I used<br />
watersports as a way to keep myself out of trouble.<br />
I grew up in Philadelphia where it was very<br />
easy to find trouble as a kid. My family pushed<br />
me into the water at a young age. We traveled<br />
to New Jersey to surf and Maryland to water ski.<br />
I spent all my energy on the water and was too<br />
tired to get into fights on the street. It worked,<br />
and as a result I became very competitive on<br />
the water. I left the city when I was 18 and have<br />
since been on the water full time.<br />
You have led the charge on many trends<br />
and techniques in the sport that have<br />
not been fully embraced. What are some<br />
of the trends you feel strongly about that<br />
have not yet been fully accepted by the<br />
kiteboarding community?<br />
I have lost three good friends to the sport, and<br />
I feel when you are in harsh conditions or learning,<br />
you must wear a helmet. When I ran the<br />
Velocity Games in 2003, I made helmets mandatory.<br />
<strong>The</strong> event helped to change many people’s<br />
ideas about helmets, but most people still do<br />
not wear them. Also, most pro kiters always<br />
rode without kite leashes. <strong>The</strong>re was this perception<br />
that it wasn’t cool to wear one, so I took<br />
a stand. Most riders claimed a leash would twist<br />
up during spins. I called everyone on it; I mean if<br />
you’re so good, then you should be able to spin<br />
both ways. Now it seems like everyone wears<br />
one, but some riders still have that view that a<br />
Few people realize that Paul was one of the first snowkiters in the US.<br />
leash is not cool. Remember, I said inflatable<br />
kites were the future and was laughed at. I<br />
was told four lines were not cool. Now I am<br />
told bow kites are not the future. I always try<br />
to be on the leading edge of the sport, and<br />
sometimes I take a little heat because of it.<br />
What is your involvement with Cabrinha<br />
Kiteboarding?<br />
I am sponsored by Cabrinha and their distributor<br />
Adventure Sports. I help with R&D when<br />
necessary and get to test new products to see<br />
if they work not only for me, but for students<br />
and consumers. Cabrinha is a great company<br />
to be involved with because they really listen<br />
to feedback.<br />
Your movie, Into the air, received mixed<br />
reviews. What do you have to say to the<br />
people within the kite industry who criticized<br />
it?<br />
I say, “YOU’RE WELCOME.” This movie is<br />
helping to bring more people into the sport. It<br />
has been featured in film festivals, theaters,<br />
on television, and has been shown on airlines<br />
as the in-flight entertainment. Into the Air was<br />
never meant for the hardcore kiters. Its purpose<br />
was to show a lifestyle. Now that some<br />
time has gone by, I think some people have relooked<br />
at what they said. When I made Getting<br />
School’d for instruction, everyone laughed at it<br />
until we broke 5000 units in sales.<br />
Do you have any plans for another kiteboarding<br />
video?<br />
Yes. I am almost finished with a high definition<br />
instructional that will be available by download<br />
and on DVD. It’s very detailed and covers both<br />
C-kites and bow kites. It will show someone<br />
learning in a lesson as well.<br />
What’s next for you?<br />
I will be traveling the world with my son to<br />
show him what’s out there and that you can<br />
do anything if you work hard enough. My son<br />
is my best friend and is a true inspiration to<br />
me. We will also be finishing our new Kite<br />
House in the Turks and Caicos, so I will have<br />
another great spot to spend time with friends<br />
and family. I will continue to lead the charge<br />
on new kites and remind people of lessons<br />
learned in the past. We also have the new<br />
instructional video, lessons in the Dominican<br />
Republic, trips to Brazil, the Share the Knowledge<br />
Tour, and I will be doing a few cooking<br />
shows followed by a book on cooking. I am<br />
trying to get more people involved in stand<br />
up paddling and am chasing the world speed<br />
record. As always, I will spread the stoke of<br />
kiteboarding and its lifestyle and try to help<br />
the sport as much as I can for as long as I can.<br />
I truly love this sport!<br />
Paul goofs off with local Jesse Cors.<br />
30 thekiteboarder.com thekiteboarder.com 31
CLOSEUP<br />
tips<br />
By Brian Caserio Lens Glenn Dubock<br />
Peter Trow turned in his windsurf sail for<br />
a kite in early 1998 and quickly became<br />
the first professional kiteboarder from<br />
California. He applied his hard-charging<br />
and fearless wave riding style directly<br />
to kiteboarding from day one and never<br />
wavered from it. Peter looks upon the<br />
“new” surf-style trend in kiting with<br />
amusement. His kites of choice back in ‘98<br />
were Flexifoil Blades and he continues his<br />
loyalty to that brand by currently being the<br />
West Coast importer and team manager for<br />
Flexifoil USA.<br />
When and where did you start kiteboarding?<br />
I bought my first kite in Maui in 1998 and<br />
spent a summer struggling with it on the<br />
beaches of Santa Barbara. My friends<br />
thought I was crazy.<br />
Known as a wave riding pioneer, why have<br />
you always focused on the waves and do<br />
you ever ride freestyle?<br />
I started kiting so I could catch more<br />
waves. When it’s flat I still enjoy hopping<br />
around but I’ve never focused on the<br />
freestyle aspect of the sport.<br />
Age: 37 Height: 5’7” Weight: 150 lbs Stance: Regular Years kiting: 9 years<br />
Favorite Spots: Jalama Beach, CA; Baja Pacific Coast<br />
Favorite Conditions: 20 knots, side-shore, head high to double overhead or bigger, starboard<br />
tack. But I’ll take whatever I can get.<br />
Favorite Moves: Hitting the lip, front and back wave 360’<br />
Sponsors: Flexifoil, Stretch Boards, Dakine<br />
GEAR<br />
Boards: Stretch directionals, Trow and Mulcoy models; Foilboard Bindings/Straps: Dakine<br />
adjustable vario footstraps Kites: Flexifoil Ion 2 hybrids.<br />
Bars (size and line length): Flexifoil Ion 2 bar, 48cm for all kites bars, 45 and 50cm.<br />
Lines: 25m Harness: Dakine Pyro<br />
What is your opinion on the whole<br />
unhooked/hooked-in and strapped vs.<br />
strapless waveriding controversy?<br />
In my opinion, there really isn’t any<br />
controversy. <strong>The</strong> facts are: there’s no doubt<br />
it’s more difficult to rip on a wave strapless,<br />
and riding hooked in or unhooked is just a<br />
personal preference. <strong>The</strong> reality is if you rip,<br />
you rip. Just enjoy…<br />
What is your perspective on bow kites, and<br />
what do you personally like to ride?<br />
I feel bow or SLE kites are the best thing to<br />
happen to kiteboarding since its beginning<br />
and they have re-energized my enthusiasm<br />
for kiteboarding. <strong>The</strong>y have made it easier<br />
for more people to get involved in the sport<br />
and have made it fun to kite in conditions<br />
that were once out of bounds. I’m riding the<br />
Ion 2s, which are hybrid SLEs. Having the<br />
ability to control the power in the kite has<br />
allowed me to ride with more control in all<br />
conditions.<br />
You have made several DVD’s documenting<br />
your adventures. Do you plan on producing<br />
another DVD?<br />
Learn how to jibe a directional.<br />
Practice following your kite through<br />
turns. This will improve your rhythm<br />
when riding waves.<br />
Become skilled at jumping over<br />
whitewater on the way out. It saves<br />
time when working your way to the<br />
outside.<br />
Share cold beer with others after<br />
a session.<br />
I’ve been shooting a bit over the last year<br />
and have some footage coming out in Elliot’s<br />
new wave film. I’m planning on starting a<br />
new project this year so if it all works out, I<br />
hope to have a new film out for Spring 08.<br />
What is something about you that you do<br />
outside of kiteboarding that most people<br />
wouldn’t know?<br />
I’ve always had real passion for being in or<br />
around the ocean so when I’m not kiting,<br />
I’m usually tow surfing, foil boarding or just<br />
plain surfing. I’m also very keen to share my<br />
enthusiasm for the ocean with others and<br />
have done so through surf, windsurf and<br />
kiteboarding films.<br />
What friends do you ride and train with?<br />
I have the most fun riding with my girlfriend<br />
Ammy Naff, my greatest supporter. It’s<br />
more enjoyable for me to watch her rip a<br />
wave than doing it myself. Also, I enjoy<br />
being on the water with Josh Mulcoy. Josh<br />
and I have different styles but we inspire<br />
each other to take it to the next level. My<br />
own kiting has definitely improved since I<br />
started riding with him.<br />
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CLOSEUP<br />
Age: Born in the 70’s! Height: 5’7” Weight: 140 lbs Years kiting: 4 + years<br />
Favorite Spots: <strong>The</strong> Jetty, <strong>The</strong> Klick, Kite Park at the Dam, Australia, the Yucatan<br />
Favorite Conditions: Sunny, warm, and windy<br />
Favorite Moves: Double S-Bend, but I can’t do it. Sponsors: North Kites, Jimmy Lewis Boards,<br />
Dakine, Native Eyewear Competition Placements: What’s that?<br />
GEAR<br />
Boards: Jimmy Lewis customs Bindings: Straps by Jimmy<br />
Kites: North Vegas and the Rebel in the waves<br />
Bars (size and line length): North 5th Element<br />
Harness: Dakine Wahine Waist Harness<br />
By Marina Chang Lens Gregg Gnecco<br />
Tonia Farman makes her home in the Gorge.<br />
She co-founded the Women’s Kiteboarding<br />
Association last year and has been a driving<br />
force behind encouraging more women to get<br />
into and stick with our sport. Her aggressive<br />
yet fluid riding style and can do attitude have<br />
inspired many other women to progress their<br />
own riding levels as well, including me! Tonia’s<br />
infectious smile is hard to miss. It is even bigger<br />
than normal as she prepares to get married this<br />
year to photographer and videographer Gregg<br />
Gnecco. Congratulations Tonia!<br />
When, where and why did you start<br />
kiteboarding?<br />
My friend Chris Wyman, from Slingshot, sent<br />
me a trainer kite. I didn’t really know what<br />
to do with it, so I looked up“kiteboarding<br />
lessons” on the internet and started going to<br />
Kite Nights, put on by <strong>The</strong> Seattle Kitesurfing<br />
Association. After flying that trainer to death, I<br />
got one kite – a 2001 Fuel 8m, which I learned<br />
on and rode in all conditions!<br />
What other sports helped influence<br />
your kiteboarding and what is your<br />
training regiment?<br />
I’m not sure if my other sports significantly<br />
Get involved (even at the smallest<br />
level) to maintain and improve your<br />
local kite beach.<br />
If you’ve never ridden a Jimmy, try<br />
one. Kiteboarding’s never been so fun.<br />
Always keep your gear in your car.<br />
You’ll always get the perfect conditions<br />
the day you forget your gear.<br />
Don’t get caught up in hype – do/ride<br />
what feels right.<br />
Lose the ego and smile more! It’s just<br />
kiteboarding!<br />
influenced my kiteboarding. A lot of it is mental<br />
patience, the ability to remain calm in chaotic<br />
situations, and a ‘just charge it’ attitude.<br />
What riders influence you most?<br />
Watching good wakeboarders rip behind a<br />
boat is so inspiring to do the same with a kite.<br />
Following Jason Slezak snowboard through<br />
waist-deep powder –his smooth style on snow<br />
is just as powerfully engaging as he is on the<br />
water! Watching Ben Wilson surf, Tobias, Chris<br />
Wyman and many un-named individuals who<br />
just love to ride and never take the sport too<br />
seriously.<br />
What do you do off the water to help you on<br />
the water?<br />
Pilates. Seriously – three times a week and<br />
you’ll notice a difference in your kiteboarding,<br />
and your abs!<br />
What is the latest trick you are working on and<br />
how is it going?<br />
Getting into a big wave without getting<br />
worked. Sometimes my legs shake and my<br />
heart pounds when I see a wall approaching<br />
me, but I think it’s both excitement and<br />
anxiety. What I’m learning is that it’s 90%<br />
mental and 10% luck.<br />
Where is your favorite place to ride and why?<br />
<strong>The</strong> endless and remote beaches of Western<br />
Australia, from Lancelin to Margaret River and<br />
everything in between. A close second is the<br />
Oregon Coast, which would be first if it wasn’t<br />
so cold!<br />
What is something about you that you do<br />
outside of kiteboarding that most people<br />
wouldn’t know?<br />
I’m Creative and Marketing lead for a web<br />
development company in Hood River.<br />
Wanna website?<br />
You co-founded the Women’s Kiteboarding<br />
Association. What are the orgs plan for 2007?<br />
In WKA’s first year, we learned that partnering<br />
with retailers and brands to put on events<br />
around the globe was a pipe dream. So, this<br />
year, we will be playing a more facilitative<br />
and supportive role. We are building a new,<br />
comprehensive resource website to link<br />
women to lessons, camps, and gear as well as<br />
putting on beginner clinics to facilitate those<br />
first steps in the sport!<br />
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SEND IT<br />
1. Bolstad’s family portrait.<br />
Photo Carol Bolstad<br />
2. KITEs Method Lodge Dominican BBQ.<br />
Photo John Holzall<br />
3. Real Kiteboarding crew hanging in the British<br />
Virgin Islands. Photo Realkiteboarding.com<br />
4. Jessie Hassell and Clinton Bolton chilling<br />
in Brazil. Photo Jessie Hassell<br />
5<br />
6<br />
1<br />
7<br />
R E A D E R S U B M I S S I O N S<br />
4<br />
5. Rocky Chatwell looks like a young Davey<br />
Blair. Photo Ryan Riccitelli<br />
6. Peter Schiebel tunes up the new Answer 2.<br />
Photo Kim Kern<br />
7. South Padre sunset session.<br />
Photo Carol Bolstad<br />
8. Salt on the face is good for the skin.<br />
Photo Ocean Rodeo<br />
8<br />
2<br />
9<br />
3<br />
9. Jesse Cors a.k.a. Hollywood Jesse! Photo<br />
Gerry Smith<br />
10. Best Kiteboarding bikini contest in Brazil.<br />
Photo Gavin Butler<br />
11. Xrated Kiteboarding’s Xtreme<br />
Downwinder winners—Demian Thomas,<br />
Andy Hurdman, Billy Parker and Stacy Fonas.<br />
Photo Gerry Smith<br />
12. eXtreme Hotels “Glam” New Year’s party.<br />
Photo Nikki Ivanoski<br />
13. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Kiteboarder</strong> billboard campaign in the<br />
Dominican Republic. Photo Ryan Riccitelli<br />
14. San Diego Kiters Christmas Party.<br />
Photo Sandra Franco<br />
15. Karim Berrada’s snow angel gone bad.<br />
Photo James Brown<br />
16. Tommy Trozera and Paul Eric Paumard at<br />
Tourmaline. Photo Greg Banner<br />
17. Lou Wainman’s new Jimmy Lewis creation;<br />
the Picklfork revisted. Photo Lou Wainman<br />
18. <strong>The</strong> man behind Tweak McCore; Carl<br />
“Los” Preston and his son. Photo Carl Preston<br />
19. James Brown is not afraid to show he is<br />
49% Sweetheart and 51% bitch.<br />
Photo Lance Graham<br />
20. Jeoffrey Nathan’s eco-friendly kite<br />
transportation. Photo Flexifoil<br />
21. Denver Coon and John Romais holding<br />
down the peanut gallery. Photo LiquidForce.com<br />
If you have a photo that you would like<br />
featured in <strong>The</strong> <strong>Kiteboarder</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong>, please<br />
email ryan@thekiteboarder.com<br />
36 thekiteboarder.com thekiteboarder.com 37<br />
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BACKWOODS<br />
Corky Cullen smacks the inside bowl. Photo Greg Banner<br />
catch a wave<br />
TouRmaline, caBy<br />
Paul Lang<br />
San Diego is known as a light-wind town, but it does have excellent surf. Every once in a while we get a<br />
windy day with big swell. When this happens, the wave kiting in San Diego can be truly world-class. One of<br />
the best places to kite in the waves is Tourmaline Surf Park, known as Tourmo to the locals. <strong>The</strong> launch site<br />
is not difficult, but the beach crowds and packs of surfers in the water make this an advanced spot only.<br />
What is the official site name?<br />
Tourmaline Surf Park, San Diego, California.<br />
What is the best time of the year to hit<br />
this spot?<br />
San Diego is a light-wind town, so there<br />
is no time of the year when you can be<br />
guaranteed wind. <strong>The</strong> windiest days are<br />
powered by the fronts that come through<br />
in the winter and spring. In summertime,<br />
expect light wind and small waves.<br />
What is the best internet site to check<br />
the wind?<br />
www.ikitesurf.com has a sensor at<br />
Tourmaline. Wind forecasts are notoriously<br />
bad in San Diego, so most locals carry their<br />
wind pagers wherever they go. <strong>The</strong> rule in<br />
San Diego is that you drop everything and<br />
ride when there is wind, otherwise, you will<br />
probably miss it.<br />
How do I get there?<br />
Tourmaline is located just north of Pacific<br />
Beach in San Diego, at the end of<br />
Tourmaline Street.<br />
What is the usual wind direction?<br />
Tourmaline is best on a north to northwest<br />
wind day. Be cautious if the wind starts<br />
to become offshore late in the day. This is<br />
usually a sure sign that the wind is about to<br />
shut off.<br />
What gear should I be sure to pack?<br />
16 meter or larger is the main kite size for<br />
locals as winds are typically in the 8-12<br />
knot range. Storm driven days can result<br />
in winds that vary from 7 to 14 meter<br />
conditions. In short, bring your big kites,<br />
but you may need a small kite if you are<br />
lucky. A 3/2 full suit will get you through<br />
the winter, and a thermal top or lycra is all<br />
that is needed in the summer.<br />
What conditions should I avoid?<br />
Offshore winds or onshore winds. Do not<br />
ride on holiday summer weekends, no<br />
matter how good it is.<br />
What is the launch/landing like?<br />
Only launch downwind of the pump station.<br />
<strong>The</strong> launch area is a wide sandy beach, but<br />
is not for beginners. Tourmaline is a very<br />
popular place for beachgoers and surfers,<br />
and so is often crowded. When on the<br />
water, do not ride through packs of surfers.<br />
What are some of the best places to eat?<br />
Pacific Beach is full of great places to eat.<br />
Try <strong>The</strong>o’s on Garnet Street for pizza,<br />
sandwiches, and cheap beer. Taco Surf<br />
on Mission Blvd. has great burritos and<br />
Surfside (also on Mission) is great for sushi.<br />
Who are the local schools and shops?<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are no lessons at Tourmo, but there<br />
is no shortage of schools and shops in San<br />
Diego. West Coast Kiteboarding, Manta<br />
Local legend Tommy Trozera drops in at the point. Photo Greg Banner Paul Eric Paumard is known for his big airs and crazy style.<br />
Photo Paul Lang<br />
<strong>Kiteboarder</strong>s take over the beach on a typical windy day. Photo Paul Lang<br />
Wind and Water Sports, Xdream Sportz,<br />
CaliKites, Kite Country.<br />
What is the name of the local association?<br />
<strong>The</strong>re is no active association in San Diego,<br />
but contact any of the shops or schools to<br />
get info, or hang out with local riders.<br />
Where should I stay?<br />
Search the web to find a good deal on a<br />
hotel in San Diego. If you want to be right<br />
by Tourmaline, look for properties in Pacific<br />
Beach. San Diego is a great place to bring<br />
the family because if you get skunked, you<br />
can go to the Zoo, Sea World, or just hang<br />
out on the beach. If you have business<br />
downtown, Tourmaline is only 15-20<br />
minutes away.<br />
What is the nightlife like?<br />
If you want to party, go to Garnet Avenue<br />
in Pacific Beach. You can get yourself into<br />
trouble here any night of the week.<br />
What else is there to do if I get skunked?<br />
Surf, rent a boat, or take the family to all<br />
the San Diego attractions.<br />
Is there anything else I need to know<br />
about riding this spot?<br />
Surfers have been here for a very long<br />
time, and this is their spot first. Do not<br />
ride here if you are a beginner and do not<br />
ride through groups of surfers.<br />
Are there any safety issues or rules I<br />
need to know about?<br />
Always stay clear of surfers in the water.<br />
Follow surf etiquette rules. Do not jibe<br />
onto a wave downwind of someone who<br />
is already on the wave and do not jump<br />
in the waves around people who are<br />
riding them. If you are just riding back<br />
and forth, please stay outside of the<br />
waves. Good days here are rare, so do<br />
not be greedy and do not get in the way<br />
of other riders.<br />
ResouRces<br />
www.pacificbeachonline.com<br />
www.westcoastkiteboarding.com<br />
www.mantawatersports.com<br />
www.xdreamsportz.com<br />
www.calikites.com<br />
www.kitecountry.com<br />
Are there any safety issues or rules I need<br />
to know about?<br />
Only launch downwind of the pump station<br />
and be very aware of beachgoers and<br />
surfers. Do not fly your kite on the beach<br />
and follow surf etiquette rules, even if that<br />
means yielding to a surfer. <strong>The</strong> crowds<br />
make this an advanced spot only, so ride<br />
somewhere else if you are a beginner. Avoid<br />
kiting after a large rain, as Tourmo can<br />
become very polluted due to runoff. Talk to<br />
the locals if you are from out of town.<br />
Are there any interesting bits of trivia<br />
about this spot?<br />
This spot has been officially designated<br />
as a surf park since 1965, so respect those<br />
who came before. Kiting has come very<br />
close to being completely shut down at this<br />
spot, so please kite in a very safe manner.<br />
38 thekiteboarder.com thekiteboarder.com 39 37
BACKWOODS<br />
What is the official site name?<br />
Pismo Beach, CA which also extends into<br />
the Oceano Dunes.<br />
What is the best time of year to hit<br />
this spot?<br />
March through June you can get six out<br />
of seven days of kiting. <strong>The</strong> rest of the<br />
year, you can get four days out of seven,<br />
but sometimes no wind for a week!<br />
What is the best internet site to check<br />
the wind?<br />
<strong>The</strong> two local schools are your best<br />
resources for weather.<br />
www.CaliforniaKiteboarding.us and<br />
http:// XtremeBigAir.com/WebCams/<br />
How do I get there?<br />
Pismo Beach is a three and a half hour<br />
drive from both Los Angeles and San<br />
Francisco, or, you can fly into San Luis<br />
Obispo (SBP). From the 101, take the 4th<br />
Ave exit. Go to Grand Avenue, head west<br />
Local, Jason Lee, takes off on an inside kicker. Photo Michael Jones<br />
clam capital of the world ResouRces<br />
Pismo Beach, ca<br />
Contributors: Jason Lee and Kinsley Thomas Wong<br />
Pismo Beach has a long, sandy shoreline about 10 miles long. It is the only state beach in California that you<br />
can drive and camp on. <strong>The</strong> riding area stretches through the communities of Pismo, Grover Beach, and Oceano.<br />
<strong>The</strong> beach actually continues for another 10 miles but is not accessible by car. <strong>The</strong> wind typically blows side<br />
on in the 16-25 knot range. <strong>The</strong> water is very shallow for the first 150 feet. <strong>The</strong> waves at this location are beach<br />
break waves so the further you go out, the bigger they can get. Average days serve up two to five-foot waves but<br />
occasionally, especially during the winter and spring, the waves can be eight feet or more. <strong>The</strong> wave interval is<br />
usually about 14 seconds which creates nice kickers in between 150 to 160 feet of flat, butter water.<br />
and it will take you right to the beach.<br />
What is the usual wind direction?<br />
Northwest, which is side-on.<br />
What are the best conditions to<br />
get lucky?<br />
Look for a northwest wind forecast<br />
from 10 to 25 knots with air temperature<br />
below 70F. Typically, the wind lasts the<br />
longest past the second beach on ramp<br />
at Pier Ave.<br />
What conditions should I avoid?<br />
Stormy conditions, and when the beach<br />
is hot the wind will typically block. Also,<br />
big holidays like Memorial Day, and<br />
Independence Day as there are too many<br />
cars and sun worshippers on the beach.<br />
What gear should I be sure to pack?<br />
You can drive on the beach so pack up!<br />
Wind is usually 8-14m conditions. A<br />
wetsuit (minimum 3mm) and warm<br />
clothing is necessary. No need for<br />
booties other than cold water protection.<br />
What is the launch/landing?<br />
<strong>The</strong> beach is wide and sandy so<br />
launching and landing is not a problem.<br />
Be aware of pedestrians and cars<br />
driving on the beach, and watch out<br />
for fishermen. Do not launch or fly<br />
your kite north of the Sea Venture<br />
Restaurant by the pier. During the<br />
Snowy Plover nesting season from<br />
April through September, you can<br />
ride anywhere but are only allowed<br />
to launch/land your kite in the section<br />
from Grand Ave (first on ramp) to<br />
North of the bathroom on Pier Ave<br />
(second on ramp). Beach access is also<br />
available further south by turning left<br />
at the Grand and Dollliver/Pacific Blvd<br />
intersection, at Pier Ave.<br />
Who are the local schools and shops?<br />
California Kiteboarding, Xtreme Big Air<br />
What is the name of the Local<br />
Association?<br />
<strong>The</strong> Central Coast Kiteboarding Association<br />
(CCKA) is not very active but you can find<br />
general info on the area and regulations.<br />
Where should I stay?<br />
You can camp on the beach or stay in one<br />
of the local campgrounds/RV parks. Motel<br />
6 on 4th Ave and the Rose Garden Inn are<br />
popular budget properties, and the Sea<br />
Venture or Mission Inn for more upscale<br />
lodging.<br />
Where are some of the best places to eat?<br />
Umi Sushi on 13th and Grand Ave is a local<br />
favorite after riding. Splash Café by the<br />
pier is famous for their clam chowder. AJ<br />
Spurs and Alex’s BBQ are great for steak<br />
and JDScrambles on Price Street serves up<br />
a mean breakfast. Rosa’s or Giuseppe’s is a<br />
must if you love Italian.<br />
What is the nightlife like?<br />
Grom Ted Hertel cruises the inside butter. Photo Kinsley Thomas Wong<br />
Pismo’s scenic backdrop makes it one of the most beautiful places to<br />
kite on the California coast. Lens Kinsley Thomas Wong<br />
Harry’s in downtown Pismo or Mongo’s<br />
in Grover Beach offer live music but<br />
San Luis Obispo has the best night life as<br />
it’s a college town and has the most bars.<br />
What else is there to do if I get<br />
skunked?<br />
Ride or rent dirt bikes/ATVs, surf,<br />
mountain bike, paraglide, fish, kayak,<br />
wine taste or hike. <strong>The</strong>re is no shortage<br />
of things to do and see in SLO County.<br />
Is there anything else I need to know<br />
about riding this spot?<br />
Some days a 4x4 is required to drive on<br />
the beach. Check the tide. If it is low and<br />
the ramp is clear, most cars will do fine<br />
in the hardpack. A year pass to drive on<br />
the beach is $50 and a daily pass is $5.<br />
Are there any safety issues or rules I<br />
need to know about?<br />
As people can drive on the beach, don’t<br />
leave your bar/lines laid out and keep<br />
Wild man, Kinsley Wong, can be found boosting big<br />
air on any given windy day. Photo Brian Ackerman<br />
classiccalifornia.com<br />
parks.ca.gov/?page_id=595<br />
sanluisobispocounty.com<br />
sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/CCKA<br />
schools<br />
californiakiteboarding.us<br />
xtremebigair.com<br />
your gear by your car when not in use. If<br />
the wind is onshore, use your head and<br />
don’t do tricks too close to the beach.<br />
Refer to the guidelines at the CCKA for<br />
regulations.<br />
Are there any interesting bits of trivia<br />
about this spot?<br />
Scenes from <strong>The</strong> Pirates of the<br />
Caribbean III were filmed about 10<br />
miles down the beach from the kiting<br />
area and much of the set from <strong>The</strong> Ten<br />
Commandments is buried in the Oceano<br />
Dunes. Pismo Beach is also known as<br />
the Clam Capital of the World. <strong>The</strong> city<br />
holds an annual festival every October<br />
with clam chowder competitions<br />
and a clam-themed parade. However,<br />
clamming is now restricted, due to over<br />
clamming in earlier decades.<br />
40 thekiteboarder.com thekiteboarder.com 41
This overview shot of Greece’s coastline captures the beauty and color of the Aegean.<br />
Athens is a sprawling city where ancient and modern culture meet.<br />
Andy Hurdman shows the Greeks why he is one of the top riders in the US.<br />
By Emi Moreno Lens Ethan Ford<br />
f you have never been, you have to go!” This is what everyone says to you<br />
“ Iwhen you mention Greece. My boyfriend, Andy Hurdman, and I were lucky<br />
enough to travel to this Mediterranean paradise this past July. Andy is a<br />
professional kiteboarder, so for him this was business. I was lucky enough<br />
to tag along to document this once in a lifetime adventure.<br />
42 thekiteboarder.com thekiteboarder.com 43
<strong>The</strong> fresh seafood and Greek cuisine is something you have to experience for yourself.<br />
Andy braves the 35-40 knot conditions near the Paros Kite Pro Center.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Trip Overseas<br />
After a long flight, we arrived in Athens Greece, tired and hungry. We were<br />
greeted by our guide, Bullis, a very enthusiastic Greek man who is full of<br />
energy, life and love. He took us to our new home away from home for the<br />
next 10 days, the Sofitel Athens, a gorgeous 5-star hotel which was literally<br />
across the street from the airport. After a quick nap and shower we were off<br />
to Bullis’ school, the Nissakia Surf Club, to check out the local kiting spot.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Ferry to Paros<br />
<strong>The</strong> morning after our arrival we met up with the rest of our kiting crew<br />
including Joseph Carneiro, Joel Painter and Nissakia team riders Tattoo<br />
Man (Andrea), Romeo (Agelos) and Lucas. We also had a professional<br />
photographer in tow, Ethan Ford, an American kiter from Boston who<br />
recently moved to Greece.<br />
With only four hours of sleep, we immediately found out that traveling with<br />
a large group in Greece can be a hectic experience. <strong>The</strong>re is only one ferry<br />
per day and ours was scheduled to leave at 6:30 am. With no time to spare,<br />
the bellman from the hotel drove our car stuffed to the gills with gear and<br />
people, as fast as he could following closely behind our crazy guide. Bullis<br />
weaved in and out of traffic on his 250 scooter, driving on the opposite side<br />
Emi gets her ride on at Paros Island.<br />
of the road when necessary and completely ignoring all traffic rules.<br />
With a kiteboard squeezed between his legs and a cigarette in one<br />
hand and a phone in the other, he spastically waved at us to hurry up.<br />
By some good stroke of fate, we made it. Our team was the last to<br />
board the ferry to Paros.<br />
Paros Island<br />
Paros is the third largest island in the Cyclades island chain. Windsurfers<br />
have been flocking to the island for years, accounting for its nickname,<br />
Surfer’s Paradise. It is famous for its white marble, gentle landscapes,<br />
picturesque villages and endless beaches. In July and August the island<br />
is blessed with strong, steady winds.<br />
Our team arrived just in time for the good wind and sunny skies. After<br />
checking in at the Holiday Sun Hotel, we headed just a few blocks down<br />
the road to Pounda Beach to kite, located on the western side of the<br />
island, just opposite Antiparos. Pounda Beach is also home to <strong>The</strong> Paros<br />
Kite Pro Center, host of the PKRA World Tour for the past several years.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Paros Kite Pro Center is an ideal spot for kiters of all levels and has<br />
a wide sandy beach with a nice shallow area for beginners. <strong>The</strong> wind is<br />
usually strong and consistent between 12 to 35 knots.<br />
Our visit was scheduled to be only two days, but was extended<br />
another two because the ferries were cancelled due to the high<br />
winds and rough seas. It was a kiters dream, and we all rode for four<br />
days straight! <strong>The</strong> conditions were extreme; Andy was easily busting<br />
50-foot airs on his 5m and Joseph was throwing powered mobes<br />
on his 7m, awing the beach.<br />
Back in Athens<br />
An eight-hour, smoke-filled ferry ride brought us back to Athens. We<br />
were all tired and in need of a shower and a hot meal, so we headed<br />
back to the Sofitel for some rest and relaxation. <strong>The</strong> extended trip<br />
in Paros threw our tour off schedule; we were actually supposed to<br />
be at our next destination, Crete. We tried to catch an early morning<br />
flight to Crete, but this time fate was not on our side. By the time everyone<br />
arrived at the flight’s gate, the plane was gone. Luckily, there<br />
was wind in Athens, so we all headed back down to Nissakia to kite.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Nissakia Surf Club<br />
<strong>The</strong> next day, <strong>The</strong> Nissakia Surf Club (NSC) and Arnette Sunglasses sponsored<br />
a great weekend event. <strong>The</strong> team helped locals demo kites, answer<br />
questions and showed off their riding for the crowd. <strong>The</strong> NSC is located in<br />
Loutsa, 15.5 miles from the center of Athens. It offers lessons, equipment<br />
and storage facilities for riders. This was Andy’s favorite places to ride. <strong>The</strong><br />
restaurant overlooks a bay-like area with a shallow reef that generates small<br />
wave-like kickers. On the outside, two small islands create an ultimate<br />
flat-water spot between their shores. <strong>The</strong>re is plenty of room for kiters and<br />
windsurfers alike. Andy enjoyed having a captive audience while he showed<br />
everyone why he is nicknamed “the grasshopper”.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Island of Crete<br />
Crete was the last stop on our journey and is the most southerly of the<br />
Greek islands. It is known for its clear blue seas, sandy beaches and glorious<br />
sunshine. After arriving in the port of Chania, the team traveled to the<br />
town of Platanias on the north coast of the island. <strong>The</strong> town of Platanias<br />
bustles with many resorts, restaurants and shops, and is a popular tourist<br />
destination for many Scandinavians. We checked in at the Mylos Little<br />
Palace Hotel, a resort-type establishment with a stylish beachfront pool bar<br />
and full five-star night club, and then walked into town to check it out.<br />
<strong>The</strong> first day, we were greeted with head high shore break and light winds.<br />
Despite the conditions, Andy rigged up his biggest kite, a 16m Waroo. He<br />
charged the shore break and was able to get in a 15-minute session before<br />
calling it a day. Joel also decided to attempt to ride, but his efforts were less<br />
successful. Before even getting his board on, he was toppled over by a<br />
head high wave. He was good a sport and we all enjoyed a good laugh.<br />
<strong>The</strong> next day we took a day trip with some locals to one of the most pristine<br />
kiting spots in Greece named Elafonisi. It took almost two hours on<br />
winding mountain roads to reach it, but the trip was well worth the effort.<br />
<strong>The</strong> sand was pure white and the water was a clear aqua blue. Everyone<br />
rode for hours at this beautiful, hidden oasis frequented by locals but<br />
largely still undiscovered by tourists. After a dream-like session, it was<br />
time to head back to Athens.<br />
Homeward Bound<br />
Once back in Athens, we had two last nights at the Sofitel. A new friend<br />
of ours, Mike and his dog Surf, took us on a “local’s only” tour of historic<br />
downtown Athens. <strong>The</strong> architecture and history of the city is incredible<br />
and should definitely not be missed when visiting Greece.<br />
Andy and I were both sad to leave our new Greek friends and family, but<br />
Florida and the USA were beckoning us to return. Our trip to Greece was<br />
not just another kiteboarding trip. <strong>The</strong> people we met and the places we<br />
kited are memories we will cherish forever. If you are looking for an amazing<br />
adventure, make sure you put Greece at the top of your list!<br />
Emi reads her book while Andy takes a break between sessions.<br />
Climate/Wind<br />
<strong>The</strong> Greek islands tend to have long and dry summers and<br />
mild but rainy winters. <strong>The</strong> Dodecanese, Cyclades and the<br />
Cretan coasts are usually rocked by dry north “meltemi”<br />
wind which blows the strongest between June and September.<br />
For the Aegean Islands of Loutsa and Lefkada, August<br />
typically offers the most consistent winds. <strong>The</strong> mainland<br />
works on a thermal influence, making June and July the best<br />
months.<br />
www.meteo.gr; www.windfinder.com; www.beachreport.gr;<br />
www.noa.gr/forecast/bolam/index.htmforecast.uoa.gr<br />
Currency<br />
Greece has now converted to the euro, which replaces the<br />
former drachma. Changing money from other currencies<br />
into euros can be done at banks or post offices. We found<br />
that using ATMs to directly withdraw euros was the simplest<br />
and easiest way to obtain cash. We don’t recommend using<br />
traveler’s checks; they were hard to cash!<br />
travel<br />
For international guests, the Athens Airport is probably the<br />
cheapest and easiest starting point for your Greek adventure.<br />
Most islands can be reached either by chartered or<br />
Greek domestic flight, or the less expensive ferry ride. Our<br />
advice is to find out which islands you plan on visiting and<br />
then speak with a travel agent to find the best plan. Although<br />
the ferries are frequent and inexpensive, they can be very<br />
long and are filled with cigarette smoke.<br />
resources<br />
www.kiteboard.gr; www.kitesurfing.gr; www.ferries.gr<br />
kite schools<br />
www.nissakia.gr; www.milosbeach.gr; www.paroskite.gr;<br />
www.paroskite-procenter.com; www.naxos-windsurf.com;<br />
www.airtime-kitesurfing.com; www.windsurfing-rodos.com;<br />
www.prasonisi.com<br />
44 thekiteboarder.com thekiteboarder.com 45
Forum face-off<br />
By Marina Chang Photo Shana Coursin<br />
m<br />
any kiteboarders sit at a desk for most of the day dreaming about their next session. Kiteboarding<br />
forums and blogs are often the best way to get your fix and to keep in touch with what is going on in the<br />
kiteboarding world. Whether you participate or not, most of you access kiteboarding related websites at least<br />
once a week, if not a couple of times a day! Working behind the scenes are many passionate kiteboarding<br />
webmasters who all share a common denominator: a love for kiteboarding and the people who participate in<br />
our growing community. We decided to give these unsung heroes a face and voice, so you can get to know<br />
the people who drive these sites. Next time you see one of them, give them props for a job well done for all<br />
they do to help us share and learn from each other online.<br />
46 thekiteboarder.com<br />
Bay Area Kiteboarding<br />
Name of Forum: Bay Area Kiteboarding (BAK)<br />
Website: www.bayareakiteboarding.com Founder/moderator: Ollie Govers<br />
Background: Shingle siding contractor specializing in restoring<br />
residential homes in the SF East Bay.<br />
Why did you start your forum? To fulfill a need for an interactive resource that didn’t exist for<br />
kiteboarders in the San Francisco Bay Area in Feb 2004. We currently have 900 registered users.<br />
What is the mission of your forum? To promote safety, share information, help others, build<br />
community among kiteboarders and publicize events in the SF Bay Area.<br />
Who is your audience? We receive visits from kiters globally, but our main audience is a diverse<br />
and wide-ranging demographic made up of kiters in the SF Bay Area between the ages of 14-60<br />
years old from all types of backgrounds.<br />
What differentiates you from other forums? Great design, lots of features, very helpful users and<br />
very little drama. People want to help and provide others with lots of useful answers about learning,<br />
gear, locations, safety, travel, weather and more.<br />
What is are your personal favorite kiteboarding websites? BAK, NWS (National Weather<br />
Service) and iKitesurf<br />
EastKB<br />
Name of Forum: EastKB Website: www.eastkb.com<br />
Founder/moderator: Bruno Garcia (L) aka Brui and Vali Puscasu aka Lost (R)<br />
Background: Bruno is a web developer and graphic designer, and Vali’s<br />
background is filming and journalism. <strong>The</strong>y live in Washington, DC but<br />
otherwise live to travel in search for wind.<br />
Why did you start your forum? We needed a better interface than the yahoo group we were using and wanted<br />
to have the capability to integrate photos into our messages. We launched the site in 2006 and cover the<br />
mid-Atlantic region, which is mainly Maryland, Delaware, Virginia and DC. Membership is at 118 and growing.<br />
What is the mission of your forum? We want to create a real community for our area, to be able to share<br />
information about places we ride, when we go out, gear we try. We also plan on organizing events such as<br />
crossing the Chesapeake Bay, beach clean-ups, and gear demos and swaps.<br />
Who is your audience? Anyone who is interested in kiteboarding, loves the water, likes to fly and is hooked<br />
on the feeling of freedom when riding. We even have a few windsurfers among us who are interested in the<br />
“dark side.” <strong>The</strong>y don’t post because they want to stay anonymous. But we know who you are!<br />
What differentiates you from other forums? Our goal isn’t necessarily to be different; we just want to<br />
provide the best interface and information for our users. We are like an extended family that is always there<br />
when we want to have fun or when we need help.<br />
What are your personal favorite kiteboarding websites? Our forum because is not just a forum on the<br />
web…it is a real home for us.<br />
Florida Kiteboarding Association<br />
Name of Forum: FKA Kiteboarding Forum Website: http://fksa.org<br />
Founder/moderator: Rick Iossi<br />
Background: Environmental and construction-related engineer who started<br />
kiteboarding in the Summer of 1998. Rick researches and analyzes kiteboarding<br />
accidents in an effort to help reduce avoidable kiting accidents. He also<br />
writes accident summaries as well as event and travel articles.<br />
Why did you start your forum? Saw a need for promotion of safer and sustainable kiteboarding<br />
practices and formed the Florida Kitesurfing Association, Inc. and Forum in 2001.<br />
What is the mission of your forum? FKA promotes a sense of community among kiters and safer,<br />
sustainable riding along with useful information and entertainment. Membership is at 3600 and is<br />
focused on Florida and the Bahamas primarily, although the target audience is worldwide.<br />
Who is your audience? <strong>The</strong> forum draws kiteboarders and people that are interested in Florida<br />
kiting, events, travel, training and safety worldwide.<br />
What differentiates you from other forums? It has been around for a long time and attempts to<br />
avoid focusing on commercial content and more on safety, events, travel, and local issues.<br />
What are your personal favorite kiteboarding websites? Fksa.org (naturally), Kiteforum.com,<br />
bayareakiteboarding.com, skypilotkiteboarding.com, seabreeze.com.au, kiteboarder.co.uk
48 thekiteboarder.com<br />
Kite Forum<br />
Website: www.kiteforum.com Founder/moderator: Toby Braeuer<br />
Background: Learned import and export, then did several kinds of jobs.<br />
I am now working 100% for my websites.<br />
Why did you start your forum? In 2000/2001 I always looked up a German forum, and my girlfriend said I<br />
was wasting my time doing so. I started my own forum, so she has nothing to complain about!<br />
Also, the former strongest Yahoo group was hard to read, since a question got posted and answers came<br />
some pages later. Back then the phpBB software was new, and the answers were listed under the question.<br />
What is the mission of your forum? <strong>The</strong> forum helps any kiter in the world with as much info as possible<br />
on our sport. <strong>The</strong> goal is to have any question answered, and so far this works really well. Real users are at<br />
16,000 and growing everyday.<br />
Who is your audience? Kiters from around the world<br />
What differentiates you from other forums? It is international and has team riders, company owners,<br />
reps, developers and many normal kiters of any level from around the world on it. It also links to the other<br />
five sites that I have created for kite beaches around the world, videos, travel, blogging, reviews and more.<br />
What are your personal favorite kiteboarding websites? I am so busy working on my own websites<br />
and new ideas that I don’t have much time to look at others!<br />
Kite-surf.com<br />
Name of Forum: Kite-Surf.com Website: www.kite-surf.com<br />
Founder/moderator: Robin Zwissler<br />
Background: I am a Computer Specialist for SAP Software, working for BMW.<br />
Why did you start your forum? I took lessons in southern France back in 1998. I was immediately<br />
hooked and knew that kiteboarding would be the sport of the future. Back then, there was only Hung Vu’s<br />
Kitesurfing eGroup (nowadays called Yahoo!Group). So, I founded the first kiteboarding website featuring<br />
the news of the stuff discussed in that eGroup in July 1999.<br />
What is the mission of your forum? To collect and supply as many kite and kiteboard reviews as possible.<br />
So far, the site has 1357 kite reviews and 348 kiteboard reviews.<br />
Who is your audience? Anybody looking for kite and kiteboard reviews<br />
What differentiates you from other forums? Our focus is to have the biggest and most complete<br />
reviews section. Due to my “real” job and forum spammers, I have only time left to focus on the<br />
Reviews section nowadays.<br />
What is are your personal favorite kiteboarding websites? www.hanglos.nl, as it has the best news<br />
overview in one place.<br />
NW Kite<br />
Name of Forum: nwkite.com Website: www.nwkite.com<br />
Founder/moderator: Phillip Holmstrand<br />
Background: Web Services Manager for the City of Portland who started<br />
kiteboarding in 2003. I have been totally addicted ever since.<br />
Why did you start your forum? I was stuck at home one week a couple years ago with a wicked fever.<br />
Already had the domain name, slapped on phpBB and emailed all my buds. Nwkite.com was born! We<br />
have over 700 members and focus on the Pacific Northwest, but most members are from the Gorge,<br />
Portland, and the Oregon Coast.<br />
What is the mission of your forum? To keep the stoke of kiteboarding alive in the hours when we can’t<br />
get to the water, and to keep locals informed of events and industry news.<br />
Who is your audience? <strong>Kiteboarder</strong>s and fans of kiteboarding.<br />
What differentiates you from other forums? We have an awesome group of users that actually do kite at<br />
least five days a week, and incredible photographers that contribute tons of eye-candy. Most importantly, I<br />
think we keep flaming and gear wars taboo and shuffle those topics to other forums.<br />
What are your personal favorite kiteboarding websites? KiteForum.com is a useful site in small<br />
doses, but since we have nwkite.com now, I much prefer to fill my daily addiction there. Of course<br />
IWindsurf.com is always awesome for wind info.<br />
Photos courtesy of Ed Dubois<br />
NYC Kitesurfers<br />
Name of Forum: NYC Kitesurfers Website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NYCKitesurfers<br />
Founder/moderator: Dmitry Avramenko<br />
Background: Computer programmer working for small startup in NYC who<br />
windsurfed for eight years before switching to kiteboarding in 2003.<br />
Took first lessons in <strong>Cabarete</strong>, was hooked and never looked back.<br />
Why did you start your forum? I met Toby from Kiteforum in <strong>Cabarete</strong> and thought that local riders in<br />
NY had no means to communicate with each other. We needed a local forum where we could discuss<br />
local beach access issues and get united so I created the forum in 2003. We are pretty new and have<br />
336 members so far, mostly from the New York and New Jersey areas.<br />
What is the main goal or mission of your forum? Build a strong local community, share experiences,<br />
discuss gear, help with local kite spots discovery.<br />
Who is your audience? Users are local kiteboarders as well as visitors to our area from overseas and<br />
other states.<br />
What differentiates you from other forums? I think we have one of the friendliest, supportive and<br />
informative groups out there. Members are very active in posting trip reports, networking for riding, and<br />
just sharing info in general.<br />
What are your personal favorite kiteboarding websites? www.kiteforum.com<br />
SnowKiting.com<br />
Forum: snowkiting.com Website: snowkiting.com<br />
Founder/moderator: Eric Byers<br />
Background: Eric just finished up an internship with Windzup in December<br />
and is back at the University of North Dakota finishing up his degree in<br />
Aviation Management. He was very involved in the recent To Cross the<br />
Moon Expedition (see 411/Smack).<br />
Why did you start your forum? Snowkiting completely reversed my nasty opinion of snowy, freezing,<br />
windy winters in the Upper Midwest. What some people might call hell frozen over, I call the perfect season.<br />
I believe snowkiting can mature best if treated as an independent sport. Snowkiting.com gives new,<br />
snow-centric ideas a place to grow without being overshadowed by water-centric chatter.<br />
What is the mission of your forum? <strong>The</strong> forum provides a non-commercial place for snowkiters and those<br />
interested in this side of the sport to get the latest news and videos, as well as share info and ideas.<br />
Who is your audience? Mostly North America but we do draw international users. Any and all interested<br />
in the snowkiting.<br />
What differentiates you from other forums? Snowkiting.com is devoted exclusively to the snow side of the<br />
sport and is driven by a passion and vision for snowkiting.<br />
What are your personal favorite kiteboarding websites? Utube.com<br />
Skypilot Kiteboarding<br />
Name of Forum: Skypilotkiteboarding.com Website: Skypilotkiteboarding.com<br />
Founders: Alex Noke-Smith (R) and Dan Charlesworth (L)<br />
Background: Alex is a firefighter with the City of Vancouver and has been<br />
kiting for five years. Dan is a commercial pilot who has windsurfed for<br />
16 years and kiteboarded for four.<br />
Why did you start your forum? Skypilot Kiteboarding was created to provide a strong voice for the local<br />
Vancouver and Squamish kiteboarding communities. It has grown to over 1000 members and we’re now<br />
hearing from people around the globe of all ages, who are into kitesurfing, dirt kiting, snowkiting and buggying.<br />
What is the mission of your forum? Our ultimate goal is to support and merge a strong Canadian kiting<br />
scene into a global network, allowing our voices to meet the masses.<br />
Who is your audience? As of this year, there are four distinct Skypilot sites run by riders in Western<br />
Canada, Ontario, Quebec and Eastern Canada.<br />
What differentiates you from other forums? Skypilot is a very welcoming community-based resource for<br />
all levels of rider. Users contribute weather forecasts, condition reports, day planning, gear reviews, safety<br />
tips, trip feedback, and equipment maintenance/mods. We even have our own photographer, Ed Dubois<br />
– check out his photo gallery! Skypilot is also very active in driving new projects forward like additional<br />
beachfront webcams, regular articles, news items, and fundraisers for various causes.<br />
What are your personal favorite kiteboarding websites? www.bigwavedave.ca. Dave runs an amazing<br />
website that caters not only to kiters, but to windsurfers, surfers, and body boarders on Vancouver Island.
T H E K I T E B O A R D E R E X P O S E D<br />
crossroads<br />
Raised in Maui, Shawn Richman is at the age where he has to decide where to attend college.<br />
Where he ends up can make a huge impact on the course of the rest of his life. Before he makes<br />
his decision, Shawn takes the time to spot his landing in his hometown. Photo Tracy Kraft<br />
48 thekiteboarder.com thekiteboarder.com 49
mission accomplished<br />
We all drive by places that we dream about kiting if the conditions ever set up<br />
just right. Mark Barnes turned a few heads when he was lucky enough to catch<br />
this rare session on the Williamette River that runs through downtown Portland,<br />
Oregon. Photo Jon Malmberg<br />
reality check<br />
If you have ever seen Ruben Lenten ride, you know that this photo<br />
does not do him justice. Sure, this image may leave you in awe,<br />
but actually watching him throw a kiteloop like this in person with<br />
leave you completely speechless. Photo courtesy of Slingshot<br />
nirvana<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are hundreds of desolate kiteboarding spots around the world where wind, water,<br />
sunshine and a few good friends come together and define paradise. Julie Simsar and<br />
her crew find Nirvana on a recent trip to Brazil. Photo Carlos Delicado<br />
E X P O S E D<br />
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girls gone wild<br />
Boys aren’t the only ones who enjoy time out from their significant others. Pro-riders<br />
Julie Simsar, Gabi Steindl and a friend share some girl-time exploring the beaches of<br />
northeast Brazil. Photo Carlos Delicado<br />
for the birds<br />
Kiteboarding is not always about big airs and adrenaline packed sessions. <strong>The</strong> thrill<br />
of riding aross the water and being pulled by a kite is an enigma in itself. Ryan Wycoff<br />
becomes one with nature at the pools at Tawas Point, MI. Photo Bryan Elkus<br />
kiteboarder dreams<br />
Do you remember the time in your life when you wanted to sleep outside just because<br />
you could? Up and coming riders Rocky Chatwell and Jon VanMalson wake up in<br />
La Ventana, Mexico, ready to train all day to get one step closer to their dream of<br />
becoming pro kiteboarders. Photo VanMalson<br />
E X P O S E D<br />
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pushing the limits<br />
“Teahupo’o is not a kite wave; it’s a tow wave, and let me tell you why.<br />
Even when it’s 25 knots it’s still clean, open and perfect for towing. It<br />
bends so far around the reef that by the time you’re about to pull into<br />
the barrel with a kite, the wave is pulling you one way and the kite the<br />
other - it just doesn’t feel good. I figured that out on my first wave. This<br />
wave was my second. It may have ended my session because my kite<br />
was in a huge tangle after it, but it was worth it. It may not have been<br />
the biggest or heaviest wave that day, but it was my wave and my first<br />
experience at a place I have dreamed about riding for years.”<br />
Words Ben Wilson, Photo Tim McKenna<br />
beyond big air<br />
Sometimes you get those last minute shots right before you go<br />
to press, and you have to slip them in. No, this isn’t someone<br />
paragliding! Tomatoa Gillot boosts a monster air while kiteboarding<br />
in Tahiti. It looks like “big air” runs in the family. Our inside source<br />
tells us that Tomatoa learned from his step-brother, snowkiting<br />
pioneer Guillaume “Chasta” Chastagnol. Photo Renaude Fayada<br />
E X P O S E D<br />
54 thekiteboarder.com thekiteboarder.com 55
By Paul Lang<br />
Slow Down to SpeeD Up YoUr progreSSion<br />
M<br />
any intermediate kiteboarders<br />
want to learn how to improve<br />
their jumping skills, go upwind faster, and<br />
ride waves better. What few people realize<br />
is that simply learning to control your<br />
speed will improve your kiteboarding<br />
skills as a whole. To become a better kiter,<br />
you must build a foundation of solid basic<br />
skills, and speed control is the first skill<br />
you should work on after you learn to get<br />
up on your board.<br />
How do you control your Speed?<br />
As a rider, you have a lot of control over your speed.<br />
You are not simply at the mercy of the wind. Since<br />
the introduction of high depower kites, many riders<br />
have begun to rely on the the chicken loop to control<br />
speed, but this is a bad habit. Focus on controlling<br />
your speed without using your chicken loop by<br />
learning how to edge your board more effectively and<br />
your board skills will dramatically improve.<br />
Slow down<br />
• Hold your kite steady at 45 o to 60 o above the water.<br />
• While keeping your back straight, lean back<br />
against the pull of the kite and drive your weight<br />
through the heel of your back foot.<br />
• This must be done progressively. If you suddenly<br />
put all of your weight on your back foot, you will<br />
slow down too much and sink back into the water.<br />
• Think of the tail of your board as a brake. <strong>The</strong> harder<br />
you push on the brake, the more you slow down.<br />
Speed Control<br />
Speed up<br />
• Stand up and put your body directly over the top<br />
of your board.<br />
• Shift your weight further forward, so that your<br />
weight is evenly distributed between your feet.<br />
• If you still want to go faster, cycle the kite in the<br />
window to produce more power.<br />
Once you become more proficient and focused on<br />
controlling your speed, you will notice that gusts<br />
and lulls are easier to deal with -- in gusty winds,<br />
slow down in the puffs and speed up in the lulls.<br />
If you do this, you will be able to stay in complete<br />
control, even in the most challenging conditions.<br />
SpeedS eFFect on upwind aBility<br />
When you learn to control your speed, going upwind<br />
becomes much easier because there is a simple<br />
relationship between the two. Using your board skills<br />
to control speed, the slower you go, the further<br />
Jason Slezak displays perfect upwind form and kite placement. Lens John Bilderback<br />
upwind you go. Conversely, the faster you go,<br />
the less upwind you go. It’s that simple. To travel<br />
upwind as quickly as possible, you need to slow<br />
down, but remember to do it progressively. If you<br />
slow down too much, you will not be able to stay<br />
on top of the water and you will not go upwind<br />
very effectively, if at all.<br />
Speed and Jumping<br />
Here is a tip that can really help both your riding<br />
and your jumping: riding upwind and jumping<br />
correctly requires different speeds. To get upwind<br />
quickly you have to ride slower than is proper for<br />
jumping. Think of riding upwind and jumping as two<br />
separate modes. In upwind mode, you are gaining<br />
ground upwind, but you will not be able to generate<br />
very much pop if you try to jump. To generate pop<br />
requires speed, and in upwind mode you should be<br />
traveling slowly. To switch into jumping mode, you<br />
have to focus on generating more speed and not<br />
56 thekiteboarder.com thekiteboarder.com 57
worry about trying to get upwind. Speed up by<br />
easing up on your edge and bringing your weight<br />
over your board. Shift your weight forward to take<br />
your foot off the brake. You can quickly regain any<br />
downwind distance you lose by slowing down and<br />
transitioning back into upwind mode.<br />
uSing Board Speed in tHe waveS<br />
Speed management is very useful in the waves.<br />
Go watch a group of kiters in the waves and you<br />
will see why. Most intermediate riders simply ride<br />
back and forth in the waves. Good riders speed<br />
up and slow down to get on and stay on the<br />
wave. Every wave is different, and some waves<br />
are faster than others. Depending on the wave,<br />
you will have to either slow down or speed up<br />
to catch it. Once on the wave, you can use your<br />
board speed to stay there. If you find yourself<br />
being pulled in front of the wave by your kite,<br />
slow down and let the face of the wave catch up<br />
to you. If the wave begins to crumble in front of<br />
you, you can speed up to get around the section<br />
and get back onto the face of the wave. When you<br />
Speed Control<br />
Miguel Willis uses the power of the kite and regulates his board speed to<br />
place himself in the sweet spot of this wave. Lens Carlos Delicado<br />
are done with the wave, slow down and shift into<br />
upwind mode so you can do it all over again<br />
FocuS on tHe BaSicS<br />
Don’t forget that improving your kiteboarding<br />
skills is based on progression. You must master<br />
the basics before moving on to progressively<br />
more difficult moves. Too many riders begin<br />
hucking themselves into the air and charging big<br />
surf before understanding a concept as simple as<br />
speed management. You will ultimately progress<br />
much faster if you slow yourself down and take<br />
the time to master the basic skills before you try<br />
to imitate the riders in the latest available DVD.<br />
Make the effort to fully understand one concept<br />
before moving on to the next. <strong>The</strong> next time you<br />
ride, focus only on controlling your speed for<br />
the first 30 minutes. To get upwind, don’t focus<br />
on trying to get upwind. Focus on riding slowly<br />
and you will automatically get there. You have to<br />
learn to walk before you can run, and learning to<br />
control your speed is an essential skill to get you<br />
on your way to becoming a better rider.<br />
58 thekiteboarder.com<br />
thekiteboarder.com 59
worKBencH<br />
d<br />
o you suffer from bladder issues?<br />
Symptoms include difficulty maintaining<br />
constant pressure, decreased stamina, and an<br />
overall decrease in performance. We’re talking<br />
about your kite here, not you. Over time, the<br />
bladders in your kite may develop small leaks,<br />
and many riders simply live with the problem,<br />
instead of doing something about it. <strong>The</strong>re is a<br />
belief out there that the leading edge (LE) on a<br />
one-pump kite is extremely difficult to repair. This<br />
is not true. If anything, the one pump kites are<br />
as easy to repair as standard kites. Follow these<br />
steps to remove and re-install the LE bladder in<br />
your kite.<br />
Bladder removal:<br />
FIxIng Your Bladder:<br />
re-InstallIng Your<br />
Bladder:<br />
By Paul Lang<br />
BladderIssues<br />
1. On one wingtip of your kite, find and open the Velcro enclosure that holds the end of the bladder. Open it<br />
and pull the bladder out a few inches.<br />
2. Tie a line onto the end of your bladder.<br />
3. Disassemble your one-pump system. Do not lose any of the parts. After you remove the hoses from the LE,<br />
push the valve inside the LE. Also, disassemble the inflation valves and push them inside the kite.<br />
4. Open the zipper or Velcro in the middle of your LE and pull half of the bladder out.<br />
5. Repeat the process for the other side.<br />
1. To fix your bladder, you have to find the leaks. Hopefully, you have some spare plugs so you can seal all<br />
of the valves and inflate the bladder outside of the kite. If you don’t have extras, you can use your kite’s<br />
hoses and clips to cut off air, or get Airtime’s spare plugs at your local shop.<br />
2. Spray the bladder with soapy water or Windex until you find the spot or spots that cause bubbles to<br />
form. Check the whole bladder, as you may have one or more leaks.<br />
3. If the hole is very small, use the self-adhesive patch kit that comes with most kites. Use Tear-Aid for<br />
larger holes or tears. Don’t forget to clean the area first. Make sure you do this with ALL the air out of the<br />
bladder and NO wrinkles.<br />
1. If you take the time to do this right, it’s easy. Don’t be in a hurry.<br />
2. Make sure you orient the bladder properly. If you install it backwards, the valves will not line up. Look at<br />
the Velcro for the inflation valves – they will show you how the valves must be oriented by which side of the<br />
valve the plug must be on.<br />
3. Starting in the middle of the bladder, carefully fold one side of the bladder like an accordion, applying baby<br />
powder as you go. <strong>The</strong> baby powder helps the bladder slip into place when you inflate it for the first time.<br />
4. Tie the line on the end of the bladder and with the kite’s leading edge as straight as possible, pull the<br />
bladder back in. This is a two person job, one pulling the string and the other guiding the bladder into the LE.<br />
5. Untie the line and fold the bladder into the Velcro closure at the wingtip. Do not leave the end of the bladder<br />
loose, or it will burst.<br />
6. Stick your finger into each hole and fish the valves out. If you put the bladder in properly, they should be<br />
within a few inches of the hole. This is why one-pump kites are easy to repair. As long as the valves line up,<br />
it’s unlikely that the bladder is twisted.<br />
7. Repeat the process for the other side of the kite.<br />
8. Re-assemble your one-pump system. Every brand if different, so I hope you paid attention when you took<br />
it apart. Re-attach the inflation valves to their plugs.<br />
9. Slowly inflate your kite. Stop about halfway through and massage the LE. Take time to work the bladder<br />
into any areas where the fabric is loose. If the bladder will not fill past one specific point, you twisted it. Pull<br />
it out and try again.<br />
10. Inflate the kite all the way and make sure the bladder properly fills the LE. Let the kite sit for at least an<br />
hour so you can double check that you found and fixed all the leaks.<br />
<strong>The</strong> whole process is easy as long as you have a little patience. If you have never done it before, offer an<br />
experienced kiter a few beers and ask for help. <strong>The</strong> process may seem a little daunting, especially on a large<br />
kite, but it really is simple once you know what you are doing. If your friends ever give you grief about having<br />
baby powder with you at all times, you now have an excuse. It’s for your bladder problems.<br />
60 thekiteboarder.com thekiteboarder.com 61
cabarete:<br />
dominican republic revisited<br />
By Ryan Riccitelli<br />
Kite beach, <strong>Cabarete</strong> is one of the most well known kite launches in the world.<br />
Photo eric Hertsens<br />
since that first visit, i<br />
have traveled back nine<br />
times and i am sure i<br />
will go back again<br />
<strong>–rr</strong><br />
local commerce. Photo eric Hertsens<br />
the young dominican boys kite caddy all day and dream of becoming pro kiteboarders.<br />
Photo ryan riccitelli<br />
<strong>Cabarete</strong>’s perfect conditions have produced world-class<br />
kiteboarders like Jose luis Ciracio. Photo raphael Faux<br />
It was six years ago when I first visited the<br />
Dominican Republic. I told myself that<br />
I would never go back – the world is full<br />
of places to discover. However, since that<br />
first visit, I have traveled back nine times<br />
and I am sure I will go back again.<br />
<strong>The</strong> sleepy little town of <strong>Cabarete</strong> was one of<br />
the first developed kiteboarding destinations<br />
in the Caribbean. Many of the top pros around<br />
the world have lived and trained in the steady,<br />
consistent trade winds over the years. Nowhere<br />
in the Caribbean will you find a place that is<br />
more dedicated to kiteboarding. With 10 schools<br />
and over a dozen hotels, condos and villas lining<br />
the beaches, <strong>Cabarete</strong> is a no-brainer for any<br />
kiteboarder looking for a turn-key destination<br />
to visit.<br />
continued next page.<br />
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dominican republic cabarete<br />
Courtesy cabaretekiteboarding.com<br />
Groundhog’s Day<br />
As my plane landed in Puerto Plata, a nervous<br />
feeling of anticipation crept over me. <strong>Cabarete</strong><br />
had changed my life. During my many trips,<br />
I had crossed paths with the who’s who of<br />
kiteboarding and had spent hundreds of<br />
hours riding and exploring the island with my<br />
kiteboarding buddies. This trip would be no<br />
different. As I waited for my board bag at the<br />
baggage carousel, I ran into Bruno Legaignoux,<br />
the original designer of the inflatable kite.<br />
Bruno lives in the Dominican Republic and<br />
had just come back from a trip to Martinique<br />
where he was testing some of his new designs.<br />
I have known Bruno for years and it was great<br />
to see him. We briefly chatted, I handed him<br />
a copy of <strong>The</strong> <strong>Kiteboarder</strong> and then continued<br />
the trek through customs. <strong>Cabarete</strong> is like that.<br />
You never know who you are going to cross<br />
paths with—pro, pioneer or super cool average<br />
Joe kiteboarder.<br />
We soon made our way to the street and waited<br />
for our ride to <strong>Cabarete</strong>. Luckily, my friend<br />
manages eXtreme Hotels and had arranged<br />
a private taxi to pick us up. We pulled into<br />
eXtreme and it was like Groundhog’s Day. I<br />
had not been back in a year and half, yet many<br />
of the same people were doing the same thing.<br />
<strong>The</strong> only difference was the palm trees had<br />
grown. Dozens of kites were in the air. People<br />
were lounging at the pool. <strong>The</strong> skate ramp was<br />
going off and the bar was filled with people<br />
eating and using the free internet connection.<br />
I grabbed a pirate punch, my signature rum<br />
drink, and walked out onto “Kite Beach.” As<br />
I looked out, there were over 40 kites in the air.<br />
Some would complain that it is crowded, but<br />
the area is big enough to handle three times<br />
this amount. This is the magic of this spot<br />
and it is something you have to experience. I<br />
decided to take a walk down the beach and say<br />
hello to some old friends.<br />
continued next page.<br />
continued from page 65.<br />
Ben Kleppe worn out from a long days session.<br />
Photo ryan riccitelli<br />
Kim tropf and neil Hutchinson enjoy happy hour at extreme Hotel’s<br />
beach bar. Photo ryan riccitelli<br />
Jose luis launches off a kicker at Kite Beach. Photo raphael Faux<br />
you never know who<br />
you are going to<br />
cross paths with–pro,<br />
pioneeer or super cool<br />
average Joe kiteboarder<br />
<strong>–rr</strong><br />
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thekiteboarder.com 65
dominican republic cabarete<br />
continued from page 67.<br />
No matter where you<br />
turn, you will see EH<br />
kites with their flashy<br />
<strong>“Warning</strong> <strong>Cabarete</strong><br />
<strong>Local”</strong> <strong>graphics</strong>.<br />
<strong>–rr</strong><br />
<strong>Cabarete</strong>’s signature blue water and long sandy beaches deliver<br />
near year-round riding conditions. Photo Ryan Riccitelli<br />
Old Friends<br />
My first stop was Kite Beach Hotel. A few<br />
years back the property was completely rebuilt.<br />
Kitexcite, was one of the first kite schools in the<br />
Caribbean, and currently operates a full service<br />
kite center with rentals and lessons out of the<br />
hotel. <strong>The</strong> owner Stefan Ruether is one of the<br />
early wind sport pioneers of <strong>Cabarete</strong>. I quickly<br />
caught up with Stefan and the hotel manager<br />
Katrine Lindemann, and got the <strong>Cabarete</strong><br />
update. Stefan is a great resource for wind and<br />
weather information and assured me the wind<br />
would be 18-25 all week. My next stop was<br />
Agualina Hotel. <strong>The</strong> property is immaculate<br />
and also houses the first-class Vela Dare2Fly<br />
kiteboarding center. While I like to stay at<br />
eXtreme because of the skate ramp and party<br />
atmosphere, Agualina is the spot where I<br />
put my parents up on my last trip. <strong>The</strong>y still<br />
rave to this day about how great <strong>Cabarete</strong><br />
and the accommodations were.<br />
My next stop was to visit an old friend<br />
and icon of <strong>Cabarete</strong>, Eric Hertsen. Eric is<br />
another one of the early windsport pioneers<br />
of <strong>Cabarete</strong> and has played a major role in<br />
evolving kiteboarding on the island. Eric is<br />
also known around the world for his signature<br />
EH kite and board line and has helped design<br />
kites with major manufacturers such as Liquid<br />
Force. No matter where you turn, you will see<br />
EH kites with their flashy <strong>“Warning</strong> <strong>Cabarete</strong><br />
<strong>Local”</strong> <strong>graphics</strong>. Eric sponsors many of the<br />
young Dominican kids who are amazingly<br />
talented. Even the 12-year-olds can do just<br />
about every version of a kiteloop handlepass<br />
thought possible. Unfortunately, Eric was not<br />
around, but it was easy to see that EH is still<br />
a major force in <strong>Cabarete</strong>’s kite scene. On<br />
the way back to eXtreme, I stopped in to see<br />
Kim Tropf. Kim opened the first Best Test<br />
<strong>Cabarete</strong>’s windy conditions are perfect for kiteboarders,<br />
windsurfers and sailors alike. Photo Eric Hertsens<br />
Center in the world, which is on the main<br />
strip between <strong>Cabarete</strong> Bay and Kite Beach.<br />
R&D has since moved to Brazil, but Kim still<br />
keeps busy working on special projects and<br />
keeping his kite schools stocked and happy. I<br />
also passed John Holzall’s new center. He was<br />
out taking a session. John moved from Maui<br />
to <strong>Cabarete</strong> about a year ago. John is known<br />
for his unique, KITEs Method teaching style<br />
and wrote one of the first instructional books<br />
on kiteboarding.<br />
Usual Suspects<br />
As soon as I got back to eXtreme, I was<br />
greeted by none other than Neil Hutchinson,<br />
my longtime friend and favorite traveling<br />
compadre. Zach and Ben Kleppe had also<br />
arrived, and the beginning of yet another<br />
incredible Dominican adventure kicked off<br />
with dozens of Presidente beers and rum<br />
punches consumed to celebrate our reunion.<br />
I will never get tired of listening to Neil<br />
captivate a crowd telling the same stories over<br />
and over again of our many crazy adventures<br />
exploring the island. Later that night, Neil<br />
and I sat under the same palm tree where we<br />
have shared many “bro” talks over the years,<br />
reminiscing about how lucky we are to have<br />
been able to watch <strong>Cabarete</strong> evolve. What<br />
were once coconut palm groves, is now a<br />
strip of hotels and bustling businesses. <strong>The</strong><br />
beaches that used to erode seasonally, are now<br />
pumped full of sand creating long and sandy<br />
perfect kite launches. <strong>The</strong> sleepy little town of<br />
<strong>Cabarete</strong> is now a thriving community with<br />
every amenity at your fingertips.<br />
<strong>The</strong> rest of our week was spent kiteboarding<br />
the different spots. We sessioned Bozo Beach<br />
in front of Laurel Eastman’s kite school. I had<br />
<strong>The</strong> Presidente beer truck brought extra cases when<br />
Neil showed up. Photo Ryan Riccitelli<br />
done a photo shoot with Laurel on one of her<br />
first trips to <strong>Cabarete</strong> years back. She ended<br />
up launching a kite school, and six years later<br />
it has become one of the top schools on the<br />
island. <strong>The</strong> next afternoon, we drove up to<br />
kite the river mouth at La Boca with Cameron<br />
Dietrich and enjoyed a sunset session. <strong>The</strong><br />
following morning we did a down winder to<br />
Encuentro and got our wave fix. <strong>The</strong> rest of<br />
the time we were lazy and kited off Kite Beach<br />
in front of eXtreme, Kite Beach Hotel and<br />
Agualina Hotel. You can’t beat the compressed<br />
air, the fun little waves on the outer reef and<br />
the convenience of a fully stocked bar waiting<br />
for you. <strong>The</strong>re is nothing like taking a session,<br />
landing your kite and then ordering a cold<br />
beer 15 steps away.<br />
Reflections<br />
<strong>The</strong> week passed much too quickly. Before<br />
we knew it, our cab was picking us up, and<br />
we were on our way back to the airport.<br />
<strong>Cabarete</strong> delivered once again with perfect<br />
wind and plenty of friendly people. While<br />
I was a little bummed that it had evolved<br />
into a more mature travel destination with<br />
more properties, schools and businesses, it<br />
still possessed the charm that has kept me<br />
coming back year after year. Gone are the days<br />
of .50 cent beers and vacant hotels, but the<br />
flip side is that <strong>Cabarete</strong> has become more of<br />
an ideal travel destination for anyone. Out<br />
of all the places I have visited and written<br />
stories about, you will never find a spot that<br />
is as consistently windy and easy to travel. If<br />
you do book a trip down to the DR, don’t<br />
be afraid to say hello to some of the people<br />
mentioned in this story. <strong>The</strong>se are the<br />
individuals who have helped make <strong>Cabarete</strong><br />
what it is and keep me coming back for more.<br />
66 thekiteboarder.com thekiteboarder.com 67
DISCOVER<br />
CABARETE<br />
68 thekiteboarder.com thekiteboarder.com 69
B y J A m e s B r o w n A n d r i C k i o s s i<br />
a n a t o m y o f a h e l m e t<br />
THE dEmANd fOr SAfEr ANd mOrE STYlISH HElmETS fOr kITEBOArdINg HAS<br />
BEEN mET BY A grOwINg NumBEr Of mANufAcTurErS. wE cOuldN’T pOSSIBlY<br />
SHOw All Of THE vArIOuS mOdElS AvAIlABlE fOr wATEr ANd SNOw uSE, SO<br />
wE dESIgNEd THIS guIdE TO HElp YOu mAkE BETTEr dEcISIONS wHEN YOu gO<br />
OuT SEArcHINg fOr YOur NEw HElmET.<br />
Clinton practices his F16’s. Photo Gavin Butler.<br />
PurPose<br />
Obviously you want to protect your skull and the gray<br />
matter we call your “brain” from impact trauma. You<br />
also want to avoid being knocked unconscious, which<br />
puts you at risk of drowning or being dragged into<br />
something. A helmet can help to do this by slowing<br />
impact by cushioning, spreading the impact area,<br />
and limiting piercing by sharp objects and abrasion.<br />
Added Benefits<br />
Helmets also shade your head and eyes from sun<br />
and intense heat and can help keep your head<br />
warmer in cold conditions. If wearing sunglasses or<br />
goggles, they can keep them from getting yanked<br />
off. You can also put stickers on them! Some helmets<br />
are even equipped with waterproof earpieces and<br />
microphones for communications.<br />
fitting<br />
Your helmet should cover the forehead, back and sides<br />
of your noggin without slipping over your eyes, to the<br />
sides or backwards exposing the forehead. It should<br />
fit snug, but comfortable without readily pulling<br />
away much. <strong>The</strong> straps should hold it in place without<br />
any chafing and have adequate adjustment options<br />
to make it fit comfortably. After your first couple of<br />
sessions, you won’t even remember it’s there!<br />
ConstruCtion<br />
Helmets have three basic components: shell,<br />
cushioning and straps.<br />
<strong>The</strong> shell should resist breaking, crushing or piercing.<br />
<strong>The</strong> most common materials helmets are made from<br />
are plastic or carbon composite.<br />
Cushioning ranges from soft single-layer closed-cell<br />
foam (won’t soak up water) to high-density bike helmet<br />
style Styrofoam. <strong>The</strong> higher the foam density among<br />
other factors, the better protection you will receive<br />
from a violent crash. Bike helmet style foam is the best<br />
for land impacts, but they should be replaced in the<br />
event of a crash. Even softer so called “multiple-impact”<br />
helmets can be compromised by an impact without any<br />
visible damage. Your head is worth replacing a helmet<br />
if you have a bad crash. Some companies may give you a<br />
discount on a replacement helmet.<br />
Straps should be strong and have durable fasteners<br />
that won’t rust or corrode. Inspect your connectors<br />
when putting on a helmet to make sure they are free<br />
of sand that can readily cause the connector to open.<br />
features checklist:<br />
• Impact resistant: the best is high-density foam.<br />
• Durable materials: pick something that can handle some abuse.<br />
• Lightweight: you don’t want to feel the weight, ideally less<br />
than 500 grams.<br />
• Comfortable: pick one that feels natural. Try on many different<br />
brands and models till you find the right one. Soft, squishy foam<br />
can be very comfortable but offers less protection.<br />
• Low drag helmets for water kiteboarding: thicker, larger<br />
helmets can offer excellent impact protection until you start to<br />
hit water when they can become a pain in the neck, literally.<br />
• Straps: get adjustable straps that don’t chafe or choke.<br />
• Fasteners: look for ones that won’t rust or corode.<br />
• Compact: choose a close fitting helmet without protrusions.<br />
• Goggle shelf and strap (for snow helmets): indent for the<br />
strap to rest in so it doesn’t slide up or down, and a strap to<br />
hold it in the back.<br />
• Vents: for snow helmets more vents are best for warm days.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re are two types -- slide vents allow on-the-fly open and close<br />
and vent plugs can be removed/replaced before your session.<br />
• Ear pads: protect your eardrums from bursting on impact.<br />
• Audio: most snow helmets offer standard or optional ear pads with<br />
speakers for listening to your tunes. You can also wear regular ear<br />
buds underneath the standard pads for snow or water.<br />
• Style: pick a style that you like. If you don’t wear it, you’ve wasted<br />
your money and lose all the great benefits of why you purchased it in the<br />
first place.<br />
what to avoid<br />
Any protrusion like bills or visors, or a loose or poorly fitted helmet may cause<br />
excess drag or “bucketing.” Bucketing is what happens when a helmet scoops<br />
water or snow in a fall. It can cause damage or paralysis in your neck - even<br />
if the impact is only against water! Avoid excessively large helmets for water<br />
kiteboarding that create too much drag on impact with water, e.g. contoured<br />
bike helmets. Not all helmets on the market are necessarily appropriate for<br />
water or snow kiting. If you want a bill or visor, get one that can readily<br />
break away completely.<br />
prEdATOr - NErO mArkEr – m4<br />
prEdATOr - SHOrT cuT vOZ - EvOluTION SHrEd rEAdY - full mETAl<br />
70 thekiteboarder.com thekiteboarder.com 71<br />
James Brown models his system. Photo Tyler Weisz.<br />
Inset Clarissa Hempel Photo Mike Minichiello
product watcH<br />
07 productwatch<br />
airuSH Converse<br />
caBrinHa Omega HD<br />
<strong>The</strong> 07 Converse boards were<br />
developed specifically to<br />
replace the light wind<br />
kiteboard in your<br />
quiver and<br />
give you the<br />
freedom<br />
to have<br />
one board<br />
for everyday surfing<br />
and kiting. <strong>The</strong> smaller board size is<br />
ideal for lighter riders or high wind<br />
conditions, while the higher volume<br />
of the bigger boards means you<br />
can ride vertically with more snap<br />
than was even remotely possible a<br />
few years ago. Big riders will love<br />
the extra float while smaller riders<br />
will like how easily the board tracks<br />
down the line for that ‘first time’<br />
experience riding waves.<br />
Sizes: 6’0” and 6’3”<br />
MSRP: $639 complete<br />
www.airushkiteboarding.com<br />
BeSt Bularoo<br />
Developed alongside the Waroo range of SLE<br />
kites, the Bularoo is designed to do anything and<br />
go anywhere. Whether you ride in the surf, the<br />
snow or on the land, the Bularoo is the perfect<br />
companion for all your kiting aspirations. <strong>The</strong> new<br />
EZ-Pump integrated inflation<br />
system makes set up a<br />
breeze. Unique Canopy<br />
Framing protects the entire<br />
kite from impact damage<br />
and profile shapers and<br />
trailing edge battens<br />
make it a super fast<br />
flying, ultra-stable and<br />
aerodynamic SLE.<br />
Sizes: 7, 10, 13, 16m<br />
MSRP: starting at $823 complete<br />
bestkiteboarding.com<br />
Lens: Dave Loop/H2Air.com<br />
<strong>The</strong> Omega HD<br />
(High Depower)<br />
is a versatile<br />
freeride kite<br />
for any and all<br />
conditions. For<br />
snow or water,<br />
this kite delivers<br />
performance<br />
and security at an<br />
affordable price. <strong>The</strong><br />
Omega can be ridden<br />
with either a pulley or non-pulley<br />
control system. With pulleys, the<br />
kite is faster turning for surfing<br />
and freeriding. No pulleys are<br />
better for unhooked riding with<br />
light bar pressure. Features<br />
include single point inflation, 2N1<br />
control system, and Override 2<br />
depower on demand.<br />
Sizes: 5, 7, 9, 12, 15m<br />
MSRP: starting at $1210 complete<br />
cabrinhakites.com<br />
caution Answer 2<br />
<strong>The</strong> re-designed 2007 Answer is Caution’s<br />
newest high performance flat kite. Caution<br />
has created an incredibly stable wing<br />
while maintaining the speed and<br />
performance of the 2006 Answer.<br />
Its tough construction makes it<br />
a great choice for freestyle riders<br />
needing a responsive, tight- pivoting,<br />
lightweight kite without giving up<br />
durability. New features include a Single<br />
Turbo Inflation System, new shape and profile,<br />
newly re-vamped carbon bar and quick release,<br />
and two new sizes. Caution’s bomb-proof<br />
construction and materials are from leading<br />
manufacturers including Ronstan, Teijin and<br />
Cousins.<br />
Sizes: 6, 9, 12, 16, 19m<br />
MSRP: TBA<br />
cautionkites.com<br />
caution Redline<br />
Caution’s high performance Redline<br />
Series of twin tips is back for 2007.<br />
New features include a new tail shape<br />
promoting increased pop and snap off<br />
the lip, along with very comfortable<br />
and size accommodating footstraps.<br />
<strong>The</strong> boards also come complete with<br />
Stainless Steel 1/4”x 20 foot strap and<br />
handle inserts, a lower profile carbon<br />
grab handle, and indestructible hyper<br />
foil G10 fins.<br />
Sizes: 122 x 38.10, 132 x 38.10cm<br />
MSRP: $599 complete<br />
cautionkites.com<br />
daKine Footstrap System<br />
On-the-fly, micro adjustability of the new X-Lace Footstraps<br />
allows the rider to easily fine tune strap size<br />
for ultimate control and performance.<br />
<strong>The</strong> BoostII deckpad features a<br />
revolutionary uni-directional footholding<br />
traction pattern with<br />
two mounting choices. <strong>The</strong><br />
raptor heelstraps come<br />
with five different length<br />
adjustments for a custom<br />
fit. Together, this could be<br />
the most comfortable adjustable<br />
footstrap system ever made by Dakine.<br />
Sizes: One size fits all<br />
MSRP: Total System $88; Deckpad $24/$30 with mounting<br />
plate (pair); Footstrap $44/pair; Heelstrap $20/pair<br />
dakine.com<br />
eclipSe Thruster<br />
You don’t have to sacrifice between<br />
safety and performance if you still<br />
love the performance and feel of<br />
your C-kite, but crave the safety,<br />
range, and re-launch ability of the<br />
new SLE and bow kites. Designed<br />
specifically for Dimitri’s riding<br />
style, the Thruster provides<br />
enough hang time for him to hit<br />
all his moves at 40 feet - imagine<br />
enough air to execute four tricks<br />
in one jump! <strong>The</strong> Thruster is a<br />
competition-ready hybrid kite that<br />
feels familiar right out of the bag.<br />
<strong>The</strong> complete Thruster package<br />
includes a backcountry backpack, big<br />
pump, tear aid repair kit and the EZ lock<br />
bar system.<br />
Sizes: 10, 12, 14, 16m<br />
MSRP: starting at $1119<br />
eclipsekites.com<br />
eXtrong SportS Surf Runner<br />
<strong>The</strong> new Surf Runner adds another element to kiting<br />
and your fun factor on the water. Super lightweight,<br />
maneuverable and more multi-use oriented than a<br />
traditional kayak, the Surf Runner uses fiberglass<br />
sandwich construction with a high density<br />
Polystyrene core to create the ultimate portable<br />
boat. It can be used for sit-down kitesurfing,<br />
sailing or kayaking. Included with your Surf<br />
Runner is a Soft EVA seat pad, footstraps,<br />
handle and a kite hook. Add on accessories<br />
include mast/sail, the latest C-kite technology<br />
in two kite sizes, and oars.<br />
Sizes: Small to tandem, dependent on weight<br />
MSRP: Starting at $990<br />
extrongsports.com<br />
FleXiFoil Freeride<br />
2007 sees the launch of Flexifoil’s most<br />
complete kitesurf board range to date. <strong>The</strong><br />
Freeride boards have been designed for<br />
all levels of riders and deliver outstanding<br />
performance for the beginner, intermediate<br />
and pro. Both board sizes have excellent flex<br />
characteristics to help cruise through chop<br />
and swell, yet enough pop to enable high<br />
raileys and loading up for massive airs. <strong>The</strong><br />
tip outline has been rounded off to make<br />
slashing waves easier and more fun without<br />
tripping your edge. <strong>The</strong> Freeride boards<br />
cover all conditions. Just choose the size to<br />
suit your weight and ability.<br />
Sizes: 145 x 42, 135 x 40cm<br />
MSRP: $639.99 complete<br />
flexifoilusa.com<br />
72 thekiteboarder.com thekiteboarder.com 73
product watcH<br />
F-one Legend<br />
F-One introduces a new shape this<br />
year that combines the advantages<br />
of a directional for carving, and a<br />
twin tip so you don’t need to jibe.<br />
Of course, it can be ridden as a<br />
directional, but only if you choose!<br />
Features include x-core wood<br />
reinforcement, comfort monopad,<br />
two 7cm and two 4cm G10 fins, and<br />
super-soft symmetrical footstraps.<br />
Sizes: 163 x 44cm<br />
MSRP: $749 complete<br />
bayareakitesurf.com<br />
gloBe KiteS Trix<br />
<strong>The</strong> Trix is Globe Kite’s newest medium<br />
aspect, semi-SLE Hybrid. Its deeper<br />
profile makes for very steady,<br />
predictable torque and axis-carving<br />
turns for a direct feel in kiteloops<br />
or bottom turns. It’s simple yet<br />
effective bridle design allows<br />
the rider to tune the bar pressure<br />
and turning radius to suit individual<br />
preferences. 100% depower and justlet-go<br />
auto-relaunch comes standard.<br />
<strong>The</strong> 2007 Trix is a wave and wake-style<br />
kite that beginners will learn on easier<br />
because of its predictable character..<br />
Sizes: 7, 9, 11, 12, 15, 17m<br />
MSRP: TBA<br />
litewavedesigns.com<br />
HandiracK Inflatable Roof Rack<br />
This is a unique, inflatable load-carrying roof rack<br />
system that can be fitted and<br />
removed in just a matter of<br />
minutes. Designed to carry<br />
surfboards, kiteboards,<br />
kayaks, or bags, it’s<br />
totally portable, fits<br />
in your luggage and is<br />
interchangeable between<br />
vehicles. Weighing in around 6<br />
lbs, the system includes everything that you<br />
need including a hand pump and<br />
tie-down straps.<br />
Sizes: one size fits all<br />
MSRP: $100<br />
handirackuk.com<br />
Jimmy lewiS Surf<br />
Looking to hit the waves or increase your<br />
light wind fun factor? <strong>The</strong> Jimmy Lewis<br />
Surf is perfectly suited for strapped or<br />
strapless riding. Thin rails make mach<br />
speed turns unbelievably easy. <strong>The</strong> Surf<br />
provides an extremely smooth ride in<br />
open water. Not just for the pros, the<br />
Surf has become one of the best selling<br />
and most popular boards in the JL line<br />
with riders of all abilities.<br />
Sizes: 5’2 x 17.5”, 5’8 x 18.5”, 6’0 x 20”<br />
MSRP: $799<br />
realkiteboarding.com<br />
liQuid Force Liquid Tunes<br />
<strong>The</strong> Liquid Tunes portable waterproof<br />
player can be completely submerged and<br />
comes with built-in 512 or 256MB<br />
Flash memory. Lightweight with<br />
easy–to-use function buttons<br />
and a rechargeable battery for<br />
up to 40 hours of playtime per<br />
charge, the player is compatible<br />
with MP3 along with other common<br />
music formats and comes with a USB<br />
cable, waterproof earbuds, neoprene<br />
armband and 90-day limited warranty.<br />
MSRP: starting at $139.99<br />
liquidforce.com<br />
liQuid Force Pro Harness<br />
LF’s engineering team completely<br />
redesigned the Pro Harness for ‘07. Its<br />
internal 3D molded piece fits riders of<br />
all shapes and sizes. One of the main<br />
features of the new harness is the<br />
left and right side quick release for the<br />
handlepass leash. To release the leash<br />
from the harness, simply pull the left or<br />
the right side release loops. To re-attach the<br />
release system, simply slide the ends back in.<br />
Another unique feature is a molded spreader<br />
bar pad, which features an inner sleeve to<br />
stow away the excess webbing. In the case<br />
of excessive spreader bar webbing wear, it<br />
is now super easy to change it out.<br />
Sizes: S to XL<br />
MSRP: $134.99<br />
liquidforce.com<br />
myStic KiteBoarding<br />
Force Shield Seat Harness<br />
<strong>The</strong> Force Shield is a high performance seat<br />
harness made for the intermediate to advanced<br />
rider who doesn’t want to compromise on<br />
range of motion and new school tricks<br />
while getting the most of the seat harness<br />
type of support. Scoring the highest points in<br />
innovation and design, the award winning Force<br />
Shield system connects the spreader bar to the leg<br />
straps, creating a solid setup that will never ride up. <strong>The</strong> Force<br />
Shield has been adopted by advanced kiters, buggy kiters and<br />
landboarders alike.<br />
Colors: Black/White<br />
Sizes: XS to XXL<br />
MSRP: $129.95<br />
mystickiteboardingusa.com<br />
myStic KiteBoarding<br />
Force Boardshorts<br />
Made from quick-drying durable fabric, the new<br />
Mystic Force boardshorts are sure to be the most<br />
fashionable trunks on the beach this summer.<br />
With typical Mystic focus on comfort and<br />
functionality, these trunks have velcro closures<br />
and pockets to store your keys and money.<br />
Colors: Black/White<br />
Sizes: S to XL<br />
MSRP: $49.95<br />
mystickiteboardingusa.com<br />
ocean rodeo Pyro Surf<br />
<strong>The</strong> Pyro Surf is a skin tight drysuit. Split<br />
Skin Dry Core technology allows this suit<br />
to fit like a glove while keeping you warm<br />
and dry. <strong>The</strong> first of its kind, a form fitting<br />
outer stretch layer delivers a wrinkle-free,<br />
streamlined surface for fast swimming and<br />
incredible mobility, while at the same time<br />
offering abrasion protection to the inner Dry<br />
Core. At less than .05mm thick and made of<br />
two independent layers, the Pyro Surf offers<br />
an unlimited range of motion, comparable to<br />
traditional neoprene suits.<br />
Colors: Black/White<br />
Sizes: S to XL<br />
MSRP: $569<br />
oceanrodeo.com<br />
nortH Rhino<br />
<strong>The</strong> 2007 Rhino represents the combination of<br />
five generations of design. <strong>The</strong> result is an<br />
eight strut, 5-line, bridle-less kite with extra<br />
power for light winds, lots of range, hangtime,<br />
and upwind ability. Testing has shown that<br />
the Rhino 07 fits the bill for many riding styles,<br />
including freeriding, freestyle, speed racing, big<br />
air and hangtime. North bills the new Rhino as<br />
its best jumping kite to date. It includes North’s<br />
patented 2 Pump inflation system for quick rigging.<br />
Sizes: 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16m<br />
MSRP: starting at $1049<br />
northkites.com<br />
naiSH Shockwave<br />
<strong>The</strong> original SLE kite gets a boost for<br />
2007. <strong>The</strong> Shockwave’s high altitude<br />
and instant depower characteristics,<br />
regardless of kite position in the<br />
power window, make it a ‘true’ wave<br />
kite. Aimed at the performance wave<br />
rider and jumper, the new Shockwave<br />
has extended wind range, a refined aspect<br />
ratio, and precise control that will take any kiter to new<br />
heights. It also features faster turning for efficient riding,<br />
and improved water re-launch ability. <strong>The</strong> bar pressure has been<br />
radically reduced compared to the ’06 edition, and is now tuneable<br />
as a result of its new rigging options.<br />
Sizes: 5, 7, 9, 12, 16m<br />
MSRP: TBA<br />
www.naishkites.com<br />
SurFmore Clear Grip<br />
<strong>The</strong> all new Clear Grip traction is a translucent, technomolded<br />
material that allows the user to surf, skim or kite<br />
– wax free! Wax has always had problems with “meltdowns”,<br />
sticking to sand and dirt, and changes in water<br />
temperature. Clear Grip helps solve those problems<br />
since it works in any temperature, remains clean, is a<br />
reasonably non-abrasive surface material, and can even<br />
enhance the use of wax since wax sticks better to Clear<br />
Grip and won’t peel off as it does on smooth surfaces.<br />
Sizes: Die cut and packaged in 4 pieces – 10.8 inches x 18 inches<br />
MSRP: $34<br />
surfmorexm.com<br />
SlingSHot Turbo 2<br />
<strong>The</strong> newly, redesigned Turbo 2 is a 4-line bow kite with<br />
its own proprietary DNA. <strong>The</strong> kite delivers all<br />
the rider requirements of range, instant<br />
depower, boosting, re-launch ability and<br />
stability making it a great, all-around<br />
kite for riders of all levels. <strong>The</strong> Turbo<br />
2 features a redesigned swept<br />
leading edge and canopy shape,<br />
Neoprene seam guards (an industry<br />
first), wing tip scuff guards, a no<br />
stretch bridle system with 2 to 1 pulleys on the<br />
bar, no wear spectra pulley and leader lines, and a new bar.<br />
Sizes: 6, 7, 9, 11, 14, 17m<br />
MSRP: starting at $1249 complete<br />
sskiteboarding.com<br />
SlingSHot Control Bar<br />
Re-engineered for 2007, Slingshot’s 4-Line Full<br />
Stroke Bar achieves 100% depower simply by<br />
pushing the bar away from you and effectively<br />
sheeting out. <strong>The</strong> bar comes complete with the new<br />
Turbo 2 kite, making it the perfect combination to<br />
achieve the utmost in stability, re-launch ability and<br />
depower. Key features include a new Aluminum<br />
power steering dug out which helps to reduce bar<br />
pressure, increase turning speed and prevent wear<br />
and tear on the chicken loop line; below the bar<br />
depower for easy and convenient access; an active<br />
stopper ball for on-the-fly adjustments; super grip<br />
leader lines; and a center flying-line safety system.<br />
Sizes: 17, 20, 23m<br />
MSRP: starting at $390.00 complete<br />
sskiteboarding.com<br />
74 thekiteboarder.com thekiteboarder.com 75
yardSale<br />
tHe top craSHeS<br />
got a great wipe out shot? email ryan@thekiteboarder.com<br />
Tommy “<strong>The</strong> Stallion” Trozera gets pummeled in the Southern<br />
California shore break. Photo Greg Banner<br />
Eddie Hall’s hand placement on the bar predicts the worst is yet to<br />
come. Photo Carol Bolstad<br />
Grom hits the ejection button during this kiteloop gone wrong. Photo Carol Bolstad<br />
Josh “bulldog” Nehf doing the no-handed<br />
swimmer. Photo Kim Kern<br />
Lou Waimman loves the freedom of kiting in his birthday suit and no harness.<br />
Photo courtesy of Lou Wainman<br />
Billy Blackman beaches himself. Photo Gerry Smith<br />
Kite pageS<br />
caliFornia<br />
Action Watersports<br />
(318) 827-2233 CA<br />
Aquan Watersport<br />
(650)593-6060 CA<br />
Board Sports<br />
(510) THE-WAVE CA<br />
Board Sports<br />
(415) 929-SURF CA<br />
CaliKites<br />
(619) 522-9575 CA<br />
Captain Kirk’s<br />
(310) 833-3397 CA<br />
Delta Windsurf Company<br />
(831) 429-6051 CA<br />
Helm Sports<br />
(650 )344-2711 CA<br />
Inflight Surf and Sail<br />
(562) 493-3661 CA<br />
Kite Country<br />
(619) 226-4421 CA<br />
Kitesurfari<br />
(562) 596-6451 CA<br />
KiteWindSurf<br />
(510) 522-WIND CA<br />
Live2Kite<br />
(415) 722-7884 CA<br />
Long Beach Windsurf Center<br />
(562) 433-1014 CA<br />
Mako Surf Skate Snow<br />
(949) 367-1300 CA<br />
Malibu Kitesurfing<br />
(310) 430-KITE CA<br />
Manta Wind & Water Sports<br />
(858) 270-7222 CA<br />
Mission Bay Aquatic Center<br />
(858) 488-1000 CA<br />
Monkey Air<br />
(310) 457-6896 CA<br />
Murrays<br />
(800) 786-7245 x23 CA<br />
Offshore Surf Co<br />
(760) 729-4934 CA<br />
OOTO Kite School<br />
(650) 960-1721 CA<br />
Soul Performance<br />
(310) 370-1428 CA<br />
Sky Kitesurfing School<br />
(925) 455-4008 CA<br />
VELA<br />
(800) 223-5443 CA<br />
West Coast Kiteboarding<br />
(619) 813-2230 CA<br />
Wind over Water Kiteboarding<br />
(650) 218-6023 CA<br />
Windsport<br />
(619) 488-4642 CA<br />
Kite Island<br />
(925) 212-2915 CA<br />
Xdream Sportz<br />
(858)481-9283 CA<br />
Xstreamline Sports<br />
(310) 518-1972 CA<br />
Xtreme Big Air<br />
(805) 773-9200 CA<br />
colorado<br />
Colorado Kite Force<br />
(970)4853300 CO<br />
GAYLAN’S<br />
(720) 887-0900 CO<br />
Into the Wind<br />
(303) 449-5906 CO<br />
Larson’s Ski and Sport<br />
(303) 423-0654 CO<br />
Fuze Kiteboarding<br />
(303) 683-5033 CO<br />
PKS<br />
(970) 376-3159 CO<br />
connecticut<br />
Orbit Marine Sports<br />
(203) 333-3483 CT<br />
Tri State Kites<br />
(800) 510-0865 CT<br />
Florida<br />
Emerald Coast Kiteboarding<br />
(850) 235-2444 FL<br />
Learn 2 Fly<br />
(386) 986-9637 FL<br />
7 Kiteboarding<br />
(305) 664-4055 FL<br />
Ace Performer<br />
(239) 489-3513 FL<br />
Big Kite Miami<br />
(305) 303- 4107 FL<br />
East Coast Kiteboarding<br />
(954) 295-5778 FL<br />
Extreme Kites<br />
(904) 461-9415 FL<br />
Extreme Sports<br />
(321) 779-4228 FL<br />
Jupiter Kiteboarding<br />
(561) 373-4445 FL<br />
Ft. Lauderdale Kitesurfing Co.<br />
(954) 410-5419 FL<br />
Hydrotherapy<br />
(850) 236-1800 FL<br />
Island Style Wind & Watersports<br />
(941) 954-1009 FL<br />
Island Surf and Sail<br />
(954) 927-7002 FL<br />
Kite Surf the Earth<br />
(888) 819-5483 FL<br />
Kite World<br />
(321) 725-8336 FL<br />
Liquid Surf & Sail<br />
(850) 664-5731 FL<br />
KiteMare<br />
(877) 829-0015 FL<br />
Miami Kiteboarding Inc.<br />
(305) 345-9974 FL<br />
Sandy Point Progressive Sports<br />
(386) 756-7564 FL<br />
Sea & Sky Sports<br />
(850) 598-3735 FL<br />
Ski Rixen<br />
(954) 429-0215 FL<br />
Tampa Bay Kiteboarding<br />
(727) 798-2484 FL<br />
Waterplay<br />
(800) 841-1225 FL<br />
Watersports West<br />
(888) 401-5080 FL<br />
Xrated Kiteboarding<br />
(888) 401-5080 FL<br />
georgia<br />
High Tide Surf Shop<br />
(912) 786-6556 GA<br />
Locus Kiteboarding<br />
(404) 509-4229 GA<br />
Hanag20 Kiteboarding<br />
(912) 223-7856 GA<br />
Hawaii<br />
Action Sports Maui<br />
(808) 871-5857 HI<br />
Aloha Kiteboarding Academy<br />
(808) 637-5483 HI<br />
Caveman Kitesurfing<br />
(808) 389-4004 HI<br />
Extreme Sports Maui<br />
(808) 871-7954 HI<br />
Hawaiian Island Surf and Sport<br />
(808) 871-4981 HI<br />
Hawaiian Watersports<br />
(808) 262-KITE HI<br />
Hawaiian Surf & Sail<br />
(808) 637-5373 HI<br />
Kailua Sailboards<br />
(808) 262-2555 HI<br />
Kite High<br />
(808) 637-5483 HI<br />
Kiteboard Center<br />
(808) 276-2667 HI<br />
Kiteboard Maui<br />
(808) 870-2554 HI<br />
Hawaiian Ocean Sports<br />
(866) 488-5483 HI<br />
Kitesurf Maui<br />
(808) 873-0015 HI<br />
Maui Kiteboarding Lessons<br />
(808) 242-8015 HI<br />
Naish Hawaii<br />
(808) 262-6068 HI<br />
Off Da Lip<br />
(808) 255-6255 HI<br />
Second Wind<br />
(808) 877-7467 HI<br />
Vela Maui<br />
(800) 223-5443 HI<br />
idaHo<br />
Groud Zero<br />
(208) 265-6714 ID<br />
Fly Sun Valley<br />
(208) 726-3332 ID<br />
illinoiS<br />
Windward Sports<br />
(773) 472-6868 IL<br />
Chicago <strong>Kiteboarder</strong><br />
(312) 804-5482 IL<br />
maSSacHuSettS<br />
Air Support Kiteboarding<br />
(866) Kite-Cod MA<br />
Kitesite.net<br />
(508) 398-1333<br />
Skyhigh Kiteboarding School<br />
(508) 259-2728 MA<br />
Wind, Snow and H20<br />
(508) 775-7756 MA<br />
maryland<br />
H2AIR Productions<br />
(302) 227-1105 MD<br />
micHigan<br />
Broneah Kiteboarding<br />
(231) 392-2212 MI<br />
Detroit Kiteboarding<br />
(248) 245-5016 MI<br />
76 thekiteboarder.com thekiteboarder.com 77
KITE PAGES<br />
Grand Bay Kite Co<br />
(231) 929-0607 MI<br />
Great Lakes Kiteboarding<br />
(586) 822-6511 MI<br />
MacInaw Kite Co.<br />
(800) 622-4655 MI<br />
Sharkless Kiteboarding<br />
(269) 639-SURF MI<br />
Uncle Doug’s Kiteboarding<br />
(810) 985-3732 MI<br />
MInnESoTA<br />
Scuba Center Wind/Kite<br />
(612) 925-4818 MN<br />
US Snowkite School<br />
(612) 940-6639 MN<br />
Midwest Mountaineering<br />
(612)3393433 MN<br />
LAKAWA Kiteboarding<br />
(651) 428-4121 MN<br />
MISSISSIPPI<br />
Get Air<br />
(228) 209-1204 MS<br />
Gulfport Winds<br />
(228) 864-7517 MS<br />
norTh CArolInA<br />
Blowing in the Wind<br />
(910) 763-1730 NC<br />
Cape Fear Kiteboarding<br />
(910) 201-4002 NC<br />
Crystal Coast Kiteboarding<br />
(910) 467-2007 NC<br />
Kiteboarding Hatteras<br />
(252) 995-5000 NC<br />
Kitty Hawk Kiteboarding Centers<br />
(877) FLY-THIS NC<br />
Real Kiteboarding<br />
(866) 732-5548 NC<br />
Wind Toys USA<br />
(910)328-5483 NC<br />
nEw hAMPShIrE<br />
Powerline Sports<br />
(888) 987-WIND NH<br />
nEw JErSEy<br />
Extreme Windsurfing<br />
(610) 807-9493 NJ<br />
Green Hat Kiteboarding<br />
(718) 577-1256 NJ<br />
Heritage Surf & Sport<br />
(609) 263-3033<br />
Island Surf and Sail<br />
NJ<br />
(609) 494-5553<br />
nEvAdA<br />
Kitesurf Vegas<br />
NJ<br />
(702) 493-9245<br />
Windsports<br />
NV<br />
(702) 220-4340<br />
nEw yorK<br />
Curtis Sport Connection<br />
NV<br />
(716) 627-2247<br />
Main Beach Surf & Sports<br />
NY<br />
(631) 537-2716<br />
Myers<br />
NY<br />
(716) 751-6511<br />
Skywalk Kiteboarding<br />
NY<br />
(631) 324 - 4450<br />
Windsurfing Hamptons<br />
NY<br />
(613) 283-9463<br />
RICK’S SURF SHOP<br />
NY<br />
(631)581-9424<br />
Kitewise<br />
NY<br />
(646) 734-3027<br />
ohIo<br />
Red Sky Surf And Snow<br />
NY<br />
(419) 536-3204<br />
River Sports<br />
OH<br />
(440) 333-8138<br />
oKlAhoMA<br />
Thomasons Sports Kites<br />
OH<br />
(580) 796-2359<br />
orEGon<br />
2nd Wind Sports<br />
OK<br />
(541) 386-4464<br />
Air-Time<br />
OR<br />
(541) 387 3910<br />
Alll Surf Industries<br />
OR<br />
(503) 239-8973<br />
Big Winds<br />
OR<br />
(888) 509-4210 OR<br />
Brian’s Windsurfing/Kitesurfing<br />
(541) 386-1423<br />
Cleanline Surf<br />
OR<br />
(888) 546-6176<br />
Floras Lake Windsurfing<br />
OR<br />
(541) 348-9912<br />
Gorge Surf Shop<br />
OR<br />
(800) 957-4978<br />
Hood River Waterplay<br />
OR<br />
(541) 386-WIND<br />
Kite-Line<br />
OR<br />
(888) 714-9849<br />
Lincoln City Surf Shop<br />
OR<br />
(541) 996-7433<br />
New Wind<br />
OR<br />
(541) 387-2440<br />
Pacific Wave<br />
OR<br />
(503) 861-0866<br />
Storm Warning<br />
OR<br />
(800) 492-6309<br />
PuErTo rICo<br />
Kitesurfing Puerto Rico<br />
OR<br />
(787) 728-8716<br />
KitesurfingPR<br />
PR<br />
(787) 374-5329<br />
rhodE ISlAnd<br />
Northwind Sports<br />
PR<br />
(401) 254-4295<br />
SouTh CArolInA<br />
Half Moon Outfitters<br />
RI<br />
(843) 881-9472<br />
Catch Some Air<br />
SC<br />
(843) 388-9300<br />
SouTh dAKoTA<br />
Pro Peak Sports<br />
SC<br />
(605) 341-5445<br />
TExAS<br />
Air Padre Kiteboarding<br />
SD<br />
(956) 299-WIND<br />
Kitesurf Texas<br />
TX<br />
(361) 937-5000<br />
Pro Kitesurf<br />
TX<br />
(361) 883-1473<br />
South Coast Kiteboarding<br />
TX<br />
(361) 949-3278 TX<br />
S. Padre Island Kiteboarding<br />
(956) 245-8343<br />
S. Padre Kiteboarding<br />
TX<br />
(956) 761-1434<br />
Warming Hut Ski & Board<br />
TX<br />
(972) 234-6088 TX<br />
WPS<br />
(713) 291-9199 TX<br />
Zero Gravity Kiteboarding<br />
(361) 949-0266 TX<br />
uTAh<br />
Cloud 9 Soaring Ctr<br />
(801) 576-6460 UT<br />
vIrGInIA<br />
Southeast Expeditions<br />
(877) 943-8548 VA<br />
wAShInGTon<br />
North by Northwest Surf Co.<br />
(360) 452-5144 WA<br />
Seattle Kiteboarding Center<br />
(206) 779-3272 WA<br />
Urban Surf<br />
(206)545-9463 WA<br />
Wiley’s Water Ski Shop<br />
(206) 762-1300 WA<br />
Wind Flow<br />
(877) 211-3524 WA<br />
Evo<br />
{206) 973-4470 WA<br />
Bellingham Kiteboarding<br />
(360) 441-7577 WA<br />
wISConSIn<br />
Coontail Watersports<br />
(715) 385-0250 WI<br />
Kite-Riders (608) 273-1817 WI<br />
Southport Rigging Company<br />
(262) 652-5434 WI<br />
<strong>The</strong> Board Shop<br />
(262) 248-1703 WI<br />
wyoMInG<br />
Hoback Sports<br />
(307) 733-5335 WY<br />
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