The Kiteboarding Indus- Account for Others Who Would Like to Catch More Flies with Honey

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Bri Chmel Photo Jim Semlor

April 2005 5 9 . 5 $

Plus: Lake St Clair, eXtreme Cabarete A Plus: S & Therapy Sessions U 2 3

Contents April 2005

Features 22 Lake St. Clair: Exploring the Midwest Slicks Adam Koch and the Detroit/Ontario crew session a secret spot on the boarder of Canada. 42 The Most Loved and Hated Man in Kiteboarding The Kiteboarder goes one on one with Shannon Best. 44 eXtreme Hotels - Cabarete The Kiteboarder Magazine shows you the Caribbean’s hottest new kiteboarding hotel. 58 2005 Product Watch This one is dedicated to all of you gear freaks. The Kiteboarder unveils over 200+ chromed out new products. 50 Exposed Enticing photos that will make your mind drift away!

DeparDepartmentstments 14 Launch Tow surfing: The new frontier of surfing. Rhino chasers risking their lives on 50 plus foot waves. 38 Close-up Sam Bell from Cape Hatteras and Yuri Drexler from Maui. 83 Maintenance Jeff Howard teaches you how to take care of your kite. 91 Tweak McCore Tweak is always up to something...

Cover Photo Bri Chmel practicing her unhooked Indy back rolls while visiting Byron Bay, Australia. Photo Jim Semlor

Contents Photo Felix Pivec is one of the few lucky individuals who have kiteboarded this sleepy little fishing village on the island of Mauritius. Photo Ryan Riccitelli Photo Gabe Brown What’s it all About?

Iwas at the beach the other day and this older guy was talking to his friend and commented on how out of place “grinders” are in the sport. His vocabulary alone showed me his age, yet it made me start to think. Do kickers and rails really have a place in kiteboarding? Realistically, 99% of kiteboarders will never hit a rail or a kicker. What does this mean? It doesn’t mean anything. Kiteboarding is whatever you want it to be. As long as you are having fun and getting on the water, no one can tell you what or how to ride. I have a friend who pounds nails all day for a living. He rushes to the beach at 5 pm to ride back and forth until the sun goes down. He does- n’t care how light the wind is. He doesn’t even like to jump. Another guy I know has been getting his fix for the last five years on a battered old XXL Quadrifoil and a 7’0” swallow tail Jimmy Lewis directional. I have been ragging on him to upgrade for years. He won’t do it, and he still rides better than most kiters on the latest chromed out gear. To these kiteboarders, it doesn’t matter what you ride. They just love to be on the water! I know we can all relate to that. The bottom line is that you can ride the oldest gear strapped to a 2x4—I don’t recommend it. As long you are having fun and are respectful and safe on the water everything is cool. Everyone likes a little something different in this sport. It’s time that we enjoy and appreciate the diversity of Kiteboarding. Let’s not try to put it in a box. The older kiteboarder who inspired this editorial needs to learn that “grinders” are something you eat and rails are something you slide. Let’s focus our energies on keeping our beaches safe and stand together to support the growth and sustainability of this sport. At the end of the day, it’s all about having fun.

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R April 2005 • Volume 2 • Number 2

EDITOR

C RYAN RICCITELLI [email protected] S ART DIRECTOR JAMES BROWN B TOW SURF EDITOR CHUCK PATTERSON U TECHNICAL EDITOR GARY MARTIN S SAFETY ADVISOR RICK IOSSI ILLUSTRATOR CARL “LOS” PRESTON EDITOR AT LARGE ALEXIS ROVIRA EDITORIAL INTERN BRIAN WHEELER SENIOR WRITERS Marina Chang, Gabe Brown, James Brown, Nick Bowers, Bucky Ashcraft EDITORIAL CONSULTANTS Neil Hutchinson, Joe Bidawid, Matt Nuzzo, Trip Foreman, Paul Menta, Henry Dupont IV, Kevin “Top Hat” Senn, Nick Bowers, Bill Lee, Gregg Gnecco, Jay Crawford, Jeff Howard, Paul Menta, John Romais, Sean Driscol, Jeff Skoll, Stefan Reuether, Paul Lang CONTRIBUTORS Ever since my Bri Chmel, Joe Bidawid, James Brown, Gabe Brown, Bertrand Fleury, Karen Futernick, Gregg Gnecco, Casey Houtz, Jeff Howard, boyfriend Neil Hutchinson, Rick Iossi, Sierra Lake, Gary Martin, Carl Preston, Matt Nuzzo, Sierra Lake, Jay Brockman, John Romais, Oliver Govers, subscribed to Mike Norman, Cory Roeseler SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS The Kiteboarder, Gabe Brown, Jason Wolcott, Sierra Lake, Matt Cotton, Paul Jav, Michelle Zuniga, Gregg Gnecco, James Brown, Morton Skoll, I am always Charles Oreve, David Sims, Stefan Reuether, Josh Marinos, waiting at home Matt Mink, Jim Semlor PHOTOGRAPHY alone for him Stephen Whitesell, Tracy Kraft, Jeff Pfeffer, Adam Koch, Gavin Butler, Bill Mieckle, Buck Ashcraft, Clark Merritt, Trent Pederson, Kim Kern, Michael Jordan, John Carter, Lance Koudele, Brian Schenk, to get off the Nick Bowers, FX Abonnenc, Brad Lange, Diego Velasco, Chris Vicari, Paul Lang, Dave Turner, Jeff Burton, Kevin Senn, Neil Hutchinson, water. Bill Myers, Jill Cervi, Matt Mink, Bri Chmel, Dan Gavere, Scott Norby, Tomoko Okasaki, R. Mortier, Aaron Glazman, Daniel Gallet, Dino Tassara, Warren Chan, Randy Coon, Kinsley Wong, Eunice Martin, Jeff Swanstrom, Billy Doran, Frederick Pattou, Eric Girard Thanks to all editorial and photography contributors for supporting this magazine! SUBSCRIPTIONS Model Stephanie Photo Ryan Riccitelli [email protected] PUBLISHER MARINA CHANG (805) 801-0036 SUBSCRIPTION & VIDEO OFFER [email protected] Buy a year subscription (6 issues) GABE BROWN [email protected] & WindReels Volume One at 40% ADVERTISING SALES off cover prices. Limited Time Offer. NICK BOWERS [email protected] CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS Only $ 1050 Chinquapin Ave #2 • Carlsbad, CA 92008 34.99 MOUNTAIN STATES OFFICE 1360 S. Ivy Way • Denver, CO 80224 Or der online at INTERNET 12 www.kbmag.com Peahi, a.k.a. Jaws is one of heaviest waves in the world and drew over 50 tow surfers during the December 2004 swell. Photo Dino Tassara Chuck Patterson likes to chase 40 plus foot rhinos in his spare time. Photo Charles Oreve H H C C N N U U A A L L

Ingredients and Cooking Directions: Archie Kalepa manages to steady his balance while being chased by the infamous grinding Jaws. Photo Dino Tassara Recipe for 1. A Lifetime of Experience in the Ocean. g Start surfing the day you learn to swim and respect the ocean. Ridin 2. A Jet Ski Find the biggest, fastest ski they make. tains 3. A Rescue Sled Moun Attach to the back of Jet ski and it will make pick-ups a lot easier. Patterson own and Chuck 4. A Partner By Gabe Br Find someone who is physically fit, ocean minded and you could trust with your life. ing rs of Kiteboard 5. Proper Training e of the pionee Start with small beach break waves and practice until you and your partner can read each others minds. As som with their kites, big wave arena 6. A Big Set of Balls explore the imilar age to a sport of a s The guys who tow into 60 plus foot waves risk their lives pushing the boundaries of man and Mother e draw closer iders w vehicle to get r nature. ses a different that u is rapidly gain- 7. Respect s. Tow-in surfing into wave out anyone Always respect Mother Nature and everyone around you. ularity as just ab ing global pop w into ching a surfer to appreciate wat - can running an ava plus waves out 60 foot e adrenaline A note from Eric Akiskalian of Towsurfer.com ter. The thrill, th lanche of wa dy can s a human bo With the inherit dangers involved and the ever growing interest in action sports, tow-in surfing is one of the most sh, the beating ig ru g the limits of b nd while pushin exciting competitive water sports in the world. It didn't happen over night, in fact it's a well known and documented withsta by the mil- , can all be felt fact that Laird Hamilton and a few of the boys from Hawaii, such as Buzzy Kerbox and Derrick Doerner were the wave riding m the who watch fro lions of people first to take an inflatable Zodiac raft with a 40 hp motor and tow each other into big waves on their surfboards at a spot called uches afety of their co Phantom's on the North Shore of Oahu in the very early 90's. For more information check out www.towsurfer.com. 14 s 15 16 17 411411 News and Information 411411 News and Information Tony Alva and DealingDealing with with Idiots Idiots Slightly Stoopid a v l A

n to attend o T

f o by Buck Ashcraft y eXtreme Cabarete on Your Beach s a on Your Beach e By Matt Nuzzo and and Nick Bowers t v r l

u Many of us are inspired by a variety of dif- A o Launch Party. c y

o n ferent music styles. Certain songs get you t o o T h By Marina Chang in the mood for love and others pump you P up to ride. We asked a few pros to let us Tony Alva will be christening the newly completed fun ramp at eXtreme Hotel’s know what gets them fired up to charge grand opening launch party in Cabarete, Dominican Republic March 12-18. on the water and what they chill out to eXtreme Cabarete’s launch party weekend will after a session. Whatever your taste, hope- also host a number of premier action sports ath- fully one of these songs will fire you up to letes from skate, surf, tow, wake and kite industry. If the water balloons fail learn a new move. On Saturday, March 12, eXtreme will kick off the to make an impression, Pete Cabrinha launch with an expression session skate jam with shows his “ special guest Tony Alva, followed by a BBQ and live artistic side. try rotten tomatoes. Pete Cabrinha’s Play List music from surf/ska/reggae band Slightly Photo Tracy Kraft Stoopid. This Southern California-based band was Sponsors: Cabrinha Kiteboarding ” first discovered by SUBLIME and is signed by Skunk Records. The rest of the week will include kiteboarders such as Andy Hurdman, Jason Amp You Up! Cruising Slezak, Chuck Patterson and Felix Pivec teach- Artist: Outkast Artist: Jurassic 5 ing other action sports professionals how to kite. Album: Stankonia Album: new one On Sunday, March 13, eXtreme will host a Kite Loop competition, weather permit- Song: lions end Song: J 5 ting. Thanks to The Ring Media for coordinating the event. Check out all the action Why: Outkast gets me going. Its like Viagra if Why: I saw them perform about three years ago live at www.extremehotels.com you take it, any chick should watch out. I listen and dug their beats. they flow and beat the to this before I ride because it gets me up the sickest lyrics. They are hip hop artist that rhyme same way. about real life. that inspires me.

Cabarete's "Kite Beach" has seen it's share of idiots over the years. Photo Ryan Riccitelli Underground Keeper Artist: Dub Island Sound System Artist: Beastie Boys Song: Chuck Town Song: Brass Monkey ny experienced kiteboarder has seen someone on the beach and thought, “What an idiot; I can’t believe that person just did that!” Why: I grew up with Dub Island in Chuck town. Album: Check Your Head Over the past couple of years, I’ve witnessed kites blowing across highways, kites dragging riders down the beach, riders launching kites The boys in the band are all my friends. They Why: Check Your Head is so sick! It keeps me are a reggae hip hop group that can catch the in check, no matter what mood I am in. They straight down wind, kites flying into power lines, and riders flying directly into each other. I can add to this list, but the reader gets the point. ear of anybody. They get the party started at are also pioneers to their industry and that is A any gig they play. the point kiting is at right now.

Here are a few tips to help you deal with to experience more people with kites on the This happened to me last winter when I asked a the inexperienced or the idiot on the beach: beaches, so it’s the veterans’ responsibility to local about beach rules. Yes, I was just off the jet, Tsunami Relief Hits Close to Home ▲ help turn the idiots or the inexperienced into and my tan needed work, but I didn’t ask if I could By Gabe Brown Prevention. When you see someone about to do responsible, safe kiteboarders. kite; I asked about local rules. Territorial turf Kitebeach, Cabarete is the training grounds for many of the world's best kiteboarders. ▲ something stupid, step in and do something marking may work for dogs and gangs, but not Photo courtesy Stefan Reuether Monday, December 26th, 2004 marked a Elbow Room. For some reason some kiters about it. Apathy is a choice. If you choose to just kiters. The best thing we can do as kiteboarders tragedy of historic proportions. An earth- watch someone do something potentially danger- want to make sure everyone recognizes their is work together. quake rocked the Indian Ocean and sent ous to people, kiting, or Mother Nature, you are superior skills, so they jump in front of others on ▲ Kiteforum.com and The Kiteboarder out a Tsunami that left a catastrophic just as guilty of stupidity and reckless behavior as every tack. Ride upwind or downwind of where Be Cool. The best way to deal with any potential Hold The Largest Kite Show in the World mark. Some people in coastal Asia lost the person who is doing it. these attention seekers or perhaps steroid raged problem is to stay cool. Like your mother told you, everything, including family, clothes, busi- ▲ By Ryan Riccitelli riders are. Soon they will be riding alone or with patience is a virtue and kindness is contagious. ness’ and homes. While this story is not in Hold a Safety Meeting. If you are a local and others who haven’t figured it out yet. the news every day as it once was, the ▲ Kiteboarding needs more self-regulation, more How would you like the opportunity to ride and test all the brand new you spy a visitor acting like an idiot, it’s your need for support still exists. The immedi- helping hands, and more humor. There are many equipment in the world for free? The Cabarete Kite Show launches responsibility to explain the rules of your beach. Water Balloon Launcher. If Rule #5 doesn’t ate effects of the Tsunami justified March 31! Get ready for the biggest kiteboarding testing event of the until the end of 2005. Proceeds will go to Be cool. Some people just don’t know the rules work, pick up a water balloon launcher. The rid- more great people who kite than there are idiots, tourists leaving the area, but it is now safe year! Kite Show Cabarete is all about you, the rider, seeing and trying all the Sri Lanka Relief Fund set up by and will be grateful that you took the time to help ers who won’t stop cutting you off or who insist and looking out for each other is always the best and has been for a while. A great way for the latest and greatest 2005 gear and accessories. Brought to you by Caution to aid factory workers and their them. Then, some may give you attitude; kill them on jumping right at the launch zone will clear out policy. We are all kiting for many reasons, but the us kiteboarders to help would be to plan kiteforum.com, The Kiteboarder Magazine and eXtreme Hotels, Kite Show families. Caution has also set up an quickly if you lob a few water balloons their way. one common reason is that we have a good time trips there and to not cancel our trips that with kindness. A good rule of thumb is that you’ll Cabarete will bring the leading manufacturers of the kiteboarding indus- account for others who would like to catch more flies with honey. If the water balloons fail to make an impression, doing something we love. If someone is being an are already planned. The dollars spent by donate without purchasing a kite. If you’d ▲ try together with riders from all corners of the globe in a 4-day event to try rotten tomatoes. Use this one at your own risk. idiot on your beach or if someone is just inexpe- tourists helps these people recover. like to donate please send a check School is Cool. Get acquainted with a good kit- ▲ rienced, help him or her out. We were all inexpe- be held March 31 through April 3 on Kite Beach in Cabarete, Dominican Republic. Known around the world for excellent kiting conditions, afford- Organizations all over the world have (payable to Sri Lanka Relief Fund) to the ing school in your area to send the idiots or the No One Owns the Beach. That’s right. Local rienced at first, and chances are, once or twice, able accommodations, warm tropical water and a lively nightlife, come together to raise money for the following address. Any contribution will inexperienced to. Many of the idiots are people hospitality does not mean, “We townies kite here, some of us may have been idiots ourselves! Cabarete is the ideal location to check out what your favorite companies relief effort. Caution Kites for example, help as money goes a long way over there. who don’t want to take lessons, people who think but you visitors kite down there.” Matt Nuzzo coaches for REAL kiteboarding in have in store for the New Year. A schedule of activities that include live has a factory in Sri Lanka and many of Caution Kites they can figure the sport out by themselves. This Suggesting that the local spot is too difficult for Cape Hatteras, NC. www.realkiteboarding.com. music, downwind trips, nightly socials and an expression session with their workers lost everything in this trag- 783 San Andreas Rd. may have worked at one time, but we’re all going the visitor does not connote genuine concern. prizes will round out the activities for Kite Show Cabarete. Don't miss the ic and unforeseeable event. Caution will La Selva Beach, CA 95076 fun! Please check out www.kbmag.com for more information. donate $5.00 for every Caution kite sold 18 (worldwide) from December 26, 2004 19 411411 News and Information

Thanks again for everyone's letters this month. Your comments help us to make The Kiteboarder Magazine something that you will really look forward to getting your Letters hands on each issue. Send us an email with your innermost thoughts to [email protected].

■ Tidings from Tybee that I've got a set of instructions from someone who ■ Kiteboarding Magazine Is Better! knows what they are doing. If I had a wetsuit, I would Dear Editor: try it this weekend. I met Matt Nuzzo when I took the Dear Editor: I just wanted to Real Kiteboarding Zero-to-Hero kite camp. I think Matt Last issue was probably drop you a line and Trip have started a great instructional setting for the best copy I've even and let you know any level of kiter. Matt was very informative and seems read in the last seven that myself and like a really cool guy. Even though Hatteras is only a years of covering the everyone in the three-hour trip for me, working part time and going to sport. It’s funny, but you Tybee crew were school full time kind of puts a screeching halt on my guys seem to peg a lot thrilled with the dreams of kiting year around. That's why I like your of issues our riders article. It really magazine. I can get a head full of instruction without bring up and include came out great. paying a chunk of money to get it. Don't get me wrong; them in the mag. For You're pretty I would rather pay the chunk and actually get hands instance, I've had 10- February much a hero on, but until I can afford it again, I'll settle for your 15 questions on the around these magazine, a friends boat, an 11m Hydro, and the new bars for 2005. You wrote it up, covered every bar parts. It's great Pamlico River. Thanks for a great magazine! and answered a lot of questions for a ton of people. to see a kite Tybee Island Kiteboarding crew. Photo Neil Hutchinson Jeremiah Taylor You know, as far as retail shop is concerned, I have to magazine cover supply products that make our riders perform better, spots that are off the beaten path, rather than just the We are glad to know that our magazine makes the world a better place for you. We encourage you to take both on and off the water. If its garbage, and I sell it, same three locations the other magazines and videos my reputation is on the line. I think the same applies have been focusing on for years. I'm looking forward lessons from qualified instructors. Our magazine is designed to be a supplement to the learning process. to magazines. If someone pays money for your mate- to seeing more undiscovered spots in future issues. rial, they should at least expect to walk away learning The snow kiting pictures were the most impressive in By NO means do we recommend learning from our magazine alone. Kite safe and stay warm—Ed. something more that will make them a better rider, as this issue. I have to try that sport someday soon despite well as help carry some stoke during the dry spells. some of those shots that made it look like suicide. You delivered on all cylinders. Tim Malins ■ The Kiteboarder Sucks FYI: The only other mag I carry at this point is Stance High Tide Kiteboarding since it’s the second most requested. The price point Dear Editor: www.hightidesurfshop.com is a lot higher and sometimes they drop the ball by I think you have done a good job. Neil Hutchinson putting content out on PAL instead of NTSC, but its The Tybee kiteboarding crew is Top Shelf. I don’t know from X-rated Kiteboarding gave me a copy when I still really good reading. If I were a betting man, the that I can fill the shoes of a hero. However, I will be was down at the eXtreme Hotels in the Dominican other mags will be out of business in 2-3 years. back to get some of that Tybee wind and southern Republic. I love your mag. However, I thought you hospitality—Ed. could do a better job on the name of the magazine. Andrew Ghezzi Trevor Smith Powerline Sports, Amesbury, MA ■ How Do You Spell Relief Thanks for your compliments. Originally we started www.powerlinesports.com out as Kiteboarder Magazine. Due to some legal It’s letters like this that inspire us to keep doing what Dear Editor: threats from our competition, we added “The” to the we do. Please encourage your customers to take I really liked your article on assisted boat launch. I live name. We want readers to recognize our magazine as advantage of our free trial issue and to subscribe to in an area where a beach launch is almost impossible. the one that is 100% made by kiteboarders—Ed. our magazine. I like Stance magazine, but I think I've been contemplating the steps I thought it would Kiteboarding Magazine is better. I can’t handle all the take to achieve this for many months now. I'm relieved board pants and dangly stuff—Ed.

Bucky’s Tips from Texas By Bucky Ashcraft 1. Watch the conditions for at least 10 to 3. Ride strapless at least one session Island for two weeks of private lessons 15 minutes to see what the wind and during your lifetime; it’s not as hard as and free riding. Lending a helping hand other people are doing. You never know; it looks. can save your beach or, even better, those people could be extremely under 4. Be NICE to the KOOKS! It’s best in life to make you a new friend. or over powered. always be helpful, and it’s especially 5. Fold your kites flat when traveling. 2. Using different fins can change the true at the beach. One day at the beach, Flat kites take up less space than rolled n w o

n entire feel of your board. Putting a fin in a friend of mine helped a guy who kites, so the flatter the better. Flat kites k n u

o t

o your head can change the way you appeared to be kook who later rewarded also serve as padding, and they’re easi- h P Buck Ashcraft plays in the waves. think; wear a helmet. my friend by flying him to a Caribbean er on the bladders. “Lake St. Clair is home to some of the steadiest and Michigan Ontario loftiest winds anywhere.” Metro Beach Harsens Island Mitchell’s Detroit Bay Belle River OIT Windsor R Metro Beach T Metro Beach is home to some of the steadiest and loftiest E winds in North America. The likes of Adam Koch, Ben D iirr Meyer, Damien Leroy and Sky Solbach will attest to this. llaa Located just a short drive from the heart of Detroit, Metro tt.. CC Beach works well on South winds and is a favorite among ee SS local riders. The famous Metro rocks are a dangerous haz- aakk ard for all riders but serve as the perfect peanut gallery for LL kss onlookers. The bowl offers shallow water for advancing rid- t SSlliicck ers. This is not a spot for beginners, due to the onshore weesst lli idw iccite winds, difficult launch, and razor sharp rocks. e MMid hotos Ryan R g tthhe e Bidawid P Exxpplloorriinng By Jo E Facts: Official Name: Metro Beach Metropolitan Park

Caption 1 Nickname: Metro Driving Directions: Take Metropolitan Pkwy road until it ends. Follow signs for Jet Ski Ramp. Best Season: Spring and Fall Best Direction: South Average Kite Size: 12-16 Conditions: On-shore steady winds with flat water on the inside and wind chop farther upwind. The bowl to the West of the launch is void of rocks and offers shallow water to practice tricks. - continued Launch: Riders launch on a grassy field next to the parking lot and navigate the narrow opening between the rocks to the water. Level of riding: Intermediate – advanced Local Shops: Detroit Kiteboarding, www.detroitkiteboarding.com, (248) 245-5016 Local Schools: Detroit Kiteboarding Great Lakes Kiteboarding, www.greatlakeskiteboarding.com (586) 822-6511 Mike Lanoe is one of the top canadian riders on snow and water. Mitchell’s Bay Other than the required assisted launch, this is the perfect place for riders of all abilities—especially beginners. The bay is waist deep for miles and the best wind directions for riding are West and Northwest. Beginners are safe on the inside while experts chase the butter smooth water behind the many swan slicks upwind of the launch. The drive, 90 minutes from Detroit and 45 minutes from Windsor, is well worth it, as this is arguably the best spot on the lake. Mitchell’s draws riders from as far North as Toronto and as far South as Cleveland. Facts: The Canadian crew getting their first taste of Caption 3 Official Name: Mitchell’s Bay Public Beach. The girls became the official peanut gallery. The Kiteboarder. Mika Jantunen shows some unhooked skills. Nickname: M-Bay Driving Directions: Take Highway 401 East, take Queens Line exit (highway 2) and follow signs for Mitchell’s Bay Best Season: April through October Best Direction: West, Northwest ho would have ever thought that a lake sandwiched between thermals during the riding season spanning in Middle America and jumped on a plane Average Kite Size: 12-16 from March until November. Riders average headed straight for the “D” town—Detroit. Conditions: Side-on winds. Flat water and butter flat water Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario could possibly be one of three to four riding days per week on 12 to Ryan and Adam didn’t even know what near slicks upwind. W Launch: Assisted launch required on small sandy area 16 meter kites, and sometimes there are they had in store for them. Tim Blanchard near boat ramp. the best kiteboarding lakes in North America. waves. That’s right—large sized wind gen- with Surf Culture Canada put together a Level of riding: Beginner – advanced erated swell straight out of the Midwest. huge welcome party complete with float- Local Shops: Surf Culture Canada, Don’t knock it until you try it. ing barge, a full BBQ, six coolers stocked www.surfculturecanada.com, (519) 919-7907 With 26 miles in diameter and an average depth of seven Midwest shoreline for miles. To make it even more con- I had told Ryan Riccitelli and Adam Koch full of Canadian beer and the local group Local Schools: Surf Culture Canada feet, Lake St. Clair is home to some of the steadiest and venient for kiteboarders, you can jump in a car and chase that the wind was insane during the fall. of 20 kiteboarders. With everyone piled loftiest winds anywhere. The flat water riding is equally the clocking frontal winds around the lake. The local They were into exploring some new spots on the barge, we motored out to one of 22 comparable to the Cape Hatteras slicks, which litter the riders have it dialed and take advantage of the steady lake their secret slicks. - continued 23 Adam and the Canadians enjoying an after session beer...eh!

Belle River Belle River’s sandy beach extends for miles and offers shallow water for about 200 yards creating a favorable learning environment. Easy self-launching and the ability to safely ride downwind are unique to this beach. It is the favorite spot for riding North and Northeast winds where on a strong wind day riders are able to find sizable wind gen- erated waves. ”The Belle” is also convenient for the working class as the best winds usually come during the late afternoon until sunset. Every spring, regional riders flock here for the annual Kitestock Festival. Belle River is also the home to Canadian Kiteboarding legend Tim Blanchard.

Facts: Official name: Belle River West Beach Nickname: The Belle Driving Directions: Take EC-Row east into the town of Belle River, make left turn before little bridge. Best Season: April through October Best Direction: North, Northeast Average Kite Size: 9-12 Conditions: Strong side/side-on thermal winds with chop. Launch: Beginner-friendly sandy area for launching and landing. Level of riding: Beginner – advanced Local Shops: Detroit Kiteboarding, www.detroitkiteboarding.com, (248) 245-5016 Surf Culture Canada, www.surfculturecanada.com, (519) 919-7907

Harsens Island The most popular spot in the newly discovered Muskamoot Bay Corridor, Harsens Island offers local riders a great option when Metro winds turn Southwest to West. The water is waist deep as far as the eye can see, however, the assist required launch and the power lines near shore create hazards for beginners. Harsens is 60 minutes from Detroit and Windsor and riders must take the short (2 minute) car ferry to get to the island. During summer week- ends, the entire shoreline at Harsens is littered with leisure boats and riding is not recommended.

Facts: Adam Koch traveled all the way from Los Angeles to session with the locals. Official Name: Harsens Island Nickname: Harsens Driving Directions: Make left turn as you exit ferry and follow road until it ends at launch site. Everyone sessioned the slick until the sun was about Best Season: March through November to set. The music, BBQ and hospitality were the Best Direction: Southwest Average Kite Size: 12-16 perfect prelude to the week that was about to Conditions: Flat and shallow (waist deep) water unfold. Every morning, I would wake up Adam and Launch: Riders launch on grassy field next to parking lot. Ryan at the crack of dawn and we would embark Beware of power lines. upon another exploration mission to a new spot. By Level of riding: Intermediate – advanced the end of the trip, I was never able to show the Local Shops: Detroit Kiteboarding, boys any wave action. I guess some of the best kept www.detroitkiteboarding.com, (248) 245-5016 Local Schools: Detroit Kiteboarding secrets of the Great Lakes will still remain secrets. Great Lakes Kiteboarding, In the end, Adam and Ryan vowed they would be Sara Paciocco charging with the boys! www.greatlakeskiteboarding.com (586) 822-6511 back next year to catch a Midwest wave session.

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Evan Mavridoglou Shop Talk CA NOW BOARDING Live2kite SMACK My Daddy’s Kiteboarding Medical Kit By Bri Chmel and Mike Chmel Location: San Francisco, California Industry News and Gossip Contact: www.live2kite.com – (415) 722-7884 There are many things that can happen to the traveling kiteboarder—not that kiteboarders EVER drag themselves over a reef. It is easy to bring some simple items with you on your trip in case you do have an accident. Owners: Babette & Evan Editors Choice My Dad, Dr. Michael Chmel, is an ER physician and always restocks my medical kit before I depart on one of Riding Experience: 5 years Paul Lang recently took over West Coast Kiteboarding. WCK will be my adventures. Here are his “must haves” to bring on your next kiteboarding vacation. offering lessons in San Diego, CA and San Quintin, Baja California. What is the kiteboarding scene like in the Bay area? Their next trip to San Quintin is scheduled for March 27-April 2. 1. Immodium and Cipro: Diarrhea can ruin anyone’s trip. Immodium can be bought at 3. Ibuprofen or Tylenol: Your cure for pain. Tylenol is easier on your stomach. Kiteboarding has been active in the San Francisco Bay area for about 6 years, reaching a matu- West Coast Kiteboarding will be teaming up with The Kiteboarder rity in rider behavior, knowledge of safety and strong camaraderie. This is an area that offers Magazine for a San Quintin kite camp this May. Come down to Baja a pharmacy over the counter in the US and will help decrease the cramps and diar- 4. Ointment: A new tube of Vaseline is as good for healing and protection against infec- and learn to ride waves from Corky Cullen, Chuck Patterson and some of the most consistent wind conditions in the world from early April to the end of PPaulaul Lang at Mission Bay. rhea. Cipro can be a lifesaver if you suddenly have nonstop diarrhea and/or vomit- tion as any antibiotic ointment. It is also cheaper and causes fewer allergies. Felix Pivec. Bri Chmel will be holding a women’s clinic as well. September. Available conditions range from ocean riding, waves, flat water and fresh water. Photo Josh Whalen ing. A plague of food poisoning, ecoli, and salmonella can usually be knocked out Check out www.westcoastkiteboarding.com for more information. Aquaphor is also a great ointment and skin healer. During winter the nearby mountains offer ideal snowkiting conditions. within a day, instead of the usual 5 days to a week. Ecoli which causes diarrhea can 5. Sleeping Meds: Good for long airplane trips. Ambien is probably the best, lasting What tips can you offer kiteboarders who want to learn in the Bay area? Bri Chmel and her business-partner-in-crime, Shanna Raymond, are opening a restaurant in Hood be eliminated by one or two doses of Cipro 500 mg 12 hours apart. If your diarrhea four or five hours and leaving you clear-headed. Ambien is available only with a doctors River, OR this summer. Rumor has it “pink” is somewhere in the name of the restaurant. Let’s just hope Although there are highly qualified schools in the area, the beginner locations are limited, com- is not resolved in 3-4 days or you are running a fever (sign of invasive diarrhea) you prescription. Tylenol PM’s can work in a pinch and can be bought over the counter. pared to the ones available to more advanced riders. We have our own network of IKO instruc- the cuisine isn’t pink too! should see a doctor. Cipro is available in most 3rd world countries without a pre- 6. Bee-stings Allergy Kit: If you have had an allergic reaction you need to carry a bee- tors and are partnered with a great kite school at the Sacramento Delta that offers beginner By popular demand, Windwing has started "The Bird's Nest," an online rider forum at www.wind- scription, or in the USA with a prescription. and intermediate instruction packages. Contact us for more information and assistance. wing.com. The forum is open to the public and is a great place to ask questions. Check out at sting kit, which is only available from your physician. Seasonal-antihistamines are 2. New toothbrush, steristrips and superglue: These three things can be used for helpful which are available over the counter. What tips can you offer visiting kiteboarders who want to hook up with local riders and www.windwing.com/forums. your typical cut or laceration. Stay out of the water to keep them from pulling apart kite in the Bay area? 7. Mosquito Repellent: Mosquitos carry everything from Malaria to Encephalitis and The Wipika International Centers program is and getting infected. Clean your wound well. All soaps, iodine etc, cause more tissue Check with the SF Bay Community in ikitesurf.com or bayareakiteboarding.com for details. A birds eye view from Wipika's Dengue Fever. Avoid getting bitten both during the day and night. Over the counter now operating in seven world-class locations: photo shoot. Photo Courtesy of Wipika damage than they do good. Get in the shower and wash your cut well, inside the cut. Always talk to the local crew wherever you are to find out what to expect. Tides and wind Brazil, Dominican Republic, France, UK, Greece, anti-itch is always good to throw in your bag. direction create challenging conditions at some spots that are not immediately realized. If necessary scrub them with a new toothbrush until clean. The sooner it is closed Italy, and South Africa. All WIC’s are staffed by the less likely for infection. If a wound is not closed in the first 12 hours, it is better 8. Sunscreen and Chap Stick: You should ALWAYS protect your skin especially while What is the best way for people to check the forecast and current conditions in your area? certified instructors and 2005 Wipika gear is out on the water. The reflection from the water gives you almost two times the sun Ikitesurf is the most reliable source for the area. You can also check a number of cameras for available for free demos. The WIC Cabarete loca- to leave them open for 4-6 days and then they can be closed secondarily. Close the wound with super clean hands. Place one end of the steristrips (butterfly bandages) exposure. Do your research as to what sunscreen works best for your skin. Always real time conditions. If neither works for you just call or email us. If it blows, we know it. tion operates in conjunction with Laurel carry some sort of chap stick for the burned lip days. What do you think the future of snowkiting is in comparison to water kiting? Eastman Kiteboarding and offers 50% off les- on the skin then pull the skin edges together and place the other end down. Use as sons with the purchase of new 2005 Wipika many as you need to pull the wound together. Put superglue over the ends of the 9. Bandaids: Pack a variety of Bandaids for your typical scratch and scrape. A roll of Snowkiting in the Sierras brings a good winter alternative. Although still in its infancy, it’s medical tape and a few sterile gauze pads will always come in handy. getting more and more recognition. There is no doubt in our minds that there is tremendous gear. Check www.wipikakiteboarding.com or butterflys, not on the wound itself, and it will hold them in place for 3-5 days. Replace potential just about to be released. www.laureleastman.com. as necessary. Superglue is great for filling in small skin cracks and line cuts. It is non 10. Duct tape: MacGyver always said to bring duct tape. Duck tape can be used for In case you’ve been wondering why Julie toxic to superficial wounds. Closing them will can stop the pain. everything and anything. Gilbert hasn’t been on the water lately, it’s because she and her husband Chris Gilbert are expecting their first child. June 23rd is the expected day of arrival, but if the little one arrives a week early, it will be just in time for the 2005 Gorge Games. Congratulations Julie & Chris! MTV Poland covered stage 1 of the Corona Extra Winter 2005 Tour, the Col Du Lautaret, and they made a sick video of Guillaume Chastagnol. Stay up-to-date with the snowkite tour and check the sweet videos and photos at www.wintertour.fr Naish’s International Team has some new young blood on their team: Janek Korycki (17), Rui Meira (19), Kevin Langeree (16), and Leeshai Miller (20) plus the token old-guy, Ben Meyer (27). Reo Stevens (19) has joined Naish’s Hawaii Team along with Jessie Richman (12) and Shawn Richman (15). Adam Koch and Chris Gilbert will continue turning heads, and pro- gressing the Naish US National Team program. Check them all out at www.naish.tv. After a severe hack attack, KiteForum.com was offline for a while, but is now back and alive! Your life can now continue at www.kiteforum.com. Wipika is offering a CLS upgrade kit (free of charge) for all bars made during the September and October production runs. If you have one of these bars, the CLS may have been supplied with a short setting. For optimal performance contact your local dealer or national distributor to obtain the upgrade kit. KiteStock 2005, one of the year’s biggest events/parties, will be held May 28th, 2005 in Ontario, Canada. The event will go down at Mitchell’s Bay, one of the best flat-water spots the Great Lakes have to offer. Check out www.surfculturecanada.ca for the latest news. An update is expected Congratulations to Mr.Mr. and Mrs. Ed and in April. These guys are super cool. Debbie Hanson! PhotoPhoto GabeGabe BrownBrown On Sunday January 2nd, to ring in the New Year, Ed Hanson and Debbie Ahearn tied the knot under the arch of their 13m Slingshot Fuel in South Lake Tahoe. With a ceremony on the shoreline of Lake Tahoe and a powder-full snowkite reception at Grass Lake, this was a day they will never forget. Congratulations Ed and Deb!

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The Life of an Up and Coming Kiteboarder by John Romais continued from page 26 New School SMACK Up and Coming Rider Profile Years Kiteboarding: 4 Cross Training: 24 hour fitness and BEST Kiteboarding adds dedicated kite designer Peter Denver Coon Peter Stiewe hard at work. Occupation: Freshman at the Golfing Stiewe to their team. Formerly designing for EH PhotoPhoto Gavin Butler Kiteboarding, Peter is now focusing his deep passion for Hometown: Kula, Maui University of Hawaii, Pro Kiteboarder Sponsors: RRD, DaKine, Kaenon sun- Forecasting Tips wind sports to working exclusively with BEST. Check out glasses, Trilogy Ocean Sports, Dad their newest creations at www.bestkiteboarding.com. Age: 19 Preferences: Pulley bar and foot Celebrating Stewie’s arrival, Shannon Best, Alex Shogren Height: 5’9” straps with bike tire heel bungies You Need to Know and Peter Stiewe went snowboarding in the Utah backcoun- By Oliver Govers try. On the last run of the day, they found themselves caught Stance: Regular, but does all of his in the crux of an avalanche. Fortunately, as the slab of snow tricks on the opposite tack Denver’s Quiver Our sport revolves completely around the pres- they were standing on began to slide, there was a pause in the slide, allowing them to tiptoe out of the situation unscathed. We are very glad to hear they are ok! ence of wind. By gaining a basic understanding of 1. Uses custom wakeboards. The Kiteboard Center Maui opens at Kite Beach. The KBC manufactures custom kiteboarding gear wind and arming yourself with weather forecasting 2. Likes the RRD Type 6, favorite size is the 9m. tools and information you can increase the quality and is the home of Kiteboarding International Training Evaluation system (KITES). Be sure to drop by if and frequency of your kiteboarding sessions. you’re ever at Kite Beach, grab a bite at the nearby food court and relax on KBC’s 2500 square foot 3. Longboard skateboard to get him to class on deck. Check them out www.kiteboardcenter.com. time for when he spends too long out kiting Where to Find Forecast Information? 7 on the water. Girls4Sport recently sponsored Hawaiian-born kiteboarder Nalani Oda. A genuine water woman, Nalani 8 4. Surfs only when waves are 40-60 feet and There’s a huge amount of information and resources available on the net to help you learn is a great addition to the Girls4Sport team. For more info about Girls4Sport performance clothing and the glassy smooth. everything you ever wanted to know about wind. There is also free software available that G4S Team Riders, please visit www.girls4sport.com. For more information on Nalani: www.nalanioda.com. keeps you up to date with real-time conditions, forecasts, radar and satellite imagery and 5. Chose to be pro kiter rather than pro golfer Surf Diva has teamed up with Safari Surf School of Nosara, Costa Rica, and they are now offering more. A good rule of thumb when looking at forecast information is—more is better. because Tiger Woods sent him a very cordial women’s surfing adventures in Costa Rica. The trips focus on professional and high-energy surfing letter begging him to stick with kiteboarding instruction. Great meals are served daily and activities include daily surf lessons and coaching, yoga, Forecast Learning Resources: 4 • http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/fw/sea/htg.rxml massage, jungle walks, beach excursions and many optional activities. For more information visit 1 6. Xbox. Where most of Denver's time is spent 3 off the water, but don't tell anyone. Tip: Get a university-level course on weather for free! www.surfdiva.com or call 858.454.8273. 9 7. DaKine backpack to lug his economics books • www.theweatherprediction.com Renee Hanks is now riding for BEST Kiteboarding. She's spending her first winter in the Gorge where 5 around for his international business major. Tip: Awesome site, when you’re done studying, check out the ‘Humor’ section! she'll be working with the Skamania County kids program and plans on rallying all the groms out to • www.nws.noaa.gov/information_center.php 8. The bling truck to get the hot girls (not too Montana for the Snowkite Rodeo 2 Tip: A little drier, but still tons of good information here. Check the Glossary. 6 tall, brunette, and skinny with huge...eyes). 2005 Kiteboard Calendar Blowout! Denver Coon learned moves like this 9. His first female love, his dog Roxy. Bookmark Forecast and Observation Websites Be sure to save these in your web browser. Ship 2 calendars to your door for growing up on kite beach Maui. $9.99. Enjoy 13 months of SICK kite- Photo Kim Kern • www.nws.noaa.gov Denver stands proud with his quiver. Photo Randy Coon 10. Kaenon sunglasses to check out the girls Tip: Anything and everything you want to know on weather. boarding photos from around the globe. without them catching him. • www.ikitesurf.com Check out www.kbcalendar.com. Tip: Not a free service, but indispensable. The boys at ikitesurf know what they are doing. Slingshot is proud to announce Weather Forecast and Monitoring Software recent additions to their International Teams. New kiteboarding team • www.freeweather.com includes Martin Vari, Christiaan Tip: Free program provides a host of real-time information. No ads. Brouwer, and Ruben Lenten. The • www.weatherdepot.com new Snowkite Team includes Alex Tip: Provides real time observations, maps and more. Displays ads. Peterson and Remi Meum. Also, • www.weatherbug.com Slingshot has some new products on Tip: Another nice forecast and observation program. Displays some ads. the market, including a light-wind kite called The Machine. It’s available Oliver Govers runs www.bayareakiteboarding.com in the San Francisco Bay Area and flies Windwing kites. only in 17.5, 20.5, and 25.5m sizes www.kbcalendar.com and features three new innovations. Be sure to check out slingshot’s newly released ONELINE system which features a sheetable 5th line. www.sskiteboarding.com. Website Report Great Lakes Kiteboarding is offering group and private snowkite lessons. Lessons are being taught at Cass Lake, Orchard Lake, and Stony Creek Metro Park. For more info visit greatlakeskiteboarding.com or contact Brian LeVeve at 586.822.65611 or [email protected]. XtremeBigAir.com and the City of Pismo By The Kiteboarder Magazine Staff Last year’s KiteXPO went off at Pismo Beach Beach are pleased to host the 3rd Annual Photo Kinsley Wong KiteXPO: April 22-24. If you’re looking to try If you are going to La Ventana, check out www.bajajoe.com. Baja Joe’s not only offer lessons but they have a nice comfortable new gear or get tips and info from the indus- place to stay with high speed Internet so you can keep in touch. try experts, then you shouldn’t miss this year’s KiteXPO event. The event is free and Tow surfing has been growing in popularity over the last four attendees can test all the newest 2005 years. Check out www.towsurfer.com and see variety of adrena- kites and boards one after another. lin pumping photos footage of monstrous proportions. For the current info on the event visit George at www.kiteflix.com is constantly uploading new footage www.XtremeBigAir.com/KiteXPO to his site. Keep checking back for sick new kiteboarding clips. Rumor has it that the Seattle, WA kiteboard Cool new weather sites are always useful to add to your community could be receiving some great forecasting support this summer. Iwindsurf has scouted favorites. Check out www.intellicast.com for all sorts of up to out locations to install a wind station for Seattle’s most popular riding spot, Jetty Island. If the date weather information. Seattleites get their wind sensor, the word “Skunk Island” may become a term of the past. Bored riding on snow or water? Check www.doomwheels.com IKO has moved their offices from Las Terrenas to Cabarete, Dominican Republic. They’ve also and take land boarding to a whole new level. opened an EPS account to facilitate better postal delivery. Please note their new mailing addresses: The Kiteboarder Magazine recently added a new video and For Mail: IKO [+ recipient name], EPS 3044, PO Box 02-5548, Miami, FL 33102-5548 photo links page that contains dozens of video clips and gallery For Packages: IKO [+ recipient name], EPS 3044, 7801 NW 37th Street, Miami, FL 33166-6559 links. New footage is updated on a regular basis. Check out www.kbmag.com Send your favorite links to [email protected]. continued on page 30 411411 News and Information 411411 News and Information

Video Reviews SMACK continued from page 28 By James Brown Congratulations are in order for Niccolo Niccolo Porcella hanging Porcella, who recently turned 16 years five in Brazil. Photo R. Mortier By Sierra Lake old. He’s rebounded quite well from his AC injuries and is stronger than ever. Be Age: 55 Brought to us by Fat Sand Productions in the UK, the sure to check him out in the upcoming Street Name: Martini (senior) Takoon DVD. For more info on this video features pro riders Mark Doyle, Aaron Hadlow young prodigy visit www.takoon.com. Roots: Sailing, Surfing, and and Mark Shinn. AC is filmed at beautiful locations Windsurfing The Kiteboarder is pleased to announce around the world, including South Africa, Europe, the a new member to its staff: Chuck Hood: Oceanside, CA Red Sea and the Caribbean. The skill level by the rid- Patterson is the Tow Surf Editor. System: Caution Spitfire ers is high and exciting to watch. The chapters to Welcome Chuck! Ride: Caution, Jimmy Lewis 133cm check out are “Chill Pill,” with cool aerial footage; Gail Zaccai, Bri Chmel, and Aussie Claim: Gary is the first kiteboarder “Dusk,” with some nice wave riding and the rider CJ Jones recently traveled the and shop owner (Cannibal Bros.) in “Interviews” section. AC is a decent first release of a East Coast of Australia. Jim Semlor was Southern California. the lucky photographer who got to full-length action flick from Fat Sand. www.fatsand.com Photo Eunice Martin accompany these fine ladies. We look Shout: Life is short. Play hard! forward to checking out the girls charging. Kiteboarding Progression Gary charging some Coche, Venezuela butter. Photo Eunice Martin Ocean Rodeo would like to welcome Gary “Martini” Martin If you are ready to move past doing straight jumps and Antoineta Falconi to their family. After on to learning spins and transitions properly, then working at KiteExcite, Antoineta com- check out this DVD by Fat Sand Productions. They have pleted her MBA and is applying her taken the most thorough approach to a kiteboard extensive experience to the role of Riding Tips International Operations. instructional video that I have seen. They combine multiple takes of each move and explain them in depth Casey Houtz from Airtime Kite,is spending his winter in Nicaragua.He 1 Always be courteous to other riders, surfers, and beach goers. Always 3 Be humble and remember there is always someone younger and better than by showing how to do the moves correctly as well as recently learned that in 1855 a man by the name of William Walker, with an army of 58, conquered the know your limits. you. Always remember younger people heal from injuries a lot quicker. common mistakes. www.fatsand.com country and declared himself President. Rumor has it Casey is looking to recruit 58 fellow kiteboarders to the windy country. We can only guess what he’ll be up to next. 2 Never leave wind to find wind. You most likely will end up getting skunked. 5 Leave the fish tales to fishing. Don’t claim it unless you land it! Space Monkeys 2 The Ring Media will be putting out the 2006 Big Wave Push yourself to progress. Make yourself try one new trick per session. Enjoy every day you have on the water. Tronolone Productions keeps up their tradition of film- Calendar. The calendar will feature 13 months of insane 60 4 6 ing some of the best riders on the planet as they push foot plus waves. Stay tuned to www.theringmedia.com for the limits of kiteboarding. The original Space Monkey more information. crew is back. Check out Will James, Jaime Herraiz, eXtreme Hotels recently signed three professional riders. Jeff Tobias and Martin Vari as they charge man-eating Chuck Patterson, Andy Hurdman and Bri Chmel will be flying the flashy “e” logo on all their gear. The eXtreme Hotels waves. For every bottom turn and barrel there are dues Team will be holding kiteboarding clinics down at eXtreme to pay with humbling close-outs in their quest to dom- Hotels, Cabarete throughout the year. Now you can plan your inate the waves. Some freestyle riding and general vacation to the Dominican to chill and ride with the worlds best www.towsurfcalendar.com monkeying around helps break the tension. kiteboarders. Check out www.extremehotels.com for more information. www.tronolone.com or www.sideoff.com The Association of Wind Sports Industries (AWSI) is working with Surf Expo to create the 2005 event. AWSI is looking for feedback and reactions regarding attending past Surf Expo events. If you’d Standing Strong 2 like to contribute your feedback please contact AWSI at [email protected] or 541.386.4683. To The show begins with an introduction of the “Family”. find out what they’re all about check out www.awsiwindsports.org. Wink wink. The Wipika family that is—which includes The 2005 KPWT Tour will be pro riders Mauricio Abreu, Laurel Eastman, Alvaro kicking off soon. Check out Onieva, Manu Taub, Marcelo Cunha, Sebastien www.kiteboardpro.com for a Cattelan and Alex Tritten. The only word I could come schedule of events. up with to describe the film is “fun”. I suppose I could Bay Area Kiteboarding, an on-line kiteboarding have gotten out the thesaurus and come up with a dif- forum, recently announced the winners of their 1st ferent one, but I’m sticking with it. www.wipikakite- Annual Winter Contest. Participants submitted articles they wrote for the forum and received entry into the KPWT bikini contest. Photo KPWT boarding.com random drawing for some great prizes. Winners received gear and schwag from UltraNectar, Kitefilm.com, Slingshot, BEST Kiteboarding, Bay Area Wendigo Kiteboarding, Kiteboard Calendar, and yours truly The Kiteboarder. Blair Hickman walked away At first I thought this video was going to be just like the Snowkite Addict #2 with the Grand Prize, a 12m BEST Nemesis kite. Congratulations Blair! DVD because they were both filmed in similar loca- Do yourself a favor and check out the new big wave surfing documen- tions (Idaho, France, Switzerland and Norway), but it tary Riding Giants. Stacy Peralta, the producer of Dog Town and Z- Boys (a classic documentary on the history of skateboarding) paints a was surprisingly fresh. The terrain is incredible and the picture of the soul and the drama of big wave surfing. You are taken from sick riders make you want to get out there and tear it the birth of surfing in the early days through to the mind blowing tow-in up. Kiteloops, cliff jumps and a 40 second air are just surfing in the present day. Amazing footage and in-depth interviews with a couple examples of how these guys are pushing the the pioneers of the sport are captivating. There isn’t any kiteboarding in sport. Even Don Montague has a couple guest appear- the movie, but it is well worth checking out. This is a major release so you can buy or rent it at most stores. ances. The DVD is only available in PAL format so you would have to pop it in a computer to watch it in the US. Check out www.gogglebox.ch 411411 News and Information Competition Competition Corner Results Jupiter Kite Invasion Jupiter Beach, Florida Andy Hurdman Wins South Florida’s Jupiter Kite Invasion Jan. 28-30th Men By Rick Iossi Andy Hurdman- Best Antoine Jaudert- Cabrinha Andy Hurdman recently won Florida Kiting’s 2nd Annual Jupiter Kite Invasion at Brian Greenwald- Cabrinha Jupiter Beach, Florida, which took place Jan. 28-30th. On day one, competitors Jon Modica- Cabrinha were served up strong 30 to 35 mph winds and with head high Florida surf. Day Amateur Men Alex Bloechinger- Slingshot two brought sun and winds in the low 20 mph range and the waves kicked up to almost double Anthony Levalels- Cabrinha overhead. Mike Bradley’s barrel during the competition will go down in the history books of kite- Dan Floyd- Cabrinha Billy Parker- Flexfoil boarding. In the end it was Andy Hurdman’s blind rewind back onto a wave that gave him the Pro Women win. For sick videos from the Jupiter contest check out www.kiteflix.com. Jon Modica looking for the slot. Irma Harris- Globerider Photo Matt Cotton Nicci Warshauer- Slingshot Minda Bly- Best Best Wave Jon Modica- Cabrinha Canadian Kiteboarders Throw Down RevOpen Kitejam Big Air Dimitri Maramenides- Airush By Mikael Lanoe and Alexis Rovira Kite Loop The REVOPEN KITEJAM in Montreal Quebec was a huge success on Antoine Jaudert- Cabrinha February 11-13! Top riders from all over Quebec and Ontario got together RevOpen Kitejam for an expression session to show the public how quickly kitesnowboarding has evolved in the area. Montreal Quebec A sick snow park was setup with a huge 40-foot long rail, a l2 foot long fun box, a huge kicker and a February 11, 12 13 Best Slider mini-rainbow rail.To top it off, a mega sound system and a beer tent were on site, which is stock stan- Snowboard dard at any Canadian event. Luckily the wind blew all weekend long and the temperature was mild Luc Gagnon (Slingshot) - Quebec and Mikael Lanoe (Naish) - Ontario which made for an incredible show. Thank you to Revolution Boardshop and Tribe Kiteboarding, BigAir Ridin’ the Rails. Luc Blanchette (Airush) - Quebec www.tribekiteboarding.com for putting on the event. Photo Eric Girard Ski Hugo Bellanger - Quebec Best Trick Overall Snowboard Therapy Sessions Cure Rocky Mountain Fever Steeves Fons (Airush) - Quebec Best Trick By James Brown Snowboard Mika Jantunen (Cabrinha) - Ontario Kiteboarders, free-lesson seekers and curious onlookers from Colorado and surrounding states showed up for the Second Annual Therapy Therapy Sessions Sessions at the Sanitarium in Dillon, Colorado on February 12 and 13. The Summit County, Colorado word is spreading quickly about the sport as participation tripled from the previous year. Everyone February 12 & 13 Men was treated to the unannounced arrival of Mark Doyle who helped break in the newly built Naish 1. Paul “Motz” Macaj rainbow slider with Paul “Motz” Macaj, James Brown and Brian Schenck. The awards and swag 2. James Brown giveaway had to be handled over email because riders didn’t want to stop kiting while the wind 3. Mark Doyle Paul Macaj loves the rainbow. Women kicked in during the scheduled time for the ceremony. Thanks to all the sponsors for helping make Photo Billy Doran 1. Ilise Merritt for another successful event. www.kitesnowboard.com 2-Planker 1. Jake Fiala Biggest Air 1. James Brown Best Move Corona Extra Winter Tour 1. Mark Doyle Most Enthusiastic By James Brown 1. Bob Stalker The 2005 Corona Extra Winter Tour completed a very successfull first stop at Kites on Ice 2005 Col du Lautaret in France in January. The second stop was at a new location Lake Mendota, Wisconsin February 4-6 at Col du Simplon in Switzerland in February. Although the event was plagued Freestyle Expression Session Competition Skier Division by light wind, all was not lost as with most events because there was enough wind to freeride 1. Ken Lucas (Ozone) intermittently, shoot some video and party it up. Be on the lookout for the Norway stop and the 2. Bob Cook 3. Brian Vanderslice finals France. For up-to-date tour news and videos go to www.wintertour.fr which is in both Boarder Division French and English. 1. Aaron Sales (Slingshot) Laying it down Photo Frederick Pattou 2. Gregg“Tekko” Gnecco (Real Kiteboarding) 3. Karl Bzdusek 2005 Corona Extra Winter Tour The “Not So Frozen” Kite Freeze By Laura Maher Col du Lautaret, France - January Mens Snowboard This years Minnesota Kitefreeze could have been renamed the Minnesota Kite Thaw. Fifty degree temperatures turned 1. Guillaume Chastagnol (Ozone) five inches of snow into two inches of slurpee-like slush, but that didn’t stop diehard snowkiters from going huge off the Mens Skiing kickers and grinding the rails. The main event had wind clocking in at over thirty knots, providing great conditions to go huge for 1. Bjorn Kaupang (Naish) the spectators, but sticking clean solid landings was a must to stay dry. Sunday was a day to chase the snow north to Mille Lacs Junior Overall Lake where the riders turned a pressure ridge in the middle of the lake into a monster ramp. The judging of the event was pri- 1. Sebastian Bubmann (Flysurfer.de) marily on expression sessions throughout the weekend, riders judging other riders. The growing number of juniors at the event Womens Overall proved the Minnesota Kitefreeze and the community is growing faster than anywhere in America. 1. Kari Ann Tragethon (Naish) 33 411411 News and Information 411411 News and Information 6 Tips for Buying Rubber By Alexis Rovira

Are you tired of balloon legs, water leaking into your suit or not having You get what you pay for. You should a lot of room to move? If you are like me, I hate being too cold or always try to purchase the top of the line 5model. Why? They usually have better con- cramped in a wetsuit. With that in mind I decided to put together some struction, flex, feel and last longer. Look for Professional kiteboarder, Irma Harris happily helps out tips to help you pick the magic wetsuit. suits that have the seams glued and by Carl “Los” Preston with a launch. Photo Bucky Ashcraft stitched or that are stitchless. There is Know the conditions you will be using the suit in. It is not good to buy the wrong Clearly the safest most efficient way to learn to kiteboard is to take a lesson from a certified insured kiteboarding school. In many cases suit and end up burning up inside or freezing your tits off in the middle of an epic less chance for the seam to take on 1session. water. Polypropylene and or Titanium lin- this could involve thousands of dollars in travel expenses, lodging fees, and classes. So, I propose a new program for remote locations ings help with the wind chill factor and where small pockets of kiteboarders live and want to ride. This program would allow new people to learn to kite in a safe environment Do your homework. The internet is a great tool to research wetsuit manufactur- also keeps your core temperature up. Make sure you have assistants to and help the more advanced riders get better faster. Here it is: er’s product lines. If you’re not sure of their URL, do a Google search. This will pre- guide you through the process. 2pare you for your visit to a local dealer. If you don’t have a computer, check out a Keep an open mind. Try on as many Photo Phil McCracken People who want to learn to kite will enter the apprentice program. The local senior kiters will give the students a 3m trainer kite and a lesson. Then, for the next recent surf magazine. They always have the latest wetsuits. different brands as you can so you can several months, the apprentices must assist senior riders with launching, landing, and dealing with gear. During this time, the apprentice/student will learn to field 6get the best fit possible. Don’t go on your favorite brand alone. Sizing Work smart not hard. Call around to see what local shops carry the suit you want questions from spectators, such as "What is it called?," "Is it easy?" or "Can I fly your kite?." Also, the students will assist with boat/personal watercraft support among the brands vary. You will be cheating yourself out of a suit that quite if necessary. and if they have the size you’re looking for. Once you find your target suit. Go to possibly is the best you’ve ever owned. 3the shop and try it on. Once the apprentices become competent with their trainer kites, they will be allowed to body drag with a full-size traction kite. After they have worked for at least Finding the right fit is the most important part of the process. The suit should fit 6 months assisting other kiters and having no accidents, they will be allowed to start actual kiteboarding, receiving help from both other apprentices and senior like a glove with plenty of flex in the arms, legs and neck. The suit should not be kiters. After they are able to ride somewhat proficiently, they will be allowed to purchase their own gear and start training a new apprentice. They will pass down 4hanging baggy on you or feel tight like it’s going to cut off blood flow to the head. Bonus Tip the 3m kite and start the process over again. Do a few arm and legs stretches along with a few jumping jacks. Don’t forget to Once this program is under way, it should become perpetual and maintain itself with renewable resources of youth and adventure. Kiteboarding is inherently dan- turn your head a few times as well. There is nothing like an uncomfortable neck- If you are trying on full suits, put a nylon shopping bag in your pock- gerous and should only be done in groups of three or more (two kiters and one apprentice). No one should EVER kite alone. line to give you a rash or squeeze your neck. You may feel like an idiot in the store et before you head out to the shop. Use the nylon bag to help you try on new full suits. The nylon helps your foot or hand slide on the neoprene. This program would be a way to self-police and manage the growth of a sport that does not fall into any other board sport category. Of course, there is no real way doing it, but remember once you get that suit wet, you can’t return it. If after a few to regulate this program, but it’s worth a try in small places like where I live. minutes any part of your body is starting to feel tired, this is a sure sign that the suit is not right for you. Way too many times I see guys in suits that are too small Carl Preston is the creator of “Tweak McCore” and lives in bum-eff Idaho. We thought his idea was really good and decided to print it. Please send any editorial pieces to [email protected]. You never know—we might just print it. for them and their heads look like a cherry tomato.

What to look for:

This is where your neck and head should come out.

Smooth skin chest

Glued and blind stitched seams

Comfortable wrist areas

Reinforced Crotch

Cushy, reinforced knee pads

Durable ankle area

34 NeilPryde NPX SEMIDRY 4/3 E1 Wind 35 SendSend ItIt Reader Submissions

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1. Diana Stoecklin is an up and coming kite girl in Cabarete, 6. Bri Chmel playing with fire in La Ventana, Mexico. Photo Jill Cervi 13. Branding at it’s best. Photo Josh Marinos 18. Hiro is one of the kiteboarders who always has a smile on 24. Christian Black, John Amundson and Nina Johansson Dominican Republic. Photo Sierra Lake his face. Photo Kim Kern eating sushi in Alaska. Photo Tomoko Okasaki 7. Brendan Richards vogue-ing for the camera. Photo Matt Mink 14. When the wind doesn’t blow in Alaska, Nina Johansson goes Send in your best kiteboarding 2. The Drexler brothers contemplating a kite theory in Maui. fishing. Photo Tomoko Okasaki 19. Martin Vari and Jeff Tobias hanging with the Reef girls at 25. Reo Stevens watches a 20 foot Tiger Shark as it feeds on a photos: riding, lifestyle or whatever. 8. Motz chilling between Therapy Sessions. Photo James Brown Photo Kim Kern San Diego ASR trade show. Photo Alexis Rovira dead 40 foot sperm whale 15 miles off the North Shore of The best shot will be printed in the 15. Andy Hurdman became a pro kiteboarder so he could pay for Oahu. Photo Ken Howard 3. Jason Lee grabbing some beef in the Caribbean. 9. David Tyburski doing his best James dean. Photo Bri Chmel new teeth. Photo Sierra Lake 20. Gabe Brown and Alexis Rovira representing at San Diego “Exposed” section and will receive a Photo Warren Chan 10. Dido is a ripping kiteboarder despite the fact he has only one ASR trade show. Photo Marina Chang 26. Cameron Dietrich and a crew of Cancun spring breakers. pair of Martin adjustable straps. 16. Dominican Republic. Photo Kevin Senn 4. A surreal moment in Buffalo, New York. Photo Bill Myers leg. Photo Ryan Riccitelli Photo Morton Skoll 21. Niccolo Porcella. Photo R. Mortier www.martintechnologies.com 27. Nadia Roux getting some warm water in Cozumel. Don’t forget to send us your caption. 5. Teal Druda, Bill Lee and Bri Chmel enjoying a Hollywood 11. Randy Coon is our New School rider profile, Denver Coon’s 17. The Oregon coast has miles of untapped coastline to ride. 22. Jill Cervi trekking into Egypt. Photo Dan Gavere Photo courtesy Nadia Roux [email protected] afternoon at eXtreme Stanley. Photo Ryan Riccitelli father. Photo Kim Kern Photo Scott Norby 36 23. Snoop dog—R.I.P. 10.30.04-1.2.05. Photo Diana Stoecklin 37 12. Sunset soul session in Hawaii. Photo Unknown Close-Up Sam Bell by James Brown

The REAL Thing VITALS

Sam Bell is one of the hottest emerging talents out of Cape Hatteras, North Age: 22 Height: 5’9 Carolina. Training with Jason Slezak has helped push his riding to new levels. Weight: 165lbs. Stance: Regular/Wide Sam’s board sports background dates back to early childhood where he Years riding: 3 remembers learning to skate and snowboard at age five. Surfing followed Favorite Spots: Cape Hatteras, Wave shortly after. Sam’s recent claim to fame includes being profiled as a Ranch in Cozumel, Shacks in P.R. kiteboarder in a Coca Cola commercial. Check out kbmag.com video links Hope to find more ! page for the entire video. Favorite Conditions: Glassy water lit Where did you start kiteboarding? Cape Hatteras on a 9m with sliders Favorite Moves: Powered wake/slid- What riders influence you most? Jason Slezak, Andre Phillip, Jeff Tobias—anyone who’s Sam Bell's signature piercing. having fun and killing it. ers/blind Photo Gregg Gnecco What sets you apart from other kiters? The 60 ft of Camel Toe. Sponsors: REAL, Litewave, 12 How has working at Real Kiteboarding helped your career? It has allowed me to meet new people. Trip Foreman and Matt Nuzzo both encourage me to do my best. I get to ride insane conditions. What is it like crashing on a rail? Fun? Ask Jason Slezak. What skills are you working on right now? I want to learn more tricks to blind. Where would you like to travel to kiteboard? I want to travel to Antigua to see Andre’s setup and Fiji. What do you do off the water to help you on the water? I like to wakeskate. What is your view on contests? I think they are too hard to judge when everybody has different styles. What do you like best about kiting? I like the power and riding with friends. Where do you see the sport heading? I hope it is not going to get too techy. Keep it simple! What are you major complaints about the sport? Too Techy. Who would you like to thank or give props to? Trip Foreman, Matt Nuzzo, Mr. Bob and Jason Slezak. They have all helped me more than I can remember or ever possibly thank. You used to ride surf and skate before kiting. Tell us about your worst wipeout and compare it your worst in kiteboarding. It’s the same, smacking your nuts on rails skating it as bad as it is kiting on the water. In skating you stop right away. In kiting you get drug around! You recently appeared on a Coke commercial kiteboarding. How did that fall into your lap? They came to REAL and they thought I was the rider that would fit best with what Coke was looking for. It was a great experience. Sam Bell and Jason Slezak are almost synonymous on the East Coast. How does it Sam Bell training at Real Kiteboarding's Cozumel location. Photo Gregg Gnecco feel walking in Jason’s footsteps? He’s a great rider and an even better friend. What else could you ask for to be able to travel, ride, party and work with someone like that. Is being a professional kiteboarder all that it is cracked up to be? It has its ups and downs just like life. GEARGEAR SET-UPSET-UP How do you cross train? I still skate a little and go out behind a boat. I don’t have an actual Board: 125 LITEWAVE Freestyle with small fins wakeboard boat though. and finless for sliders Is it true that you don’t really like riding contest and that you called them “gay” on a Bindings: Dakine foot straps few occasions. Maybe? As matter of fact yes! Kite: Slingshot Fuels 7-17m. What is the craziest stunt you have ever tried kiteboarding? My knees still hurt from Bars: Slingshot 17” Profire and a Pulley Bar when I first started kite loops. Lines: 25m and really short for something fun For more Sam Bell pics, video, and his Coke commercial, check out www.realkiteboard- Harness: Dakine Pyro ing.com. Wetsuit: Neilpryde 5000 series winter and Excess top for fall

s 1. Roll your wrist when going blind. 4. Double check your lines before you ride. p i

T 2. If you want to begin to ride sliders, start small and unhook. 5. Don’t be afraid to express yourself with body piercing. o

r 3. Don’t be afraid to ask locals what to be careful of at new riding spots. 6. Check out Carnaval in Cozumel ! 38 P Close-Up Yuri Takimoto Drexler by Marina Chang

Tazmanian Devil VITALS

Yuri Takimoto Drexler was born and raised in Takarazuka, Japan. Age: Old enough to know better Height: 5'1" She visited Maui for the first time in 1997 and fell in love with the island. Weight: 105lb Within two years she moved to Maui and started enjoying the island life. Years Riding: 3 She came into the sport with skills from snowboarding and windsurfing Local spot: Maui and six months after her first kiteboard lesson she sold all of her wind- Favorite Spots: Maui: kitebeach, Lower Kanaha, Lanes and Hookipa, surfing equipment. Now she is one of the hardest charging riders in the Paracuru in Brazil world. Keep your eye out for more of her in the future. Favorite Conditions: head high Yuri is on the mend. waves, 9m kite, side shore wind Photo Greg Drexler

When did you get into kiteboarding? I started kiteboarding on Maui, on Kona wind Favorite Moves: Dog and tree pause (yoga), wave riding (kite) Christmas day 3 years ago. Sponsors: Naish What riders influence you most? Kitebeach locals What sets you apart from other kiters? My “iron buns” What skills are you working on right now? I want to be able to walk without a pair of crutches Where would you like to travel to kiteboard? I like anywhere there are nice conditions like clean waves, steady wind and warm water What do you do off the water to help you on the water? I like to eat and sleep. What is your view on contests? Contests are not my favorite but it is fun if you win. What do you like best about kiting? Kiting is such a great exercise. You can spend a lot of energy without going to the gym so that you can eat whatever you want! I like a greasy cheese burger with french fries and double chocolate ice cream. What plans do you have for the future? I don't plan because whenever I plan, something else comes up. Life won't go as you plan. At least mine doesn’t. Where do you see the sport heading? I want to see it in the Olympics—Synchronized kiting. Just kidding. I don't know, I see it going many different directions like freestyle, waves, speed, etc. What are your major complaints about the sport? I wish nobody had died from the sport...and nobody will die. Who would you like to thank or give props to? My family and my friends—too many to list. What is it like being a girl in this sport? What? It is just like being a boy; except, I pee sitting down. How does it feel to know you are better than most of the girls, but not have the sponsorship dollars to prove it? Sponsorship dollars is not the proof I am seeking. For me, it is Yuri showing why she is one of the most respected female riders on Maui. only about pushing myself to ride as well as I can. Photo Kim Kern Do you think Susi Mai should have won Red Bull, King of the Air, in Maui? Of course! She is a great rider. We just have different riding styles. For the Red Bull, her style more suit- GEARGEAR SET-UPSET-UP ed the format. Board: Naish SOL 120, Rose coming soon What goes through your mind when taking beatings while learning a new move? Bindings: Naish footstraps Not too much, I just focus. Kite: Naish Torch 6m-16m How much of Greg Drexler’s coaching helped you get to where you are at? He helped a lot in the first year, especially with safety issues. Then I started doing some crazy stuff that Bar: Naish shift system he would not allow me to do. He has kind of backed off since then. Lines: 24m with shift system When you look at some of the top girls in the sport—Cindy Mosey, Julie Simsar, Harness: Naish kite waist harness Bri Chmel, Sheldon Plentovich. Where do you see yourself fitting in? Fitting in is about being friends. We are just a group of people and kiteboarding is all about fun. Wetsuit: What is that? You don't need that stuff in Hawaii...

s 1. Make sure you don't cut off anybody famous at Kitebeach when 3. When going out on a good day, don't forget to drop the kids off at the

p you are coming into the pond. pool before you go out. You don't want to come in just for that. i T

o 2. When somebody famous at Kitebeach cuts you off, don't give the 4. Before doing kiteloop handlepasses, always make sure that nobody is

r person the finger, instead give them a smile and a shaka. downwind of you. P 40 40 The Most LOVED and HATED Man in Kiteboarding: Shannon Best Interview Shannon's other passion is pushing the speed barrier. By Ryan Riccitelli Photos Gavin Butler I met Shannon Best on June 20, 1997 at the X Games in San Diego, California when kiteboarding was in its infancy. Shannon was in the hey day of his professional wakeboarding and cable park career and placed in the top five. Winning a little prize money, Shannon was ready for a night on the town. Shannon was humble despite his professional career and wanted to hang out with the locals. Me and my friends ended up showing him some S.D. night life. Quite honestly, I never thought I would see the guy again until I opened my August 1999 Wakeboarding Magazine where one of the very first kiteboarding stories was printed. Shannon Best was learning to kite from Lou Wainman and Elliot Leboe, in Corpus Christi, Texas. A lot has happened since those early days of kiteboarding, and now is the time for Shannon to tell his story. Be sure to check out the online video. This transcript barely scratches the surface.

Ryan Riccitelli: How many years have you been Ryan: What were your biggest accomplishments in Ryan: The perception is that you came into kiteboard- involved in board sports? wakeboarding and Cable Park riding? ing and saw a niche. Do you think you used kiteboard- Shannon Best: I started January 1, 1991, at about Shannon: My biggest accomplishments were develop- ing to scapegoat your wakeboarding career? 10 o’clock in the morning. I have been riding a ing a lot of innovation. From the very beginning of my Shannon: No I didn’t scapegoat! I went to one spon- skateboard since I was like 4 or 5. We have pic- career, I really liked working with shapers and develop- sor and they didn’t pay me. After getting burned by tures of when I was younger on my brother’s board. ers on the R&D of new products. I like providing rider bunch of companies, I had nothing to prove. I had a Ever since I can remember, I have been really into input to help progress product design. Innovating prod- blast wakeboarding and met a lot of great people. I board sports. Ball sports or team sports never really uct that works better helps to progress the sport. Being found kiteboarding and was like this is what I want to interested me. part of the process of innovating and helping to devel- do. I found it very easy to transfer my wakeboarding Ryan: How did this evolve into getting into wake- op a sport is my biggest accomplishment. skills over to kiteboarding. I was lucky enough to jump boarding and becoming a professional? Ryan: I know you won some contests and you lost into kiteboarding when it was a young sport. Everyone some. Tell us about that? is still trying to work out the possibilities. The only Shannon: I always wanted to be a pro skateboarder. thing I vowed was not to make some of the same mis- I would get all the magazines when I was younger. Shannon: I won cable titles and boat titles. I compet- takes I did in wakeboarding. It never happened due to the sheer fact that I was- ed on the wakeboarding pro tour. I think the biggest n’t really good at skateboarding, and I actually hurt accomplishment of my wakeboarding career was Ryan: When it is all said and done with—five years, myself. This is how the story goes. I hurt myself having fun for so long and meeting so many great ten years, twenty years from now. What do you want Shannon has one of the most stylish slim chances. skateboarding on a vacation and one of my broth- people. I have a sleuth of titles—everything from 20th people to remember about Shannon Best? er’s friends handed me a “skurfer” or ski board or to first and every place in between. Some of the Shannon: [laughs] I don’t even know if I even want to something like that, which was an early wake- biggest accomplishments I would have to say were be remembered. Hopefully people will remember me board. The minute I jumped on it at 10 o’clock in helping with the development of product and also for making a positive impact on not one but maybe a the morning that was it. Within three days, I inventing new tricks that are still being done today. couple of sports. I would hope to be remembered as Shannon spends some frfreeee time taking his girlfriend's daughterdaughter,, Alexis, to weekend soccer games. clocked up to 26 hours on the water. I was rashed, Ryan: Where do you see yourself in the history of an innovator if I am gong to be remembered. chafed, blistered and couldn’t walk. I was instantly wakeboarding—do you consider yourself a pioneer? in love with it. Editor’s Note Shannon: [pause]…yea I suppose a pioneer. I wouldn’t Ryan: You had a notable wakeboarding career I know I am going to take a lot of heat for running an inter- go as far as saying legend or anything like that. I helped view with Shannon Best. The controversy surrounding including your own signature boards. Who were innovate tricks and products as I said before. I was lucky Shannon Best unfortunately often detracts from Shannon some of your sponsors? enough to meet and ride with the best of the best. I Best the athlete. The goal of this interview is to give an impartial per- spective into the career and mind of one of the top innovators in our Shannon: I rode for almost every major wakeboard watched young riders turn into the top riders. One day I sport. Due to the sensitive nature of this interview, we decided to do sponsor that was out there at one time or anoth- was a poster on their walls when they were growing up a 15-minute live video interview that is available in the video links er—Hyperlite, Connelly(which later became CWB), and next thing you know they are on a poster on my section at www.kbmag.com.

3rd Place at the Gorge Games. The desk of Shannon Best. Shannon has led the unhooked movement for years. Liquid Force and Iconn Sports. wall. It is good to see what happens in time. The written interview has been significantly cut to fit this format.

Memory Lane

Australian Wakeboard Team Cover story - Why Shannon Best Liquid Force Best Pro-Model Wakeboard BOKS shoes advertisement 2004 Gorge Games Medal Mobius V Wakeboard boat advertisement Old School Shannon Iconn Sports - Shannon Best 42 Worlds USA - 1997 Left Australia. Summer 1996 featuring Shannon Best featuring Shannon Best. 2000 1995 Wake King Pro-Model Wakeboard 43 DominicanDominican Republic’sRepublic’s BestBest KeptKept Secret:Secret: ExtremeExtreme HotelsHotels By Mike Norman and Ryan Riccitelli Photos Ryan Riccitelli

The pool is even more fun after the sun goes down.

ow many times are you offered a chance to go hang go on an all expenses paid kiteboarding trip to the Dominican Republic Hwith Andy Hurdman and you get to be your own photographer? Ryan Riccitelli called late one night as I was finishing up my college finals and popped the question. He told me about this sick new hotel located on Kite Beach in Cabarete that had built a competition size fun ramp in the middle of the prop- erty. Riccitelli quickly led me to the live web cams and before I knew it I was watching people skating back and forth on the ramp while people from the beach bar enjoyed their happy hour drinks. This was a chance of a lifetime. I had to go. Here is the catch. My only obligation was to write up a spot check. I can ensure you that everything you are about to read is the truth—at least what I can remember. eXtreme Cabarete is one of sickest hotels I have ever stayed at, and New Years 2005 will go down in history as one of the craziest I have ever experienced. I hope my tips are helpful. Overview As kiters, what do we look for in a location? Wind that makes us drool, good food that keeps us charging and a night life where legends are born. Cabarete, Dominican Republic has all of that – eXtreme Cabarete employee, Josh Marinos coordinating there’s a reason why it has earned the title as “the kiteboarding Mecca of the Caribbean.” Anyone some recreational activities with the hotel guests. who has spent any time there will tell you that the clubs fire as hard as the wind does all day long. Check out the wind charts over the last three years and you will quickly see what I am talking about. Most travelers main concerns are: where do I stay when I get there, where can I be as close as possible to the beach and wind and where can I find the most affordable price without losing quality? I think I found the spot for you. Mike Norman boning out an indy glide. eXtreme is minutes away from "La boca." Photo Stefan Reuether The Hotel I have been to Cabarete before and stayed in several places. After this last experience I would have to say eXtreme Cabarete is hands down the chillest place to stay in the Dominican Republic, and quite possibly the Caribbean. This is why! Where else can you find A+ kiting conditions, full bar/restaurant on the beach, an awesome staff, great food and board and a the only half-pipe where kiters and skaters can watch each other ride? On top of that the place is wired with live web cams and has a free wireless internet access that anyone can access. It doesn’t matter if you’re only a kiter, skater, neither, or a full time drinker. This place has got everything for everyone. The best part is you can wave to your buddies on the cams who are shlepping away back home and make them jealous. -continued

44 Don't miss sunset skate session happy hours at the eXtreme beach bar. 45 barete E tels - Ca T xtreme Ho E

E R A S B P A I C T

■ Exchange rates can vary on a daily basis. Change money only as you need it as the exchange rate back to US dollars is very high. For some pocket change, go ahead and change money at the airport bank. Use this as a benchmark for negotiating a better price from one of the many money exchange booths or “cambios” on the streets of Cabarete. Doing your research will save you money. ■ Island Time is a lot different than 5pm Los Angeles. The Dominican lifestyle is laid back and things often take longer than expected. Felix Pivec enjoys a wave session at Encuentro. Whether its dinner, taxis or waiting for a beer, remember that you are now on “island time” and on holiday. Just relax. The madder you get, the slower the service. ■ Taxi Drivers and moto conchos are the basic means of transportation. You don’t need your own transportation unless you want to be totally independent or explore. Be careful riding the conchos at night. Many of the concho hour. uring happy beach bar d drivers like to booze it up on the night shift. tertains the "Morona" en Also be careful of their exposed exhaust pipes or you will go home with a “Dominican tattoo.” er. aining cent rete as a tr If you are staying at a hotel, ask the manager treme Caba an uses eX Andy Hurdm to get you a taxi. Rates are about $20 RD between Kite Beach and Cabarete for a moto concho, and $150 RD for a taxi. ■ Shopping in the Dominican Republic can be more fun than the nightlife. The local tiendas are Eddy and Cecilia are your The local casinos are a cab ride away. eXtreme Bar can get wild some nights. eXtreme Bar hook up. filled with beautiful Taino Indian influenced art- work, jewelry and every famous cigar imagina- ble. Bartering with shop owners is a must. Make Cabarete Night Life sure you have smaller bills. Shop owners will often claim they can’t change bigger bills. r. the local bee If you can manage to actually leave behind eXtreme Hotels nightly parties, Cabarete has a strip of clubs on the beach residente is The eXtreme bar offers free wireless internet. Mike Norman working on his handle pass. ■ Avoiding “Tourista” or getting sick is easy if P that can leave some holes in the memory. Here are a couple of rules and guidelines that will help you make the best you pay attention to what you eat and drink. of the nightlife in Cabarete. One: Start out at the Blue Bar, you probably won’t make to the strip. The Cuba Libre’s taste Make sure the cuba libre’s or any cold bever- The Kiteboarding better than you could imagine. Two: The sandwich guy by the Blue Bar is one of the best late night “krunked” food ever! age are served with fresh ice. Use common The Fun Ramp Three: Be prepared if you are taking a motoconcho or taxi. Have their money ready to go without sifting through your sense when eating out. If it looks sketchy, it Cabarete offers every type of riding: killer waves breaking on the reef with calm water Who would have ever thought of building a fun ramp in the middle of a hotel? wallet in front of them. most likely is sketchy. Parasites, bacteria and salmonella can be picked up if you are not on the inside, butter glass water and of course, epic downwinders. With miles of coast- About 20-feet from the beach is Cabarete’s only fun ramp, Six Feet Under. For Mike Norman is an up and coming professional kiteboarder who rides for Best Kiteboarding and Dakine. line, the crowds are well dispersed. The best part is that the majority of kiteboarders all the skaters out there, this pipe is sick! 20-feet of 6-foot section, 10-feet of careful. The local medical centers can fix you up in minutes if you can’t seem to shake it. know how to ride. This means everyone, except for the beginners, can usually man- 8-foot extension and a small 4-foot wide 12-foot to vert. Even if you don’t Local Hookups Drink plenty of bottled water. Also if you get a age to pass each other without tangling lines and kites! On top of that there is usual- skate, it is amazing to come in from an all day kite session and chill out at the cut or gash, take care of it. Go the pharmacy ly a world class pro kill’n it right in front of the hotel. bar with a drink and a senorita to watch some of the Dominican’s best skaters www.4tdomrep.com One of the most authorative and entertaining guides on the island, Rich Weber offers backcountry guide service dedicat- and get the powder form antibiotic as wounds light the ramp on fire. ed to introducing visitors to some of the island's lesser-known wonders away from the beaches. His nature hike ending in spring filled caves is heal slower in the tropics. A couple miles upwind of Kite Beach is La Boca. This is “the slick” of the Dominican. an experience you’ll remember for a lifetime. ■ Bad American attitudes reflect upon everyone. For all of you flat water junkies like myself,. this is where you go to find your solitude. www.dominicanproject.com Paintball and wakeboard slider park scheduled to open April 2005 on the Yasica River, also known as La Boca. Unfortunately we are stereotyped just like the It is only 5 minutes away from the hotel and a 60 peso moto concho ride. The river The Surf The three amigos Robbie, Vlad and Jeff can’t wait to unveil their camp in their private, jungle valley just 15 minutes outside of Cabarete. French. Always be patient and courteous with mouth shelters a 150-yard stretch of butter and extends to the breaking waves on the The winds of Cabarete usually don’t kick up until about 11 to 1 o’clock. So if www.coastalmotoadventures.com More than just white sandy beaches and lush tropical jungles. You’ll also experience pine forests in the everyone you come into contact with. A smile outside. When you’ve had your flat water fix, go outside to the ocean and tear up the you’re not suffering from a serious hangover from all those Presidentes and mountains, complete with waterfalls and rivers that can't be compared to any others in the world. and a “no comprende” while walking away will waves on an epic downwinder back to the hotel. If you’re not dead form riding, con- Cuba Libre’s, try out some of the best surf in the Caribbean. Smooth glassy [email protected] “German Mike” has organized canyoning competitions worldwide and knows the DR like the back of his hand. shake most people off. Keeping a positive atti- tinue down to Encuentro, which is a renowned surf break. If you are lucky you might water in the mornings make for a perfect pumping right at Encuentro. The Enjoy this thrilling adventure involving rappelling, cliff jumping, hiking and swimming. tude will save you from a lot of headaches. see Andre Phillip or Moe Gould tearing it up. waves can often be head high with bigger sets in between when a swell hits. www.iguanamama.com specializing in mountain bike tours from easy to expert. One stop tour operator for other island excursions. www.ambercoastadventures.com Carolyn’s tried everything and has chosen the best of the best. Not sure what to do? Amber Coast will cus- 46 tomize something just right for you. 47 48 49 This unknown grom in Coche, Venezuela jerry rigged PVC onto his father's fishing boat so he could learn to ride rails. Photo Ryan Riccitelli D E

Nina Johansson smiles for the camera before she charges S an afternoon session. Oahu, Hawaii Photo Jeff Pfeffer

Flash Austin soul session in front of a stunning audience. Maui, Hawaii. Photo courtesy of Wind Wing O P X E

50 51 Elliot Leboe smashes a wave at Lanes, Maui. Photo Charles Oreve D E S

Maui up and comer, Shawn Richards showing some new

Brendan “Hollywood” Richards making use of the pond at Waddell Creek, O school style. Photo Kim Kern California. Photo Matt Mink P X E

Jason Stone is a legend on and off the water. Maui, Hawaii. Photo Dino Tassara

Southern California barrel sessions are the perfect way to start the day. Photo Paul Jav Andy Hurdman in paradise. Los Roques, Venezuela. Photo Henry Dupont

Andre Phillip, Pete Cabrinha and Mark Ramsier enjoy a relaxing moment between sessions. Rarotonga Photo Tracy Kraft

Vietnam is a seemingly untapped kiteboarding adventure waiting to happen. Photo Aaron Glazman.

52 Send It photo contest winner. 53 This aerial shot of "La Boca" illustrates the kiteboarding potential that Hawaiian backgrounds are amazing for photos. Denver Coon surrounds Cabarete, Dominican Republic. Photo Stefan Reuether is frozen in time trying to nail a 360. Photo Diego Velasco

I sold Kalani Cook’s dad his first kite in 2002. By the looks of this photo, Kalani must have borrowed his dad’s gear. Photo Daniel Gallet

Our Art Director, James Brown, snowkiting in the Colorado backcountry. Photo Jeff Swanstrom D E S O P

While most people in the USA were freezing their butts off, Gail Zaccai X Jason Wolcott captures Corky Cullen's signature Indy in explores her own version of Endless Summer at Byron Bay, Australia. Ventura, California. Photo Jason Wolcott E Photo Jim Semlor 54 55 Imagine what is going through this local’s mind as kiteboarding enters his world. Egypt. Photo Dan Gavere

Johnny Romais’ explosive style is earning him respect amongst the Maui riders. Photo Kim Kern D E S O P X E

Mike Bradley gets slotted at the Jupiter Kite Invasion during his heat. He definitely wins first in our book. Photo Matt Cotton

Sometimes kiteboarding in a tropical place is not a reality for many. Our hat is off to the Jordan River crew for standing proud waiting for wind on a day most of us would say no. Photo Courtesy of the Jordan River Crew. 56 57 2005 Gear Guide AIRUSH Distributor: USA - Sky Hi Distributing, Canada - Trident Sports Website: airush.com, skyhiusa.com Customer service/sales email: [email protected] Phone numbers: 808.871.2723 1 Products: Kites, Bars, Boards, Accessories 2 Team Riders: Felix Pivec, Tina Harrison, Ofri (Mustafa) Argov, Neal Hilder, Steeves Fons, Jose Luengo, Colin McCulloch, Petra Schaefer, Danny Cruz, Darren Marshall, Gisela Pulido, Dimitri Maramenides, Julian Sudrat, Dieter Moherndl, Tom Hebert, Louis Miguel Country of manufacture: kites - China, boards - Thailand Years on Market: 6 Warranty: kites - 30 days, boards - 1 year

KITES Flow 1 Lift 2 Sizes: 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18m Sizes: 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20m Type of Kite: inflatable Type of Kite: inflatable Aspect Ratio: M Aspect Ratio: M - H Rider Level: beginner - advanced Rider Level: intermediate - advanced MSRP: starting at $879 complete, $644 MSRP: starting at $1036 complete, 3 Photo Sierra Lake kite only $801 kite only BAR 2005 Airide Bar 3 Type: 4-line (fifth line optional) 2005 is blowing right by and most of us are still clueless about the latest gear line-up. Sizes: 38, 45, 50, 55, 65cm MSRP: starting at $240 complete The staff here at The Kiteboarder magazine are regular people who have to make the same gear choices BOARDS Airush X-Pact 4 Pro-Toy 5 everyone else does. We put our heads together and designed the 2005 Product Watch to help guide you Type of Board: twin-tip Type of Board: twin-tip Type of Construction: production Type of Construction: production through the process. We decided to list basic product specs along with key contact information so you can Length: 120, 122, 127, 135cm Length: 119,127,137cm Width: 35, 37, 38, 39cm Width: 38, 38, 39cm 4 further your research online. Don't miss www.kbmag.com for the new electronic Product Watch section. Fins: 4 Fins: 4 Rider Level: intermediate - advanced Rider Level: intermediate - advanced MSRP: starting at $696 complete MSRP: starting at $696 complete

Guide to the Product Watch 2005 Gear Guide Amundson Customs Kites Boards Distributor: USA - Amundson Customs Website: amundsoncustoms.com Product Name Product Name Customer service/sales email: [email protected] Sizes: All sizing measured in flat area and is in square meters Types of boards: twin-tip, directional, mutant-twin (can be ridden backwards), mutant Phone numbers: 808.781.6858 5 Products: Custom boards, Accessories Type of Kite: Two categories inflatable or foil (open or closed cell) Type of construction: Custom = “made by hand”- materials and methods vary per man- Team Riders: The Space Monkeys, Bakalao, and the friends who ride my designs Aspect Ratio: L = low, M = moderate, H = high ufacturer. Check website for specifications. Production: “mass produced”- materials and methods vary per manufacturer. Check manufacturers website for specifications. and give me feed back and move my designs to the next level. Rider Level: beginner, intermediate, advanced Country of manufacture: US Lengths: smallest to largest in centimeters, unless note otherwise Years on Market: 5 MSRP: Manufacturers suggested retail price. All pricing listed as starting at complete and kite only, starting at the smallest size. All pricing rounded to nearest USD. Widths: narrowest to widest in metric in centimeters, unless noted otherwise Warranty: No warranties just a guarantee that you will be very satisfied with your Fins: total number of fins on board Rider Level: beginner, intermediate, advanced new board! MSRP: Manufacturers suggested retail price. Starting at the smallest size complete. All pricing rounded to nearest USD. Bars BOARDS Product Name M2 1 T2 2 Types: 4-line, 4-line (fifth line optional), 5-line Accessories Type of Board: mutant/twin (can be Type of Board: twin-tip ridden backwards) Type of Construction: custom Product Name Sizes: all in metric, unless noted otherwise Type of Construction: custom Length: custom (most popular in 100- 1 2 MSRP: Manufacturers suggested retail price. Starting at the smallest size complete. Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, or one size fits all, or actual dimensions Length: custom (most popular in 150cm range) All pricing rounded to nearest USD. MSRP: Manufacturers suggested retail price. All pricing rounded to nearest USD 125cm to 140cm) Width: custom Width: custom Fins: 4 Fins: 4 Rider Level: beginner - advanced Rider Level: beginner - advanced MSRP: starting at $780 complete w/ MSRP: starting at $780 complete w/ shipping shipping 58 59 ProductProduct WatchWatch 2005 Gear Guide

Amundson - continued Best - continued BOARDS BARS YT Series (YT5/ YT Wing/ YT Pin) 3 Mid Size Twin Tip Best Carbon Bar 1 Best Carbon Pulley Swivel Bar 4 Type of Board: directional Type of Board: twin-tip Type: 4-line (fifth line optional) Type: 4-line (fifth line optional) Type of Construction: custom Type of Construction: custom Sizes: 45, 55, 60cm Sizes: 38, 45cm Length: custom Length: custom (most popular in 130- MSRP: starting at $154.98 complete MSRP: starting at $174.98 complete 1 2 3 Width: custom 150cm range) 3 Fins: 3 Width: custom Best Carbon Swivel Bar 2 Best Kick 5th Line Bar 5 Rider Level: beginner - advanced Fins: 6 Type: 4-line (fifth line optional) Type: 5-line MSRP: starting at $800 complete w/ Rider Level: beginner - advanced Sizes: 45, 55, 60cm Sizes: 45, 55, 60cm shipping MSRP: starting at $780 complete w/ MSRP: starting at $174.98 complete MSRP: starting at $179.98 complete shipping Best Carbon Pulley Bar 3 Type: 4-line (fifth line optional) Sizes: 38, 45cm MSRP: starting at $134.98 complete Best Kiteboarding 5 4 Distributor: USA - Best Kiteboarding Website: bestkiteboarding.com BOARDS Customer service/sales email: [email protected] Drive Series 6 Best Pro 8 Skype: bestkiteboarding Type of Board: twin-tip Type of Board: twin-tip Phone numbers: 1.866.700.BEST (2378) 1 2 Type of Construction: production Type of Construction: production Products: Kites, Boards, Bars, Accessories Length: 121, 125, 131cm Length: 124, 130, 144cm Team Riders: Shannon Best, Jason Stone, Jo Jo Carniero, Clinton Bolton, Renee Width: 36, 38, 39cm Width: 38.5, 40.5, 41.5cm Fins: 4 Fins: 4 Hanks, Andy Hurdman, Michelle Baillot 6 7 Country of manufacture: kites - China, boards - China/USA, bars - China Rider Level: advanced Rider Level: advanced Years on Market: 1 MSRP: starting at $549 board only, MSRP: starting at $499 board only, Warranty: 30-day performance guarantee, 90-day materials/workmanship $619 complete $569 complete

Float Series 7 140 9 Type of Board: twin-tip Type of Board: twin-tip KITES Type of Construction: production Type of Construction: production Tempest All Terrain Kite 1 Yarga 5 Length: 133, 135cm Length: 140cm Sizes: 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15m Sizes: 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 20m Width: 42, 44cm Width: 46cm Type of Kite: inflatable Type of Kite: inflatable Fins: 4 Fins: 4 Aspect Ratio: M Aspect Ratio: M Rider Level: beginner—advanced Rider Level: beginner Rider Level: beginner - advanced Rider Level: beginner - advanced MSRP: starting at $529 board only, MSRP: starting at $429 board only, 8 MSRP: starting at $574, $449 kite only MSRP: starting at $574 complete, $449 9 3 $599 complete $499 complete kite only 4 BFK 2 Sizes: 16, 18, 21m Grunt 6 Type of Kite: inflatable Sizes: 3, 5, 7, 9m Aspect Ratio: H Type of Kite: inflatable Rider Level: advanced Aspect Ratio: L MSRP: starting at $974 complete, $849 Rider Level: beginner kite only MSRP: starting at $424 complete, $299 Cabal Skimboards kite only Distributor: North America- Cabal DC Inc. Nemesis 3 Website: www.cabaldc.com Sizes: 8,10,12,14m Fury 7 Customer service/sales email: [email protected] Type of Kite: inflatable Sizes: 5, 7, 9, 12m Phone numbers: 509-493-1400 Aspect Ratio: H Type of Kite: foil Products: Skimboards. 1 Rider Level: advanced Aspect Ratio: M Team Riders: Brian Lake, Joey Pasquali, Ian Daly, Jeff Kafka, 6 MSRP: starting at $674 complete, $549 Rider Level: beginner - advanced 5 Country of manufacture: boards - USA kite only MSRP: starting at $374 complete, $249 Years on Market: 2 kite only Warranty: boards 3 months Riot 4 Sizes: 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17m Type of Kite: inflatable BOARDS Aspect Ratio: M Cabal SX 1 Cabal Roush FIRE 2 Rider Level: beginner - advanced Type of Board: Skim directional swal- Type of Board: Skim directional round MSRP: starting at $574 complete, $449 lowtail pin kite only Type of Construction: PVC core, epoxy, Type of Construction: PVC core, epoxy, PBT topsheet PBT topsheet Length: 46”, 51” Length: 50”, 52.5” 2 Width: 20 1/4”, 21 5/8” Width: 20 1/4”, 21” Fins: 0 Fins: 0 Rider Level: intermediate - advanced Rider Level: intermediate - advanced MSRP: $249, $259 MSRP: $299 7 60 61 ProductProduct WatchWatch 2005 Gear Guide

Cabrinha Caution Santa Cruz Distributor: USA - Adventure Sports Inc. Distributor: USA - Caution Kites Website: cabrinhakites.com Website: cautionkites.com Customer service/sales email: [email protected], support@cabrin- Customer service: [email protected], [email protected], hakites.com [email protected] Phone numbers: 305.591.3922 1 2 Phone numbers: 805.984.3276 1 Products: Kites, Boards, Bars, Accessories Products: Kites, Boards, Bars, Accessories Team Riders: Pete Cabrinha, Andre Phillip, Gianni Aragno, Damien Leroy, Elliot Team Riders: Dave Broom, Cees Van Oosterum, Rutger Zomer, Dylan Grafmyre, Leboe, Stav Niarchos, Julie Gilbert, Tomoko Okazaki, Jun Oshima Brendan “Hollywood” Richards, Bruce Eliashof, Chris Gutzeit, Chuck Patterson, Country of manufacture: China Garfield King Years on Market: 6 Warranty: [email protected] Country of manufacture: kites - Sri Lanka, boards - USA 3 Years on Market: 6 years KITES Warranty: kites - 90 days, boards - 90 days Nitro 1 CO2 2 Sizes: 5, 6.5, 8, 10, 12, 14m Sizes: 6.5, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18m KITES Type of Kite: inflatable Type of Kite: inflatable Spitfire 2 1 Aspect Ratio: M - H Aspect Ratio: M Sizes: 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 20m Rider Level: beginner - advanced Rider Level: beginner - advanced Type of Kite: inflatable MSRP: starting at $1163 complete, MSRP: starting at $1145 complete, Aspect Ratio: M-H $910 kite only $823 kite only Rider Level: beginner - advanced 2 3 MSRP: starting at $900 complete, $720 BAR kite only Recon Gen 2 Bar 3 4 5 Type: 4-line carbon BAR MSRP: starting at $337 complete Caution Spitfire II Swivel Bar 2 BOARDS Type: 4-line (fifth line optional) Sizes: 50, 60cm Icon 4 Prodigy 5 MSRP: starting at $150 Type of Board: twin-tip Type of Board: twin-tip Type of Construction: production Type of Construction: production Length: 130, 140, 150cm Length: 158 cm BOARDS Width: 35, 35.5, 36cm Width: 41 cm Caution Missing Link 3 Caution Redline Series 4 Fins: 4 Fins: 4 Type of Board: mutant/twin (can be Type of Board: twin-tip Rider Level: beginner - advanced Rider Level: beginner - intermediate ridden backwards) Type of Construction: production MSRP: starting at $580 complete MSRP: starting at $525 complete Type of Construction: production Length: 122, 132, 142cm Length: 135cm Width: 38.10, 38.10, 38.74cm ACCESSORIES - NEILPRYDE 7 6 Width: 38.74cm Fins: 4 4 NeilPryde NPX SEMIDRY 6 NeilPryde NPX 4000 Series 9 Fins: 6 Rider Level: beginner - advanced 4/3 E1 Wind Heatseeker Long Sleeve Rider Level: intermediate - advanced MSRP: starting at $600 complete Sizes: n/a Sizes: n/a MSRP: $666 complete MSRP: starting at $227 MSRP: starting at $62 8 NeilPryde 5000 Series Short 7 NeilPryde 4000 Series 10 ACCESSORIES Sleeve Steamer 3/3 E3 Wind Marine High Hook Vest CE Caution Glueless Ergonomic 5 Sizes: n/a Sizes: n/a Contoured Foot Pad MSRP: starting at $274 MSRP: starting at $84 Sizes: one size fits all MSRP: $40/pair 10 NeilPryde 3000 Series 8 3/2 Shorty Wind Caution Adjustable Ergonomic 6 Contoured Foot Strap Sizes: n/a 5 Sizes: one size fits all 6 MSRP: starting at $122 9 MSRP: $40/pair

5th Line Easy Fit Kit 7 for Spitfire Kites Blast from the Past Sizes: adjustable per kite MSRP: TBA Brand: F-One 7.5 bridled foil Model: Pre-Shadow Year: 2000 7

n History: The kite was plain yellow and white with no graphics or model name w o r screened on the canopy. Branding apparently wasn’t as important back then. It had two B f f e

J lines with a third for a brake so there was no on-the-fly depowering. It shot to the edge o t o of the window quickly so it had to be constantly moving in the power zone to generate h P juice. We would particularly like to forget about the pink windsurf-style seat harness. 62 63 ProductProduct WatchWatch 2005 Gear Guide

BARS Dakine EH Carbon Bar 1 Distributor: USA - DAKINE Type: 4-line (fifth line optional) 1 Website: dakine.com Sizes: 45, 55cm Customer service/sales email: [email protected], [email protected] MSRP: starting at $199 complete Phone numbers: 541.386.3166 Products: Accessories Team Riders: Ben Wilson, Bertrand Fleury, Chris Gilbert, Chuck Patterson, Dave 1 2 BOARD Tyburski, Denver Coon, Dimitri Maramenides, Gianni Aragno, Jeff Tobias, Jose EH Cabarete Customs 2 Luengo, Mark Doyle, Mauricio Abreu, Simone Vannucci, Bri Chmel, Fiona Wedenig, Type of Board: all styles Gisela Pulido, Julie Simsar, Morgan Skipperdene, Nina Johansson. Type of Construction: custom Country of manufacture: Worldwide Length: custom Years on Market: 5 Width: custom Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty. Fins: custom Rider Level: beginner - advanced MSRP: starting at $750 complete ACCESSORIES 3 Siren Waist Harness 1 Adjustable Control Contour 5 Sizes: XS-L Footstraps 2 MSRP: $99 Sizes: adjustable Flexifoil MSRP: $54/pair Distributor: Jeoffrey Nathan for the Eastern US and Peter Trow for the Western US Fusion Seat Harness 2 Website: flexifoil.com Sizes: XS-XL Adjustable Vario Contour 6 Customer service/sales email: [email protected], [email protected], MSRP: $135 Footstraps [email protected] Sizes: adjustable Phone numbers: 401.487.3756, 805.698.0971 BTS Bag 3 MSRP: $54/pair 4 Products: Kites, Boards, Bars, Accessories Sizes: 140cm 5 6 Team Riders: Aaron Hadlow, Kirsty Jones, Danny Seales, Andreya Wharry MSRP: $150 Raptor Traction Pad 7 Country of manufacture: kites - China, boards - South Africa Sizes: 10 Piece Pad Years on Market: 3 Cyclone Full Finger Gloves 4 MSRP: $$29.99 Warranty: Flexifoil will repair or replace at our discretion any product that has Sizes: XS-XL failed as a result of a manufacturing fault with no time limit. Wear and tear, MSRP: $34 XXX Pro Comp Leash 8 customization or using the product incorrectly are not covered Sizes: Size: 6’ x 3/16” 1 2 MSRP: $$25.00 KITES Sabre 1 Bullet Sizes: 7, 9.5, 11.5m Sizes: 2.5, 3.5, 4.5, 5.5, 7m Type of Kite: foil (open cell) Type of Kite: foil (open cell) EH Kiteboarding 8 Aspect Ratio: M Aspect Ratio: M Distributor: USA - EH Kiteboarding Rider Level: intermediate - advanced Rider Level: beginner - intermediate for Website: ehkiteboarding.com 7 MSRP: starting at $1020 complete, n/a smaller size (2.5) and intermediate - Customer service/sales email: [email protected], Skype: ehkite- kite only advanced for larger sizes boardingshop MSRP: starting at $329 complete, n/a Phone numbers: 809.571.9578 Strike 2 2 kite only Products: Kites, Boards, Bars Sizes: 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 21m Team Riders: Claes Lundin, Jerson Sanchez, Hugo Ljungberg Type of Kite: inflatable Buzz 3 3 Country of manufacture: kites - China, boards - Cabarete Aspect Ratio: M Sizes: 0.8m trainer Years on Market: 5 Rider Level: beginner - advanced Type of Kite: foil (open cell) Warranty: 90 days MSRP: starting at $1040 complete, Aspect Ratio: M $800 kite only Rider Level: beginner MSRP: $109 complete, n/a kite only KITES EH Wave 1 EH Cabarete Lightwind Sizes: 7, 9, 11, 13, 15m Sizes: 16, 19, 21m Type of Kite: inflatable Type of Kite: inflatable Aspect Ratio: M Aspect Ratio: M Rider Level: beginner - advanced Rider: intermediate MSRP: starting at $749 complete, $649 MSRP: starting at $1099 complete, Blast from the Past kite only $999 kite only

Not Pictured 1 2 EH Freestyle 2 Brands: Hana Crew, Slingshot, S.O.S. Sizes: 8, 10, 12, 14m Models: Too many to list Type of Kite: inflatable Aspect Ratio: H Year: 1997 - Present

Rider Level: intermediate - advanced g r u

MSRP: starting at $799 complete, $699 b s History: Neil Hutchinson proudly sits at the X-Rated Tiki Bar surrounded by his i kite only e W own personal “bone-yard” of kiteboards that helped pioneer the early days of our e t e

P sport. The large, pointy, F-One board was one of the hottest boards on the market o t

o until the twin tip revolution came along. This photo illustrates the incredible amount h P of research and development that has gone into the evolution of kiteboard building. 64 ProductProduct WatchWatch 2005 Gear Guide

Flexifoil - continued Gaastra Distributor: USA- Icon Sports Inc. KITES Website: gaastrakites.com Sting 1 Customer service/sales email: [email protected] Sizes: 1.2m trainer Phone numbers: 508.758.8025 (USA) Type of Kite: foil (open cell) 1 Products: Kites, Boards, Bars, Accessories Aspect Ratio: M Team Riders: Davey Blair, Jose Luis Ciricao, Jonah Lepak, Susi Mai, Sheldon Rider Level: intermediate - advanced Plentovich, Cory Roeseler, Dylan Thompson 1 2 MSRP: $179 complete, n/a kite only Country of manufacture: kites - China, boards - China/Thailand Years on Market: 4 BARS Warranty: kites - 1 year, boards - 1 year CBX50 Carbon Control Bar 2 CBX50 5th Line Upgrade 3 Type: 4-line (fifth line optional) Sizes: n/a KITES Sizes: 50cm MSRP: $100 Vision 1 Force 2 MSRP: $215 complete Sizes: 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18m Sizes: 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16m Type of Kite: inflatable Type of Kite: inflatable 2 3 Aspect Ratio: M - H Aspect Ratio: M Rider Level: intermediate - advanced Rider Level: beginner - advanced Flysurfer MSRP: starting at $939 complete, $749 MSRP: starting at $739 complete, $549 3 kite only kite only Distributor: Flysurfer USA Website: flysurfer-usa.com, flysurfer.de Customer service/sales email: [email protected] BAR Phone numbers: 757.620.2786 Defender 3 Products: Kites, Bars Type: 4-line (fifth line optional) Team Riders: Ted Bautista, Sebastian Bubmann, Jens Siegert, Kai Frasunkiewicz, Sizes: 45, 55cm Marcus Dampsell, Armin Harich MSRP: starting at $159 Country of manufacture: Germany Years on Market: 6 Warranty: 1 year BOARDS Vision 4 RiderX 5 KITES Type of Board: twin-tip Type of Board: twin-tip 4 Type of Construction: production Type of Construction: production Rookie 2 1 Psycho 2 2 1 Length: 118, 128, 131cm Length: 136, 146, 156cm Sizes: 2, 4, 6, 9m Sizes: 7, 10, 13, 17, 21, 26m Width: 37, 39, 41cm Width: 38, 41, 44cm Type of Kite: foil (open cell) Type of Kite: foil (closed cell) Fins: 4 Fins: 4 Aspect Ratio: M Aspect Ratio: H Rider Level: intermediate - advanced Rider Level: intermediate - advanced Rider Level: beginner - advanced Rider Level: beginner - advanced MSRP: starting at $749 MSRP: starting at $499 MSRP: starting at $299 complete, n/a MSRP: starting at $1299 complete, n/a kite only kite only

Extacy Sizes: 4.5, 7, 10, 13, 17m Hana Crew Type of Kite: foil (closed cell) Distributor: USA - Hana Crew Aspect Ratio: M Website: hanacrew.com, x-tremekiteboarding.com Rider Level: beginner - advanced Customer service/sales email: [email protected] MSRP: starting at $959 complete, n/a Phone numbers: 252.480.2879 5 kite only 2 Products: Boards, Accessories Team Riders: Dimitri Maramenides, Hamish Macdonald, Hope Levin, Evin Netch, Jaime Escaleras, Brian Greewall, Gabe Brown, Neil Hutshison, Damien Leroy, Rick Shneck, Jeff Howard, Mark Jorrens Country of manufacture: USA Years on Market: 5 years Warranty: 90-day material/workmanship

Blast from the Past BOARDS Rebel Series 1 Riddick 2 g Brand: F-One Type of Board: mutant/twin (can be Type of Board: twin-tip n i d r ridden backwards) Type of Construction: production a o Model: 6’3, XF-70 directional, 28” stock bar, Shadow 7m b Type of Construction: production Length: 127cm e t i 1 K Length: 135cm (Rebel 2, Rebel) Width: 25cm 2 l

a Year: 2000 e Width: 34, 38cm Fins: 4 R f o Fins: 5 Rider Level: intermediate - advanced

y History: Matt Nuzzo helped pioneer kiteboarding along the East Coast and is one of the founders s

e Rider Level: intermediate - advanced MSRP: starting at $600 complete t r

u and owners of Real Kiteboarding. Matt and his partner Trip Foreman were instrumental in devel-

o MSRP: starting at $600 complete C

o oping one of the first kiteboarding schools in the United States. Matt’s shaggy mullet was as up t o h

P to-date as his gear when this photo was taken. 66 67 ProductProduct WatchWatch 2005 Gear Guide

Hana Crew - continued Liquid Force 2 Distributor: USA - Liquid Force BOARDS Website: liquidforce.com Matrix 1 Raven 2 Customer service/sales email: [email protected] Type of Board: twin-tip Type of Board: directional (or remove Phone numbers: 800.820.7781 Type of Construction: production pads/straps for skim board) Products: Kites, Boards, Bars, Accessories 1 Length: 120cm Type of Construction: production Team Riders: Moehau Goold, Jason Slezak, Corky Cullen, Tuterai Montaron Width: 35cm Length: 130cm Country of manufacture: kites - China, boards - USA, accessories - China Fins: 4 Width: 51cm Years on Market: 5 Rider Level: intermediate - advanced Fins: 1 Warranty: kites - 90 days, boards - 1 year, accessories - 1 year MSRP: starting at $600 complete Rider Level: beginner - advanced 3 MSRP: starting at $600 complete 1 2 D2 KITES BAR Type of Board: twin-tip Spectrum II 1 Liquid Force Spinning Powerlock 2 Type of Construction: production Sizes: 6.0, 8.0, 10.0, 12.0, 14.0, 17.0, Type: 4-line (fifth line optional) Length: 130cm 20.0m Sizes: n/a Width: 49cm Type of Kite: inflatable MSRP: starting at $230 Fins: 4 Aspect Ratio: M Rider Level: beginner - advanced Rider Level: beginner - advanced MSRP: starting at $600 complete MSRP: starting at $600 complete, $450 Not Pictured kite only ACCESSORIES BOARDS Adjustable Asymmetrical 3 Stubby Grab Rails 4 Element 3 Drop 6 4 5 5 Footstraps Sizes: various shapes 3 Type of Board: twin-tip Type of Board: twin-tip Sizes: adjustable MSRP: $26/set 4 Type of Construction: production Type of Construction: production MSRP: $40/pair Length: 128, 134 cm Length: 130, 140cm Width: 41, 42cm Width: 38.7, 39.4cm Fins: 4 Fins: 4 Symmetrical Footpads 5 Rider Level: beginner - advanced Rider Level: beginner - advanced Sizes: one size fits all MSRP: starting at $550 (board only MSRP: starting at $450 (board only MSRP: $45/pair with fins) with fins)

Drop Ltd. 4 MLF 7 Jimmy Lewis Type of Board: twin-tip Type of Board: twin-tip Distributor: USA - Realkiteboarding Type of Construction: production Type of Construction: production Website: jimmylewis.com Length: 132, 138 cm Length: 120cm 6 7 Customer service/sales email: [email protected] Width: 40, 41cm Width: 40cm Phone numbers: 808.573.2969 Fins: 4 Fins: 4 Products: Custom boards, Production boards, Accessories Rider Level: beginner - advanced Rider Level: beginner - advanced Team Riders: Mauricio Abreu, Konrad Bright, Colin Gowland, Dylan Grafmyre, MSRP: starting at $550 (board only MSRP: starting at $350 (board only with fins) with fins) Rony Jabbour, Garfield King, Hiro Nakajima, Matt Nuzzo, Tomoko Okazaki, 1 Niccolo Porcella, John Romais Country of manufacture: customs - USA, productions - Vietnam WLF 5 ACCESSORIES Years on Market: customs - 6 yr., productions - 1 yr. Type of Board: twin-tip Board Interface System 8 Warranty: The warranty on Jimmy’s custom boards is the same as the produc- Type of Construction: production Sizes: S-XL tion boards: the materials and workmanship are guaranteed to be flawless. If the Length: 130, 140cm MSRP: starting at $110 rider breaks the board: it broke because he landed wrong, not because Width: 46cm 8 there were any defects in the board. Fins: 4 9 Union Binding 9 Rider Level: beginner - advanced MSRP: starting at $550 (board only Sizes: MD, LG, XL BOARDS with fins) MSRP: starting at $249.99 MODEL III Production Boards 1 RAD-F Production Boards 3 Type of Board: twin-tip Type of Board: mutant-twin Type of Construction: production Type of Construction: production 2 3 Length: 125, 133, 139, and 145cm Length: 132, 137cm Width: n/a Fins: 4 Width: n/a Fins: 5 Blast from the Past Rider Level: beginner - advanced Rider Level: beginner - advanced MSRP: starting at $800 complete MSRP: starting at $800 complete Brand: Liquid Force BITCH-WITCH Production Boards 2 e Model: Picklefork 141 c r

Type of Board: twin-tip o F d Type of Construction: production i Year: 2001 u q Length: 128, 138cm i L f

Width: n/a Fins: 4 o History: The Liquid Force Pickleforks™ were the original kiteboards shaped by Jimmy Lewis. Years of R&D y s

Rider Level: beginner - advanced e t

r and experience went into these functional shapes. The picklefork™ shape was the shape all the Pros used. u

MSRP: starting at $800 complete o

C If you were looking for limitless up-wind ability, powerful technical jumps, and ease of riding the Liquid o t o

h Force Picklefork™ was the board for you at that time. P 68 ProductProduct WatchWatch 2005 Gear Guide

Litewave Naish Distributor: Litewave Designs Distributor: USA - North Sports, Inc. Website: litewavedesigns.com Website: naishkites.com, naishusa.com Customer service/sales email: [email protected] Customer service/sales email: [email protected] Phone numbers: 916.961.1117 Phone numbers: 509.493.4938 Products: Kites, Boards, Bars, Accessories Products: Kites, Boards, Bars, Accessories Team Riders: Top Hat, Sam Bell, Fabian Frick, Nina Johannson, Pierre Joris Team Riders: Robby Naish, Mark Shinn, Adam Koch, Ben Meyer, Abel Lago, Country of manufacture: boards - USA, kites - Hong Kong Leeshai Miller, Chris Gilbert, Don Montague, Greg Drexler, Paul Franco, Patirck 1 2 1 Years on Market: Litewave - 7, Globerider - 3 Koller, Katsushi Shinjo, Yuri T. Drexler 2 Warranty: 90 days Country of manufacture: Thailand & Poland Years on Market: 7 Warranty: kites 90 - days, boards 6 - months KITES Globerider Lift 3 1 Globerider Curl 3 2 KITES Sizes: 7, 9, 12, 15, 18m Sizes: 7, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21m 3 Torch 1 Boxer 2 4 5 Type of Kite: inflatable Type of Kite: inflatable Sizes: 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 25m Sizes: 4, 6, 9,12,16, 19m Aspect Ratio: M - H Aspect Ratio: M Type of Kite: inflatable Type of Kite: inflatable Rider Level: intermediate - advanced Rider Level: beginner - advanced Aspect Ratio: M Aspect Ratio: M MSRP: starting at $999 complete, $799 MSRP: starting at $979 complete, $779 Rider Level: beginner - advanced Rider Level: beginner - advanced kite only kite only MSRP: starting at $1120 complete, MSRP: starting at $850 complete, $570 $740 kite only kite only BAR 3 4 360° Spinning Bar 3 Raven 3 Type: 4-line (fifth line optional) 6 Sizes: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20m Sizes: adjustable 43/53, 53/63cm Type of Kite: inflatable MSRP: starting at $250 complete Aspect Ratio: M - H Rider Level: intermediate - advanced BOARDS MSRP: starting at $1230 complete, Freeride Series 4 Freestyle Series 5 $850 kite only Type of Board: twin-tip Type of Board: twin-tip Type of Construction: production Type of Construction: production BAR Length: 136, 148, 158, 169, 179cm Length: 115, 125, 135, 145cm 4 Width: 37, 39, 41, 43, 46cm Width: 38, 39, 41, 43cm Shift System Fins: 4 (6-fin in larger sizes) Fins: 4 (6-fin in larger sizes) Type: 5-line Rider Level: beginner - advanced Rider Level: beginner - advanced Sizes: 45, 50, 55cm MSRP: starting at $370 complete 5 MSRP: starting at $599 complete MSRP: starting at $599 complete 6 8 7 ACCESSORIES BOARDS Litewave Board Bag 6 Boost Strap-standard 8 Sol 5 Kite Wave 6 Sizes: 138, 150, 180cm Sizes: one size fits all Type of Board: twin-tip Type of Board: directional MSRP: $90 MSRP: $36/pair Type of Construction: production Type of Construction: production Length: 120, 125, 130, 135 cm Length: 165.5 cm Dual Density Pads Butterfly Pro 9 Width: 36.5, 37.5, 38.5, 39.5 cm Width: 45.4 cm Sizes: one size fits all Sizes: one size fits all Fins: 4 Fins: 3 MSRP: $28 MSRP: $123 Rider Level: intermediate - advanced Rider Level: beginner - advanced 10 MSRP: starting at $750 complete MSRP: starting at $700 complete Pro Strap-adjustable 7 Integrator Impact Vest 10 9 Sizes: one size fits all Sizes: one size fits all Alien 7 Thorn 8 MSRP: $49/pair MSRP: $79 Type of Board: Mutant Type of Board: twin-tip 7 8 Type of Construction: production Type of Construction: production Length: 121, 137, 145 cm Length: 126, 129, 132, 135 cm Width: 37, 38.25, 42.1 cm Width: 37.5, 38.5, 39.5, 41.4 cm Fins: 4-6 Fins: 4 Blast from the Past Rider Level: beginner - advanced Rider Level: beginner – advanced MSRP: starting at $750 complete MSRP: starting at $900 complete

Grom 9 Rose 10 g Brand: Naish n i d Type of Board: twin-tip Type of Board: twin-tip r a o Type of Construction: production Type of Construction: production

b Model: Pre-AR3.5 Kite and 4’10” Naish Hawaii custom directional e t i Length: 111 cm Length: 122 cm K h Year: 2000 Width: 31.3 cm s Width: 35.1 cm i a

N Fins: 4 Fins: 4 f o History: Robby Naish is a living legend in the action sports industry. His experience and legacy as Rider Level: beginner - advanced 9 10 y Rider Level: beginner - advanced s e t MSRP: starting at $700 complete r a world champion windsurfer helped pioneer the early days of kiteboarding. There was actually a MSRP: starting at $700 complete u o

C day when there were no Naish kites. Robby deserves credit for launching the first United States o t o h based kiteboarding brand in the world. Since, Naish kites has grown to be one of the largest kite P manufacturers in the world. Thank god we don’t have to hang onto “broomsticks” like that anymore. 70 71 ProductProduct WatchWatch 2005 Gear Guide

North Ocean Rodeo Distributor: USA – North Sports Inc. Distributor: Ocean Rodeo Sports Website: northkites.com Website: oceanrodeo.com Customer service/sales email: find your nearest dealer at northkites.com Customer service/sales email: [email protected], [email protected] Phone numbers: 509.493.4938 Phone numbers: 250.544.4969 1 2 Products: Kites, Boards, Bars, Accessories Products: Kites, Boards, Bars, Accessories Team Riders: Charles Deleau, Cindy Mosey, Fabio Ingrosso, Ingrid Kollbichler, Team Riders: Matthieu Blanchard and others TBA Jaime Herraiz, Jeremie Eloy, Sky Solbach, Will James Country of manufacture: n/a 1 2 Country of manufacture: kites - Sri Lanka/China, boards - Austria/Thailand Years on Market: 4 Years on Market: 4 Warranty: kites - 6 months, boards - 6 months Warranty: kites - 1 year, boards - 3 months

KITES KITES Rhino ‘05 1 Vegas ‘05 2 Bronco 1 Stinger 2 Sizes: 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20m Sizes: 6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18m Sizes: 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 21m Sizes: 1.8 trainer, 4, 8, 11, 15m Type of Kite: inflatable Type of Kite: inflatable Type of Kite: inflatable Type of Kite: inflatable Aspect Ratio: M Aspect Ratio: M Aspect Ratio: H Aspect Ratio: L Rider Level: intermediate - advanced Rider Level: beginner - advanced Rider Level: intermediate—advanced Rider Level: beginner - advanced MSRP: starting at $1300 complete, MSRP: starting at $1130 complete, MSRP: starting at $890 complete, $602 MSRP: starting at $350 complete, $250 $1016 kite only $850 kite only kite only kite only

BAR 3 6 BAR 5th Element 1 TM Type: 5-line 1 Ocean Rodeo Punch-Out Bar 3 Sizes: one size adjustable 48/57cm Type: 4-line (fifth line optional) MSRP: starting at $330 complete Sizes: 40, 50, 60cm 2 3 MSRP: starting at $250 complete BOARDS Jaime Pro 2 Dragon 3 BOARDS Type of Board: twin-tip Type of Board: twin-tip Mako-XCON 4 Zen-FRS 5 Type of Construction: production Type of Construction: production Type of Board: twin-tip Type of Board: twin-tip Length: 123, 126, 128 cm Length: 134, 134, 134 cm Type of Construction: production Type of Construction: production Width: 35.5, 37.5, 40 cm Fins: 4 Width: 36, 38.5, 43 cm Fins: 4 Length: 150cm Length: 123, 135cm Rider Level: intermediate - advanced Rider Level: beginner - advanced Width: 34.5cm Width: 36, 37cm MSRP: starting at $700 complete MSRP: starting at $700 complete Fins: 2 Fins: 4 Rider Level: beginner - advanced Rider Level: intermediate - advanced MSRP: starting at $835 complete MSRP: starting at $835 complete

NSI (North Shore Inc.) 1 4 5 Distributor: USA - North Shore Inc. Legend-ALX ACCESSORIES Website: nsikiteboarding.com Type of Board: twin-tip Pyro Drysuit 6 Type of Construction: production Customer service/sales email: [email protected] 2 Type: Drysuit Phone numbers: 541.386.1980 Length: 142cm Sizes: XXXS - XXXL Products: Boards, Bars, Accessories Width: 36.5cm MSRP: starting at $490 Team Riders: n/a Fins: 4 Country of manufacture: USA (except the Deceiver bag is made in China) Rider Level: beginner - intermediate Years on Market: 6 MSRP: starting at $675 complete Warranty: Satisfaction guaranteed on all products: no timeline. 3 BAR BOARDS Longhorn Carbon Kite Bar 1 Hein Series Kiteboards 2 Type: 4-line Type of Board: twin-tip 5 Blast from the Past Sizes: 45, 53, 61, 71, 86cm Type of Construction: custom-prodn MSRP: starting at $169 bar only (call Length: 118, 125, 130cm. Available in for a quote on complete setup) any custom outline. Brand: Jimmy Lewis Width: 36, 38, 39cm Fins: 6 4 Rider Level: intermediate - advanced Model: Custom prototypes MSRP: starting at $699 complete Year: 2000 ACCESSORIES Adam Koch Pro Kite Strap 3 NSI Turbo Blow & NSI Super 6 History: Jimmy Lewis is one of the most influential board design- Sizes: adjustable Turbo Blow Rechargeable ers in kiteboarding. The wall of broken boards paint the evolution of MSRP: $22 Electric Kite Pumps 7 kiteboard design. The board on the far left is one of the first pickle- Sizes: 7.5 PSI max, 12 PSI max s Reel Leash 4 i fork’s designed for Lou Wainman. The second board is one of Chris MSRP: Turbo Blow: $149, Super Turbo w

6 e Sizes: one size fits all Blow: $189 L Gilbert’s early customs. The board on the right is the prototype of the y

MSRP: $55 m m i original Liquid Force production Picklefork. When Jimmy took this 7 J

Deceiver Kite Travel Bag o t

o photo of me in early 2000, I never would have thought I would be Pro Tec Ace Helmets 5 Sizes: Base End - 13 1/2" X 15" Top h P Sizes: S, M, L, XL End - 11 1/2" x 14" Length - 59" using it to talk about the history of the sport. MSRP:72 $ 45 Water, $65 Wake MSRP: $145 ProductProduct WatchWatch 2005 Gear Guide

Ozone RRD Distributor: USA - Windzup Distributor: USA / North America- Cabal DC Inc. Website: ozonesnowkites.com Website: www.robertoriccidesigns.com www.cabaldc.com Customer service/sales email: [email protected] Customer service/sales email: [email protected] Phone numbers: 801.501.8300 Phone numbers: 509-493-1400 Products: Kites, Bars, Accessories Products: Kites, Bars, Boards. Team Riders: Guillaume Chastagnol, Sigve Botten, Fabrice Mondacin, Johan Civel Team Riders: David Tyburski, Mikael Fernandez, Bri Chmel, Denver Coon, Brian Country of manufacture: Vietnam Years on Market: 5 Warranty: 1 year Lake, Joey Pasquali, Chip Wasson, Nick Bowers, Ian Daly, Rebecca Wolthers, Jeff Kafka, Dan Gavere, Simone Vannucci. Country of manufacture: kites - China, boards - Thailand KITES BARS 1 2 Years on Market: 7 3 1 2 3 Frenzy 05 1 Frenzy Carbon Control Bar 4 Warranty: kites – 6 months, boards - 1 year Sizes: 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 14m Type: 4-line Type of Kite: foil (open cell) Sizes: 50, 60cm KITES Aspect Ratio: M - H MSRP: starting at $250 complete Type 6 1 ZH 2 Rider Level: beginner - advanced Sizes: 5, 7, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21m Sizes: 8, 10, 13, 16, 20, 24m MSRP: starting at $699 complete Carbon Quad Line Bar Type of Kite: inflatable Type of Kite: inflatable Type: 4-line Aspect Ratio: M Aspect Ratio: M-H Imp Sizes: 55, 65cm 2 Rider Level: beginner - pro Rider Level: intermediate - pro Sizes: Small, Medium, Large MSRP: $118 bar only MSRP: starting at $875 complete, $595 MSRP: starting at $995 complete, $825 Type of Kite: foil (open cell) 4 5 kite only kite only Aspect Ratio: M Ozone Dual Line Bar Rider Level: beginner Type: 2-line 4 5 Type Wave 3 MSRP: starting at $99 complete Sizes: 40cm Sizes: 8, 10, 12, 15m MSRP: $78 complete Type of Kite: inflatable Samurai 3 Aspect Ratio: M Sizes: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.2m Rider Level: beginner - pro Type of Kite: foil (open cell) MSRP: starting at $995 complete, $805 Aspect Ratio: M kite only Rider Level: beginner - advanced MSRP: starting at $312 complete BARS ACCESSORIES 2005 Type Wave Bar 4 2005 Type Six Bar Ozone Pro Lines Balaclava Type: 5-line with 5th line integrated Type: 4-line Sizes: 20, 25, 27, 30m Sizes: one size fits all into de-power system Sizes: 17”, 19”, 23”. MSRP: starting at $96/set MSRP: $24 Sizes: 19”, 23”. MSRP: starting at $249 complete with 6 MSRP: starting at $249 complete with line-set line-set Mountain Pack Modular Safety Leash 5 Sizes: one size fits all Sizes: universal 1 2005 ZH Bar 5 MSRP: $90 MSRP: $36 Type: 5/4-line optional carbon small diameter Sizes: 19”, 23”. Peter Lynn MSRP: starting at $249 complete with Distributor: USA - Pelton Wind Sports line-set Website: peltonwindsports.com Customer service/sales email: [email protected] BOARDS Phone numbers: 303.378.6763 RRD Triplex XXX 6 RRD Broad Spectrum 7 Products: Kites, Bars, Accessories 2 Type of Board: twin-tip Type of Board: twin-tip Team Riders: Aaron Heffelfinger, Erik Thompsen, Jennifer Chase, Pete Lynn, Type of Construction: CHK custom Type of Construction: custom production 7 Erwan Gruel, Steffan Cook, Diana Veenma, Mano Collette, Chris Brent, Nicolas Falcou production Length: 140, 150, 160cm Country of manufacture: Holland Years on Market: 6 Warranty: 1 year Length: 126, 128, 130, 132, 134cm Width: 37, 37, 39cm Width: 35, 36, 37, 38, 40cm Fins: 6 KITES Fins: 4 Rider Level: beginner - advanced Rider Level: intermediate - advanced MSRP: starting at $499 complete Bomba 1 Venom 3 3 MSRP: $599 complete Sizes: 8.5, 10.5, 13, 15, 17, 20m Sizes: 8, 10, 13, 16, 19m Type of Kite: foil (closed cell) Type of Kite: foil (closed cell) RRD Martin Model 8 RRD WaveOff 9 Aspect Ratio: L Aspect Ratio: M Type of Board: twin-tip Type of Board: Directional surf Rider Level: beginner - advanced Rider Level: beginner - advanced Type of Construction: CHK custom Type of Construction: CHK custom MSRP: starting at $965 complete, MSRP: starting at $1,039 complete, production production $713 kite only $787 kite only 5 Length: 128,132cm Length: 4’11”, 5’2”, 5’6” Width: 38, 40cm Width: 41, 43, 45cm Phantom 2 BAR 4 Fins: 4 Fins: 3 tri-fin thruster Sizes: 6, 9, 12, 15, 18m Zero4 Pro Carbon bar 8 Rider Level: intermediate - advanced Rider Level: intermediate - advanced 9 Type of Kite: foil (closed cell) Type: 4-line Sizes: 40, 50, 60cm MSRP: starting at $679 complete MSRP: starting at $699 complete Aspect Ratio: H MSRP: starting at $252 complete Rider Level: intermediate - advanced MSRP: starting at $935 complete, ACCESSORIES 5 $683 kite only Spinning/Swinging Spreader Bar 4 74 Sizes: 30cm MSRP: $70 ProductProduct WatchWatch 2005 Gear Guide

Slingshot Windwing Distributor: USA - Slingshot Kiteboarding Distributor: USA - WindExpress Global Direct Website: sskiteboarding.com Website: windexpress.com, windwing.com Customer service/sales email: [email protected] Customer service/sales email: [email protected], [email protected], Phone numbers: 509.493.3979 Skype: windexpservice Products: Kites, Boards, Bars, Accessories Phone numbers: 800.345.9464, 541.386.3905 Team Riders: Mark Doyle, Jeff Tobias, Fiona Wedenig, Ben Wilson, Bertrand Products: Kites, Bars, Accessories Fluery Team Riders: Flash Austin Country of manufacture: kites – China, boards – Thailand Country of manufacture: China, Sri Lanka Years on Market: 5 1 2 Years on Market: 3 Warranty: 90 days 1 Warranty: kites – 90 days, boards – 90 days

KITES 2 KITES Rapture 1 Rage II 3 The Machine 1 The Fuel 2 Sizes: 9, 12, 15, 18m Sizes: 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 17m Sizes: 17.5, 20.5, 25.5m Sizes: 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 m Type of Kite: inflatable Type of Kite: inflatable 3 Type of Kite: inflatable Type of Kite: inflatable Aspect Ratio: M - H Aspect Ratio: M Aspect Ratio: M - H Aspect Ratio: M Rider Level: intermediate - advanced Rider Level: beginner - advanced Rider Level: beginner—advanced Rider Level: beginner - advanced MSRP: starting at $715 complete, $554 MSRP: starting at $660 complete, $489 MSRP: starting at $1650 complete, TBA MSRP: starting at $1030 complete, kite only kite only 4 kite only $780 kite only 3 Outrage 2 Spark 4 BAR Sizes: 8, 10, 12, 14, 17, 21m Sizes: 2.5, 4m Profire Bar with ONELINE kit 3 Type of Kite: inflatable Type of Kite: inflatable Type: 4-line (fifth line optional) Aspect Ratio: H Aspect Ratio: L Sizes: 17” Rider Level: advanced Rider Level: beginner—advanced MSRP: Profire Bar 17" with Chicken MSRP: starting at $684 complete, $565 MSRP: 2.5: $340, 4.0: $425 complete, Loop $170.00 / ONELINE kit $139.00 kite only 2 kite package: $595 BOARDS BARS 5 6 The SX 4 The Misfit 5 Windwing CC-SAFE bar Windwing B-Safe Basic bar Type of Board: twin-tip Type of Board: twin-tip Type: 4-line Type: 4-line Sizes: 45, 50, 56cm Sizes: 45, 50, 56cm 5 6 Type of Construction: production Type of Construction: production 5 Length: 130, 137, 151 cm Length: 123, 128, 136 cm 4 MSRP: starting at $236 complete MSRP: starting at $119, with 23cm Width: 38, 40, 43cm Width: 37, 38, 40cm lines $171 Fins: 4 Fins: 4 Rider Level: beginner - advanced Rider Level: beginner - advanced MSRP: starting at $650 complete MSRP: starting at $750 complete Wipika Distributor: n/a for United States Website: wipikakiteboarding.com Customer service/sales email: [email protected] Takoon Phone numbers: 541.386.4440 Distributor: n/a for United States Products: Kite, Boards, Bars, Accessories Website: takoon.com Team Riders: Mauricio Abreu, Alvaro Onieva, Laurel Eastman, Sebastien Cattelan, 1 2 Customer service/sales email: [email protected] Manu Taub, Marcelo Cunha Phone numbers: +33 4 67 99 01 84 Country of manufacture: kites - China, boards - Thailand Products: Kites, Boards, Bars, Accessories 1 2 Years on Market: 8 Warranty: 90-day Team Riders: Niccolo Porcella, Tuva Jansen, Luciano Gonzalez, Hervé Bouré, Anna Sparre, Daphnée Laliberté, Marc Gondard Country of manufacture: kites - China, boards - Thailand/Czech Republic KITES Years on Market: 4 Matrix 1 Core 2 Warranty: visit takoon.com Sizes: 5.5, 7, 8.5, 11, 13.5, 16.5, 19.5, 22.5m Sizes: 2, 4, 5.5, 7, 8.5, 11, 13.5, 16.5, 19.5m Type of Kite: inflatable Type of Kite: inflatable Aspect Ratio: M Aspect Ratio: L KITES Rider Level: beginner - advanced Rider Level: beginner—advanced Skoop 4 1 Wook 3 2 MSRP: starting at $799 complete, $599 MSRP: starting at $475 complete, $275 Sizes: 9, 11.5, 14.5m Sizes: 7.5, 9.5, 12, 14m kite only kite only Type of Kite: inflatable Type of Kite: inflatable Aspect Ratio: H Aspect Ratio: M BAR Rider Level: intermediate - advanced Rider Level: beginner - advanced CLS Pro 3 MSRP: starting at $1425 complete, MSRP: starting at $1300 complete, Type: 5-line Sizes: 40, 50, 60cm $1225 kite only $1040 kite only 4 MSRP: starting at $299 complete 3 BAR BOARDS 3 BOARDS 4 5 Dreambar 05 3 Vegas 4 Mauricio Pro 130 Serum Type: 4-line (fifth line optional) Type of Board: twin-tip Type of Board: twin-tip Type of Board: twin-tip 5 Sizes: 47, 55cm Type of Construction: production Type of Construction: production Type of Construction: production 4 MSRP: starting at $270 complete Length: 127, 128, 137,138cm Length: 130cm Width: 39.5cm Length: 117,127cm Width: 38, 38cm Width: 35.5, 38, 36.5, 39cm Fins: 4 Fins: 4 Fins: 4 Rider Level: beginner - advanced Rider Level: intermediate - advanced Rider Level: beginner - advanced 76 MSRP: starting at $840 complete MSRP: $649 complete MSRP: starting at $649 complete 77 ProductProduct WatchWatch 2005 Gear Guide AcademyAcademy

ZERO GRAVITY Distributor: USA - Zero Gravity Kiteboarding Website: www.zerogravitykiteboarding.com EVERYTHING YOU Customer service/sales email: [email protected] Phone numbers: (361) 949-0266, Fax (361) 949-0541 Products: Boards NEED TO KNOW Team Rider: Damien Leroy Country of manufacture: USA Years on Market: 7 Warranty: 1 year TO SAIL FAST 1 BOARD By Cory Roeseler Lou Wainman has been fascinated with pushing the boundaries of speed. 120cm 1 Photo Michelle Zuniga Type of Board: twin-tip Fins: 4 Type of Construction: custom Rider Level: beginner - advanced Length: 110, 120, 130cm MSRP: $650 board only How fast can we go on a kiteboard? How do we achieve “controlled” speed? The quest for speed using just wind energy has inspired speed Width: 36, 38.5, 37.5cm sailors for decades. While speed sailing windward has remained untapped in the world of kiteboarding, the art of downwind speed sailing is getting a good start. Kiteboarders have been consistently recording speeds in excess of 30 knots.

Blast from the Past Blast from the Past • Helmet • 20 knots and up depending on ones skill. Note that kite sailing Tools • Wetsuit and/or impact vest becomes extremely dangerous over 40 knots. Remember that the High will go down as the video that This is the first issue of Kiteboarding Magazine. dynamic force of the kite increases by the square of the wind speed. of the • Kite safety leash This means that a kite in 30 knots will have 4 times as much power changed the sport of kiteboarding. Publishing guru, Tom James deserves credit for • In some cases, use a rescue boat as the same kite in 15 knots. Lou Wainman, Elliot Leboe and Chris pioneering the very first kiteboarding magazine in Trade • Flat water with a reasonable depth • Common sense Tronolone pioneered one of the first kite- the world. Tom’s vision has helped grow the sport boarding videos. High does an excellent job of kiteboarding exponentially. documenting the early days of our sport. Getting Started In order to begin pushing limits in the speed arena, one must first have certain skills in order to stay in control. It is important to be comfortable with the following. • Overpowering conditions • Multiple kite sizes • Gusty and unpredictable wind • Using safety systems on your equipment

Speed Freak 101 COOL NEW STUFF Speed kiting can be practiced almost anywhere. Down winders are great for learning control at high speeds. Here are some hints that will help you to ride faster. • Use a board that you are comfortable with. Having the right piece of equipment under your feet is important. Remove the toe-side fins. They only produce drag. If you are really serious about speed, find a custom board shaper that can make a board to fit your speed sailing needs. SPORT SPECIFIC • Use your body as a brake. The goal to speed sailing is to go beyond the point of comfortable speed. As you go faster on a kite you will reach a point where the kite seems to have an agenda of its own. It will feel as if someone is steadily pushing the accelerator down further and further. This is due to the kite Distributor: KRS Global Biotechnology, Inc. Boarding Formula dropping back deeper and deeper into the wind window. This is where speed sailing begins. Website: www.sportspecificonline.com Customer service/sales email: customerser- Sport Specific: Boarding Formula contains a protein drink, • Use the butt check method to slow yourself down to a controlled speed. Dragging a hand as a brake will also slow you down. electrolyte drink and a recovery drink to meet the nutrition [email protected] • Use the “chicken jibe” for regaining control. When you are out of control, turn toward the kite as if you were going to jibe. Chase the kite down wind until you Phone number: 877-506-0777 needs of athletes before, during and after boarding. Sport Fax: 866 204-9142 Specific is a nutrition system that integrates each drink to can get it in a controllable position. support the next one. Unlike generic sport nutrition, Sport Products: Sport Specific Boarding Formula • Keep the kite low. This is key for maintaining your edge. With the kite low you have more leverage on your board. Leverage equals control. Be careful when Specific: Boarding Formula is designed specifically for kite- Team Riders: Andy Hurdman, Dean Randanzzo, bringing the kite up too fast from down low when slowing down or stopping. Sending the kite up too fast could lead to an unwanted 30-knot jump. Scott Posner, Ryan Ragan boarders, surfers, snowboarders, wakeboarders, and skate- Country of manufacture: USA boarders. Years on Market: 2 Summary Warranty: 100% Money Back Guarantee With proper technique and equipment, speed kiting can give you the most insane ride of your life. ALWAYS remember to use common sense and to kiteboard safe by using the proper locations, equipment and skills to push yourself to your personal limit. With practice you may soon know the thrill of being the fastest kiteboarder on the water. O’NEILL Cory Roeseler has been speed kiting since 1987. He holds the 15 nautical mile inshore speed record. Cory is sponsored by Gaastra Kiteboarding International. Distributor: O’Neill, Inc. Gooru Padded John Website: www.oneill.com Customer service/sales email: Providing insulation, protection and additional lightweight What Conditions Do you Look For to Go Fast? go to www.oneill.com floatation, the Gooru Padded John can be used for any water sport. Made of 100% Ultraflex with a zipperless entry/exit, this The ideal conditions for speed are long, flat stretches of Phone number: 800-662-7873 butter water with strong winds exceeding 20 knots. Products: Wetsuits, Drysuits, Accessories suit can be worn by itself or over/under a full suit for added Years on Market: 50+ insulation and floatation. Kiteboarding, Wakeboarding, Tow-in Leucate, France is one of the prime spots for speed Warranty: 1 year Surfing, this suit knows no boundaries. competitions and was the site of the first Kite Speed contest held in April 2003. The wide open beach and wicked offshore winds have drawn the world's best kiteboarders to come and challenge the clock.

78 Leucate, France Speed Trials. Photo FX Abonnenc 79 Progression 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 By Mike Norman Sponsored by: Best Kiteboarding, Dakine, Extreme Hotels and 8

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1 With good power in the kite, unhook and stand tall. Let up on your edge 5 Start your blind rotation by turning your head and letting go with your back 7 Bend your knees to absorb the shock of landing and put about 70% of your Raley to Blind with David Tyburski to gain speed with the kite around 45 degrees. hand and pull the bar to the small of your back. weight on the toeside edge. If not, it’s a good smack to the back. Photos Stephen Whitesell 2 Start a progressive edge upwind. 6 DON’T LOOK AT THE WATER! Try to look completely around your body. 8 Reach around and grab the bar with your free hand and ride away! The raley to blind is usually the first “to blind” wake-style trick a kiter will learn. 3 When you feel like the kite wants to pull you up, stand tall, pop and flick TIPS • It is actually easier to do with the kite lower, because the kite won’t pull you out of your blind riding position. First, be comfortable with load and pop tricks keeping the kite low and unhooked! the board up and behind you. NEVER RELEASE YOUR EDGE! The good thing about this trick is that it can be done at slower speeds so there is no • Keep the handle close to your hips so the kite doesn’t pull you out. need to worry about getting smacked. 4 Extend the raley to get above your head or else it’s a pop to blind! • Progression: Grab it, Hoochie Glide to blind and then better yet Indy glide to blind. Pass the handle before you land = BLIND JUDGE! NETWOTHREEFOURFIVESIXSEVENEIGHTNINETENELEVENTWELVE

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1 Go into the trick with plenty of speed. It helps to have the kite a little 6 If you still have time in the air, start the blind rotation as you are falling out of 8 Pull the handle to your front hip this time to land blind. Slim Chance To Blind with higher for a bigger slim chance. the sky from the handle pass. 9 Bend your knees to absorb the shock of landing. Cesar Portas Hernandez 2 UNHOOK! 7 Like any blind rotation, turn your head to allow your body to rotate. 10 Ride and away and claim that shit because that’s one sick trick! Photos Marina Chang 3 Pop the front roll straight up, so you will be inverted. This will help you to get the handle. • Try to grab as close to the center of the bar during the handle pass of the slim chance, this will keep the kite from going crazy on you when you are trying to land blind. The Slim Chance to blind is on the far side of the advanced tricks. Don’t even think TIPS that you are going to land this trick if you can’t pull a solid slim chance. 4 Pull the handle to your trailing hip to start the rotation. • The bigger you go on the trick the easier it will be. Giving you more time to spot the landing to blind. 5 Look around your body and pass the handle at the small of your back • This is a really hard trick so don’t be agitated when you don’t land it the first time. 80 • Progression: Grab the slim chance on the way up or do it switch! 81 MaintenanceMaintenance

Blow Me Down By Rick Iossi, FKA Tips in Many people think I like to glorify accidents in our sport. My consolidation of this information is for quite the contrary. I believe that we can learn from these tragedies and grow our sport safely and sustainably around Kite Care 7By Jeff Howard the world. Please read the following accidents closely. It might end up saving your life. When spending all that hard earned coin on gear, you KITEBOARDING ACCIDENTS probably want to know how to take care of it. After ■ ■ A former Olympic windsurfer was overpowered on a 10m kite in Korea. A rider in Germany was out in approximately 22 to 40 knots, onshore years of being in the kite repair business, we have He used a strong stainless steel chicken loop, having broken two oth- conditions. He was ripped from the water in a gust and hurled a short ers edging in strong conditions previously. A squall gust blasted near- distance into a flagpole on land. seen it all. If we had a dollar for everyone who asked by windsurfers from their boards. The rider edged hard only to be ■ A kiteboarder was out with a 10m kite on the river in Kazan City in cen- how to prolong the life of their kites, we wouldn't ripped from the water and lofted into rocks on the shore. tral Russia when he was hit by a 40 knot plus gust in a squall. He was ■ A very experienced kiteboarder rode in less than 10 to 30 knots plus, lofted approximately 150ft. onto shore. have to repair kites. Here are 7 preventive mainte- on a 12m kite in Holland. He ripped downwind while being hit by a ■ A snow kiteboarder depowered his ram kite on a frozen lake in Canada nance tips that you can do to keep the kite in your high-speed gust. With all that momentum he slammed a wall-like wave in strong, cold front winds. A powerful squall hit and lofted him into the Dylan Grafmyre swims in across the reef at Lanes, Maui in all sorts. Photo Epes Sargent and was lofted 100 ft. horizontally at startling high speed. side of an abandoned church. hands and not in the repair shop. ■ An experienced kiteboarder overpowered on shore with a 9m kite wait- ■ An overpowered kiteboarder beached himself in Spain. He was hit by a ed for his board to beach in New Zealand. A 40-knot plus gust lofted squall gust and tried to grab his quick release. He was lofted 80 ft. hor- the rider inland about 100ft. through trees, breaking an improbably izontally into a wall. His 12 year old son watched this happen. ■ Regular checks and maintenance. Once in awhile inflate ■ Trailing edge or sail fluttering. This one can be cured with thick branch and hurled him into the side of a camper truck. your kite out of the wind and inspect it carefully for small tears and the same as #3. When leaving your kite on the beach with the lead- rips. If the leading edge has any slices or questionable areas, get them ing edge into the wind, the canopy can flutter and cause the trailing CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION fixed correctly immediately. Small tears and cuts in the canopy can be edge material to break down. This can result in major loss of per- Everything mentioned above happened in 2004. All accidents occurred in squalls or excessively gusty weather. All went kiteboarding when others chose not to. 1cleaned and repaired using ripstop repair tape. Check your line con- formance as well as decreased porosity of the cloth. So when not in All failed to unhook or depower. All of them died. The key to safety is to know your limits. Understanding weather patterns is just as important. Always remember to 4 nection points and if they show any wear, replace them. Most major use store your kite correctly. plan for and monitor weather before you go kiteboarding. For more ideas about weather and kiteboarding safety check out fksa.org. repairs happen from something small that turns big after a hard crash.

■ Storing struts inflated. If you store your kite with the struts ■ Cleaning. This step is one that can be done along with #1, inflated for any prolonged amount of time, simply decrease the inflate the kite and clean with fresh water, but make sure to never use pressure in each strut to take the load off the seams and reduce a pressure type hose. Lightly rinse off the kite, making sure to clean stretching. out the sand and grit that collects between where the canopy attach- 5 2es to the struts. After cleaning, allow the kite to dry completely, out of direct sun light. If you deflate your kite completely after every use ■ Jetski or ATV rescue. If at anytime you get rescued on a make sure to shake out as much grit and sand before storing. Any grit Jetski or ATV, always deflate your leading edge and roll your kite up left in the kite when rolled up basically turns into sand paper to the when carrying your gear back. A kite can be destroyed in one run if fabric when stored in the bag. If you pile your gear in the car, the pres- the sail is left to flap behind you while riding. sure can do serious damage. 6

■ Color Fading. Rip-stop sail cloth used on all kites is not very ■ UV exposure. This is one of the worst things that will damage color-fast, meaning if left wet when stored the colors can fade into your kite over time. So the rule here is simple and sweet. Deflate the each other. This will not in anyway affect performance, but can leading edge and store your kite before you take a break and pop the make a kite have some ugly blotches. Just make sure to never leave cap on a brew. Less “sun time” when you are not on the water equals 7your kite stored wet for any long period of time. Allow kite to dry, out 3more “kite time” for you on the water. of direct sunlight before storing.

Dude...I think we can fix it. Living in a Material World Many people ask us why kites aren’t made to last longer and why manufacturers don’t use stronger materials? The answer is that the current materials available are light and inexpensive. Heavier or stronger materials would be too heavy or too expensive. Look at it this way. A kite can c n

e produce only a certain amount of power and the lighter the kite is, the less power it takes to keep the kite flying and more power for the rider. n n o

b There is also a limit to what materials are currently available to build kites. In the future you will start to see more manufacturers using a new A

F type of Mylar reinforced material. It can be made cheaper and faster than the current fabric, but this will require some different manufacturing

o t

o techniques than are currently in use. Lets keep our eyes open for future developments. h P Jeff Howard owns and operates Prokitesurf.com in Corpus Christi, Texas. 83 Workbench The best resource for schools, retailers, Workbench KITE PAGES and associations in the U.S. and Caribbean. by Nick Bowers California Inferno Snowboard Co...... (970) 259-8669 Action Watersports ...... (318) 827-2233 Larson’s Ski & Sport ...... (303) 423-0654 Problem: Your feet keep slipping off your skim board. Board Sports...... (415) 929-SURF PKS Kiteboarding School...... (970) 376-3159 CaliKites ...... (619) 522-9575 Connecticut Solution: Captain Kirk’s ...... (310) 833-3397 Orbit Marine Sports...... (203) 333-3483 Chennel Coast Kiteboarding ...... (805) 276-2901 Tri State Kites ...... (800) 510-0865 If surf wax doesn't fit your style, then try some of the new traction pads available. Traction pads can Davenport Surf & Sail ...... (831) 421-6051 Delaware be found at any online or local surf shop. Make sure you place the traction pad appropriately. Typically Delta Windsurf Company...... (916) 777-2299 H2air Kiteboarding ...... (302) 227-1105 the back pad should be at the very back of the board. Dakine and FCS make some great grip. Helm Sports ...... (650) 344-2711 Kite Country ...... (619) 226-4421 Kite Wave ...... (213) 344-6034 Problem: Your knots on your chicken loop line keep slipping. Kitenow, Inc...... (650) 248-6660 Kites Etc ...... (562) 592-5483 Kitesurfari ...... (714) 378-0468 Solution: KiteWindSurf...... (510) 522-WIND Buy some stopper balls and replace your stopper knots. This will allow for more tuning adjustment. Lake Tahoe Kiteboarding ...... (877) 769-5483 Live2Kite...... (415) 722-7884 Stopper balls are available in many sizes and varieties, at places like West Marine, Boat US and many Malibu Kitesurfing ...... (310) 430-KITE other boating related stores. Slingshot makes a set of balls specifically designed for kiteboarding. Manta Wind & Water Sports ...... (858) 270-7222 Mission Bay Aquatic Center...... (858) 488-1000 Dakine pads Stopper ball Monkey Air ...... (310) 457-6896 Problem: You are not sure how to make a handle pass slide line. Murrays...... (800) 786-7245 OOTO Kite School ...... (650) 960-1721 Solution: Santa Barbara Kiteboarding Company ...... (805) 560-6138 Sky Kitesurfing School ...... (925) 455-4008

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Email: [email protected] Web: www.kitexcite.com http://www.sfkitesurfing.com/ http://www.maui.net/~hotwind/uska.html Cabarete, Dominican Republic ...... (809) 571-9509 CA-Sherman Island Kiteboarding Assoc ...... http://www.calkite.org/siko.htm Nevada WindPower Sports...... (702) 220-4340 Kitesurf Vegas ...... (702) 493-9245 New York Curtis Sport Connection...... (716) 627-2247 Kitewise ...... (646) 734-3027 Main Beach Surf & Sports...... (631) 537-2716 Myers ...... (716) 751-6511 New Skool...... (516) 563-8330 Windsurfing Hamptons ...... (516) 283-9463 Wisconsin Ohio Coontail Watersports ...... (715) 385-0250 River Sports ...... (440) 333-8138 Fish Creek Kite Company ...... (920) 868-3769 Red Sky Surf & Snow ...... (419) 536-3204 Guild Works...... (608) 273-1817 Windsurf Ohio ...... (440) 951-5253 Kite-Riders ...... (608) 273-1817 Oregon Milwaukee Sailing School ...... (414) 350-0702 2nd Wind Sports ...... (541) 386-4464 North Winds Kiteboarding ...... 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Mauricio Abreu taking kite skating to a new level. Bryan Lake getting eaten by a Jupiter, Florida wave. Dimitri Maramenides in a compromising situation. Photo Gregg Gnecco Photo Matt Cotton Photo Matt Cotton 87