Congratulations to KTA on the great success of 2015 Myanmar Wave Riders Cup & KTA Race Open.
Below are some nice pictures of the event and our sponsored Kite Kids project. Enjoy!
Check the competition results of 2015 Myanmar Wave Riders Cup & KTA Race Open: http://www.kiteboardtour.asia/event/myanmar-wave-riders-cup-2/
Look forward to the three more KTA events in 2016:
Ninh Chu Bay - Vietnam, 24-28 Feb 2016
Pranburi - Thailand, 15-20 Mar 2016
Hainan - China, 6-10 Apr 2016
]]>
Most kiteboarding fatalities are the result of being lofted or dragged out of control, resulting in a collision with hard objects including sand. It is possible to be seriously injured simply by hitting the water surface at speed or from a height.
Jumping and being airborne at inappropriate places (such as shallow water or near fixed or floating objects) can be a contributing factor.
To maximize safety, basic safety guidelines should always be followed, some of which follow:
Always check the weather forecast, color radar, realtime wind reports on the Internet for indications of storms/squalls and excessively gusty winds, wind direction changes and lightning hazards. Do not launch or ride in or near squalls or storms.
Avoid kite surfing in crowded areas, near rocks, trees, or power lines. In general there should be a minimum of 100 meters of safe distance from all obstructions. Try to ride with side-shore winds. Avoid offshore or directly onshore winds.
Pay attention to changing weather and wind conditions. Particularly dangerous are storm fronts, which are often preceded by strong, variable wind gusts and sometimes involve lightning. If you feel a static shock from the kite bar, land the kite immediately and seek shelter.
Helmets and impact vests can save lives and add substantial convenience if you wear them.
Wear appropriate exposure clothing for conditions and a reasonable period of time in the water, should you become disabled.
Do not remove or disable factory-installed safety equipment or releases. The most basic is a quick-release harness safety system. Harness safety systems come in different configurations; most allow the kite surfer to release the kite with one tug or push, leaving only one line which is attached to a kite leash. This one line ideally will cause the kite to lose its shape and fall from the sky, without power. Redundant safety releases are even better; do not remove your kite release because you assume you can simply unhook. "Safety equipment" also includes the bar floats, the foam floats on the outside lines of most kite bars; most kite lines sink, and without bar floats sunk lines are more likely to tangle around an underwater obstruction. This could even happen with the bar floats, but they do help. With the kite in the water, a tangle like this could drag you underwater and hold you there.
Never use a board leash without wearing a helmet. Under very common circumstances, a board leash can cause the board to strike the rider in the head. Alternatively, don't use a board leash. A helmet is a wise precaution in most circumstances whether you use a board leash or not, but never use a board leash without wearing a helmet. NOTE: board leashes have propelled boards through helmets in the past. The best course is normally to not use a board leash and practice body dragging upwind to regain your board.
Avoid riding overpowered. Using too large a kite for the wind conditions or your experience level is extremely dangerous. Underpowered riding is preferable to overpowered riding. When in doubt, go to a smaller kite and see how it goes. Always stay within the wind range specified by the manufacturer for the kite.
Be extra careful when landing or launching the kite. Most accidents occur on shore or while a rider is entering or leaving the water. It's advisable to either un-hitch your kite from your harness while on-shore, holding onto it with only your arms, so you can release if necessary, or simply be ready to operate the quick-release mechanism. Ideally, don't spend any time on shore with the kite in the air; launch the kite and then leave the beach immediately, and when coming in, land as quickly as possible. When on shore, keep the kite low: if it's hit by a gust, it can drag the rider, but may prevent lofting.
Carry a safety knife attached to the harness for cutting tangled lines. Tangles are dangerous because an entangled rider in the water may not be able free themself quickly enough in the event the kite powers up suddenly (catches a wind gust, suddenly accelerates, or, if it's in the water, gets hit by a wave). The tangled lines around a riders body can cut and sever a rider's fingers, toes, or limbs or cause serious and deep lacerations. In a crash situation, with the kite in the water, under no circumstances allow a line to encircle a part of the body.
Another, more subtle hazard is that at fifty km/h (a typical speed for a skillful kite surfer), one can easily get tired, and then get farther from shore than an easy swim, which is the primary reason kite surfing in directly offshore winds is discouraged. Still other general marine hazards include sharks, jellyfish, sea otters, dolphins, and even crocodiles, depending on the location.
Collisions with wind surfers, other kite boarders or water craft are significant hazards, particularly at busy locations.
Some kite designs from late 2005 and onwards have included immediate and full depower integrated with the control bar and improved quick release mechanisms, both of which are making the sport much safer.
Weather planning and awareness are key to safe kiteboarding. A substantial quantity of riders have been killed in kiteboarding-related accidents since 2000, according to a safety adviser for one of the sport's governing bodies.
When practiced safely, with the proper training and gear, kiteboarding is an enjoyable, addictive sport. Like any other sport, respecting nature, paying attention to the weather and staying within the limits of the riders ability will provide the safest and most enjoyable experience.
]]>They are also a jet skier's dream for a flexi-fit sizing solution. High density and super soft, molded foam guarantees full flotation and a comfortable fit during hours of cruising or trick wave riding. With a soft neoprene interior and highly adjustable elastic waistband, the perfect fit is always achieved for every shape and size.
For more visit below product link:
http://www.maelstormgear.com/category.php?id=6
It is great to get involved in what we all know already is a sport that anyone can be part of, which Maelstorm ethos sums up. Maelstorm's mission is to support the frontline of kiteboarding meaning the schools, the instructors and the beginners, by providing quality goods at incredible prices, which we have been doing around the region since our establishment in 2007.
]]>The best method to determine proper paddle length is as below:
1. Insert the handle(NO GLUE) into the shaft and place the handle on the ground(careful not to scratch the finish).
2. The neck of the paddle(where blade connects to the shaft) SHOULD be parallel with your eyes.
Measure how much shaft is above your eye level and then remove the handle to make a conservative cut on the shaft before making the final cut length.
Two people of the same height may have different paddle lengths. In addition, riding styles on flat water or waves will make a difference. People who do wave riding tend to have a paddle a couple inches shorter than people who ride on flat water.
Most important is that during the middle of the paddle stroke your top hand should NOT be above the top of your head, and your elbow NOT above the level of your shoulder.
CUTTING PROCEDURE
1. After marking the line to cut, wrap electrical tape around the shaft to avoid scratching or splintering the carbon fiber.
2. Use a hack-saw to make a clean, straight cut on the electrical tape.
3. Slide the rubber shrink tube over the shaft before glueing the handle.
4. Use marine epoxy from a local marine or hardware store to seal the handle to the shaft
5. After the glue has dried, use a hair dryer on high heat setting to shrink the rubber tubing over the handle/shaft seam line.
REMEMBER
When glueing the handle, the curved side MUST go into your palm and straight side goes against the fingers.
]]>To do this the KTA teamed up with one of its most successful Champions Kathrin Borgwardt who holds four KTA titles and is the current undefeated women’s KTA Tour Course Racing Champion. Together with Kathrin and Maelstorm the KTA has been running KTA Kite Kids classes for the local kids for two days before each round of the Asian tour, giving them the chance to take the first steps towards becoming future kiteboarding champions.
KTA Kite Kids classes introduce the local children to kiteboarding by teaching them the fundamental skills through power kite flying, while at the same time getting them to understand the importance of safety when they are having fun. Each of the four sessions that take place over the two days of the KTA Kite Kids runs with a max of 12 kids working in pairs each with a trainer kite under the supervision of Kathrin and her support team. A coaching team made up of local instructors along with extra helping hands from the KTA riders, to make sure the kids get the max out of their session.
So far this season the KTA Asia tour has visited Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines and successfully completed a KTA Kite Kids for each location.
The Indonesia Kite Kids took place on the island of Bintan and saw 32 local school children taking part in the power kite training courses, each in turn coming to grips with the skills needed to keep their kite out of the water and in the air. Regular Kite Kids sessions have since been continued as the KTA to leaves behind the trainer kites with the local school for exactly this purpose. The concept being that the kiting continues after the KTA has left building on the foundation kite skills hopefully right through to getting them eventual out onto the water and kiteboarding.
For the KTA Kite Kids Thailand the classes saw a different recruitment, not just the local school this time by also the kids from the local fishing villages, many of who don’t get a chance to make it to mainstream school. These were the kids of the fishermen helping the main KTA event with their fishing boats acting as mark laying and start boats, giving the KTA Thailand a truly family affair. 26 kids attended the classes over the two days in Pranburi, this season’s location for the event.
The Philippines KTA Kite Kids in Boracay gave Kathrin and her team a very busy start to the week with a full 48 kids taking part in the programme. It was perfect to see the buzz and the excitement as each kid in turn got to grips with the skills of power kiting as the instructors demonstrated, coached and corrected their way through each session. It was truly international affair with kids from around the globe and the local island kids reflecting the multi-racial mix that exists on Boracay, great to see and best part of what sport is all about.
The KTA Philippines also became the first Asian tour event to hold a Kite Kids TT Race which happened over the final two days of the competition in combination with the Weekend Warrior racers. The 11 kids taking part aged between 10 -12 years old raced in four races over the two days on the full course being raced by all the classes, so big thumbs up to all the kids that took part and a special congrats to the top guys that hit the podium on the awards night and showed the potential outcome for the KTA Kite Kids supported by Maelstorm!
]]>The kids arrive in the morning to a goodie bag with a t-shirt and some yummy and useful bits.
Once they are changed they head to the beach in their new t-shirts and are divide into groups.
Learning fundamentals - where's the wind?
Being introduced to the kites
... and off course thanks to all the great Thai riders that give up their time.
This is how you run the lines out.
Showing the kids how the bar works.
The kids are very interested in what Kathrin the Kitekidstour organiser has to say.
The big smiles say it all - even learning some cool signs.
Now it is their turn - safety on first.
A little help with the technique...
... and then they get it.
Dozen's of kids having fun on the beach becoming kiters.
Kite flying and being on the beach sure makes the kids hungry - thanks to Ley Cafe' Pranburi for supplying the Yummy Pizzas.
Time to see the kite fly - From demonstrating to the kids how it is done.
]]>Time to switch from TT to RB and spend the summer sharping your skills to take on the next KTA season.
In Hong Kong things will be led by Ho Chi Ho and Jay Chau both instructors and racers on the KTA circuit, with Ho Chi Ho also hailing from an Olympic windsurf background which hopefully will help smooth the transition for more windsurfers in the future. The Hong Kong KTA Race Centre will be hosted by Kitesurf4ever and be based between Shui Hau Wan and Dapeng Wan depending on the time of year and wind directions.
Over in Taiwan things will be based at the Waterman Kitesurfing Centre at Neipi Beach with Chen Chien Wen AKA Rai heading things up on the training front. It’s great to the new surge of interest from the Taiwan riders for course racing and we look forward to seeing students of Rai’s making their mark on next season’s competitions.
]]>Wake Central Cable Park is a privately owned company that is focused on growing water sports participation by building cable parks. Our Mission is to: offer an eco-friendly low cost alternative to towed water sports, provide quality all-inclusive experience for water sports enthusiasts, establish a venue that promotes a fun safe form of recreation, expand overall water sports participation. Wake Central Cable Park will lead the water sports progression at the highest level.
Wake Central Cable designs, engineers, and manufactures all of their equipment in house. Our innovative cable systems allow us to offer superior water sports experience at a much lower cost. Cable parks offer a unique, safe, and environmentally friendly approach to recreational water sports; as well as a number of benefits to the community and the environment.
]]>The ISAF Council voted that Kiteboarding will replace Windsurfing for the men’s and women’s board events and confirmed the equipment that will be used for the Women’s Skiff and Mixed Multihull Events.
The Mackay FX, referred to as the 49er FX, was selected yesterday as the two person women’s skiff and today the Nacra 17 joins the Olympic equipment family after being selected for the two person mixed multihull event.
The 49er FX received the majority of votes from the ISAF Council in the first round after the six evaluation trial entries were narrowed down to just three; the 29erXX, the RS900 and the 49er FX.
There was an equally animated debate on the final morning of the Council meeting at this year’s ISAF Mid-Year Meeting to decide the equipment to be selected for the mixed multihull event. After discussing the recommendations from the Evaluation Panel, the Equipment Committee and the Events Committee, Council voted between the Nacra 17 and the Viper with the Nacra 17 securing the majority.
The final discussion on the events and equipment for the 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition was about the men’s and women’s board events with Council voting in favour or kiteboarding.
In November 2011 an evaluation group was appointed to examine kiteboarding formats with the board events for Rio 2016 defined as ‘windsurfing and/or kiteboarding’. The Evaluation Group recommended that kiteboarding be included in the ISAF Event family including the ISAF Sailing World Cup and the ISAF Sailing World Championships but Council went one step further and selected kiteboarding for the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition as well.
The ISAF Windsurfing and Kiteboarding Committee will consider and make further recommendations to Council on the implementation of the inclusion of kiteboarding at their meeting in November 2012 at the ISAF Annual Conference.
ISAF President Göran Petersson said, “These announcements mark a new era for sailing and we welcome the new classes into the ISAF family. The equipment selections have fulfilled the criteria set out by the Evaluation Panel and we look forward to seeing the boats not only at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, but the ISAF Sailing World Cup and ISAF Sailing World Championships.
“Kiteboarding has proven to us that it is ready to be included into the list of prestigious ISAF Events and it is a fantastic addition to the sailing programme for the 2016 Olympic Games.”
The events to be contested at the 2016 Olympic Games are confirmed as:
Men’s Kiteboarding
Women’s Kiteboarding
Men’s One Person Dinghy – Laser
Women’s One Person Dinghy – Laser Radial
Men’s One Person Dinghy (heavy) – Finn
Men’s Two Person Dinghy – 470
Women’s Two Person Dinghy - 470
Men’s Skiff – 49er
Women’s skiff – 49er FX
Mixed Two Person Multihull – Nacra 17
These ten events will be featured in the 2012-2013 ISAF Sailing World Cup which kicks off in Melbourne in December and will come together in Santander, Spain in 2014 for the ISAF Sailing World Championships.
ISAF Council also approved applications from Kosovo (Group C) and Vietnam (Group K) for full member status.
]]>It was an action packed week at the Kite Zone KTA Thailand combing a KTA tour stop that featured the Asian Freestyle Finals and the Asian Course Race Championships along with its normal tour round event winners.
The competition got underway in classic conditions that gave both racers and freestylers the best of events at Pak Nam Pran Beach in Thailand. In this combined Championship event there would be a lot at stake for a lot of the riders and certainly as the battles unfolded and positions swapped and changed during the week no one was disappointed. A total of 69 riders from 24 countries had entered the KTA Thailand underlining that the KTA’s international appeal continues to grow.
The wind throughout the event was fairly consistent with each day starting to build in the late morning allowing the race boards to kick off proceedings before noon. Then as the wind filled in with the daily thermal the event would switch to TT racing and then finally over to the freestylers. Only the first and last days would break this pattern with day one being the extra day added at this event for the Asian Course Race Championships and the last only producing an between of 12-14kts in the afternoon due to an overnight storm. It was enough wind however though to give the RB Class perhaps fittingly the final outing of the event (overall race tally of 20 races between the TT and RB) but unfortunately just not enough to finish the freestyle double elimination finals which had been left poised from the day before.
In the Open Course Race RB class it was to be front end scrap between Bjon Jenson and Salih Cakir along with Thailand’s Yo Narapichit Pudla and another emerging Thai rider for the first time in the thick of things, Kookiat Sakulfaeng. The men’s RB Class throughout was a hard fought affair with riders from Japan, China, Philippines and Hong Kong all putting in good performances, but the fiercest competition decided the two top slots with Bjon and Salih, who were to finished in the end in that order.
For girls RB Class the KTA Tour Race Champion Kathrin Borgwardt held onto the top slot but was being pushed hard by the two Swiss riders, Rachel Hollinger and Astrid Berz, but her biggest rival would be another of Thailand new racing prospects Fon Banyapa Jantawan, who in her first international event was showing great potential taking two wins over Kathrin during the week. In the end though Kathrin’s race experience showed through and she maintains her dominance in women’s course racing in Asia. For the Swiss attack it would be Rachel who would edge ahead of her team mate to take up the third medal position.
The finals of the Asian Freestyle Tour gave the event three days of high quality competition as the mid-afternoon winds cranked up and the flat water lagoons appeared along the beach front in the falling tides, you really cannot ask for more except perhaps just one more hour of strong enough wind on that final day to complete the doubles, but that’s wind sports for you, you go with what you given.
Freestyle in the KTA this season has attracted a lot more visiting riders than before and Thailand was no exception with riders from the UK, Poland, Germany, Holland and France in the mix. After the completion of the single eliminators first place was held by Poland’s Marek Rowinski, Japan’s Hiro Nakano was in second and that Yo Narapichit Pudla in there once again in Third. This was as we now know to turn out to be the overall results for the competition, but not before we saw some great fight backs in the section of the double eliminations that was completed.
For the women Kristin Oja took the top place in another well fought single elimination round, it was very close indeed though with Kiwi rider Su Kay in the finals. Kristin’s more powerful moves kept her ahead, but it was very good for us all to see Su back in action over in Thailand after her knee blow out at the KTA last month in Vietnam - the wonders of hi-tech braces what would the sport do without them. Aussie Ali Dudfield found herself once again in third, though due to the doubles she did share this time with Holland’s Nanette van der Snoek.
It was another good registration for the TT Class which remains a firm favourite at KTA events. TT is now in its third season so well as attracting new riders into the sport it also has a very seasoned crew who concentrate on TT racing only and the standards and competiveness equals that of the RB riders. In the men’s division Canada’s Max Rice created early controversy riding the Flysurfer dagger board which gave an added advantage to the upwind leg of the course. It’s not something that we have seen in KTA before, the board is TT for sure but not standard. So following protests and discussions with the riders, Max sportingly agreed to ride without the dagger board and showed that even without this added extra he could maintain the top slot. Up there with Max though was yet another of Thailand’s good racers Suhaimee Modhammadksem, who was to gather the points to take him into second with Jay Otis out of the Philippines close in there as well taking in 3rd. For the women’s TT we saw complete European rider dominance with Michalina Laskoska from Poland winning each race outright and dropping only one race in which she did not go out, to save herself for her freestyle event. Michalina was racing so powerfully that she often led the whole fleet. Current TT Champion and Maelstorm rider Rebecka Maudal came through into second place keeping Ingrid Van der Heyden back in third.
Behind the scenes for all of this was KTA Competition Director Stephan Hertig, who along with his freestyle judging team was for the Championship event joined by two International ISAF Race Officers Simon James and Andy Curnow. For both these guys it was their first full kiteboard competition, so something new to add to their many years of sailing experience and for the KTA a great opportunity to learn from them.
KTA Thailand Tour Stop Results
Course Race RB Class
Men’s | Women’s |
1. Bjorn Jensen (Den) (Cabrinha) | Kathrin Borgwardt (Ger) (Cabrinha) |
2. Salih Cakir (Tur) (Cabrinha) | Fon Benyapa Jantawan(Tha) (Cabrinha) |
3. Yo Narapichit Pudla (Tha) (Ozone/Underground) | Rachel Hollinger (Sui) (North/Flysurfer) |
Course Race TT Class
Men’s | Women’s |
1. Max Rice (Can) (Flysurfer) | Michalina Laskoska (Pol) (Ozone) |
2. Suhaimee Modhammadksem (Tha) (Slingshot) | Rebecka Maudal (Nor) (Maelstorm/Cabrinha) |
3. Jay Otiz (Phl) (Best) | Ingrid Van der Heyden (Bel)(Airush) |
Freestyle
Men’s | Women’s |
1. Marek Rowinski (Pol) (Flexifoil) | Kristin Oja (Est) (North) |
2. Hiro Nakano (Jpn) (Naish) | Su Kay (Rsa)(Cabrinha) |
3. Yo Narapichit Pudla (Tha) (Ozone/Underground) | Ali Dudfield (Aus) (Slingshot) |
Jonathan Bleiker (Eng) (Flexifoil) | Nanette van der Snoek (Ned) (North) |
Asian Course Race Champions – RB Class
Men’s | Women’s |
1. Yo Narapichit Pudla (Tha) (Underground/Ozone) | Aya Oshima (Jpn) (Naish) |
2. Kookiat Sakulfaeng (Tha) (Slingshot) | Fon Benyapa Jantawan(Tha) (Cabrinha) |
3. Chanon Phrakaew (Tha) (Slingshot) | Liezl Tio (Phl) (North/Valhalla) |
Asian Freestyle Champions
Men’s | Women’s |
1. Ken Nacor (Phl) (Cabrinha) | Aya Oshima (Jpn) (Naish) |
2. Yo Narapichit Pudla (Tha) (Ozone/Underground) | Paula Rosales (Phl) (Cabrinha/Liquid Force) |
3. Long Nguyen Duc (Vie) (Kinn) | Dorothy Serrano (Phl) (North) |
Maelstorm team rider Rebecka Maudal wins 2nd place in TT RACING 2012 KTA(Philippines).
keep progressing, Rebecka
]]>1.I ve just came back from Pkra world cup contest in Germany where i was 3rd. I had a great time there. In a heat with Bruna i managed to land lots of tricks for example clean sbend pass 3, unfortunately I crashed pretty hard at the beach and couldnt go full power in the next one (heat for 2nd place and further).
That is why i finished 3rd in freestyle. I am pleased about this result.
2.Right now i am 4th in world cup Pkra overall ranking and 1st in KTE Europe cup ranking.
3.I've just received brand new Maelstorm helmets with my name on them , the are just amazing! I'm gonna put a photo of them as soon as i get a nice picture !
4. As for now I am in Brazil training with my friends from Slingshot crazy team before next PKRA in Pipa, Natal.
I will keep updating !
xoxo
jest stylówaaaaa
]]>TA group of multinational kitersurfers is planning to kite across the Taiwan Strait, in September. This will the first attempt made ever in this region.
The group is going to kite across over 130 miles from Taiwan to Mainland, regardless to the big waves, hairy wind, strong current and the political tensions between the two countries.
The journey will require 10-12 hours straight of intense kiting. At the same time, this will set a record in the history, if kiteboarders meet success. They be the first group to across country by kites.
The pioneer of the group is a 45kg girl from Hong Kong, who placed first in the Asian Kiteboarding Championships, held in 2010.
All kiteboarders involved want to promote the sport awareness in the Asian nations and to lobby for the inclusion of kiteboarding in the 2016 Olympic Games, to be held in the beautiful city of Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil.
The Taiwan Strait separates China and Taiwan. It is a an important fishing resource and a channel route for oil shipment from the Middle East to Japan.
]]>Get inspired, let the artistic side of you come alive!
Submit your favourite or most outrageous photos showcasing Maelstorm gear.
PRIZES
1st: DIMITRI kiteboard, 129cm, fully-loaded X 1pcs, 1 winner
2nd: EVOLUTION trainer kite, 3m, with safety release bar X 1pcs, 1 winner
3rd: MARLIN sunglasses, water-jacket X 3pcs, 2 winners
Honorable Mention: QUICK-DRY wetshirt X 1pcs, 3 winners
* All prizes will be shipped FOR FREE via 10-20day international post.
* Prize winner needs to pay import tax if there is any.
PHOTO REQUIREMENTS
1. Must show Maelstorm product(s).
2. Size should be at least 2MB.
DURATION
The competition lasts from 27-Jun-2011 till 30-Sept-2011.
Prize winners will be notified by email and announced on Maelstorm Facebook and Blog page.
HOW TO SUBMIT
1. Email us: WEBSALES@MAELSTORMGEAR.COM
2. Post on Maelstorm Facebook wall and share with our 1600+ Facebook fans: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Maelstorm-kitesurfing/34740998510
OWNERSHIP
Once submitted, Maelstorm maintains the right to use these photos for any company/commercial purposes.
Credit to photographer will be mentioned in the picture.
FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES
Prize winners have the chance to be Maelstorm's contract photographers.
Raisin Waldner
President - Maelstormgear.com
Alaskan weather is fickle so when Friday, the first day of the event, dawned cloudy, we anticipated a windless and wet weekend. But as screws were sunk into demo boards and kites were inflated at the high tide line, the low overcast started to fracture and the glossy ocean bristled with the first fingers of wind. By noon it was cranking 20 and kites darted around under a bright blue sky with soaring snow-capped peaks in the background––it was on!
Four years ago Trace Carlos and I were getting some lunch and doing what we did a lot of in those days: lamenting the lack of local kiters. We had the wind, the water, a great beach, but on a blue-bird day with 20 knots of wind there were still never more than a few kites in the air at one time. We knew there were other kiters in Alaska but in such a big state, how would we find them? Besides Trace, a guy named George, myself and the occasional transient kiter, there were only three of us and we craved the comradery, talent and gear of the kite scenes we saw in magazines. We each had one board, one kite and one move and no one was going anywhere fast with so little stimulation. After throwing around a number of ideas, most of which revolved around us moving to Maui or Cape Hatteras, it hit us: why not have a kite party to bring in kiters from around the state and to train new ones?
That first festival lacked advertising beyond a few calls and emails and any organization beyond Trace and I hanging out at the beach waiting to see if anyone would actually show up. A few hardy kiters did show and we got kites in the hands of a number of beginners as well. The following year George came onboard as an organizer but in order to get his help we had to organize the festival around his commercial fishing season. That second year we had a poster, some media attention, well over 50 people in attendance and we became not only the first and only kiteboarding festival in Alaska, but probably the only kite festival in the world organized around commercial fishing seasons.
While the weather didn’t always cooperate (OK, it never cooperated), we watched our festival grow and attendance soar to near 100 participants by its third year. We started to see kiters on the beach we had trained and often rocking tricks twice as hot as ours. We had connected with kiters from around the state, had taught many new kiters and when the wind blew there were a few more kiters to call up. Our local kite scene was on the verge of exploding.
It all came together at this year’s Kitefest and our original dream of forming a local kite scene worthy of telling people about when we left Alaska was realized. During our four day event we hosted over 100 participants, a full roster of psyched sponsors, classes, demo gear, a live auction and raffle, great weather and, that one thing so elusive to many kite festivals: wind. When George came up to me Friday evening and told me he had counted 17 kites in the air at once (a Homer, Alaska record), I knew that, while our kite scene may not have exploded, it had certainly taken a big step forward.
This year’s KiteFest ALASKA was, without a doubt, the best KiteFest yet. And after four years, that’s really saying something! The first day of the fest, Friday, started with some light clouds but that soon burned off and brilliant blue skies brought us 17-21 mph of the best clean wind we have felt in weeks. Beginners started to show up and we set them up with trainer kites and a professional instructor out on the beach. Kiters from all around Alaska started to show up and pitch their tents right there at KiteFest HQ. That night we headed up to Homer’s own kiter-owned restaurant, Cosmic Kitchen, for a great meal.
Saturday was a little chilly but 15 mph kept the larger kites flying and beginners learning on trainer kites all over the beach. We put on 3 or 4 trainer kite classes, a couple of more advanced intro to LEI classes and worked with students individually in the water. That evening we built up the bonfire and raffled off 2 harnesses, a number of trainer kites, kite leashes, kite lines, shirts and more. After tossing some additional free gear to the crowd, we started the live auction. With so many new kiters at the event, there was some fierce competition for many items. Anders did a great job of keeping the auction fun and making sure it was a worthwhile fundraiser. The auction included a brand new Cabrinha board, 3 harnesses, a couple of trainer kites, impact vests, kite leashes, 2 kite bars and more. Everyone walked away with a great deal on gear they need and they did their part to support the event. That night we got down with Tom’s home-brewed beer!
Sunday was another blue bird day with 15 mph and again the larger kites prevailed. Some of the kiters that were just getting going on Friday hit the water with confidence and made some of their first runs on the board. After more classes, clinics and a killer 2 hour session I had on the buggy with the HQ Montana 9.5m, some of us crashed the Cook Inlet Keeper party.
Monday brought more blue skies but this time with some good wind. By 3 pm the wind was blowing 18-20 mph and kiters hit the water on thier 12m and 14m kites. After a few more lessons and beginner kite clinics, the organizers decided to hit the water themselves. Trace, George and I all grabbed kites and had a great session on our 12m kites, trying all the amazing new boards our sponsors shipped us. While George tore up the small waves on the F–One Fish, I tried some moves on the CrazyFly Pro Tour Model 130cm followed by another freestyler, the F–One Acid 130cm. What amazing rides these decks were.
While we always have great people at our event, this year was made so much more special because the wind and weather were so good too. Thanks to all our sponsors and to everyone who came out and helped or just had fun.
KiteFest Alaska is an annual gathering of kiteboarders from around Alaska. Every year over 100 kiters descend on Homer to kite, learn to kite, trade or buy gear, meet other Alaskan kiters and to just generally have an amazing time. Now in its fourth year, KiteFest Alaska has really grown and now brings kiters in from around the country. The event’s sponsors include many leading manufacturers in the kiteboarding industry. Our event is one of the only kite events out there were beginners can come and be introduced to kite sports for free by certified instructors. The event is also a wonderful place to get your first gear or improve your existing kit.
You should come to KiteFest because:
>>It is the only kiteboarding event in the state.
>>It is run as a not for profit (organizers are volunteers).
>>Those interesting in kite sports can come with no equipment or knowledge and learn the basics for free.
>>Gear auctions, raffles, giveaways, etc.
>>Kite movie night.
>>Bon fires on the beach.
>>Kiter dinner & party.
Wonderful 2011 Volunteers:
Auctioneer – Anders Gustafson
Photographer – Tehben Dean
–Mike Mum
–Steve Carr
–Obedia Jenkins
–Gavin “The Kiwi”
–George Overpeck
–Trace Carlos
–Traveler Terpening
And many many more.
The history of surfing is full of memories, surfers, moments, travels and unforgettable waves. Each decade, since the birth of surfing, offered us trends, developments and new frontiers.
It was always hard to express how we feel when we ride a wave. Fortunately, there are catchphrases that were born in the surf culture and will remain forever alive.
Call it mottos, sentences, quotes, phrases or guiding principles. Some words, when put together, stay in our salted brains forever. But, which one's your favourite surf catchprase.
Someone said that "only a surfer knows the feeling". With "no waves, no glory" and "drugs, no thanks I'm a surfer". All we know is "when in doubt, paddle out". For some, "life's a beach", for others, "life's a wave". Someone said "work is for people that don't surf". We might agree and "if it swells, ride it".
In crowded surfing days, "if in doubt, paddle out". That might be the only wave available. In big days, "Eddie would go" and he would certainly keep saying "just one more". "I surf because...", I believe "surfing is life, the rest is details". Surfing has several rules, too. When "surf's up", you'll simply "drop in, pull in, kick out".
Once you're "shooting the curl", don't forget: "a bad day surfing is better than a good day working". That means "the best surfer out in the water is the one having the most fun". In Apocalypse Now, Colonel Kilgore said "charlie, don't surf", but never mind. "Hang ten, dude" and scream out loud: "stoked!".
]]>We are excited about bringing the world's riders into our brainstorming session for a new company slogan / tag-line for Summer 2011.
As a company founded by riders, for riders, we have always aimed to bring the best value for money accessory products to the industry.
In keeping with our tradition of encouraging rider participation and feedback in our products, we are opening the search for a new slogan to the world of riders to replace the one you will see at the bottom of this message - 'Now everyone can ride...'
Three prizes will be awarded for the top 3 ideas:
• 1st place: horizon sunglasses, quick-dry wet shirt, kite board bag
• 2nd place: horizon sunglasses
• 3rd place: quick-dry wet shirt
The competition will run until 1st of June, when the 3 prize winners will be announced on our facebook, twitter, and website blog pages. Personal emails will be sent out to the winners notifing them of their prizes and shipment tracking numbers.
Send us your slogan/tag-line ideas, we are excited to see what the world of kiting can produce.
Email: websales@maelstormgear.com
FacebooK: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Maelstorm-kitesurfing/34740998510
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Raisin Waldner
President - Maelstormgear.com
Wanna escape from the croweded Bolabog beach on Boracay?
Union Bay is the place to go!
This spot is a little pearl only 20 minutes by kite from Bolabog. It can be a wavy ride crossing the channel between Bolabog/Boracay to Union Bay on Panay, but the waves usually don't break and its a great 20 min downwinder. If you prefer to bring your stuff there instead or stay at Union you can catch a short ferry and tricycle ride.
Union is shallow and flat! and nobody's around....yet..!
Perfect for practicing your new freestyle tricks.
The land along the beach is mostly leased by friendly and helpful local kiteboarders.
Watch out for the 2011/2012 season - Freestyle Academy has some great surprises up their sleeve for Union Bay ;)
There are some huts for overnight stay like Mangoriders and a small resturant located here as well if you would like to escape the craziness of Boracay. :)
How to get there?
From manila:
-flight manila-caticlan, then triscycle to Union, about 15 min
-flight manila-kalibo, then minivan/bus to Union (on the way to Caticlan), about 1hr 20min
From boracay:
-kite downwind past Bolabog, 2nd, 3rd bay, cross the channel, about 20 min
-boat jettyport, about 10min, then trisycle to Union, about 15min
Phu Quy 岛就如同一个传说,在美奈的海滩流传了多年,童话世界般的海水、超级平水和巨浪完美结合的海面、7米风筝是基本配置的持续强风以及淳朴善良的越南人民,这不是天堂,还有啥是天堂。
但去天堂也有个问题就是这Phu Quy岛距Mui Ne 100公里,需要坐6个小时的渡船,考虑到东南亚航运事业的口碑,被很多人视为畏途,鲜有冲浪者探究。
今年潘切终于开通了到Phu Quy的快船,只需两个半小时便能轻松到达,于是Mui Ne的沙滩上开始经常能遇见绘声绘色描述Phu Quy奇特景色的先行者,言谈间甚至还无意流露出你这傻逼,怎么还在这里瞎混的表情。
PWA世界巡回赛,是美奈今年的另一件大事,直接惊动越南党中央。于是sunshine beach直至WAX之间几百米的海滩不准风筝下水,只能供比赛的帆板上下,在美奈被风筝压抑了很多年的帆板朋友,这几天终于扬眉吐气了。
而我只能过上四处蹭海滩,自己打气下水的生活,虽说鉴于日益强大的中国国力,各沙滩摊主无不对俺笑脸相迎,但毕竟和以前酒吧里喝着咖啡电动打气的日子反差太大。
老Jeff是个退休的澳大利亚直升机教官,前年以65岁的高龄在美奈创造了学习7个小时后就能滑行几百米的奇迹。蹭沙滩时再次遇见,寒暄之后才得知他已经在Phu Quy岛呆了两年,技术已相当了得。这次来美奈是带一些朋友上岛玩的,又介绍了岛上种种细节。
中国人的传统就是有了熟人好办事,既然岛上现在有了熟人,干脆上岛玩个几天,等这劳什子PWA结束了再回来。
]]>
With the submission deadline for the 2011 ISAF midyear meeting in St. Petersburg approaching fast, here is a short roundup why every proposed slate for the 10 sailing medals should include kiteboarding:
• Kiteboarding is still the fastest growing water sport
• Kiteboarding adds a crowd pleaser to the Olympic sailing competition as skier-cross and snowboard-cross did for the winter Olympics
• Kiteboarding is the most diverse piece of equipment to "traditional" sailing one can think of, perfectly fitting the IOC requirement that sailing should showcase its full diversity
• Kiteboarding is exercised in almost all countries of the world with access to sailable water, with national fleet sizes rapidly growing
• Kiteboarding turns the beach into a stadium for the shorts-and-shirts audience, establishing a completely new target group beside the coat-and-tie yachtsmen in the harbors. The main audience for kiteboarding is the 15-45 year old "generation facebook"
• Kiteboarding reaches the general interest media, with more than 600 million TV spectators and more than 400 hours broadcasted worldwide from major events
• The new class rules include a strict box rule, limiting equipment to series production boards and kites only, which minimizes the influence of the equipment on the result of the racing
• Due to the vertical lift created by the kite, kiteboarding races can be conducted for a wide range of body weights and dimension while still providing equal opportunities for competitors from all over the world
• A complete ready-to-sail kiteboarding kit costs approximately 2500 Euro – that is less than half the price of a ready-to-sail Laser and even less than a ready-to-sail RS:X windsurfer – making kiteboarding the least expensive piece of Olympic equipment and offering perfect opportunities especially for small and emerging nations to be able to participate in the Olympic sailing competition
• The kiteboarding industry is able and willing to support Olympic campaigners with equipment sponsorships, further reducing campaign costs. Some of the biggest sailing manufacturers like North and Neil Pryde are behind the kiteboarding brands.
With only 10 medal slots available for the 2016 Olympic Games some creative thinking is needed to get kiteboarding into the Games, and we invite everybody (especially MNAs willing to make submissions) to discuss the various options to achieve this goal and add fantastic opportunities to ISAFs portfolio for the Olympic sailing competition.
]]>Team Maelstorm has just returned from a 4 day kitesurfing weekend in Mui Ne, Vietnam. The weather was fabulous and the wind kicked in allowing for a full range of kites to be flown and equipment demoed. It is great to see the Maelstorm helmet taking a predominant position among the major kite schools on the beach. Better yet is to see almost all of Mui Ne’s 22 kite schools using helmets as part of the instructional process. The Maelstorm Evolution impact vest is also proving a hit as it can be worn with both seat and waist harness, plus provides full flotation in addition to impact protection. The major schools have had a good season teaching thousands of new riders, even though the wind during December and January was less then cooperative. The season seems to have kicked in later than usual this year, and conditions are now excellent.
The new 2011 Wainman kites are available in Mui Ne for rentals and sale. If you haven’t had a chance to try out the Rabbit kites, get over to Storm Kiteboarding in Mui Ne and indulge yourself. An absolute dream to fly and ride. Whaterver your riding or skill level, the Wainman kites deliver. It was team Maelstrom’s first chance riding the Wainman kites, and having ridden almost all the major brands in the business, these are a definite stand out. Pack your bags and become part of the Rabbit Gang in Mui Ne.
The southern half of the Mui Ne beach is a real beauty. This year the erosion has only effected the northern half of the beach so there are miles of sand for both beginners and free riders to enjoy. With lots of width in addition to length, landing, launching, beach starting, and learning are made easy. With the northeast monsoon still blowing strong this April, there are miles of riding possibilities just a few steps from your bungalow.
With Easter weekend only 2 weeks away, now is the time to book that last minute trip and get on over to "the Nam" for a fabulous holiday of sun, fun, and epic riding.
See you on the water!
]]>
]]>
The kitesurfing and windsurfing industry has been fired up in the last months. The wind sports are battling for one place in the 2016 summer Olympic Games, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Everyone is trying to lobby for that dream ticket. Kitesurfers believe they should be given an opportunity to show how the sport can be a spectacle. Windsurfers say they are the only ones who can sail in weak winds.
Neil Pryde, one of the most relevant wind sports business man in the world, has released a clear message regarding his kitesurfing support, as an Olympic event.
"I have been acting as an Ambassador for the IKA in order to assist kitesurfing in its objective to attain Olympic Event status. I have now withdrawn my endorsement of the IKA Campaign because it is my view that kitesurfing has not yet developed the rules of competition and disciplines that must be demonstrated to qualify kitesurfing as an Olympic event," says the entrepreneur.
The Neil Pryde brand has investments and interests in both sports, but it supplies the current Olympic class board (RS:X) and is pushing the RS:One as the junior Olympic board.
"As the Managing Director of Neil Pryde Limited, the owner of Cabrinha, a world leader in kitesurfing, I remain a strong supporter of kitesurfing and I believe that the sport will continue to grow and develop as a lifestyle/adventure sport. Kitesurfing offers tremendous opportunities to combine sport and travel and there is no doubt that it is an exciting action sport that ultimately could obtain Olympic status".
"I would support the inclusion of kitesurfing as a demonstration event at the 2016 Olympic Games, if this is feasible", concludes Neil Pryde.
]]>Boracay showed its best side to the competitors and we were blessed with endless winds and sunshine.
This was actually the last tour stop of this season, as we just got the news from Korea that the event is cancelled due to the political situation.
The first two days of the TT-races was really exciting. Helle Johansen (DEN), Aya Oshima (JAP) and I were fighting for 1,2,3rd place. Day three was definetly my day, I was really loving the strong winds and I won all the races! The last day of the race the course was reversed and it was a big mess on the starting line. In the 1st race an upwind rider crashed on me. I had to stop while they were able to keep riding. Then my kite inverted, eventually I was able to relaunch it and finish, but I had already lost too much time.
In the 2nd race I had to use my quick release due to a massive cluster of tangles on the starting line. I did not want to abandon the race and decided to swim out of the tangled mess, put my kite back together in the water and kept on racing. On the last race I decided to stay far away from the start line, as there were tangles almost every race. I finished with a big smile as I knew I made the the podium, I was super stoked! Thanks to all my awesome Boracay friends, they were a great support as they were cheering for me by the finishing line giving me lots of good energy to keep on going strong.
All in all another awesome KTA tour stop. Congratulations to all the winners! And a big thank you to all who made this happen. All the sponsors and the KTA crew: Neil Godbold, Willy Kerr, Stephan Hertig, Jim Thirion, Anny Barlow, Alex Baranescu
The women’s TT ended with Rebecka Maudal (NOR) in 1st, Aya Oshima (Japan) for 2nd, and Helle Johansen (Denmark) in 3rd.
http://kiteboardtour.asia/results10_11/Philippines/TT-race_Philippines.pdf
keep progressing, keep on smiling :P
Rebecka