December 2009 - The Kiteboarder Magazine

Photo: Dallas McMahon
Age: 20 Height: 5’ 9” Weight: 180 lbs. Years Kiting: 6.5
FAVORITE Spots: East Beach, Ft. Desoto; Lassing Park, St. Petersburg
FAVORITE Conditions: 20 knots flat water and kickers
FAVORITE Moves: Nose Glide, Switch KGB, S-Mobe Sponsors: Aggression
Kiteboards, Transcend, Dakine, Slingshot, Otherside, Abington
clOSE-up
GEAR SET-UP
Boards: Aggression Alex Fox signature, Slingshot Response 142 Bindings: Aggression Straps,
Slingshot D3s Kites: Slingshot RPM/Fuel Lines: 25m Harness: Dakine Renegade
By Matt Sexton
Foxy is someone you should really keep an eye on
this year. His style on the water is just as entertaining
as his personality on land. Every trick is executed
with a little tweak, poke, or grab that separates his
riding from the rest. With a first-place finish at the
Bridge of the Gods event earlier this year, it’s pretty
clear that he’s a podium contender at any event he
shows up to. Fox’s coolest trait though is that he’s an
artist. He thinks outside the box and his creativity is
constantly flowing. This year should be a landmark
for this kid and his plans are extensive enough that
you’re going to know about him whether you want to
or not. If you see him on a beach near you, walk right
up say, “What’s up” and give him a little slap on the
cheek. If you don’t, he’ll be sure to do it to you.
When, where and why did you start kiteboarding?
I’m from Saint Petersburg, FL and in 2004 the scene
was just starting to build here. My dad was really into
windsurfing and naturally wanted to step up his game.
I was into wakeboarding, but Orlando was too far of a
drive. We took lessons and never turned back. It was
quite the bonding experience.
Have any other sports or disciplines helped influence
your kiteboarding? I started riding the cable when I
was 12 and took a boat set whenever it was available,
so that definitely influences my riding a lot. Before
wakeboarding and kiting I just played basketball. I was
a little baller, so I bleed that style as well.
What riders influence you the most/inspire you?
Billy Parker shreds harder than anyone I know and
lives right down the road from me. He’s been raising
the bar for local talent and giving me pointers since
I was a young gun, so I’ve definitely received a lot of
inspiration from him.
How did you get sponsored? When I was 15 years
old I took a trip with my parents to Hatteras. When
we were there we caught wind of some underground
shaper in Buxton, so we went to check out his shop.
After a little tour, GS of Aggression Kiteboards offered
me a sponsorship. I was young and he saw potential.
Four years later I developed a strong bro-lationship
with Matt Sexton and Neil Hutchinson who play a
large role in Slingshot Sports in Florida. They saw a
kid who needed a shot, so I owe a huge part of my
success to them as well.
What standout features do you most appreciate about
your current gear? I ride the best boards on the market,
as well as the strongest and most stable kites.
1. Don’t concern yourself with
getting sponsored. If people tell
you how great it is, then they
are just lying to you. Ride the
way you want. Don’t let people
tell you whether a trick is cool
or not.
2. Be approachable and friendly on
the beach. I have the most fun
when everyone on the beach
is having a good time, and all of
your homies are on the water
too. Keep the stoke high.
3. Unhook and keep your kite
low. I promise there is no
better feeling than stomping
a technical trick with your
wingtip in the drink.
What do you do off the water to help you on the
water? I ride the cable three times a week and
that helps my riding a ton. Florida wind isn’t always
consistent so that keeps me in shape and helps my
style. I also try to eat healthy and I wail on my pecks
and abs when the wind is down.
What trick or style are you currently working on
and what is the challenge? Combining wakestyle
and freestyle and making kiting its own sport. After
riding at the cable so much I’ve realized that in order
to appeal to wakeboarders you have to offer them
something similar to what they know. I’m really trying
to push the idea that kiting is just another pull with a
lot more possibilities. Kiting is at a cool point right now.
How do you think the current gear on the market can
be improved in general? Kiting doesn’t need the next
greatest material that enables us to ride in nine knots
or boost 40 feet on every jump. That is just not realistic.
We need to make cheap and accessible gear that
is dependable and free of gimmicks. Bring back the
5-strut C-kite, and make it inexpensive. It’s time to let
some kids get into this sport and finally push it in the
right direction.
What is your favorite style of riding and why?
Wakestyle and freestyle. I’m a kiter and a
wakeboarder.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing
the kiteboarding industry? The outsider’s view of the
sport is that is a yacht owner’s weekend hobby. We
need to break down the barriers of entry to the sport
and help it grow. There also needs to be a U.S. Pro-
Am style tour. Right now, there is no platform for rider
development and that makes the sport look like more
of a hobby than a legitimate sport. The CKA is the only
Alex recently claimed his first competition win at the Bridge of the Gods
event in Stevenson, Washington. Photo: Dmitry Kraskovsky
thing pushing it right now in the U.S. and it’s sick, but
it’s confined to college kids.
What is something about you that you do outside of
kiteboarding that most people wouldn’t know?
I’m an artist. I attend UCF and should be graduating
with a Bachelors Degree in Fine Arts.
What is your worst wipe out/scariest kiteboarding
experience? I partially tore my MCL on a mobe in
the Gorge last summer, and a year before that I
broke my ankle getting ripped out of my boots in four
inches of water.
What is your most memorable kiteboarding
experience? Winning this year’s Bridge of the Gods
in Oregon with Matt, Neil, and Billy there to witness
it was awesome. I finally won a competition and got
some recognition that we all thought was way past
due. Oregon is such a sick place, so to go somewhere
awesome with your friends and do well in a contest
makes a large impact for sure.
What are your must have’s that you can’t live without?
Friends, family, wind, a camera, internet, and music.
Is there anybody you would like to thank? My Mom,
Dad, and Jordan, for being the best Family I could have
ever asked for and being a huge inspiration in my life.
Matty and Neil, for believing in me over the past year
more than anyone. Andy from Transcend and GS from
Aggression, you guys are awesome I owe both of you
a lot for all of your love and support. Thanks to Stefan
Cerf, TJ Smith, Tripp Hobbs, Pat, Sean, Justice, Justin,
Clay, and Davis (sorry for kicking your ass). Of course
thanks to Aggression, Slingshot, Dakine, Transcend,
and the Otherside for all the support, and thanks to
Dallas and Zach from The Kiteboarder.
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