the kiteboarder magazine december 2010

THEKITEBOARDER.COM

AlaskaRoad TRippin

+How to Stick a 313 and Back MoBe

24

Saving acceSS at Your LocaL Kite Beach

New Products to CheCk out

Custom GlobalWaveriding perfection50, 54, 57, 60, 62

BoltVersatile - Stable - Predictable3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.5, 12, 14, 16

I traveled this year with a quiver of Bolts and the 60 Global. Basically the best travel setup.

The 60 Global is the first board Ive ever ridden that can perform without compromise from dredging outer reef monsters to shorebreak airs. Its got the grip and control when you need it in the big stuff, and can generate the drive and speed needed for small waves. Its my all-time favorite board and has replaced the whole quiver of boards I used to need for different conditions.

Explore thePossibilitiesThe Bolts were sick in all conditions and were super predictable so I could really concentrate on surfing.

naishkites.com Pacific Boardsports LLC - (509) 493 0043 - [email protected]

ph

oto:

E.A

eder

Ian Alldredge, Global 60, Bolt 7- Ian Alldredge

thekiteboarder.com 1

Custom GlobalWaveriding perfection50, 54, 57, 60, 62

BoltVersatile - Stable - Predictable3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.5, 12, 14, 16

I traveled this year with a quiver of Bolts and the 60 Global. Basically the best travel setup.

The 60 Global is the first board Ive ever ridden that can perform without compromise from dredging outer reef monsters to shorebreak airs. Its got the grip and control when you need it in the big stuff, and can generate the drive and speed needed for small waves. Its my all-time favorite board and has replaced the whole quiver of boards I used to need for different conditions.

Explore thePossibilitiesThe Bolts were sick in all conditions and were super predictable so I could really concentrate on surfing.

naishkites.com Pacific Boardsports LLC - (509) 493 0043 - [email protected]

ph

oto:

E.A

eder

Ian Alldredge, Global 60, Bolt 7- Ian Alldredge

2 thekiteboarder.com


Departments

Features

32 Close UpFlexifoils Sean Mertens and Nobiles Jannicke Stav profiled.

36 Backwoods TravelExploring Tobago Cays with Zenith Ocean Voyages.

56 Designers CornerWhat changed and whats new on 10 new 2011 kites and boards.

66 Analyze ThisTKB team puts four new products to the test.

74 WorkbenchPushing the limits of your chicken loop.

Rick Jensen slides with style in Hood River. Photo Jon Malmberg

THEKITEBOARDER.COM

AlaskaRoad TRippin

+How to Stick a 313 and Back MoBe

24

Saving acceSS at Your LocaL Kite Beach

New Products to CheCk out

Eric Reinstra on track to another day on the water. Photo Lance Koudele


Way up north in alaska, theres a little toWn Where the Wind bloWs across vast glaciers and up mountains so large that simply calling them big doesnt do them justice. they make big seem small and the snowfall is measured in feet instead of inches. the place is valdez and like many other Alaskan fishing towns, it lives by the motto were a drinking town with a fishing prob-lem. nestled between the chugach mountains and prince William sound, valdez is also home to something very special, a mountain festival like no other. Each spring, the town comes alive with incredible talents of world-class athletes similar to the winter Olympics, except we have kegs, reggae music, far fewer cameras, and much less stress.

Alaska

Road TRippin

TailgaTe alaska and Thompson pass wiTh The aka BoysBy Obadiah Jenkins and Tom Fredericks


Zach Kleppe entertains the crowd with a particularly good wipeout.


LAUNCH

Selling Kiteboarding gear reSponSiblyBy Paul Lang

Weve probably all met someone at our local beach that shows up with outdated and abused gear who is proud of the deal they got on some equipment that is dangerous and basically worthless. almost always, these are people who are completely new to kiting and simply didnt know any better when buying used gear online. these people actually can be a big hazard for kiteboarding in general, as they probably have no clue what they are doing and might have even been told how easy and risk-free kiteboarding is by someone desperate to unload their stash of ancient gear.

We would all love to be able to sell our gear only to people we know will use the gear in a safe and responsible way, but the reality is that most kiters end up selling gear online to people theyve never met. if you decide to sell your gear online, here are some guidelines we wish everyone would follow when selling kiteboarding equipment:

Always include a disclaimer in your ads that kiteboarding is a sport that requires instruction and that the equipment is very dangerous if not used correctly. We dont want to scare away potential new kiteboarders, but its important that inexperienced buyers dont enter the sport with unrealistic expectations. You can even go a step further and verbally communicate this to your potential buyer to make sure they understand what they are getting themselves into.

Be very honest and realistic in your descriptions of used gear. Finding an ancient kite at the back of your garage that you hardly used and calling it almost new is irresponsible.

If you personally think you have a kite or other piece of equipment that is not safe for a beginner to use (after proper instruction, of course), you should consider throwing it in the dumpster instead of selling it.

After the transaction is complete, you should always refer the buyer to a kite school for instruction if they are new to kiteboarding. a quick Google search or a look at the kite Pages at the back of this magazine will help you find a school if the buyer lives in a different area.

When it comes time to sell your gear, there are better solutions hawking your gear on the street. Photo Scott Edwards

Now that much of the new 2011 kiteboarding gear is on the market, its time to think about upgrading your old busted gear to something new and shiny. With any kiteboarding upgrade, the big question everyone asks themselves is What am i going to do with my old gear? Weve all been faced with the dilemma of how to get rid of old gear and most of us that have been kiting for awhile have a pile of gear stashed away that is no longer being used. the most efficient way to sell your used gear is to post it online, but if youve never done it, its a little overwhelming to decide where to start and what website to post it on. heres a quick overview on how to effectively sell your gear online along with some tips and the pros and cons for the most common sites to use to sell your used kiteboarding gear.

Do Your researchFirst, do your research. Check around to see what similar gear (brand, condition, and model year) is selling for to give you a realistic idea of what you should expect to get for it.

PreP for Your aDTake good photos and take way more than you think you need. You can always delete the ones you dont use. If youre selling a kite, take photos of it inflated. Make sure the gear you are selling is clean and looking good. No one likes to buy

s elling Kiteboar Ding gear online

sandy or dirty gear. Do a thorough inspection of the gear and repair or replace any parts that may need to be fixed. If you are planning on selling your gear as-is, take close-up photos of the areas that need repair or replacement and make sure that you list them on your advertisement.

Describing Your gearWhen writing your ad, stick to talking about the condition of your gear. Include how long youve had it and if any part of the gear has been damaged, is in need of repair, or has been repaired. Be completely honest about the condition of what you are selling. No one needs to know all of the tech specs as this information is widely available online and chances are buyers have already read the info if they are considering purchasing your gear. Keep your descriptions simple and concise. 2,000 word descriptions are overkill. If you have to ship the gear, make sure you are very clear and on how you will be shipping it to the buyer and what the cost will be in addition to the selling price.

Website breaKDoWnNow the last step is deciding what website to sell your gear on, whether it is on an auction site like eBay, a classified site like Craigslist, or the buy and sell section of a forum like iKitesurf or your local kiteboarding forum. Here are a few pros and cons of each:

ebaYPros: A well known site that offers payment with PayPal security. EBay offers many different formats for selling your item: Buy Now, Auction, and Auction with Minimum Bid. On eBay, people fight over your stuff, making the price go up. Its widely accepted that the best timing for selling on eBay is to post a 7-day auction on Sunday night to allow for last-minute bidding wars before the weekend ends.

Cons: Ebay charges fees for posting photos and service fees for selling items. Make sure you calculate these added costs into your listing price. While a bidding war may mean your gear could sell for more than expected, a lack of interest means you could end up selling it for less than you wanted to. If you have a minimum price, make sure you set the reserve price so you dont end up selling a perfectly good kite or board for $20.

craigslistPros: Geared towards selling in specific areas or cities. Craigslist is a free, quick, and easy interface to post your ad. Transactions are face-to-face and are usually done with cash. Be very careful of people offering to purchase your gear from out of town, especially if they offer more than you are asking. These offers are ALWAYS a scam.

ConS: Lots of flakes and low-ballers that waste your time. Most people who are buying on Craigslist are looking for the smoking deal and will be trying to talk you down on your price.

iKitesurfproS: A very direct market geared towards kiters that are looking for used gear. Free to post ads with photos and can post over and over until item is sold.

ConS: Large amount of competition when selling your gear. Payment and shipping might be a concern if you are selling to a person not in your area

local KiteboarDing forumsproS: If you have a local forum for your area, chances are it has a buy and sell section. This connects you with other local kiters who might be looking for gear. Transactions are usually face-to-face at the local beach and you might even end up selling your gear to someone you know.

ConS: Local forums dont have much reach outside of your local kiteboarding community, so if there isnt someone interested in your gear in your area, youll have a tough time selling.

Although there are many different ways of selling your gear online, hopefully this information will help guide you in the right direction. Now go get your gear out of that dark corner, dust it off, post it online, and sell it. Use that money towards new gear that you will enjoy out on the water or towards that kite trip that youve always wanted to go on. That pile of dusty used gear in your garage isnt doing anybody any good, so let it find a home where someone will enjoy it!

by alexis rovira

12 thekiteboarder.com thekiteboarder.com 13


Need

Back MoBeWords and Riding by Julien HospPhotos Jacqueline dEntremont

By definition, the back mobe is a back roll with a 360 frontside handlepass. If you want to learn the back mobe, you should be comfortable with simple handlepasses such as a 313 or blind judge and you should know how to do unhooked back rolls in your sleep.

1. Enter the move with speed and unhook.2. To initiate the back mobe, throw an inverted back roll. 3. In the middle of the back roll, press the bar to your back hip. 4. Look over your back shoulder and keep rotating. 5. Pass the bar and finish the rotation. 6. Spot your landing and try to get your second hand on the bar to gain control of your kite.

tips the more inverted you go, the easier and

more stylish the trick will be.

Use your back leg to initiate the rotation.

if you constantly crash by catching the front tip of your board on the water, try to hold the bar a little longer and pass a little later as this will give you a better position in the air.

How to Keep Your Beach open

Banding together at BelmontOn a busy summer weekend at Long Beachs Belmont shore, upwards of 150 kiters may show up to ride. As one of the most consistent spots for wind in the area during the sum-mer, riders from all over Southern California are drawn to Belmont. The consistent wind, protected water, and huge beach make Belmont a great learning spot for kiteboarders, but this area is also used by swimmers, sailors, windsurfers, and general beachgoers. Currently, there are no looming threats to access here, but that is only due to the fact that the kiteboarding community in the area has banded together to educate riders and keep communication open with the authorities. The kiteboarding community that has been cre-ated by riders, local shops/schools, and the local kiteboarding association coming together could serve as a model for other areas that need to pull together to present a unified front to local authorities. The Southern California Kiteboarding Association (SCKA, www.scka.org) has been very active in building a local kiteboarding community, meeting with authorities, and educating riders about the local rules. We work very closely with the lifeguards. We have very open access at Belmont and an open relationship with the lifeguards. We meet at the beginning of the season to discuss any issues they might have, said Dan Corbett, current President of the SCKA. At Belmont, access is open, but there are rules about kiteboarding that are enforced by the lifeguards. There are some riders that have the opinion that we are too restrictive and that there are already too many rules, said Corbett. But we only educate people about the rules, we didnt create any of them. The rules are written into the Long Beach municipal code and we work with the lifeguards to interpret them. There are many ways that people learn the rules when they show up to Belmont, the most obvious of which is a huge sign that explains them. Local schools set up on the beach and are very proactive in educating kiters that are new to the area. However, because there is such a strong community at Belmont, the lifeguards rarely have to get involved and the kiteboarders self-regulate when there is a problem. The SCKA has appointed lead contacts for each beach so that lifeguards have someone they can easily contact if they have a con-cern about kiteboarding and they do everything possible to educate riders about the rules. As the designated contact for the lifeguards to turn to if they have an issue at Belmont, Kitesurfaris Robert McCullough feels that having a direct and open line of communica-tion with the lifeguards benefits everyone. The lifeguards have a very specific contact they know will back them up when there is a problem. They have plenty to do during the summer and are happy they dont often have to get involved because someone from the kiter community has already stepped in when there is a problem. Kiters get a number of chances at Belmont. Usually at least one experienced kiter, instructor, or Kitesurfari staff member takes the time to explain the rules. If they just cant listen, the lifeguards are fine with stepping in and issuing a stronger warning. If someone gets fined, they really had to work to get there, said Robert. Belmont has a strong community in large part because of the efforts of the SKCA. The SCKA works hand in hand with the local kiteboarding businesses and even offers a discount card to members to use at local shops. Membership in the SCKA is only $10/year and they organize an annual safety clinic and a kiteboarding demo event where manufac-turers bring their latest gear for riders to try. From our perspective, the kiter community at Belmont is quite strong, said Robert. Its a great mix There are the curious who will one day be kiters, but havent left the safety of the beach chairs just yet, the beginners brought to the area by the different schools, the professional instructors that everyone knows, and the more experienced locals, some of them known affectionately as the Trashcan Gang. The community is most in evidence when the wind is almost ready, the sense of expecta-tion putting everyone in a good mood. Because the majority of the kiters in the area recognize the importance of being a proactive and self-enforcing group, most problems with individual kiters are never brought to the lifeguards attention and as a result, access is likely to be open here for a very long time.

There is no doubT ThaT kiTeboarding beaches geT more crowded every season. Kiteboarders have faced issues regarding launch access since the earliest days, but as more and more riders show up at the beach conflicts between kiteboarders and other beachgoers will become more common. Unfortunately for us, kiteboarders are still in the minority at most sites, and this means that if we are viewed as a problem by authorities; the easiest solution for them might be to simply ban kiteboarding.

Beach access is something we should all be concerned about if we want to be able to freely kiteboard as the sport expands. To keep our beaches open for kiteboarding, its up to us to do something about it, but luckily there are already a few examples about how to go about preserving access that can serve as role models to beaches that might not have had to deal with the issue yet.

By Paul Lang


PRos & Cons of selling online:

Tips on how to unload your used gear.

12

24snoWkiTing VAlDez, AlAskA:

The AkA crew road trips to the Tailgate

Alaska festival.

38HoW To

PReVenT A BAn:success stories to

help keep your local beach open.

70ADVAnCeD insTRUCTion:

The 313 and Back Mobe: The next tricks after you

nail your first handlepass.


At the end of the annual AWSI trade show in Hood River, the TKB crew was looking a little worse for wear. Alexis Rovira and I had been on the road for two weeks, and we were showing it. A few other members of the staff were looking a little rough around the edges, so Marina invited over Laura Maher, who besides being an awesome person and kiteboarder is also a dynamite hair stylist. Lauras duty was to make us all a little more presentable, a daunting task when you take into account my DIY haircut I got in my bathtub at home before hitting the road.

While taking turns under Lauras scissors, we spent the time catching up with Laura and hearing about her endless travels. Sherman Island came up as a topic, as Laura had been there recently and it had been our last stop before hitting Hood River. There was this guy there who was a complete jerk, said Laura. I think his name was James or John or something. He rides North kites and a wakeboard. Do you mean Jeremie? Alexis asked. Yea, thats it, that guy cut me off so many times. I had to have a talk with him in the parking lot, said Laura.

Well, theres nothing new about this conversation, as we all know its common for kiters to complain about problem riders all the time. What surprised us though was that Alexis and I know Jeremie. We had just ridden with him at Sherman Island and slept at his apartment in San Francisco! He rode in the child-sized back seat of my truck out to Sherman and we both knew him to be a stand up guy. Hes a great rider and a really nice person. It struck me as really strange that two really cool people and good riders, Laura and Jeremie, would have an altercation where they probably both walked away thinking the other was a jerk. How could this happen?

After a little thought on the matter, its actually really easy to understand how people that would otherwise become friends end up as enemies. Out on the water, its easy to get so focused on learning a new move or scoring the next wave that we all develop tunnel vision. We start to ignore the other riders around us and the truth is, at one time or another, weve probably all been jerks out on the water. Weve probably all stolen someone elses wave or been overaggressive when throwing tricks around others and weve definitely all been on the receiving end of someone else doing the same.

The problem is that this sport is too small for us to be jerks to each other. If were going to be able to band together to do things like help preserve beach access, weve all got to learn to live with our fellow riders. Next time youre out on the water, try to keep your head up and pay a little more attention to the other riders around you. Instead of competing amongst ourselves for the space we share, we should all be cheering one another on. Remember, the wind will always continue to blow and the waves will keep coming. Well never run out of either!

THINK

Untitled-1 1 8/19/09 7:52:32 AM

We Are All Jerks

Just a few days after having a blast at Sherman Island with Jeremie Texier, we heard about an altercation that led two cool people to think the other was a jerk. Photo Paul Lang


SENIOR WRITERSMarina Chang, Paul Lang, James Brown, Gary Martin

EDITORIAL CONSULTANTSNeil Hutchinson, Stefan Ruether, Rick Iossi, Toby Brauer, Brendan Richards, Matt Sexton,

Will Caldwell, Kevin Irie Dog Murray, Kinsley ThomasWong, Members of the Central Coast/Santa Barbara CKA

CONTRIBUTORSBrian Schenck, Obadiah Jenkins, Tom Fredericks, Alexis Rovira, Franz Schitzhofer, Dimitri Maramenides, Momi, Raphael Salles, Rick Iossi, Martyn Hogg, Litewave Dave Turner, Max Blom Jr., Evan Mavridoglou, Tony Logosz, Amery Bernard, Damien Girardin, Greg Drexler,

Julian Hosp, Brendan Richard, Peter Schiebel

PHOTOGRAPHYLance Koudele, Gavin Butler, Wainman Hawaii, Stephen Whitesell, Scott Edwards, Palapas

Ventana, Wind-Adventures, Pascal Boulgakow, www.benwilsonsurf.com, Litewave Dave Turner, Gary Martin, www.zenithoceanvoyages.com, David G. Tran, Marina Chang, Phil Morstad, www.seethroughboards.com, Eric Yeung, Epic Kites, Dixie Buckley, Carol Bolstad, Jessica Kimbriel, Jon Malmberg, Jen Whiteman, Brian Caserio, Scott Semon, Gavin Butler, Obadiah Jenkins, Steve Carr, Dan Slater, Klaus Shulz, Rick Iossi, Scott Winer, Helen Trotman, Gilles Calvet,

Richard Boudia, Elaine Turner, Mystic Boarding, Sharkeeye/Reload Productions, Jacqueline dEntremont, Brendan Richards, David DeVries, Rob Buell, Mark Karels, Erin Loscocco,

Danny Alvarez, Hugh Breslin, Gaii Conti, Charles Ash

Thanks to all editorial and photography contributors for supporting this magazine!

VISIT US ON:www.thekiteboarder.com

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The Kiteboarder Magazine is a subsidiary of The Ring Media Inc.Copyright 2010 by The Ring Media Inc. All rights reserved.

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kiteboarder_fullpage_ad_v5.pdf 1 10/6/10 1:59 PM

zach kleppe entertains the crowd with a particularly good wipeout.LAUNCH

Now that much of the new 2011 kiteboarding gear is on the market, its time to think about upgrading your old busted gear to something new and shiny. With any kiteboarding upgrade, the big question everyone asks themselves is What am i going to do with my old gear? Weve all been faced with the dilemma of how to get rid of old gear and most of us that have been kiting for awhile have a pile of gear stashed away that is no longer being used. the most efficient way to sell your used gear is to post it online, but if youve never done it, its a little overwhelming to decide where to start and what website to post it on. heres a quick overview on how to effectively sell your gear online along with some tips and the pros and cons for the most common sites to use to sell your used kiteboarding gear.

Do Your researchFirst, do your research. Check around to see what similar gear (brand, condition, and model year) is selling for to give you a realistic idea of what you should expect to get for it.

PreP for Your aDTake good photos and take way more than you think you need. You can always delete the ones you dont use. If youre selling a kite, take photos of it inflated. Make sure the gear you are selling is clean and looking good. No one likes to buy

s elling Kiteboar Ding gear online

sandy or dirty gear. Do a thorough inspection of the gear and repair or replace any parts that may need to be fixed. If you are planning on selling your gear as-is, take close-up photos of the areas that need repair or replacement and make sure that you list them on your advertisement.

Describing Your gearWhen writing your ad, stick to talking about the condition of your gear. Include how long youve had it and if any part of the gear has been damaged, is in need of repair, or has been repaired. Be completely honest about the condition of what you are selling. No one needs to know all of the tech specs as this information is widely available online and chances are buyers have already read the info if they are considering purchasing your gear. Keep your descriptions simple and concise. Wordy descriptions are overkill. If you have to ship the gear, make sure you are very clear and on how you will be shipping it to the buyer and what the cost will be in addition to the selling price.

Website breaKDoWnNow the last step is deciding what website to sell your gear on, whether it is on an auction site like eBay, a classified site like Craigslist, or the buy and sell section of a forum like iKitesurf or your local kiteboarding forum. Here are a few pros and cons of each:

By Alexis Rovira



SELLIng KITEBoARdIng gEAR RESPonSIBLyBy Paul Lang

Weve probably all met someone at our local beach that shows up with outdated and abused gear who is proud of the deal they got on some equipment that is dangerous and basically worthless. almost always, these are people who are completely new to kiting and simply didnt know any better when buying used gear online. these people actually can be a big hazard for kiteboarding in general, as they probably have no clue what they are doing and might have even been told how easy and risk-free kiteboarding is by someone desperate to unload their stash of ancient gear.

We would all love to be able to sell our gear only to people we know will use the gear in a safe and responsible way, but the reality is that most kiters end up selling gear online to people theyve never met. if you decide to sell your gear online, here are some guidelines we wish everyone would follow when selling kiteboarding equipment:

Always include a disclaimer in your ads that kiteboarding is a sport that requires instruction and that the equipment is very dangerous if not used correctly. We dont want to scare away potential new kiteboarders, but its important that inexperienced buyers dont enter the sport with unrealistic expectations. You can even go a step further and verbally communicate this to your potential buyer to make sure they understand what they are getting themselves into.

Be very honest and realistic in your descriptions of used gear. Finding an ancient kite at the back of your garage that you hardly used and calling it almost new is irresponsible.

If you personally think you have a kite or other piece of equipment that is not safe for a beginner to use (after proper instruction, of course), you should consider throwing it in the dumpster instead of selling it.

After the transaction is complete, you should always refer the buyer to a kite school for instruction if they are new to kiteboarding. a quick Google search or a look at the kite Pages at the back of this magazine will help you find a school if the buyer lives in a different area.

When it comes time to sell your gear, there are better solutions than hawking your gear on the street. Photo scott edwards

ebaYPROS: A well known site that offers payment with PayPal security. eBay offers many different formats for selling your item: Buy Now, Auction, and Auction with Minimum Bid. On eBay, people fight over your stuff, making the price go up. Its widely accepted that the best timing for selling on eBay is to post a 7-day auction on Sunday night to allow for last-minute bidding wars before the weekend ends.

CONS: ebay charges fees for posting photos and service fees for selling items. Make sure you calculate these added costs into your listing price. While a bidding war may mean your gear could sell for more than expected, a lack of interest means you could end up selling it for less than you wanted to. If you have a minimum price, make sure you set the reserve price so you dont end up selling a perfectly good kite or board for $20.

craigslistPROS: Geared towards selling in specific areas or cities. Craigslist is a free, quick, and easy interface to post your ad. Transactions are face-to-face and are usually done with cash. Be very careful of people offering to purchase your gear from out of town, especially if they offer more than you are asking. These offers are ALWAYS a scam.

ConS: Lots of flakes and low-ballers that waste your time. Most people who are buying on Craigslist are looking for the smoking deal and will be trying to talk you down on your price.

iKitesurfPRoS: A very direct market geared towards kiters that are looking for used gear. Free to post ads with photos and can post over and over until item is sold.

ConS: Large amount of competition when selling your gear. Payment and shipping might be a concern if you are selling to a person not in your area.

local KiteboarDing forumsPRoS: If you have a local forum for your area, chances are it has a buy and sell section. This connects you with other local kiters who might be looking for gear. Transactions are usually face-to-face at the local beach and you might even end up selling your gear to someone you know.

ConS: Local forums dont have much reach outside of your local kiteboarding community, so if there isnt someone interested in your gear in your area, youll have a tough time selling.

Although there are many different ways of selling your gear online, hopefully this information will help guide you in the right direction. Now go get your gear out of that dark corner, dust it off, post it online, and sell it. Use that money towards new gear that you will enjoy out on the water or towards that kite trip that youve always wanted to go on. That pile of dusty used gear in your garage isnt doing anybody any good, so let it find a home where someone will enjoy it!



411

If youre looking for a place to warm up this winter, head down to La Ventana in January for the annual La Ventana Classic and Kitexpo. A fundraiser that supports the local schools and community, the week-long event features pro rider clinics, competitions, nightly parties, and best of all, the chance to test all the new 2011 gear and accessories from your favorite brands! The 2011 event will feature early week instructional clinics January 17 through 19. To up your game, organizers have lined up racing tips and strategy with Andrew and Adam Koch, a girls only riding clinic to the island with Marie LeClerc and Laura Maher, and a trip to the coast focusing on strapless riding with Mark Bevis and Brendan Richards. Rumor has it that plans are in the works for a boot riding clinic as well sponsored by Liquid Force. Interested participants can sign up at the new website. Clinics will be held on the best wind days forecasted for the discipline with information on day, time, and meeting posted on the clinics tab on Friday, January 14. Proceeds from the clinics all go toward helping out the cause.

January 20 marks the official start of the main event with the 11.5 mile kite/wind and SUP crossings, short course and downwind kite/wind and SUP races, and a big air/old school kite competition. A mandatory skippers meeting will be held the evening of Wednesday, January 19 at 7 pm at the Palapas Ventana restaurant where the competition schedule will be unveiled, based on the latest forecast. Intermediate or better level kiters can demo gear daily from 12 pm to 5 pm. Evening entertainment will once again feature the amazing sounds of K.L. Reggae with a beach BBQ, festivities at Pablos, a Lucha Libre wrestling match with a few twists, and more. Burning Bush will kick off the weeks activities on the evening of Saturday, January 15. Thanks to support from the demo

exhibitors along with riders from throughout North America, the 2010 fundraising total with final donations and sponsors was $22,230. Organized by Palapas Ventana and The Kiteboarder Magazine with help from many dedicated volunteers, we hope to see you in La Ventana in the New Year for the event! Check www.laventanaclassicbaja.com for complete info and updates. Register before January 15, 2011 to receive the early bird discount.

UP YoUR gAMe, DeMo neW sTUff!By TkB staff

The 11.5 mile island crossing is one of the main highlights of the annual Baja event. Photo Paul lang

The Bison will be back! Photo courtesy Palapas Ventana

live beach bands under a starry Baja sky. Photo Paul lang

The 2010 Toga Party was a big hit. Photo Paul lang

FCS has signed on world renowned kitesurfer Ben Wilson to their Global Team alongside professional surfers Kelly Slater, Mick Fanning, Julian Wilson, and the Hobgood brothers. The partnership will include the production of a signature FCS Ben Wilson fin designed specifically for wave kitesurfing. Richie Lovett, SHI Brand Ambassador said, FCS is really excited to be aligning with kitesurfing pioneer Ben Wilson. As the kite scene grows in popularity, so does the demand for high quality kiting equipment and this obviously extends to fins. Ben is the best in his field and his kiting techniques are heavily influenced by contemporary surfing which is of great interest to us. Our collective plan is to offer some exciting products by combining Bens expertise and feedback with our knowledge of fin design. Fin Control Systems, better known as FCS, offers surfers the ability to change their fins and customize their equipment to suit different wave conditions and board designs. The system also has remarkable travel benefits. The new FCS Ben Wilson signature fin will signify the introduction of FCS into the kitesurfing market. Bens signature fin is scheduled for release in 2011.

Litewave/GK is pleased to welcome a new sales rep for Florida and Puerto Rico. Carol Mirandas role is getting the word out, doing demos, and generally spreading the stoke for the brands. Her

After many great years operating their kiteboarding schools and services under

the name of Dare2Fly, 2011 brings a full relaunch of Velas kitesurfing program to demonstrate their commitment and growing passion for the sport. With 25 years of experience in windsports only travel, Vela knows how to do it right. They have been busy improving their KiteSurfari and Downwinder service offerings, plus increased their rental programs which are available at select destinations. Also new for 2011, Vela Kitesurf will have three new destinations to chose from: Vela Belize, a private-island multi-sport retreat sitting on the edge of one of the worlds most incredible reef systems; Vela St. Martin, a truly picturesque and amazing place to explore with a variety of conditions to challenge any level of rider; and HIHO SURFARI, a sure to be incredible adventure regatta in the British Virgin Islands including multi-island crossings while seeking out plenty of kiting spots ridden only by a handful of people. To get their spiffy new brochure or more info, see www.velakitesurf.com

DARe2flY noW VelA kiTesURf

Winter winds have begun to blow, and if snowkiting is on your mind, there are plenty of adventures and challenges awaiting every snowbound kiteboarder this season. A Snowkite Tour has evolved over the years in the US, offering kiteboarders many opportunities to share the stoke of snowkiting with like-minded riders. From entry level clinics to advanced kite camps and competitions that will test the mettle of any kiter, there is something for everyone this winter.

There are many schools that offer snowkiting lessons and kite camps for all abilities of riders. Whether you are new to snowkiting or working on advanced backcountry skills, you can tune in with professional and experienced Instructors on any winter weekend. In addition to many local demo opportunities that snowkite schools are offering there are several regional events that attract snowkiters from across the nation. From freeride rallies that focus on soul sessions to competition- based events featuring full speed racing, there are opportunities for all snowkiters to engage in challenging terrain. For the competitive snowkiter, the racing scene is growing, with more opportunities to race in more diverse locations. From frozen lakes like Minnetonka in Minnesota to steep terrain found in the Rockies at spots like Skyline, there are a variety of venues to push your skills to the limit. For a complete event and demo calendar see www.flyozoneUsA.com

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st. Martin is one of three new locations for Vela kitesurf in 2011. Photo Courtesy Wind-Adventures

By TkB staff

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Chasta looks for the perfect line down the mountain. Photo Pascal Boulgakow

How would you describe your job at Bay Area Kitesurf? Representing F-One through demos and expos and taking care of local vendors, customers, team riders, and kite school operations. Community support at local sites, shipping, inventory, and warehouse maintenance!

What did you do before working in the kite industry?I started my own tile contracting business 16 years ago which is still operational.

How did you end up working in the kiteboarding industry? What led to Bay Area Kitesurf becoming a distributor? After growing up in Cape Town, South Africa, and surfing for the better part of my youth I continued this passion after moving to the Bay Area in the early 80s. Six years ago I started teaching after getting my PASA and IKO certifications. I met my good buddy and business partner Nico at a local kite spot and we found out through Arnaud of Kitemasters that F-One was looking for a new distributor for the US market. Both Nico and I decided to take our passion for the sport a bit further with the hope of a few kite adventures in the mix. We jumped at the opportunity and five years later we are on an upward trajectory working side by side with some of the bigger and most respected names in the business. Our initial plan of kite adventures has evolved into a full-time kiteboarding dream! What is your typical day at the office like? When I get to the office I usually have a long list of items to be handled: Orders that need packing and shipping and customer care by phone and internet. We also have our local customers dropping into the shop for some F-One love! We discuss equipment, future trips, the upcoming season, new gear, and watch F-One videos. Midway through the day I head to the water for continued equipment testing and customer care at the beach or parking lot. Its amazing how much gets done during these spontaneous meetings. At sundown I go home, answer a few more calls from our website and call it a day. There really are no typical days, but rather a constantly evolving traveling office.

Is working in the kiteboarding industry all its cracked up to be? I recently returned from the Island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean where F-One hosted their annual distributor

meeting, and I realized that our industry consists of a variety of characters sharing the same passion that come from all over the world. Being in this industry is truly a global experience humanly, geographically, and collaboratively.

How old were your daughters when they began kiteboarding? What do you think of kiteboarding as a family activity? Ella, who just started college at Cal Poly, started when she was 12 and our youngest daughter Zola started when she was 11. She is 14 now and shreds the gnar! Zola has been a driving force inspiring her classmates to take lessons and pursue the sport. Ella became a PASA certified instructor when she was 14 and has been teaching every summer since! Kiteboarding is highly recommended as a family activity. I could not have asked for anything more. I get to share my passion with the kids and in return they share their passion with me. Talk about quality, healthy family time! Of course without the support of my wife Sylvie, none of this could be possible.

What is the best part of your job? The worst? The best part is the travel, discovering new kite spots especially where waves are involved and meeting local foreign kiters and their culture. I also get really excited teaching kids and sharing the fun of kiteboarding with them and sometimes their parents. The worst part is that you cant make everybody happy all of the time, only most of the people most of the time! At BAKS we thrive on achieving our best for our customers.

What do you see as the biggest challenge to the kiteboarding industry as a whole? One of our challenges here in the US is to introduce and make our sport more accessible to the younger generation. Kite schools should consider camps/clinics for their summer program. For the industry our biggest challenge is to maintain our originality and integrity! What advice do you have for someone that wants to work in the kite industry? As a newcomer, bring your energy to the table but remember to listen and learn from those of us who have been around for a while. Be patient and make sure to spend as much time on the water as you can. Thats where you keep your finger on the pulse of our vibrant kiting community!


COMPANY: bay area kitesurf JOB TITLE: VP of operations YEARS IN INDUSTRY: 5 WORDS OF WISDOM: try not to take yourself too seriously. remember to breathe. YEARS KITEBOARDING: 7 KITE: F-One Bandit 4 BOARD: F-One 510 Bamboo Signature and Trax 5 TT

INSIDE JOB

vibrant personality and infectious smile are hard to miss! Look for Carol at a local Florida or Puerto Rico beach near you or at a demo event. You can contact Carol at [email protected]

Come aboard Meercat for the inaugural Zenith Ocean Voyages kite adventure. The Zenith crew is welcoming accomplished riders on their brand-new luxury 44-foot dedicated kitesurfing catamaran for a special multi-island kiteboarding extravaganza starting in Marigot Bay, St Martin, on December 23, 2010 and ending in Tortola, BVIs, on January 2, 2011. The itinerary includes Anguilla, Sandy Island, Necker Island, Anegada, and Jost Van Dyke for the ultimate Caribbean New Years Eve bash at Foxys Bar. In these parts, Santa is a kiter and delivers his notorious Christmas winds a constant 15-25+ knots. Zenith Ocean Voyages will be visiting a choice of 15 kiting locations throughout the trip. Most spots are protected by a reef, offering both flat water and waves. Riders who want to perfect their moves can book coaching sessions with Zenith Master Instructor Oli Berlic. Zenith Ocean Voyages rates are all inclusive, with an exclusive bonus: The Zenith Ocean Films team will be videoing guests throughout the trip to produce a personalized professional kite film. http://zenithoceanvoyages.com

The TKB team was hard at work at the recent AWSI industry trade show in Hood River, OR, where manufacturers presented their 2011 lines. Get the scoop on new innovations and next generation products and accessories by viewing one of the 29 videos uploaded to The Kiteboarders YouTube channel. Interviews are short and to the point and are broken down by category: kites, twin tip boards,

BRUCE JOHNSON

SmackSmackBruce Johnson at Crissy field in san francisco. Photo Paul lang

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2011 Us snoWkiTe eVenTsBy TkB staff | Photo Pascal Boulgakow

According to Accuweather, the 2010/2011 winter forecast is for heavier snow in many areas of North America. Above-normal snowfall is predicted for the Great Basin region, the Northwest, and Northern Plains, while the South and Southwest will get less snow than average. Whether youre curious about snowkiting or an avid enthusiast, theres sure to be a great snowkite event happening near you this winter. Check one out!

georgetown lake open, MT, Jan 7-9Tug Hill, NY, Jan 15-17super fly, Strawberry, UT, Feb 18-20kitestorm, VT, Feb 19-20Dillon snowkite open, CO, Feb 25-27

COmpS

eric Reinstra on fire at sauble. Photo David g. Tran

if you get a chance to see Chasta in action, youre in for a treat! Photo Pascal Boulgakow

sAUBle eVenT ResUlTs:Mens slider Jam 1. Brandon Scheid2. Eric Rienstra3. Brian Smith4. Elliot Drury

Womens slider Jam1. Jessica Sickinger2. Annie Carrier3. Claire Lutz4. Sarah Paciocco-Lanoe

sAUBle kiTeJAM By Daniel Mydsky/kiteriders.ca | Photo David Tran

The Sauble Beach KiteJam event in Canada was a great success with over 100 kiteboarders registered from across North America. Top freestyle riders came to compete and put on a show for the crowd by pulling out some of the sickest moves on the three sliders and kicker set out in the water for riders to hit on kites and behind a ski. There were also numerous exhibitor booths set up along the beach providing kite gear sales and demonstrations. Local kite flying clubs showed off their skills on the land including some wild buggy riding tricks. Many folks also got the chance to try first hand the growing sport of standup paddle boarding. Saturday nights party on the beach had two great bands playing and then the party carried on at the Dunes bar well into the night. Spectators enjoyed some spectacular high flying maneuvers as riders attempted to outperform each other in the air and on the waves. The event concluded with presentations and free prize giveaways. The event was put on by KiteRider Canada in partnership with the Town of South Bruce Peninsula and the Sauble Beach Chamber of Commerce Summer Events Program and will occur annually.

kite soldiers, fairfield, Idaho, Feb 25-27snowkite Masters, Skyline, UT, Mar 4-6Mille lac Crossing, MN, Mar 26Montana snowkite Rodeo, MT, April 2-9Alaska Tailgate, Thompson Pass, AK, Mar 26-Apr 10

national plans. When you get here you will find plenty of uncrowded beaches to kitesurf and friendly people who are happy to share their island with you.

do you teach year round or seasonally? What are your typical conditions? We teach year round however during September and October the wind is known to be less consistent and light. Typical conditions are warm water with side-shore wind blowing 15 to 20 knots. Our beaches are protected by a barrier reef which provides ideal conditions for learning while also offering plenty of great wave riding spots to choose from. If you want buttery flat water you can take a trip to La Parguera, Guanica, or the Island of Culebra.

What brands do you represent? North and Liquid Force. We find that between these two brands there is something for everyone. The quality is very high with excellent customer service backing the products as well.

How do you handle lessons if there is no wind? We are the only school in the San Juan area that uses boats during lessons. This allows our students to learn in various conditions including offshore winds and/or learn board skills by towing them behind the boat. Even though an appointment is required for lessons, we only charge for the portion of the lesson/package that the student completes.

What are the lodging options in your area? There is a great variety of places to choose from that will fit any style or budget, from mega hotels to privately owned guest houses. You can find a full list of options on our website www.KitesurfPR.com

What is the nightlife like? What other things are there for people to do if there is no wind or they are with non kiters? Puerto Ricans definitely know how to have fun. In just a short cab ride you can enjoy listening to some jazz while sipping a mojito in one of the lounges in the hip Condado area, you could go salsa dancing in historic Old San Juan at the Newyorican Caf, or go to the rustic beachfront of Pinones for a coconut full of rum. There are many things to do besides kitebording too! Hike El Yunque, which is the only tropical rain forest in the United States National Forest System, kayak one of our bioluminescent bays at night, stroll though the town of Old San Juan, one of the oldest cities in the New World, enjoy deep sea fishing or snorkeling, or hit one of our beaches for world class surf.

What is the best way for people to check the forecast and current conditions? By checking www.wunderground.com and looking for zip code 00913.

Any words of wisdom you want to share? Next time you are putting on your wetsuit, keep in mind that if you were in Puerto Rico the coldest thing you would experience would come from a cooler.


need

Shop Name: KitesurfPR / EZKitesurfshop.com

owNerS: Phil and Karla Morstad

age: Phil 33, Karla 26LocatioN: San Juan, Puerto Rico

ridiNg for how LoNg: Phil, 6 years; Karla, 9 years

favorite coNditioNS: Side-off and head high

karla revels in the warm waters of Puerto Rico. Photo Phil Morstad

SHOp TALK

Rider - Sean Mertens / Photo - Bri

an Caserio

The 2011 ION from Flexifoil takes the bloodline to all new levels of refinement, continuing to set the standard for hybrid kites. Improvements in construction and aerofoil precision offer the smoothest ride possible, so contact your nearest Flexifoil retailer now and find out for yourself why the ION is known as the Barry White of kites.

HYBRIDEXCELLENCE

6 Strut layoutSimple relaunchMore than enough depower4 or 5 line configurationMultiple line connection points: tune the kite to your requirements

Premium quality Japanese and European materialsImproved construction techniquesUnique Kevlar reinforcement patch material

MSRP PRICES

Ion 7.0m - Kite Only $799



Ion 12.5m - Kite Only $1,049


All-In-One Bar and Lines $339

www.flexifoil.com [ WEBSITE ]

http://shop.flexifoil.com[ WEB STORE ]

RETAILER DETAILS

Air Padre Kiteboarding

South Padre Island,TX

www.airpadrekiteboarding.com

Cali Kites

Coronado,CA

www.calikites.com

Idaho Kitesports

Boise, ID

www.idahokitesports.com

Kitesurf California

Redondo Beach, CA

www.kitesurfcalifornia.com

Jupiter Kiteboarding

Jupiter, FL

www.jupiterkiteboarding.com

Get Kiteboarding

Fort Myers, FL

www.getkiteboarding.com

Rich's Boardsports

Madison, WI

www.footrider.com

Petra Kanz Kiteboarding

Somers Point, NJ

www.petrakanz.com

Vertical Kiteboarding

Little River, SC

www.vpkiteboarding.com

Coastal Windsports

Brunswick, GA

www.coastalwindsports.com

Watersports West

Largo, FL

www.watersportswest.com

Pro Kitesurf

Corpus Christi, TX

www.kiteboarding.com

Air Company

Mount Pleasant, SC

www.catchsomeair.us

Fun With Wind

Lawrence, MA

www.funwithwind.com

California Kiteboarding

Grover Beach, CA

www.californiakiteboarding.biz

All Flexifoil retailers can be found on the Flexifoil website www.flexifoil.com

Salt Air Kiteboarding

Cambria, CA

www.saltairkiteboarding.com

Live 2 Kite

Greenbrae, CA

www.live2kite.com

8.5 / 10.5 / 12.5 / 14.5

8.5 / 10.5 / 12.5

7.0 / 8.5 / 10.5 / 12.5

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Kitesurf Pr

How did you both get into kiteboarding and what motivated you to start a school in Puerto Rico? Karla: I was born and raised in San Juan, which is one of the best windsurfing/ kiting spots on the island. I started windsurfing when I was 9 years old and at 15 the old 2-line kites hit the island. We had no real instruction then so I bought a Robby Naish instructional video, and my mom would help me launch and land my kite.

Phil: Growing up in Colorado, I was into sports that would allow me to push myself to the extreme. After moving to Puerto Rico to pursue my career as a pilot, and learning how incredible the conditions are for kiting there, I bought some gear and signed up for my first kitesurfing lesson. I always enjoyed being able to share with others my passion for sports and the outdoors, so when our friend Royce Reid offered us his school we jumped at the opportunity and the rest is history.

What do you think youd be doing if you werent involved in this industry? We would probably be pretty sour about all the wind we get here in Puerto Rico blowing out all our favorite surf spots.

What is the kiteboarding scene like in Puerto Rico? What do you think is the most common misconception about riding spots in your area? There is a good mix between the different beaches in the metro area. Ocean Park attracts the young freestyle type whereas Punta las Marias where we teach is more family oriented and also attracts the hardcore wave kiters because of the barrier reef. I think a common misconception about Puerto Rico is that it is a foreign country where most of the people may not speak English. In reality, San Juan can be reached by taking a direct flight from most major cities in the U.S., no passport is required, and most major cell phone providers include Puerto Rico in their

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directional boards, and accessories. Brands interviewed include Best, Epic, Underground, North, Naish, F-One, Mystic, RRD, Slingshot, Wainman Hawaii, Ion, Nobile, and Shinn. Subscribe to www.youtube.com/theringmedia for all the latest instructional videos, gear previews, and personality interviews from the TKB team.

Stephane Trillaud, designer and kitesurfer, is proud to present the new Sea Through Board. As well as having a unique transparent design, these boards are high performance offering good edging and pop, excellent upwind ability, and smooth carving. The range includes travelling boards, twin tips, and wave boards, all featuring the unique design of a see-through hull. Check them out at www.seathroughboards.com

save the date! The 9th Annual Pismo Beach KiteXpo will be held April 22 to the 24 on the Central Coast of California. This is a pure demo event, free to the public with lots of great swag raffled off! If you cant make it to La Ventana, this is your chance to see and demo all the new 2011 gear and accessories and ask your technical questions to industry reps. Plans are being laid out now to move the traditional beach bonfire BBQ to a clubhouse type-setting to include a band and catered BBQ from the infamous Maui Mike of the Bay Area. The move is so we can host a fundraiser for the Kinsley ThomasWong donation fund. Kinsley is the founder of this event and was involved in a serious kiteboarding incident in July of this year. Details will start coming out in January at www.xtremebigair.com and www.thekiteboarder.com

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Rider - Sean Mertens / Photo - Bri

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The 2011 ION from Flexifoil takes the bloodline to all new levels of refinement, continuing to set the standard for hybrid kites. Improvements in construction and aerofoil precision offer the smoothest ride possible, so contact your nearest Flexifoil retailer now and find out for yourself why the ION is known as the Barry White of kites.

HYBRIDEXCELLENCE

6 Strut layoutSimple relaunchMore than enough depower4 or 5 line configurationMultiple line connection points: tune the kite to your requirements

Premium quality Japanese and European materialsImproved construction techniquesUnique Kevlar reinforcement patch material

MSRP PRICES






All-In-One Bar and Lines $339

www.flexifoil.com [ WEBSITE ]

http://shop.flexifoil.com[ WEB STORE ]

RETAILER DETAILS

Air Padre Kiteboarding

South Padre Island,TX

www.airpadrekiteboarding.com

Cali Kites

Coronado,CA

www.calikites.com

Idaho Kitesports

Boise, ID

www.idahokitesports.com

Kitesurf California

Redondo Beach, CA

www.kitesurfcalifornia.com

Jupiter Kiteboarding

Jupiter, FL

www.jupiterkiteboarding.com

Get Kiteboarding

Fort Myers, FL

www.getkiteboarding.com

Rich's Boardsports

Madison, WI

www.footrider.com

Petra Kanz Kiteboarding

Somers Point, NJ

www.petrakanz.com

Vertical Kiteboarding

Little River, SC

www.vpkiteboarding.com

Coastal Windsports

Brunswick, GA

www.coastalwindsports.com

Watersports West

Largo, FL

www.watersportswest.com

Pro Kitesurf

Corpus Christi, TX

www.kiteboarding.com

Air Company

Mount Pleasant, SC

www.catchsomeair.us

Fun With Wind

Lawrence, MA

www.funwithwind.com

California Kiteboarding

Grover Beach, CA

www.californiakiteboarding.biz

All Flexifoil retailers can be found on the Flexifoil website www.flexifoil.com

Salt Air Kiteboarding

Cambria, CA

www.saltairkiteboarding.com

Live 2 Kite

Greenbrae, CA

www.live2kite.com

8.5 / 10.5 / 12.5 / 14.5

8.5 / 10.5 / 12.5

7.0 / 8.5 / 10.5 / 12.5

GREEN

PETROL

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THE 2011

SERIESFROM FLEXIFOIL

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1. Publisher Marina Chang displays her AWSI rain hat. Photo eric Yeung2. Alexis Rovira interviews Kristin Boese for the TKB product videos

at AWSI. Photo gary Martin3. The Epic Kiteboarding crew hides from the rain at AWSI.

Photo Courtesy epic kites4. Amanda Brill smiles for the camera in Cabarete. Photo Dixie Buckley5. Be careful when you park at San Carlos, you might find yourself in the middle of the airstrip! Photo Paul lang

6. Josh Nehf lost yet another ping pong game, and the result was that he had to ride his motorcycle down the street and back in his underwear. Photo Paul lang

7. Sky Solbach, Ben Meyers, and Dimitri Maramenides at the 2010 AWSI. Photo Courtesy epic kites

8. Chris and Rachel partying in the elevator. Photo Carol Bolstad9. Jon Modica gets ready to rumble in Baja. Photo Paul lang10. Slawek Krauze and Jeremie Texier at Sherman Island. Photo Paul lang

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15. Grom Gormley and Mark Doyle get loose in South Padre Island. Photo Carol Bolstad

16. Brendan Richards surveys the scene above Waddell Creek. Photo Jessica kimbriel

17. Claire Lutz is one of the few women out there charging the rails. Photo Jon Malmberg

18. Aaron Hadlow, Susi Mai, and Ruben Lenten stop by the All Out Kiteboarding shop. Photo Jen Whiteman

if you have a photo that you would like featured in The kiteboarder Magazine, please e-mail [email protected]

11. In San Francisco Bay, you need to be on the lookout for the giant container ships that are always passing by. Photo Paul lang

12. Kai Murray, Kevin Murray, and Corky Cullen are fired up after a few good days of riding in Baja. Photo Paul lang

13. North Sports Doug Hopkins during the 2011 North Product presentation at AWSI. Photo Paul lang

14. When asked who took this picture with his camera, Jim Stringfellow said, There are many things I do not remember from that night. Photo Unknown

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Way up north in alaska, theres a little toWn Where the Wind bloWs across vast glaciers and up mountains so large that simply calling them big doesnt do them justice. they make big seem small and the snowfall is measured in feet instead of inches. the place is valdez and like many other Alaskan fishing towns, it lives by the motto were a drinking town with a fishing prob-lem. nestled between the chugach mountains and prince William sound, valdez is also home to something very special, a mountain festival like no other. Each spring, the town comes alive with incredible talents of world-class athletes similar to the winter Olympics, except we have kegs, reggae music, far fewer cameras, and much less stress.

Alaska

Road TRippin

TailgaTe alaska and Thompson pass wiTh The aka BoysBy Obadiah Jenkins and Tom Fredericks



Road TRippin

Jacob Buzianis explores the possibilities in the Chugach Mountains. Photo gavin Butler


After traveling for more than 40 hours, Marco gets his first real glimpse of Vanuatu.

it wouldnt be a proper trip to Alaska without a little fun at the firing range. Photo obadiah Jenkins

Chasta lays it down in Thompson Pass. Photo Pascal Boulgakow

Pascal Boulgakow loads up on a few Alaska-sized pancakes. Photo steve Carr

he Tailgate Alaska Festival attracts the worlds best big mountain snowboarders, skiers, snowmachiners, snow kiters, paragliders, and speed riders who descend on the legendary Thompson Pass located north of Valdez to

put their skills to the ultimate test. Not against each other, or even against themselves, but against the Chugach Mountains that call us all there every year.

Its the last week of March and Steve Carr is throwing more toys into his trailer than you would imagine could fit. A snow machine (called a snowmobile in the lower 48, but nobody here would ever use that term), paramotor and wing, arctic oven, firewood, skis and snowboards, enough kites to equip a small army, barbeque, wind socks, and kegs; the list goes on and on of the gear he manages to cram in there. This is our third road trip to Thompson Pass this winter, and Steve has got it dialed. Our previous trip up there had been overshadowed by Alaskan weather. It snowed over 80 (more than 6.5 feet!) in three days and buried our event, the Thompson Pass Snowkite Festival, beneath the drifts. Our bonfires and firework displays were beautifully blown around by the wind and driving snow as participants huddled together upwind of the flying sparks and colorful explosions. This road trip back to Thompson Pass was called to action on account of Nick Perata and Mark Sullivan, snowboarding legends and pioneers of big mountain snowboarding. Nick and Mark invited the Alaska Kite Adventures crew, AKA, to be a part of Tailgate Alaska. Tailgate Alaska is a gathering of a unique community that spans the globe to the farthest patches of snow and craggy mountains. This event and this place have brought us all together. At Tailgate, so many talented athletes from different disciplines find themselves in the same place with lots of Redbull and even more powder! This was the perfect place at the perfect time for us.


The King of the Hill is the main event and features snowboarders from every walk of life competing in a big mountain freestyle competition that allows them to go as big as they can dream. Theres more interest in bragging rights and fueling each others stoke than the actual prize money. Its quite a sight to see as the likes of Travis Rice and Shawn Farmer try to one-up each other in a game of chance and remarkable skill down a 4000 cliff-laden mountain. This amazing game is the actual event, and its awesome to witness. Unfortunately (or fortunately for us), the wind was blowing during the King of the Hill, so most of us passed up the chance to watch the event to do a little riding of our own.

Kiting in Thompson Pass is like kiting in a playground unlike anything else in the world. A slim road carves its way through the Chugach giants wearing hanging glaciers and capped with corniced ridges. Access is what makes this place so special. Having a road through the pass and a town 30 minutes away has opened the floodgates for mountain recreationists. Every conceivable method of recreating in big mountains was in attendance and everyone was playing hard. It seemed like we were always kiting while we were there. Every day had its memorable kiting experiences and stories to be told around the stove in the yurt village that evening. It wasnt always under bluebird skies and the wind wasnt always steady, but the wind we had was memorable and the powder was epic.

Living out of and traveling in an RV is the way to go in Thompson Pass. An RV is also the perfect base for any Alaskan kiting road trip. AKA has been leading such road trips each spring for the past few years, and we have found that the Alaska circuit is full of options matching every desire and condition. The road to Valdez alone passes so many potential kiting areas that we may never get to kite them all, but were sure going to try! Snow machines make the perfect supplement to any kiters access, as well as for safety and film opportunities, and provide a great option for down-day recreation. Of course, with a good snow machine and a good guide, there wont be any down days!

There was a lot of kiting talent that joined us for the road trip up to Thompson Pass. Jake Buzianis and Oliver Palmers were trippin with us representing Best Kiteboarding. Later, the famous and talented Chasta from Ozone would join us and school us on just what can be done while kiting in big mountains. Together with the AKA crew and lots of local delinquents, we all spent plenty of time thrashing around the pass living on the wind and powder. With so many kiters and other recreationists in the same area, you would think the place would have a claustrophobic quality to it. On the contrary, the immense size of the pass allowed everyone their own zone and epic places to play relatively undisturbed.

T

The King of the Hill is the main event and features snowboarders from every walk of life competing in a big mountain freestyle competition that allows them to go as big as they can dream.

Marco rotates above the crystal clear shallow water.Tom fredericks is the human wind gauge. The further over he can lean, the smaller kite you need. Photo obadiah Jenkins

eric newbury and Betsy Jo kallenbach stop to celebrate their surroundings in Thompson Pass. Photo obadiah Jenkins



Notable outings during our 16-day road trip included Tom Frederickss birthday exploratory mission on the terrain-filled eastern shoulder of Loveland Peak. The solo ascents, powder turn filled descents, and big glides done on and off of Little Odyssey made for an unforgettable day. Of course, who could forget the day six of us rallied up a 27-mile-long glacier into the upper bowls of Loveland peak covering over 2800 vertical in a matter of minutes, and then playing our way up and down over its features and powder stashes all bluebird day.

There was also some amazing blizzard kiting in extremely limited visibility, which is always fun, and some sweet gliding sessions off the hills by the DOT station and across the lake in the pass. Every time we visit Thompson Pass, we find new zones that will work in any and all wind conditions, routes by snow machines that allow access to remote places you could only dream about, and we meet more awesome and talented outdoorsy folks like ourselves, many of which are now friends and kiters.

Everyone in the pass was just trying to tap into their perfect day, to find that perfect line or natural feature. We were all feeding on that stoke and pushing each other to go bigger or try that new trick. The stoke was flowing across many different cultures and sports. This event had its share of injury and hardship, challenge and misfortune, but it was the way everyone handled things together and with a positive attitude that kept the party alive and the people dancing. Thanks to everyone who rallied to help me when I (Obadiah) broke three vertebrae on a snow machine driving off a cornice in flat light. I guess I was lucky to have so many friends around, but maybe I was just lucky the wind wasnt blowing and everyone had nothing else to do.

This coming spring will be similar to the many wonderful springs before it. The AKA crew will be on the road finding new places and ripping up to the old places to push our sport as far as we know how. The Thompson Pass Snowkite Festival (TPSKF) will be held again as a part of the Tailgate Alaska Festival in the beginning of April 2011 along with the King of the Hill and the World Extreme Freeskiing Championship (WESC). This spring, we are also trying to bring together the worlds best snowkiters in the first ever World Extreme Big Mountain Freestyle Snowkite Championship. From the entire AKA crew, we would love to see you in the pass.

it snows so much here that people own their own snowplows. Photo Pascal Boulgakow


TailgaTe alaska/Thompson pass snowkiTe FesTival/norTh american snowkiTe Tour Finals

march 26- april 10, 2011an end of winter extreme sports base camp will be set up in Thompson pass this coming spring and it s shaping up to be a huge event. The world extreme ski championships and the king of the hill snowboard challenge will be happening during the Thompson pass snowkite Festival and the north american snowkite Tour Finals. The worlds best skiers and snowboarders will get rare and unique exposure to snowkiting. This will be a chance for the best snowkiters in the world to demonstrate the amazing potential our sport has to offer as an alternative to the normal. Big mountain Freestyle and Big mountain kitercross will be featured events. alaska kite adventures will be offering instruction and snow machine assistance.

For more inFormaTion:www.tailgatealaska.comwww.alaskakiteadventures.comwww.snowkitetour.comwww.driftsnowkitemag.com

Thompson pass FacT FilelocaTion: Thompson pass is located 27 miles north of valdez, ak

accommodaTions: Best western valdez (www.valdezharborinn.com), mountain sky hotel (907-835-4445), Totem inn (www.toteminn.com)

rv renTals (anchorage): aBc motorhome (www.aBcmotorhome.com), B&B moterhome rentals (www.bnbrv.com)

airporTs: Ted stevens international, anchorage (5 1/2 hour drive east to valdez), valdez airport (30 minutes south of Thompson pass)

Fly-in service: chaplin air alaska (www.chaplinakair.com), operated by snowkiter Jim chaplin. with chaplin air you can reach amazing terrain that is only accessible by air.

Alaska

AkA boys steve, Tom, and obie load up for another day of exploration. Photo Pascal Boulgakow

thekiteboarder.com 31Alaska


Ifyougostrapless,waxandbootiesgiveyouthe most grip.

Theharderthebottomturnthebetteryour top turn will be.

Alwaysgivethepersononthewaveright of way. Youd want the same.

Keepyourkitelow.Havingthekiteabove your head will make you outrun the kite on a fast wave.

TiPs

get the closest feeling to surfing then strapless is your thing. Either way can be a lot of fun as long as you are going for it.

What is something about you that most people wouldnt know? I have seen a ridiculous amount of movies. Thank you Netflix.

What is your worst wipe out? My worst crash was putting my face into my board doing an air. I landed in the part of the wave I call the V of death (the spot where the wave breaks and the whitewater shoots out). The wave shot the board back up at me and it broke my nose and left me needing stitches.

Where is your favorite place to kite? For me nothing beats kiting a great day at my home break. Sharing an amazing day with Brooks, Dean, Peter, Brian, my dad, and all the other locals is hard to top.

What is your most memorable kiteboarding experience? Kiting a perfect point break for a week in Baja with my dad and my friend Brian Caserio. It was so good we would be in the water from morning until dusk and only stopped for Cliff Bars and Monster Energy drinks. Our tent is still filled with Baja dust.

What are your must haves that you cant live without? My kiting equipment, surf, and Chile Limon Lays potato chips.

If you could pick any place in the world to kite, where would you go? Teahupoo by far the most beautiful wave in the world. That wave is terrifying, but I am frothing for barrels.

Any words of wisdom you want to share with our readers? If youre not falling then youre not learning.

growing up with windsports-addicted parents, free (and sometimes mandatory) rides to the beach whenever it was windy didnt give Sean much of a choice. It was either learn to kite or be bored to tears. He started taking kiting in his own direction about two years ago when he was just getting good at wave riding. Most of the locals had gotten out of the water and some pumping high tide sets were coming in. Sean grabbed the largest wave of the day and as the peanut gallery watched and hooted, he charged into a big bottom turn, caught his rail, and face planted as the wave reeled off without him. The hazing he got after that continues to this day and he has never made the same mistake again.

When, where, and why did you start kiteboarding?I started kiting in 2007 on the Central Coast of California. With my familys dedication to the beach, it was either learn to kite or emancipate. It didnt take long before I was just as hooked as them.

Have any other sports or disciplines helped influence your kiteboarding? Absolutely since kiting is so young we are still playing catch up. I look at what surfers and skaters are doing and try to mimic them with a kite in my hand.

What riders inspire you? All of the guys at my local spot influence me a ton. As the younger guy out there I was always trying to do the stuff they were doing. It just so happened they were all going for waves. Watching kiters like Josh Mulcoy and Peter Trow showed me how far wave riding could be pushed.

What standout features do you look for in your gear? I like my kites to feel like an extension of me, not something that I have to deal with once I am on the wave. Flexifoil kites deliver everything I want. They turn well in the waves but can also be parked and keep line tension. In a board I like a lot of tail rocker, which my Firewire has. I can hit the lip at the last possible second and ride away with it.

What do you do off the water to help you on the water? I skate, even though I am not very good at it. There are so many tricks that can be transferred over from skating to kiting. The only problem is falling on concrete hurts a lot more than water.

What are you currently working on in the water? I have been working on my strapless airs in the waves. It takes a lot of crashes before you can consistently land them. My goal is to be able to do the same stuff as the professional surfers in both turns and airs. Landing a strapless air on a wave is insanely satisfying. Its all about pushing your riding and trying new things.

How do you think the current gear on the market can be improved? Most board manufacturers are beginning to catch on that instead of trying to reinvent the wheel they need to take the shapes that work well in regular surfing and make them stronger so they can hold up to the harsh use of kiting.

What do you think about strapped versus strapless wave riding? You cant be blind to either. If you enjoy being powered and smacking the lip at high speeds then you probably prefer straps. If you are trying to

Sean MertensAgE: 17 HEIgHT: 58 WEIgHT: 145 lb. yEARS KITIng: 3 FAVoRITE SPoTS: Home FAVoRITE CondITIonS: Side-shore winds with waves FAVoRITE MoVES: Rodeo wrap, strapless frontside air SPonSoRS: Flexifoil, Azhiaziam

GEAR SET-UPBoARdS: 511 Firewire KTJ KITES: Flexifoil Ions HARnESS: Dakine Pyro

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once schooled by the local ogs, sean has come into a style of his own. Photo Brian Caserio


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saving money for no apparent reason and investing in an apartment wouldnt make my life more enjoyable. I started kiting at 27 and found a reason to take a bag and travel. Thats how I ended up traveling the world only with my kite bag for nine months taking unpaid leave from work. Now Im back to normal life to refill my bank account, but am planning my next tour starting this winter, this time quitting my job. Ive met lots of people on my journey who made me more open to all the possibilities for what you can do with your life living outside the box. I hope I also inspire others similarly in my travels.

What standout features do you most appreciate about your current gear? Easy one the way the NHP board excels in less than perfect conditions. Also the pop I get when unhooking NHP kites I just started riding them and was very satisfied after the first good day with wind. What do you do off the water to help you on the water? Watch instructional videos and clips of riders who are above my level, and also running alongside the water somewhere feels like freedom, whether its a beach or by the fjord I live next to.

What are you currently working on out on the water? Unhooked kiteloop with raley, Im trying to figure out how to get the pop right. I landed the F16, but Im struggling more with just the loop.

do you have any plans to compete? I just started, and plan to do five out of six events on Kite Tour Asia. I really love the vibe at the events and the organizers are doing a fantastic job to make it appealing with info, videos, and photos.

What is your scariest kiteboarding experience? In Australia I went with a group of five kite instructors on their day off on a downwinder in big waves. Two thirds of the way through, I got tired of jumping and decided to practice backrolls, crashed my kite, got a tear, released the kite, and started swimming to shore. Outside with the sharks I was good, but close to the shore I was underwater for long periods and it scared me from kiting in waves twice my height. Where is your favorite place to kite and why? For the whole package: Boracay, Philippines. The people, kite community, food, nature, wind, everything. My New Years resolution is to be on the water there for my 30th Birthday. If all flights go as scheduled Ill arrive there early in the morning around the time I was born. I am hoping the wind is also on my side.

What is your most memorable kiteboarding experience? There is a sandbank on top of a reef called Seco Island in the Philippines. I went there with the Freestyle Academy from Boracay in a group of 15 people. We kited all day on glass flat, crystal clear water, ate great food cooked by the crew, slept under the stars, and swam at night with fluorescent bioluminescence lighting up around our bodies.

What are your must haves that you cant live without? Kite gear and knowing that I have supporting friends and family, chocolate, running shoes, and noise-cancelling headphones.

Any words of wisdom you want to share with our readers? Figure out what makes you happy - and make more room for it in your life!

We normally focus on north American riders for our profiles, but I met Jannicke at a recent KB4girls clinic hosted by Kiteopia at Sherman Island in northern California. At just 29 years old, this native norweigans vibrant spirit and passion for kiteboarding so inspired me that I felt compelled to share her story with others in hopes of motivating you to pursue your own dreams, share the stoke of kiteboarding, and explore the world. When, where, and why did you start kiteboarding? In 2003, I was studying at Berkeley outside San Francisco and went on a boat under the Golden Gate. I had never heard about or seen kiteboarding, and when I saw it I was very fascinated and remember

saying to myself that day, Im going to do that too, right here. In June 2010, I was back in San Francisco to kite Crissy Field.

What riders inspire you? Joy and inspiration for me comes from the beginners who come out of the water with a sparkle in their eyes and big smiles on their faces absolutely priceless! No matter what level of riding, I like ambassadors for the sport like Kristin Boese who inspire others.

How do you travel so much as a professional clinical psychologist? What do you say to people who envy your lifestyle but say that it would be impossible for them to live it? While working I was

CLOSE Up

Jannicke StavAgE: 29 HEIgHT: 511 WEIgHT: 158 lbs. yEARS KITIng: 2 FAVoRITE SPoTS: Boracay and Seco Island, Philippines FAVoRITE CondITIonS: Safe, shallow, and semi-flat FAVoRITE MoVES: F16 and double frontrollSPonSoRS: Nobile, Oysteins, and Sideshore.no

GEAR SET-UPBoARdS: Nobile NHP 131 KITES: Nobile NHPs HARnESS: Flying Object Flight Control Waist

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Whenunsurewhichkitesizetoride, pump the smaller. It will demand more from you when it comes to speed and precision in your technique to make your tricks stylish!

Ifyouhavethechance,testgearin different conditions before you buy.

Whenyougoonakitevacation,be extra careful with warming up and stretching. It will make your kite holiday even better!

Attendkiteclinicsandaskotherkiters for feedback on your riding style when kiting with someone.

TiPs

Jannicke earned the nickname gypsy for her passion for kite travel. Photo courtesy Jannicke stav


NPXs Josh Noe adds a little spice to his launch.

When did you first discover the Tobago Cays? What kind of riding does it offer? Ged ran charters to the Tobago Cays back in 2006. He was a fresh kiter back then but recognized its potential for space, flat water, waves, clean wind, and pristine waters. Its a real trip kiting the Cays there are good breaks off Horseshoe Reef and at Egg and Worlds End Reefs. Behind the two and a half mile main reef, the waters are butter flat for wake and freestyle riding.

With so many options in the Caribbean, what makes it so special and why did you make it a stop on your 2011 itinerary? The Tobago Cays are rustic and wild and tend to be windier than elsewhere in the Windward Islands of the Caribbean. The kite spots are spectacular and the anchorages are stunning. Lets put it this way: It is Geds favorite spot in the Eastern Caribbean and that is why we decided to offer our guests five trips there during our 2011 season. Petit Tabac is the crescent-

shaped island to windward of the main reef. The anchorage there can accommodate only one boat and holding is tough. Kiting there is truly a unique experience. We usually have the island completely to ourselves! We also love the downwinder from Horseshoe Reef to Saltwhistle Bay on the island of Mayreau.

What is the best time of the year to hit this spot? Is it good for riders at all levels? November to June is the best time to visit. It is windy at other times but not every day. The Cays are not recommended for beginners as you must be able to stay upwind consistently. Wave riding skills would also certainly optimize a visit here.

What gear should I be sure to pack? The wind tends to blow 18-25 knots, rarely more. The water is warm, so no wetsuits required. Whatever you do, do not forget reef shoes!

What are the launch/landing areas like? On Petit Tabac you can launch off the beach and there is plenty of room. You can also launch off Petit Bateau and Petit Rameau, but the beaches are tiny. Overall, we have found it to often be easier to launch off the boat. Same applies to landing: If theres room we land on the beach, if not we land on the water.

Accessible only by boat, the tobago cays consists of five small uninhabited islands surrounded by the infamous horseshoe reef. abundant with beautiful coral formations, tropical fish, and sea turtles, the area offers off-the-hook kiteboarding in crystal clear blue-green waters surrounded by white sandy beaches. With nothing between you and africa, it is protected as a marine park by the government and possibly soon as a world heritage site by UNeSco.

its relative remoteness is well known in the sailing world as one of the caribbeans best and most beautiful anchorages, but little information can be found on it as a kiting destination. We connected with Susy Scardocchia and

the kiteboarder magazine december 2010

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