Kitesoul Magazine #26 International Edition

78
ITW
Shawn Richman is back in (the kiting) business
Where did you grow up?
I was lucky enough to grow up in Maui, Hawaii.
Tell us more about your background in kitesurfing?
Good question! Where to begin? I got involved back in the
early days of kiting. My brother Jesse and myself started
trying to figure out how not to die while being strapped to
kites around 2001 to 2002. It took almost a year of being
picked up from school by our amazing dad and every day
heading to the beach to get dragged around by these absolute
bullies of kites to finally stay upwind. We were on 2 line
1.5m, 2.5m, 3.5m and then we had this 4.5 four line. I swear
those kites kicked the daylight out of me more than any
other kite since!
Once upwind we progressed quite quickly as we were completely
addicted and spent as much time as we could on
the water. Almost every day! I remember spending a summer
out of school and I only spent 3 days not hooked into
my kite over 4 months, and that was only because I had
such a bad harness rash.
Before both Jesse and I knew it, we were sponsored, heading
off to contests, traveling solo, winning events, loosing
events with the desire to win the next one. My family were
all taken on this wild ride with us, we were so young.
Everything continued from there! Kitesurfing was my childhood,
my teenage life, as well as most of my early 20’s.
I loved it, and also hated it! As fun as it was, I also found it
very difficult. I loved meeting new people, seeing new places
and giving happiness to those that enjoyed my style
of riding. I found the politics hard to deal with, the dance
monkey dance photo shoots of the same riding spot over
and over just on a newly painted board and a mock up kite.
All trying to get the same shot as 6 months ago but with the
“New and Improved” gear. I found myself not enjoying riding
anymore, not putting the gear in the car, and not being
motivated to kite. It felt like a chore and at the ripe old age
of 26 ha-ha I burnt out my stoke for the sport.
It’s been a few years since I put down the kite competitively.
I went from riding 300+ days a year to just twice a year.
I needed to experience something different, see what else
life had to offer. I ended up joining my wife in her wildlife
conservation efforts in East Africa. I was waiting for the
day that I had that urge to kite again with no expectations.
And…. It finally came. In the strangest place. Anna, my wife
was filming a tribe in the desert, we were so far from anything
kite related, and I just got that…. feeling! The next
week we drove our land rover ocean bound and haven’t
looked back. The amazing thing is I have a clean slate to
begin my relationship with Kitesurfing again. I am treading
with caution, making sure this time that it’s all about the
love for the sport. I want to ride with good people and for
a good brand. I want to be proud to fly their flag! Also, and
most importantly - I kite when I feel the stoke, and that is
what it’s all about… and with that mindset I’ve wanted to
ride everyday since I got back to the ocean.
Why RRD?
Sponsorship is like being in a partnership, a relationship,
and a family. When I was thinking about who I wanted to
talk to about getting back in the sport I thought back on
all the connections that I had made in my career, one person
stood out that I’ve always had the upmost respect for.
That was Roberto. He was more stoked than anyone on the
beach, so genuine and passionate about all the gear that