December 2009 - The Kiteboarder Magazine

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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. 22 thekiteboarder.com thekiteboarder.com 23
letters What Our Readers Have To Say letter of the month You RoCK! First of all, the magazine rocks. The crew at The Kiteboarder does an amazing job and the photos are always impressive. I am a kiter and love taking photos of our kite adventures. On a recent trip to the Magdalen Islands in Quebec I was victim to a walking accident (on the second day) and spent the rest of my week on crutches with a broken bone and torn tendons. The only good thing that came out of the trip was the collection of amazing pictures as I parked myself on the beach with my telephoto lens and took photos. I thought this might be a great picture for your “Local Homies” section. She’s got kiting coursing through her veins and rides as well and as long as any of the boys. Thanks, Mike Hitelman Mike, that’s a bummer that you hurt yourself on a kite trip. You hurt yourself walking? There must be a story behind that. Anyway, thanks for the photo, which you’ll find on page 83 of this magazine. Actually some of the top photographers and videographers got their start playing with cameras because they were on the injured list, so you never know where an injury will lead. –Ed. Got somthing on your mind? Submit your letter and you could win a killer t-shirt from Windcult Kiteboarding! E-mail RYAN@thekiteboarder.com THINK got us tHINKING The editorial THINK piece in the last edition of The Kiteboarder is referencing one of our local “stars.” He is part of our local Yahoo group of over 1000 people. A HUGE number of people have come out and denounced this video and he has not replied. I am one of the two moderators of the Yahoo group and the administrator of our new local endeavor, www.NYKA.org I want to set up a poll on NYKA.org about what people think should be done about these videos. I plan on posting his e-mail address and opening comments for people. I am hoping this drives the point home. Thanks so much for your help, Paul Glezer Paul, we’re glad we could bring a little attention to something that is doing a disservice to the sport. Good luck in your efforts. –Ed. NICe Boat I love the new issue! I wanted comment on the photo on pages 52-53 by Mark Telep in the August 2009 issue. I am in the Coast Guard and I kite whenever I can. It gave me goose bumps to see one of our 47-foot MLBs (motor lifeboat) in the background. I am always reading articles on different locations to kite for our port calls. I have been to places such as Grand Cayman, Nassau, and Honduras. Seeing the boat in the shot was really exciting. Keep doing what you’re doing. DC2 Mark Higgins USCGC Campbell (WMEC-909) Portsmouth, NH Mark, thanks for your words of encouragement, but thank you especially for being a part of the US Coast Guard, an organization that exists to do things like save our butts when we get in trouble out on the ocean! –Ed. 24 thekiteboarder.com
Page 1 and 2: Welcome to The Kiteboarder’s Onli
Page 3 and 4: Photo Gustav Shmiege New at The Kit
Page 5 and 6: LIQUID FORCE JASON SLEZAK HAVOC GEN
Page 8 and 9: Consisting of over 300 islands, Los
Page 10 and 11: EDITOR RYAN RICCITELLI ryan@thekite
Page 12 and 13: Ian, Lakey Pipe/ Indo helix the evo
Page 14 and 15: INSIDE JOB Drew Fargher How would y
Page 18 and 19: 1 2 13 9 12 17 4 7 18 10 14 Send it
Page 20 and 21: Niccolo Porcella has grown up in fr
Page 22 and 23: ClOSE-up ARUBA BAJA MAUI JERICOACOA
Page 24 and 25: Jeremie was able to feed the birds
Page 26 and 27: “The Best of Baja” La Ventana
Page 28 and 29: Baja is full of some of the nicest
Page 30 and 31: Going Deep Mitu Monteiro is one of
Page 32 and 33: Grom Goes Big Grom Gormley is a nom
Page 34 and 35: LIQUID FORCE KITEBOARDING 2010 COMP
Page 36 and 37: designer’s corner cont. analyze t
Page 38 and 39: designer’s corner cont. analyze t
Page 40 and 41: In its fourth year, the Naish SUP M
Page 42 and 43: Globe designer’s corner The new V
Page 44 and 45: Unstrapped Toeside Jibe Made Easy R
Page 46 and 47: Craig Cunningham, one of the Liquid
Page 48: Gulfport Boardsports (228) 596-1936

December 2009 - The Kiteboarder Magazine

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