Pimp Yo Kite - The Kiteboarder Magazine

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34 I first met Laura when I helped teach at a Slingshot Girls Kite Clinic last summer in the Gorge. We spent long hours at the Hook that weekend helping a group of women get their first taste of kiteboarding. Back in the day, Laura traveled around the US competing in contests and inspiring more women to get on the water and snow. Laura was never a world champion, but I do remember random photos of her popping up in many of the early kiteboard magazines. Today, Laura is just as passionate about kiteboarding as when she started. Her philosophy on teaching women is that many just relate better to learning from other women. She has since supported two more women’s clinics and has become a leading advocate in the Northwest to encourage more women to get into the sport. When, where and why did you start kiteboarding? In 2000 I was in Mexico windsurfing with some early kiters from Hood River and they told me to throw the ‘barge’ away. After body dragging and a few rides, I went back to Minnesota and spent the winter snowkiting on frozen lakes. What other sports helped influence your Age: Take a guess! Height: 5’7” Weight: Before or after the cheeseburger value meal? Years kiting: 6 Favorite Spots: Rufus; The Ranch; Jetty to Filthy5; ‘The Money Pit’; Newport Jetty; Fort Stevens Jetty to Shipwreck; Kite Island; Minnetonka, Minnesota Favorite Conditions: Steady 11meter wind and waves Favorite Moves: Ruben Lenten’s double handlepass, double kite loop Sponsors: Slingshot, DaKine, Girls4Sport, Jim Shepherd Competition Placements: Sometimes 1st, sometimes not Gear set-up: Boards: Misfit 127, XS 137, Fuse, SRT 5’5” Bindings: Straps Kites: Fuels and Links Bars: 07 Slingshot bar rips, 23m lines Harness: Dakine Siren Overlooking her spot in the Gorge, Laura’s got the perfect view for when it starts firing. Lens: Greg “Tekko” Gnecco kiteboarding and what is your training regiment? Wakeboarding, snowboarding, windsurfing, and I was a gymnast as a kid. To train, I try and ride as much as possible, especially in waves, and always try to keep working on new tricks. What riders influence you most? In the early years, it was Lou and Shannon. Right now, Ruben Lenten for sure along with Bertrand and Tuva, Ben Wilson, John and Mark Doyle, Alex Peterson, and many local riders from the Gorge. I respect the Scheibel’s and Dana Pinto for their wave riding styles too and Kristen Boese as an inspiration for women. What do you do off the water to help you on the water? I try and stretch a lot, get regular massages and rest between training. What is the latest trick you are working on and how is it going? I want to start working on handlepasses. Getting up the guts here in the Gorge is asking a lot as the wind is really strong. So, I may travel and work on them elsewhere and return Laura gets some serious elevation near the John Day Dam. Lens: Greg “Tekko’ Gnecco Story by Marina Chang. Photographs by Greg ‘Tekko’ Gnecco TIPS 1. Staying on as current gear as you can will help your riding progress.New technology does make a difference.. 2. Riding with people who are better than you will make you a better kiter and motivate you to try new things. in the Spring with a new trick! What is something about you that you do outside of kiteboarding that most people wouldn’t know? I cut hair, love sushi, and do all sorts of other girly things. Do you prefer the new Flat kites over the C-kites? I think both kites have advantages for different riding conditions and styles. The flat kites are super easy to use and have great range. I still love the feel and power of the Fuel’s though!
8 5 1.Videographer Buster Tronlone getting his skate on. Photo Papa Tronolone. 2.Will James and Felix Pivec taking a moment between wave sessions. Photo Jeff Pfeffer 3.Pro Snowboarder/Skateboarder Shaun White reading The Kiteboarder at the Dew Action Tour. Photo Papa Tronolone 4.Bucky Ashcraft shows off his latest strapless riding. Photo G. Scott 2 3 7 6 4 1 5.Good winds to the ‘odd couple’ chasing their dreams and kiting the world. Photo Jon Malmberg 6.Belmont Shores, Long Beach, CA on a typical Summer day. Photo Paul Lang 7. King of the Great Lakes podium crew. Photo Shanna DeVries Merrill 8.“Fisheye Sky” a.k.a Sky Solbach. Photo Bucky Ashcraft 9 10 9. Jim Gardner enjoys a soul session in the South Padre, Texas flats. Photo David Alden 10. Jesse and Shawn Richman caught stealing their dad’s car. Photo Kim Kern 11. Nick Bowers shows off his new Slingshot thong. Photo Shanna DeVries Merrill 12.The future! Photo Paul Lang 13.Bridge of the Gods judges hard at work. Photo Jon Malmberg 11 20 14. Dylan Thompson showing off his new bling bling. Photo Jon Malmberg. 15. Assistant Editor Paul Lang gives a kiteboarding presentation to a bunch of first graders. Photo Paul Lang 16. Ryan Riccittelli battles Baby J at the South Coast compound. Photo Nikki Ivanosky 17. Kite Cable Club, Montreal. Photo Bodo Müller 12 16 18. A typical day on the Best Kiteboarding Bus demo tour. Photo Bucky Ashcraft 19. Jeff Brown curls up in his kite between sessions. Photo James Brown 20. No wind days in the Dominican are the perfect opportunity to test out authentic Pina Coladas. Photo Josh Marinos –eXtremeHotels.com 19 18 13 14 15 17 Send your best candid or pay back shots of the kiting lifestyle to editor@thekiteboarder.com.
Page 8 and 9: Tahitian legend Moe Gould has made
Page 10 and 11: Rider: Bill Kraft Lens: Gavin Butle
Page 12 and 13: Caicos is becoming a popular Caribb
Page 14 and 15: 18 Blogkite.com Dear Editor: Congra
Page 16 and 17: New Feature! Online Links’ Here i
Page 18 and 19: John Amundson never thought Western
Page 20 and 21: Sky gets a taste of Gnarloo’s leg
Page 24 and 25: By Adam Von Ins, Elea Faucheron and
Page 26 and 27: By The Kiteboarder Staff We were si
Page 28 and 29: Pimp Yo Bar Grip It: If you are usi
Page 30 and 31: Yes, Turkey has waves. Miguel drops
Page 32 and 33: Game Time All of us have had those
Page 34 and 35: Soul Rebel If you have learned to k
Page 36 and 37: By The Kiteboarder Staff Every issu
Page 38 and 39: 16 15 14 1-6. Start the move like a
Page 40 and 41: Lens: Hugo Ljungberg SLINGSHOT RANG
Page 42 and 43: By Paul Lang Mission to the Greater
Page 44: Hawaiian Ocean Sports (866) 488-548

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