A password will be e-mailed to you.

 

Pismo Beach has been enjoying stellar spring conditions! The Pismo Beach KiteXpo would not be possible without the support from the following brands and businesses:

  • AIRUSH
  • BEST
  • DAKINE
  • EPIC
  • F-ONE
  • FLEXIFOIL
  • LIQUID FORCE
  • MYSTIC
  • NAISH
  • PADDLE SURF HAWAII
  • RRD
  • SLINGSHOT
  • SLO SUP (ANGULO, JIMMY LEWIS, STARBOARD)
  • UNDERGROUND
  • WAINMAN HAWAII

LODGING: Have you made your arrangements yet? Its Easter weekend so do it before it’s too late! Also, the NORTH CAMPGROUND IS CLOSED DUE TO SEWAGE FLOODING and the South campground is booked (you might get a site from cancellations but don’t count on it). If you plan on camping, you will need to do it directly on the beach without any facilities or hookups. Consider pooling in with a few others and renting a 26’ or 30’ trailer from sponsor www.luv2camp.com for the weekend! You’ll get a generator, hot water, bathroom, shower, kitchen and place to chill out of the wind”¦.Pismo Beach has many properties to choose from. Go to www.classiccalifornia.com.

REGISTRATION/SATURDAY NIGHT EVENT: To demo kite gear, you must be an intermediate level kiteboarder who can go upwind, is comfortable in ”˜traffic’ and can self rescue. The demo is free but all riders MUST SIGN A WAIVER FORM AND PROVIDE CREDIT CARD INFO to receive an event wrist bracelet. New this year is the LIQUID FORCE Trainer Kite Area if you have any friends or family interested in getting into the sport.

A killer benefit BBQ and bonfire is planned for Saturday night starting around 6 to 6:30p. BBQ tickets will be sold at the event Friday and Saturday for $10 with proceeds to benefit Kinsley. Maui Mike and his family from San Francisco will be cooking up some amazing grub and Amery Bernard (Slingshot kite designer) along with Jamy Donaldson (SS team) and the Bay Area’s Kirk Talon will be entertaining you with live music.

RAFFLE/SILENT AUCTION: Get your raffle tickets for your chance to one or more of the over $20K worth of gear and accessories. Some items will be silent auctioned, but majority of donations received from our generous supporters and participating vendors will be raffled! Tickets are still $1 each, 25 for $20 or 120 for $100. For Friday and Saturday raffles (between 3p 5p), if you win anything you MUST pick up next day before the following raffle or item will go back into the raffle pool. For Sunday raffle (planned between 10a and 12p right before the wind starts) you MUST be present to win. Remember, this is a fundraiser for Kinsley so pull out those wallets and win yourself some killer stuff! We will also be selling $20 tickets (3 for $50) for your chance to win 4 cases of premium wine donated from private collections and local wineries. Winner will be drawn at Sunday’s raffle and you NEED NOT BE PRESENT TO WIN. If you can’t make it, get your tickets from [email protected]

So far, we have received the following generous donations from participating vendors:

SLINGSHOT KITEBOARDING: 2011 9m RPM complete! The RPM is changing kiteboarding with its innovative 3 strut “Open C” Canopy design. It delivers limitless high end performance options for all conditions. For 2011 we have added “Split-Strut” design. Value $1749

EPIC KITES: 2010 Screamer 10 LTD, and 2010 Screamer 9m complete — $3000 value

BEST KITEBOARDING: 2010 9m NXG, messenger bag, water shirts, redline performance bar, $1800 value

COZUMEL HOLIDAY: Win a 5 night stay at Casa Viento (single or double occupancy) www.casaviento.com. Raul De Lille of www.kitecozumel.com will provide 10 hours (2 days) of instruction for beginners or kite tours for experienced riders. Casa Viento is located in the north of Cozumel, Mexico’s largest Caribbean Island, which lies off the Yucatan Peninsula. It is a 5-10 minute drive from Downtown, the Airport or the passenger ferry terminal to Playa del Carmen on the mainland. Just a 2 minute walk away is a fantastic white sand beach, which offers some of the best kiteboarding conditions in Mexico. Other kiting locations are just a short car drive away. Raul de Lille, a Cozumel born and raised IKO and PASA-certified kiteboarding instructor, was previously a world champion and Olympic windsurfer. In 2001, already one of Mexico’s best kiters, he was certified as the island’s first instructor. After pioneering the sport in Mexico and winning the first ever national championship, Raul has given up competition and now enjoys training new kiteboard addicts. Package subject to availability. Thanks to Nicole Ferroni and Raul de Lille for their generous donation! $1500 value

PORTUGAL VACATION: Win a 6 night accommodation in a newly built Garden Studio and your choice of five days of IKO beginner course or kite/SUP rental, courtesy of South Adventures based in beautiful Algarve, Portugal. Located in the South of Portugal at the southwest tip of Europe, Algarve enjoys over 300 days of sunshine a year and boasts some of the best weather conditions in all of Europe with excellent wind conditions. It’s coastline is over 200 km long and more than 70% of it consists of a natural reserve. Long dunes and lagoons dominate the East Coast, offering outstanding conditions for kitesurfing, while the Central Coast is rich in sheltered beaches and picturesque cliffs both areas offer abundant flat water in shallow water, ideal for learning how to kite with confidence. Sharp cliffs and high waves are predominant on the West Coast, very good for both surfing and kitesurfing. The rich and varied gastronomy of the Algarve region is also one of its calling cards, bringing together recipes and spices from the interior with the abundant riches of the sea. Special thanks to Sofia Teles and Ricardo Taviera of www.southadventures.com/pt for providing this wonderful holiday package, perfect for kiters and beach lovers alike (subject to availability) $1500 value

ST LUCIA VACATION: Win a 7 night accommodation at The Reef Beach Huts Bed and Breakfast including a complimentary “Kiteazy” program. The Reef Kite + Surf is located at Anse de Sable in Vieux Fort, in the south of St Lucia. It is a reef-enclosed bay and the kite zone is just downwind from The Reef. Conditions are steady cross-shore winds from the left, with chop and hop conditions. It is one of the best kitesurfing locations in the Eastern Caribbean, well away from the coral reefs and the water is always warm at about 27 degrees Celsius (80 Fahrenheit). Most commonly used size kites here are 8m to 14m. The kite center also runs a Beach Cafe & Restaurant with a nicely varied menu of Creole and international (sea)food, a range of fast foods (including homemade pizza), fresh milkshakes, cappuccinos, cold beers and cocktails, making it a really nice spot for non-surfing friends & family as well. Special thanks to Jolien and Cecile of The Reef Kite + Surf, Beach Cafe + Restaurant for this amazing raffle package! (subject to availability) $1500 value

VELA KITESURF HOLIDAY: Your choice between a 7-night stay at Playa del Sol in Los Barriles, Baja including Vela’s Sporting Program, meals and airport transfers OR 7-night stay in Hood River, hotel subject to Vela availability $1500 value

NEWIND.NET: Custom carbon 133 x 42 twin tip split board, handcrafted by Italian designer Riccardo Fumini, $1K value

UNDERGROUND KITEBOARDS:  All Carbon 134 ($1K value) donated by Kurt Friedmann and Styx 124 from Underground $619 value

FLEXIFOIL: Complete Hooligan Board and complete Anarchist Board! Value $1098

GLOBAL SURF INDUSTRIES (GSI) 6’6” yellow fun shape board ($425)

HYPERFLEX USA: Gift certificates (so you can get the right size) for Playa HZ Neoprene Jacket, AMP-K 5/3 Fullsuit and three Coolmax Water T-shirt package (any 3). Value $550

CENTRAL COAST SUP: QuickBlade Kanaha FG – $229 value

PADDLESURF HAWAII: Paddlesurf HI Paddle $225 value

NORTH KITES: New Harness $209 value

BEN WILSON SURF: Ben’s latest DVD, the Dirty South $200 value!

KITER’S ALE: Four large (22 oz.) micro-brew beers including two “Sunset Porters” and two “Kite Surf Ales”. The porter is nice and dark, strong but smooth. The ale is a medium amber, not too hoppy, and a little sweet. Beers handcrafted by local kiter Mike Harkness (value priceless!)

DAKINE: $300 Gift Certificate!

NAISH: TBD

F-ONE KITEBOARDING:  F-One Vario Travel Bag and Underwave Harness Value $469

KURTIS SURF GOOGLES: A couple of pairs worth $200 a pop!

PISMOARTIST.COM:  Beautiful original kitesurfing art in watercolor/pastel from local artist Lynee Sapere. Value $385

KITE PAINTING: Pismo Beach KiteXpo originally, created by Gorge local Carol Bolstad. Value priceless!

KITE PAINTING: Pismo scene of surf kiter created by local kiter Susan Benaron. Value priceless!

DRAGON PEARL GREEN TEA ENERGY DRINK: Dragon Pearl’s Super Natural Energy tea shots are made from the most potent organic Taimu Mountain Mao Feng whole green tea leaves, brewed into a super-powerful fresh concentrate. The equalavent of three big, strong cups of fresh green tea is in each 2-ounce green tea energy shot… similar to an extra-tall coffee, but without the shaky, nervous feeling you get with too much caffeine. We’ll be raffling off a couple of cases of this product! ($100 value)

MONAVIE BERRY DRINK: Two bottles valued at $40 each

RADOG CASES OF WINE:  Local kiter Dan Tudor, owner & winemaker of the prestigious Tudor & Radog Wines, has very generously donated 100 cases of wine with 100% of proceeds going to the Kinsley ThomasWong Donation Fund! These are superior wines with high review ratings from a preeminent winemaker.  The Radog Sauvignon Blanc and Radog Dry Rosé are both nice summer wines.  We are offering these cases at approximately 50% discount from retail prices at $109 per case for Radog Sauvignon Blanc and $74 per case for the Radog Rosé (plus applicable shipping costs on both wines – info below by state or region) at www.friendsofkinsley.com and will be giving away two cases each at the Expo ($368 value)

BEN WILSON SURF/STRAPLESS CLINICS:

Ben and his coaching team will be running two FREE clinics at during the event. This is your chance to get the information you need to take your riding to the next level!

Session one Friday  – 10-11.30 am

INTRO TO WAVE RIDING: Friday, April 22, 10a-11:30a

Who?

This session is designed for riders who are new to kiting in the surf or are thinking about getting into waves.

What will be covered?

Surf basics, kite selection and set up, oard selection and set up, kite positioning, wave catching techniques, wave etiquette, ody position and  surf survival tips.

The session will include practical demos by Ben if conditions are suitable.

ACCELERATOR CLINIC FOR INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED RIDERS: Saturday, April 23, 10a to 11:30a

Who?

This session is designed for riders who are intermediate to advanced surf kiters.

What will be covered?

Kite selection and set up, kite positioning for down the line riding,  advanced wave catching techniques, unstrapped tips, how to ride unhooked, advanced moves airs, barrels, re-entries, tail slides and more!

The session will include practical demos by Ben if conditions are suitable.

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.

  1. Email [email protected]
  2. Put BWS Clinic in subject line
  3. Tell me which clinic you want to do, your full name and phone number
  4. PLEASE email if you register and decide NOT to come so we can accommodate others
  5. SPACE IS LIMITED SO REGISTER NOW!
  6. Deadline for registration is Wednesday, April 20