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VIDEO: The Low Road Part II

BEST International Team Rider Brian Smith aka BCS rides with pal Brandon Scheid in episode II of the Low Road produced by Nate Appel. This whole episode was shot in Best Kiteboarding's new backyard, the SLICK!... Read More...

Help the Coast Guard Help Kiteboarders

Just as a great Central California session was wrapping up earlier this spring, a few of us on the beach noticed a kite tumbling downwind outside the surf line. The kite's owner decided it would be too difficult to get the kite back and it continued its tumble downwind out of sight. A few hours later, I received a call from Coast Guard Lieutenant Ana Thorsson, who was coordinating the search for a kiteboarder they assumed was missing.... Read More...

Northern Colombia: Still Undiscovered

After a quick two and a half hour flight, I was picked up and we headed to the coast. Wladamir is excitedly telling me how you can ride flat water on one side with perfect side-onshore conditions for freestyle or racing while the other side, a short five minute walk away, serves up perfect long peeling waves formed by sandbars with side-offshore winds.... Read More...

Erin Swain: Walk of Shame

OK, so, I went kiting with Scott and Tami today. A quick back ground on Tami: we have been texting about kiting for an entire year, and have not gotten together. Today was finally the day we were able to go. It wasn’t too windy, so when I got he message from Scott saying he was heading down south, I jumped right on the invitation to kite and I invited Tami. ... Read More...

Reasons to Plug your Ears

Outside of a great fitting harness, helmet, and untangled kite lines, a pair of earplugs is a must for any kiter. The reason is that ear injuries occur frequently, are very painful, and are easily preventable. ... Read More...
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Patagonia Signs Kiteboarder Jason Slezak

Patagonia Inc., a leading designer of core outdoor, surf and sport-related apparel, equipment, footwear and accessories, is pleased to announce that professional kiteboarder Jason Slezak has formally joined the Patagonia ambassador team.... Read More...
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Belmont Shore Capture the Wind Festival July 22-24

The Southern California Kiteboarding Association is partnering with the Long Beach Sea Festival to present the Capture the Wind Festival from July 22 to 24. The city has agreed to allow the Association to create a separate beach zone for this event where kiters will compete in the first official jumping contest held in Southern California. ... Read More...
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Erin Swain: In Too Deep

Today started off like all my other sessions. Scott and I dropped a car off at Jockeys Ridge and went down behind the golf course in Nags Head to pump up our kites. It wasn’t blowing too strong, so I pumped up my 9M and attached my bar from my 7M.... Read More...
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2011 Ro Sham Throw Down Wrap Up/Results

While the 2010 Ro Sham Throw Down put the event on the map, this year brought in an international presence and proved to the industry that the Ro Sham is here to stay. With several new features brought to the table such as the Liquid Force Dancefloor, the Best Handrail, The Slingshot Kicker, and the extended Airush BoomBox the guys from the Slider Project pieced together a really sick park. Riders flooded the town from all over the world including New Zealand, Australia, England, Florida, Cape Hatteras, and South America.... Read More...

Erin Swain: Learning to Self Rescue: A MUST HAVE SKILL

After kiting with Allison, I heard that Scott was on his way over to Jockey's Ridge. I was stoked because I had been walking upwind all day and was ready to do a bonafide downwinder without worrying about staying upwind. Scott arrived around 5:30pm, so I threw my gear in his car and we drove down about 3 miles south.... Read More...

2011 Athletes for Cancer Tenacity Games Recap/Results

The total funds raised in this weekend’s event have not been officially tallied yet, but funds raised by athletes alone were over $40,000. The proceeds will go to Athletes for Cancer’s Survivorship Camps, as well as regional cancer awareness, prevention, and survivorship organizations.... Read More...
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July 1 Report from Chip Wasson at the 2011 Kite Course Racing World Championships

Here in Sylt, July 1st came in with a bang in the kiteboard racing department at the 2011 World Championships. I don't know about the other riders out there but today offered up some of the most challenging racing conditions I have ever competed in! 6-8 foot breaking waves and swell that was all over the place accompanied a 30+ knot breeze. In these conditions the race committee could not even anchor their start boats which motored in place all day long always in fear of getting rolled. ... Read More...

Day 3 Report from Johnny Heineken at the 2011 Kite Course Racing World Championships

Yesterday we had 3 more races in really nasty conditions. A lot of the game was finding the weather mark which was a small yellow cone in head high chop. The first race I started conservatively on starboard near the pin (favored). Andy crushed the port tack start, crossing with about 10 other guys. From there I rounded behind Sky, Damo, and Julien, passing them all on the downwind leg. ... Read More...

Kite Racing World Championships Day 3: Waves and Wind

The racers went out for three races in strong winds and 2-3 meter waves - not really easy conditions to handle with a race board. Nevertheless, the picture on the water did not change from yesterday. The US-team races in another league with only a few Europeans who can follow the speed of John Heineken, Andy Koch, and Sky Solbach.... Read More...
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BCS Steps Up as a Best International Team Rider

BEST Rider Brian Smith (aka "BCS") has made the jump to the International Team. Fighting off strong competition from National Team riders from all over the world BCS stakes his claim at the top table following an excellent showing at this years REAL Watersports Triple-S invitational.... Read More...
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Erin Swain: I Finially Did it with a Girl

So, as a newbie to the sport, I called a local bud of mine and said, "Hey, do you know any chicks that kite? I could really use someone on my level that is eager to get out there on days when I can go." With that, my bud says he thinks his friend’s wife is on the same level. Two days later I get a text msg that reads: "Hey Erin, I got your number from Chirs, my name’s Allison.”... Read More...
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IKA Racing Worlds Day 2 Update

Around noon the wind started turning but also to completely die down, and it took another couple of hours until it came back up. Around 5 pm there were first signs of wind on the horizon, and suddenly at 5:30pm the wind switched on, turned to west, and had 17-20 knots in strength.... Read More...