Profanity
// January 1st, 2011 // No Comments » // BEST Kiteboarding, Hatteras, Wakestyle
Here’s the new Product Release Video Miguel Willis, Kris Kinn, Brian “BCS” Smith and I filmed in Hatteras in October.
Archive for Kiteboarding
The Cable Guys
// December 22nd, 2010 // No Comments » // BEST Kiteboarding, Kiteboarding
I just got back from a Demo tour throughout Florida with Sam Medysky, Joe Ruscito, Brian “BCS” Smith, Kris Kinn, Miguel Willis and Shannon Best. Our goal was to run a ton of demos, ride a few cable parks and kite a ton!
Click the image below for the lowdown on how testing the new 2011 gear went while hitting up a few of the worlds best cable parks:
The Kiteboarder Mag – Interview
// October 4th, 2010 // No Comments » // Kiteboarding, Wakestyle
Here’s an interview I did with Alexis over at the Kiteboarder Magazine during the 2010 AWSI Expo in Hood River, Oregon:
Brazil Vid
// September 28th, 2010 // No Comments » // Kiteboarding, Wakestyle
Just finished my video from my trip to Brazil. I spent a few weeks in August in the northern town of Cumbuco. The wind in Brazil is amazingly consistant, windy everyday, and I learned a few new tricks… here’s the footage:
Hood What!!!
// September 23rd, 2010 // No Comments » // Kiteboarding, Kitesurfing
So, I just got back from Hood River, Oregon. I was there for a week doing a photo shoot for BEST Kiteboarding and then hung out for the 2010 AWSI Kiteboarding Expo. It was my first time in the Hood and that spot completely lived up to the hype. Amazing scenery, awesome people, great vibe!
I was lucky enough to shoot with one of the best photographers in the industry, Gavin Butler. Here’s fellow team rider Joe Ruscito, Gavin, Jake and I discussing the plan for the day… GET SHOTS!
Joe, Gavin, Jake and I discussing shots
After a late night airport pickup to grab fellow REAL Team Rider, Jason Slezak, and a night on the town in Portland with the Liquid Force crew, we woke up early to find the river glass’d off!! After a couple cups of coffee we managed to get the crew together and put the boat in the water for an amazing wake session. It was my first time behind a “legit” wake boat and after a couple warm up runs I felt pretty good and was able to land a few solid rotations and invert tricks.
Liquid Force 2010 Supra
On a light wind day, Joe, Gavin, Kristin and I headed out to do some lifestyle shots on the cliffs over the Gorge.
Colombia River
It wouldn’t have been an industry Expo without a few solid parties! Here’s the BEST crew at the Liquid Force/Monster Energy birthday bash for SBC Magazines 10th Anniversary.
BEST Crew at SBC Anniversary Party
Ahhh, the real girls of BEST! I had a great time riding, shooting and hanging out with 9-time World Champion Kristin Boese. I learned a ton from her during the week and was stoked to get to work with a legend!
Laurel, Kris, Me and Kristin
Just Kickin’ It w/ Nate Appel
// June 18th, 2010 // No Comments » // Hatteras, Wakestyle
This winter I was keeping in touch with lots of friends using Skype. Skype allows you to talk through text, voice and video chatting. With many of my friends going on surfing and kiteboarding trips, as well as myself, Skype was the easy (and free) way to stay in touch no matter where.
I had been wanting to film a few interviews with friends as a way to contribute to the kiteboarding website KiteScoop.com. With all of my friends dispersed all over the globe I figured Skype was the best interview platform available. So here is the first one… a conversation I had with filmmaker/team rider Nate Appel during the Spring of 2010:
How to prevent a kitemare
// January 16th, 2010 // No Comments » // Kiteboarding, Kitesurfing
As with all action sports their is an inherit risk of danger. This danger is greatly reduced as skill levels increase and awareness of the potential hazards become more apparent. Every rider learns these skills through time on the water and occasionally through reading a good article. I wrote this article for Kiteboarding Magazine in the hope that I could make the sport of kiteboarding just that much safer and spread the knowledge I’ve been lucky enough to learn from some of the best in the industry. Here it is, check it out:
Kiteboarding Magazine - January 2010
Chillaxin’
// December 12th, 2009 // No Comments » // Kiteboarding
Cape Hatteras lures Surfers and Kiters from around the world because of the extreme weather conditions this island undergoes throughout the year. From macking surf, to cranking wind, from beautiful sunsets to harsh hurricanes and costal flooding, Hatteras Island sees it all!
In the winter the tourists stop coming, most business’ close up shop for the winter and things tend slow down… a lot! For the few “locals” that inhabit the island year round, this is a time of ‘Solo Sessions’, a time to get out and enjoy the elements without the masses of weekend beachgoers that plague the island the other 4 months of the year. In order to survive the quiet winter evenings, you either find something self destructive to do (drink) or something productive to do (maintain a personal website!).
For the athletes that hang around in the winter you’re treated to at least one consistent swell of pumping surf a week and all the cold wind you can handle. There are many sessions to be had… the only question, “is my wetsuit dry?”
Checking the Southside
Last Sunday I scored a fun southside kitesurf session with my friends Trevor and Pat. The wind was cranking in the low 30′s and the boys and I grabbed a few of the new 2010 kites to put them through their paces in the intense conditions. The waves consisted of wind swell in the waist to chest high range, but it was still enough to have fun with and get in a few fun hacks.
30mph kiting
After our morning session in the ocean Pat, Trevor and I headed back up to the REAL Slick to score a flatwater session. The wind was cranking, the air was warm, and it was enough to remind me of why I decided to stay on this desolate little island throughout the winter… good times with friends and some of the best conditions in the world!
Slider Steeze
// November 7th, 2009 // No Comments » // Kiteboarding, Wakestyle
My good friend Nate Appel just released the fourth segment of his six part series “A work in progress”. This segment was filmed in Cape Hatteras at the world famous “REAL Slick”.
Side-off bombs!
// October 23rd, 2009 // No Comments » // Kitesurfing
This past Monday I had the day off from work. My roommates and I had planned on a chill day of kiting in the sound with some strong Northwest wind. Upon arriving at REAL I talked with Jason Slezak and he made me aware of the massive waves going off towards the south-side of the island. In my years of living on Hatteras Island I’ve learned a few life lessons… one of which is: “If Jason Slezak is excited about riding somewhere, you sure as hell better be with him!”. We loaded up REAL’s new “helicopter” van and caravanned to just south of Avon with Sam Bell, Brandon Scheid and Bryan Elkus in tow.
Upon arriving at the spot we realized we weren’t the only ones who knew about the waves. There was a crowd of about 15-20 other kiters congregating on the beach… a clue to how big the waves were, only one other rider was actually putting up a kite! Hatteras’ own Jay Crawford was pumping up his kite to join in on the mayhem!
Before Brandon and I could even fully comprehend how much water was moving, due to waves that were well over head-high and massive current, Sleezy was already done pumping up his new 2010 Havoc and ready to ride. Fifteen minutes later Sammy, Jason, Brandon and I were all jumping on our surfboards and hitting the water. The amount of time it took on our first marathon tack out allowed you to gauge the magnitude of the waves. As I rode out over the 13ft walls of water breaking on the outer sandbars I knew this was going to be an Epic session.
