Location: La Boca, Cabarete Lens: Mark Ribkoff Welcome to The Kiteboarder’s Online Experience. Thank you for downloading The Kiteboarder- the world’s First Electronic Kiting Magazine. Turn your speakers on Click on the video link Click on the hyperlinks for the latest news, products, and offerings from our partners Use the links in news and features to find out more info on places, people and events Use your arrow keys or page up, Exclusive Stephen Whitesell Interview, Page 26: This is an old shot but still page down, keys to navigate remains one of our favorites! Whitey launched himself off the bank of La Boca, Cabarete, and captured a great image for the 2004 Gaastra catalog. Lens: Mark Ribkoff Press escape to leave the document ENJOY! Location: San Diego Rider: John Romais Lens: Kim Kern LIVE INTERVIEWS WITH DESIGNERS, PRO-RIDERS, Featured Video: INDUSTRY LEADERS AND KITE PERSONALITIES The Best Odyssey CLICK BOX BELOW PODCAST #76: DERECK CAMACHO Board shapes that work best for flat water, chop, surf and racing. ASK QUESTIONS REAL-TIME DURING THE SHOW OR POST THEM ON YOUR LOCAL FORUM PODCAST #75: ECLIPSE KITES Find out what the buzz is all about with Dimitri’s new company. TECH OUT WITH THE R&D TEAM AS THEY ROLL OUT NEW GEAR. Get a glimpse into the life on the Best Odyssey and some of the amazing kiteboarding locations they have discovered so far. Northwest rider and videographer PODCAST #74: FONE Jeff Kraemer was one of the first guests on the maiden The new US distributors on FOne’s product line up for 2007. voyage to the West Indies. Be sure to check out his Live broadcasts every Thursday at http://cherrytap.com/lounge.php?l=1293 Post show available every Friday at story “A Universe to Our Own” on page 56. ASnews.net and TheKiteboarder.com Got a suggestion? Email [email protected] Location: San Carlos Rider: Brian Caserio Lens: Clark Merritt/Solosports.net Support The Kiteboarder! If you like the free PDF of the magazine and our weekly podcasts, show your support by Subscribe: getting a t-shirt, video, calendar or subscription at The Kiteboarder store…. Annual subscription and The kiteboarder t-shirt special: $34.99 new! the new DVD from Tronolone Annual subscription $34.99 free shipping! $24.99 Plus, all the latest DVDs from Tronolone, ACL Productions, Hollywood Productions, Two 2007 calendars Real Kiteboarding and more! SEE only $14.99 www.thekiteboarder.com/catalog (choose from the kiteboarder & big wave surf calendars) 4/19/07 3:23:37 PM The Kiteboarder Magazine June 2007 Volume 4, Number 3 356561_Cover 1 22 THEKITEBOARDER.COM THEKITEBOARDER.COM 23 2 THEKITEBOARDER.COM THEKITEBOARDER.COM 3 T2_ad2.indd 1 2/2/07 3:41:36 PM 4 THEKITEBOARDER.COM THEKITEBOARDER.COM 5 Ben Wilson is one of the hardest working pro kiteboarders in our sport. This photo was taken early April on one of his business trips to explore a new surf spot in New Caledonia. Photo Gibson Jeff Tobias has been laying low this past year testing gear and charging new surf breaks. He was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time and gets shacked on this picture perfect Indonesian left. Photo Stephane Fournet DE P ART MEN T S 12 Launch The story behind the making of Testimony III: FEATURES Taking Davenport. 16 OG Brian Caserio Baja Mexico and California wave pioneer shares some words of wisdom. 30 Close Up The Northwest’s Paul Porter and Florida’s Stacey Fonas profiled. 38 Backwoods Texas 26 Behind the Lens 44 The Kiteboarder Handbook Everything you need to know about riding the Photo guru Stephen Whitesell. The guide of all guides. butter-flat water at Packery Channel. 48 Roving the Coast of Ceara Julie Simsar and the girls explore the northeast coast of Brazil. 70 Parking Lot Repair Kit The difference between getting back on the water and going home. 72 Xposed 56 A Universe to Our Own 62 Analyze This The best shots of people, places and events from Discovering the West Indies. The T2 and Trix reviewed. around the world. 6 THEKITEBOARDER.COM THEKITEBOARDER.COM 7 THINK SPEAK UP The other day I looked out my window and saw five kites up at my local kiteboarding spot. The wind had picked up due to a front moving in and a few of the local kiters were taking advantage of the wind surge. Within 30 minutes, the wind turned 90 degrees from sideshore to directly onshore. This is the most dangerous direction to ride Packery Channel due to the electric lines and wooden posts that line the launch area. The temperature quickly started to drop, and the wind velocity increased from 18 mph to 25 mph plus. The riders who were on the water were solid kiteboarders, but we noticed a guy who looked like a beginner about to launch an 11m Flysurfer foil-type kite. I had a strange feeling come over me before he launched his kite. This is the same spot and wind direction that my friend Peter Nordby died kiteboarding in when he was accidentally dragged into a post. In the next instant, I watched this guy launch his kite and get dragged within a few feet of the power lines and telephone pole. A bridle had become twisted and the dude sat there helplessly trying to land his kite. Everyone on the beach just stood there acting as if nothing was wrong. Finally someone came over and helped him land. I assumed the guy had enough and wouldn’t try to relaunch. In the meantime, the wind had increased to about 27-30 mph. I noticed the guy was going to try to launch again, so I walked over and politely tried to persuade him not to. He immediately got angry with me. I explained to him how the wind had increased and reminded him about how his last attempt almost dragged him into the electric lines. I even explained to him about the dangers of the storm surge we were experiencing and that one wrong move and he could die or be seriously injured. At this point, he wanted to fight and was yelling at me to get out of the way. I made a judgment call and said, “No way dude. You are not kiting here today. Pack it up and live to kite another day.” He was infuriated and threatened to call the police. I told him to go ahead and that I would tell them that I was protecting him from a potential disaster. The rest of the beach stared at us as I stood between his kite and bar preventing him from launching. Finally, the guy came to his senses and realized I wasn’t joking and started packing up his gear. As I walked home, I began to ask myself, “Did I do the right thing?” It was at that moment that I knew I had to write this editorial and encourage the kiteboarding world to speak up when they see a potential train wreck. You might help save a life or keep your favorite spot from being banned by weathering a few minutes of feeling uncomfortable. KITE SAFE! 8 THEKITEBOARDER.COM THEKITEBOARDER.COM 9 EDITOR RYAN RICCITELLI [email protected] ASSISTANT EDITOR PAUL LANG ART DIRECTOR SHANA COURSIN, MIKE BIRCHALL TROIKA STUDIO/troikastudio.com SNOW/CREATIVE EDITOR JAMES BROWN TOWSURF EDITOR ERIK AKISKALIAN towsurfer.com TECHNICAL EDITOR GARY MARTIN EDITOR AT LARGE ALEXIS ROVIRA SENIOR WRITERS Marina Chang, Paul Lang, James Brown, Gary Martin, Zach Kleppe EDITORIAL CONSULTANTS Neil Hutchinson, Damien Wright, Joe Bidawid, Lou Wainman, Matt Nuzzo, Trip Forman, Paul Menta, Kevin “Top Hat” Senn, Gregg Gnecco, Jay Crawford, Henry Dupont IV, Sean Driscol, Bill Lee, Jeff Skoll, Paul Lang, Cliff Stone, Stefan Ruether, Jeff Burton, Corky Cullen, John Romais, Eric Akiskalian, Ben Wilson, Ruca Chang, Tony Brady, Cliff Stone, Chris and Lindy Devries, Bryan Eagle, Paul Menta, Mira Kwon, Mike Danish, Dave Yoo, Mike Hedlund, Rick Iossi, Toby Brauer CONTRIBUTORS Julie Simsar, Jeff Kraemer, Gavin McClurg, Tim Haller, Steve Gunn, Brent Schippidinni, Peter Trow, Wayne Griswold, James Brown, Rick Iossi, Paul Menta, Neil Hutchinson, Chris Moore, Daryl Drown, Hunter Brown, Dan Schwarz, Jay Crawford, Jeff Kafka, Trip Forman, White Poor, Matthew Sexton, Mike Danish SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHERS Paul Lang, Kim Kern, Matt Cotton, Paul Javier, Gus Schmiege,James Brown, Morton Skoll, BOK PHOTOGRAPHY Wheatgrass, Joel Beatty, Red Bull Photofiles, Red Bull Mexico, Jody MacDonald, Mark Ribkoff, Jeremie Tronet, Geir Norland, Fred Brisemur, Regis Mortier, Allen Clark/Photoboat.com, Tim Blanchard, Jessie Hassell, Clark Merritt, Kerri Caserio, Chris Ray, Port of Hood River, Perukite.com, Wayne Griswold, James Brown, Stephen Whitesell, Real Kiteboarding, Jim Stringfellow, Jon Malmberg, Gavin Butler, Beret Whitesell, Carol Bolstad, Sean Sekas, Paul Lang, Julia Chatwell, Peter Stiewe, Transcend Kiteboarding, Gibson Mama Trumpkin, Dave Turner, VanMalson, Dave Loop, Dave Yoo, Papa Tronolone, Christian Black, North Kiteboarding, Steve Negen/MacKite.com, Slingshot, Flexifoil, Dave Turner, Pilou/Ocean Rodeo, Chris Cifers, Stephane Fournet, Gibson, Richard Boudia, Broneah.com Thanks to all editorial and photography contributors for supporting this magazine! Visit us on: www.thekiteboarder.com www.asnews.net www.theringmedia.com www.cherrytap.com/asnews www.myspace.com/theringmedia PUBLISHER MARINA CHANG [email protected] (805) 459-2373 ADMINISTRATIVE/ADVERTISING OFFICE 1356 16th Street Los Osos CA 93402 (805) 459-2373 EDITORIAL OFFICE The Kiteboarder Compound 14610 Villa Maria Isabel Corpus Christi, Texas 78418 SUBSCRIPTIONS [email protected] www.thekiteboarder.com/catalog (805) 459-2373 The Kiteboarder Magazine is a subsidiary of The Ring Media Inc. 10 THEKITEBOARDER.COM THEKITEBOARDER.COM 11 LAUNCH Dave Broome cracks the inside section at Waddell Creek.