December 2009 - The Kiteboarder Magazine

shop
talk
With miles of pristine coastline, Air Support has been organizing
downwinders to bring the community together. Photo AirSupport
Smack
Air Support
owners: Jay & Rebecca Horn
Ages: 27 and 22 Location: West Dennis, MA
Riding for how long: 7 years
FAVORITE Conditions: Sunny, windy and waves
When did you first get exposed to kiteboarding and
when/where did you learn/start? My wife and I both
learned to kite back in 2002, five years before we met.
Cabarete brought us together when I was teaching and
she was on vacation. On our wedding day we did
a downwinder into the ceremony and got married in
our wetsuits.
What motivated you to get into the kiteboarding
retail business and lessons? Being a kiteboarding
instructor is a labor of love. It takes a tremendous amount
of dedication and patience to deliver a great lesson. I relive
my first ride every time I get someone else going and that’s
what keeps me and my students coming back.
What did you do prior to entering the kiteboarding
business? I was a Service Manager at a local marina.
Although it was great, I generally only got to see the water
through my office window.
What is the kiteboarding scene like in your area?
What make it special in your view? The scene in
New England is still in its infancy. We have nuclear winds
spring and fall yet consistent summer thermals in July.
The Cape, like Hatteras, is whatever you want it to be;
flat water or overhead surf. If you are planning a vacation
here, bring your 8 and a 12 meter kites and whatever you
have in between.
Do you teach year round or seasonally? Our season
starts in April with our Polar Bear clinics and goes right
through November.
What brands do you represent and why? We only sell
two brands, Slingshot and Wainman Hawaii. We feel both
are trying to set the standards in bombproof construction.
We chose Slingshot because their company and riders best
represented our area and the local conditions. We wanted
a kite that could stand up to the harsh elements here in the
northeast and get us home safely in the winter. We choose
Wainman for parallel reasons and he was one of those
guys I always looked up to when I started riding. I still own
a Buzz for all of you who were around then.
Do you require your instructors to have certification?
Why and what kind, or why not? We are all IKO or
PASA certified. We also have two USCG licensed captains
on staff. Rebecca also offers private girls clinics and
instruction in four different languages. My mom is a Lt.
Colonel in the USAF so our program is based on discipline
and regiment, with slight overtones of dude.
Air Support’s new shop and local crew. Photo AirsSupport
please send a check!
What is your idea of a perfect day? Early morning wakeskate
session, afternoon thermal with some lessons, maybe a kite
sale, then coming home and finding a hot German covered in
sushi (without sand in her toes)!
Any issues or is everything all good? Access is good and
can only get better but we do have some restrictions in the
summer. As the community grows more access will open. Right
now our Waverunner support has been clutch in feeding the
flow by allowing students a chance to ride without violating
any swimming areas.
How does your shop support the kiteboarding
community? Are you involved in helping the local
community in general? We have been organizing downwinder
events to bring the community together. Next year we will be
working with Jeremy at MAsskiting.com organizing crossings
that raise money for local charities.
What tips can you offer kiteboarders who want to learn
in your area? Practice with a trainer kite all winter and get
your lessons in April. By the time summer rolls around, you will
have half a clue and be able to navigate around other beach
goers. Our teaching area is shallow and flat but also tidal.
Because Cape Cod is an island the areas you can go to practice
truly are endless.
What are the lodging options in your area and what other
things are there for people to do if there is no wind or
they are with non kiters? We have several B&B’s that we
work with that average about $100 per night. We also have
great campgrounds that offer hot showers and close proximity to
kiting for around $15 a night. No wind activities include but are
not limited to wakeboarding, SUP, surfing, drinking and Banshee
Bungee-ing. Cape Cod also has a famous bike trail that goes on
forever and ends up out at the National Seashore.
What is the nightlife like? You can have martinis with the
Kennedy’s or get your grind on at one of the local discos; some
nights you can do both.
What tips can you offer experienced kiters who want
to come kite your area? If you want guaranteed wind,
come in July. On average we get 20+ days of 15 to 30 mph
winds. August can be hit or miss but September also rocks.
Bring whatever you have, and remember; if you don’t like the
weather in New England, wait five minutes!
Rumor has it that Corpus Christi, TX, will host
the Texas Extreme Watersports Games 2010
toward the end of April 2010 with a course racing/
boardercross type format, sanctioned by the IKA.
The new concept is still being developed but the
format will be a course race course, set a little
more for broad reaches and an upwind leg along
with at least one barrier that needs to be cleared.
This event will be by invitation only and limited
to 24 competitors with only a men’s class and a
healthy purse. Stay tuned to www.thekiteboarder.
com for updates or subscribe to one our feeds for
the latest breaking news in the kiteboarding world.
Many of you know the
Nobile Kiteboarding
brand for their
high performance
boards but may not be so familiar with their
kites. MUVON, the new distributor for Nobile
Kiteboarding in the US, wants to change that
and show you that Nobile also makes some
of the best kites in the world and provides the
highest quality in service for any questions
or issues you might have. For dealer inquires,
contact Andrew at info@muvon.us
OCTOBER ’09 CORRECTIONS:
The opening photo for
the special feature,
“SUP – Stand Up
Paddle Board Volume
101” on page 78, was
mistakenly credited
as being Blane
Chambers of Paddle Surf Hawaii. This shot was
actually Brian Keaulana of C4, shot by Allen
Mozo. See the real Blane in action on page 71
this issue.
On page 18 featuring Gregg Gnecco of Liquid
Force in “Inside Job,” the action photo of “Liquid
Tekko” was credited to Richard Hallman. The
image was taken by northwest photographer
Henry Rico. For more eye candy of Henry’s image
of northwest talent, see www.nwkite.com
On page 60 in the TKB 2010 Kite Preview Guide,
the F.One Bandit III kite was listed as being best
for a beginner to intermediate rider. The Bandit
III is a true all around kite that beginners will
appreciate for its forgiveness, and that advanced
riders will be pleased with for its performance
and range. The F.one Bandit III is best for
beginner to advanced riders.
On page 61 in the Kite Preview Guide, the B2 is
only a 2m kite and is one of three foil kites offered
for land or snow from Slingshot Sports.
Last but not least, in 411 News on page 16, third
place finisher Johnny Heineken (San Francisco
Kite Racing Championship) was mistakenly
credited with using one of the few production
race boards in the competition. Johnny was
actually using a custom race board by shaper
Mike Z. It was Alex Smith who was riding the
RRD KRace production board and took second
What tips can you offer visiting kiteboarders who want
to hook up with local riders and kite in your area? Check
How do you handle lessons if there is no wind or a out www.neka.us (local association forum). If you are looking to
student can’t complete their lesson package? You party and drink Miller High Life, check out MAsskiting.com. Both
only pay after you play. For those of you who still owe us, are excellent resources as to where people are going.
in the younger rider category.
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