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
Nationality Hawaiian definitely not American Date of birth 11-04-1989 Residence Lamu, Kenya Discipline Big Air, Freeride Favorite Manouvers Inverted tweaked Front roll, Hand Drag.