KiteboardING 101 -- Getting Started

KiteboardING 101

Part II: Get Started

Part II of today's official “Kitesurfing” Day! Bing.com is promoting a #summerofdoing …basically cool adjectives of ING sports and hobbies with this week all about #Riding

Last year I hosted a Learn to Kiteboard video series for the International Kitesurfing Organization (IKO). They are the worldwide premiere school for learning to kite. A lot about kitesurfing is counter-intuitive, so learning from a certified instructor allows you to learn the sport quickly and safely.

Trailer for the series:

You can go to http://ikointl.com for tips, locations, schools, and general information on taking your kitesurfing ability to new levels. Create a log- in for a free 15 day trial and access to all 21 learn to kite videos. The series takes you through the basics of equipment, learning to ride, edging upwind, self lauch,  self rescue and jumping.

KiteboardING 101 -- Q and A

KiteboardING 101

Part I: Frequent Q & A’s

Part II: Get Started

Today is officially “Kitesurfing” Day! (In honor of the kitesurfing day, be sure to use the hashtag #kitesurfing as often as you can today!)  Bing.com is promoting a #summerofdoing …basically cool adjectives of ING sports and hobbies with this week all about #Riding

For all those kiteboarding newbies out there I’d like to take advantage of this social media blitz to answer popular questions every non-kiteboarder asks.  Part Two KiteboardING 101 will focus specifically on “RIDING.”

For all you seasoned kiters…you might get a chuckle cuz I know you’ve heard these before. Maybe this time the guy on the beach watching the “parasailing” who asks you twenty questions while you’re rigging your lines will read this instead.

Q: "What’s the difference between kitesurfing and kiteboarding?"

A: The two words are often used interchangeably to generically describe the sport. The most accurate descriptions use kitesurfing for wave riding a directional board or surfboard and kiteboarding typically refers to wake or freestyle ridingusing a twintip board.

Q: "Can I rent one of those things?"

A: No, you can’t. Especially not if you’re going to ask that question. Sorry! There are places and shops that demo gear to kiteboarders. There are some countries/areas that rent gear but you have to demonstrate or prove your skills first. Bottom line, if you’re new take a lesson from a pro or certified instructor. You’ll be glad you did.

Q: "How much does the whole kit cost?"

To buy new, the whole package of kite, bar, lines, board, harness will easily cost you in the $2,000 -- $3,000 range. Used you can find a decent package for around $1000 but it might take some hunting and it will take some knowledge of equipment to ensure you get good equipment.

Q: "How long does it take to learn?"

A: It all depends on the person. I know people that successfully got on the board day one, and I’ve seen people who have been flying the kite for weeks and still haven’t touched a board. What I will say is this:  yes, any experience with other boardsports or wind sports will be helpful.  90% of learning to kiteboard is mastering flying the kite. How consecutively you go out will make difference too. Time on the water and muscle memory play a huge role in the learning curve. Typically what I’ve witnessed is three consecutive days with minimum of two hours per day will get you on the water with a board. How long it takes to get self-sufficient is a whole other story.

Q: "Will the kite launch you into the sky?"

A: Only if you make it. The wind blows parallel to the ground, not from the ground up. The kite acts like a sail and naturally wants to drag you in in the direction of the wind aka downwind.

Q: "How high can you jump?"

A: What’s funny about this question is that no matter how progressive freestyle riding gets, people always want to know this. Typically kiteboarders can jump as high as 40 ft but there are always those that can go even bigger. Shout out to Ruben Lenten for taking the crowd pleasing awe of heights to a new dimension, making his mega-loops famous. http://binged.it/M5kUIq

Triple-S: Sun. Style. Swag.

LF Team Rider Claire Lutz shows off her kite scoop.
Now shut your mouths boys, that's not polite. ;)

Ok... so maybe that's not what REAL Kiteboarding's Triple-S Invitational stands for (Surf, Slick and Sliders) but on Thursday June 7, the hottest action by far was found off the water.

That evening marked the second annual Sunset Swim Charity Runway Event.  All the models were (quite awesomely) fellow kiters! My favorite photo is of the front row guys gawking at Liquid Force rider Claire Lutz as she strutted her kite scoop across the runway. Even more bonus for supporting these lovely ladies, all proceeds from the auction went to support Athletes For Cancer. KB4C has their annual Hood River event during RoSham this July 13-15th, whoop! 

Props of the night go to LF and REAL team rider Sensi Graves. Not only did she win a wild card competitor position, her new bikini line SENSI --for kiters by kiters-- showcased in the fashion show. This girl's got mad skills and an even bigger heart.

Becky Willard strutting her stuff in original
 Gretta Kruesi hand-painted SENSI bikini

Sensi asked me while we were on Maui last winter to hand paint one of her bikinis as a donated item for the fashion show/  auction. I've done shoe art, street art, and board art...but this was my debut on swimwear. I found it a bit tricky with the ruching already sewn in. Fabric paint is pretty thick and difficult to use, which is why it's best known popularity was in the 80's and early 90's as puffy paint and tie-dye. However. As cool as I used to think my big sister's custom sweatshirts were, I opted for using a brush technique, to soften and add sophistication to the neon generation of wearable art.

In the end was happy to see it quickly bid upon, raising money for the cause. And stoked to have my first swimsuit worn by, and hometown of Charleston represented by fellow Naish rider Becky Willard.

For the Triple-S being such a bro-fest, Thursday night was all about the ladies.

For full Triple-S coverage go to: http://www.realwatersports.com/news/category/triple-s-invitational/

Kiteboarding flies through Olympics Committee

On May 7th, it was announced that kiteboarding will replace a windsurfing spot in the International Sailing section of the 2016 Rio Olympics. This is huge news for the kiteboarding community and the legitimacy of the sport. Props to all involved.

Article from BBC Sports:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/17980607

Kiteboarding to replace windsurfing at 2016 Rio Olympics

Kiteboarding will make its Olympic debut at the 2016 Games in Rio after the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) dropped windsurfing.

The decision has been met with surprise and frustration within windsurfing and an online petition has been set up to keep it as an Olympic discipline.

British sailing’s John Derbyshire said: “We’re disappointed for windsurfing.

Kiteboarding v windsurfing
Kiteboarding - a wind powered surface watersport using a kite and a board to move across the water.
Windsurfing - a wind powered surface watersport using a sail attached to a board to move across the water

“[But we are] looking forward to working with kiteboarders to develop the talent pathway for this new event.”

The decision was made by the ISAF at a meeting in Italy on Saturday and Derbyshire added: “While an exciting prospect for a new discipline, the decision to replace windsurfing will of course be a huge blow to the windsurfing community.

However, he added: “Kiteboarding made a solid case for its Olympic inclusion at the March trials and, although a surprise that ISAF has voted it into the Olympic programme at this stage, it appears they wished to seize the opportunity, rather than wait until 2020.”