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DESIGNER’S CORNER: 2011 Slingshot RPM

The RPM is Slingshot’s most tuneable kite for 2011 and features a three-strut design built on an Open-C kite platform. Designer Amery Bernard tells us more about the RPM, now in its third year of refinement.... Read More...

DESIGNER’S CORNER: Wainman Hawaii Surf Series

Through team rider Bertrand Fleury, they heard that their good Maui friend Sean Ordonez was enthusiastic about cooperating with the brand. As Sean had already shaped many sick boards for Lou in the past, the ideals and philosophies of surfing and kiting they shared resulted in the birth of the partnership.... Read More...

F-One 2011 Trax Analyze This Board Review

Once up and riding, the F-One Trax is a fast board that feels light and responsive underfoot. As you edge harder, the Trax feels like it locks in and never gave us any signs that the edge was about to slip or chatter. ... Read More...

Erin Swain: Powder Days!

As I approach the pass (now driving with my hazards on at about 25 mph), I start thinking this is insane”¦what am I thinking?? I took this sport up as a ”˜fair weather’ kiter, and this is a scary white-out”¦... Read More...
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Litewave 2011 Wing Analyze This Board Review

We tested the big boy of the 2011 Litewave Wings, the 161. This is a light wind specific board and it stands out when compared to other twin tips. The board features wide tips, a reverse sidecut outline, and a very deep tip to tip single concave. There are two fins on the heel edge and two near the tips of the board close to the centerline. This board has more rocker than last year’s model and is fairly flexible.... Read More...
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Hannah Whiteley Joins Wainman Hawaii

"It's awesome to start the new year being part of the Wainman Hawaii team! I have always looked up to Lou Wainman so now I feel very privileged to be riding his kit. The kites are great for freestyle! They feel so stable and smooth in the sky and the power is always there for unhooked tricks. I ride the Joke and Blunt boards which have really great pop and are very forgiving when landing hard. I'm stoked with it."... Read More...
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2011 PKRA Schedule Announced

The much-anticipated 2011 PKRA World Tour Schedule is finally out. The busy calendar promises to be an exiting professional kiteboarding season visiting 5 continents, with 9 freestyle events, 6 wave events and 6 racing events. The event pages will be updated periodically with updates and new information. Make sure to the check the event status field of each event before making any plans or buying airline tickets. ... Read More...
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RRD 2011 Obsession Analyze This Kite Review

The 2011 RRD Obsession looks similar to last year’s model, but there are a few obvious differences. The trailing edge is now all Dacron and the graphics are actually made of fabric sewn onto the kite as opposed to being screened on, a feature that RRD claims adds more rigidity to the canopy. ... Read More...

Erin Swain: Waiting for Wind

I promised myself when I learned to kiteboard in the water that I was not going to go out in light winds. Unfortunately, in the mountains, there are no exact wind meters and websites to check that will allow you to know what the wind is doing. Maybe there is somekind of wind dance to perform that would bring perfect winds???... Read More...
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Kiteboarding for Cancer Announces Survivorship Camps

If you are a cancer survivor and looking for the adventure and thrill of a lifetime, these camps are for you. And if you know of a survivor 18-40, forward this on to them! It is important to know that surfing, standup paddling, and kiteboarding are water-intense action sports with frequent impact on the water. Safety is our top priority. A sense of adventure but good common sense is required.... Read More...
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La Ventana Update for 1/19/2011: Main Event Starts Tomorrow!

The wind was light again today in La Ventana, but the crowd of kiteboarders here continues to grow in anticipation for the La Ventana Classic and Kite Expo, which gets underway tomorrow. The event will begin with Neil Hutchinson and the legendary Baja Joe skydiving into the event from 10,000 feet above La Ventana. Bets have been placed on where they will land. Be on the beach before 11 am to see where they end up.... Read More...
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La Ventana Update for 1/18/2011: 30 Girls on an Island, a Movie Premier, and Hot Dogs

Today the wind was light in La Ventana, but the day was still full of activities. This morning started off when around 30 women loaded into three boats and headed of to Isla Cerralvo, about 11 miles offshore of La Ventana for a Women's Clinic organized by Marie Leclair and Laura Mayer. While the wind never filled in out on the island, a good time was had by all and the clinic was finished off with happy hour margaritas at Baja Joe's back in La Ventana.... Read More...
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La Ventana Update for 1/17/2011: Another Windy Day!

While today wasn't quite as windy as the last few, today was another good day for kiteboarding in La Ventana. This small town in the Baja desert is quickly filling to capacity with kiteboarders and kiteboarding industry people. La Ventana has to be one of the few places in the word where kiteboarders can be walking down a remote dirt road and run in to other kiters they know.... Read More...
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SPOT LANDING SKYDIVE STUNT TO KICK OFF ANNUAL LA VENTANA CLASSIC AND KITEXPO

At 11 am on Thursday, January 20, a kiteboarding first will happen when emcee Neil Hutchinson and the legendary Baja Joe kick off the annual La Ventana Classic and KiteXpo by skydiving into the event. The jump will be charity fundraiser that helps out the local schools and community. Bets will be taken where you guess how close to the pink hula hoop either Neil or Joe will land. ... Read More...
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La Ventana Update for 1/16/11: WIND!! Clinic Schedule Update

Well, the La Ventana Wind delivered today, allowing the TKB test test team to continue their work testing a pile of 2011 kiteboarding gear. After a morning spent testing, we met up with new F-One team rider Danny Alvarez. The weather was perfect kiting conditions again today, we hope to see you down here in Baja!... Read More...
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La Ventana Update for 1/15/2011: Burning Bush, More Wind, Clinic Schedule Announced

Today we had another perfect day of kiting here in La Ventana, with the TKB test team being able to get out for another full day on the water. After a morning planning meeting with Tim Hatler of Palapas Ventana, we were able to test 9m kites from North and Caution and a Litewave board. The wind was still blowing late into the day, so we shot a few photos with Wainman HI team rider Spencer Lujan until the wind lightened up.... Read More...
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Erin Swain: The Real Deal on Women’s Snowkiting

I was shocked the first time I pulled the kite into the power zone and it just lifted me and my board so gently, sending me gliding across soft snow. It was surprisingly easy! I would say a hundred times easier than being in the water. The wind was only blowing 10-12mph so it was real mellow and that gave me the confidence to glide a decent way before ungracefully crashing the kite and attempting to switch directions.... Read More...
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Ben Wilson Surf Welcomes Josh Mulcoy to Team

BWS today announced the signing of world-renowned surfer/kitesurfer Josh Mulcoy. Mulcoy joins the BWS global athlete program alongside Ryland Blakeney and Ben Wilson. The partnership will include the production of a pro model board designed by Josh’s longtime sponsor and legendary surfboard shaper William "Stretch" Riedel.... Read More...
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MAUI’S RIGHT TO KITE ENDANGERED

Maui's north shore is without question one of the world's ultimate wind sports playgrounds. The faithful trade winds and offshore reef breaks combine to create sensational conditions that foster epic moments and memories. However, some of the kiters who live on Maui and many of the kiters visiting are not aware that having an airport in the middle of our playground is a huge problem.... Read More...

Erin Swain: A Blog About Learning to Snowkite

OK, here’s my deal: I am 29 years old and have been snowboarding and surfing for about five years. I have been living in Colorado in the winters and the Outer Banks if North Carolina in the summers. I guess its only natural I attempt to get into the kite world. When I first saw kiteboarding I thought ”˜whoa! That is f*ing cool!’ I was in Key West and was 21 years old. Almost nine years later (gosh that sounds like a decade!), I finally had the opportunity to try it out.... Read More...
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DESIGNER’S CORNER: 2011 Best Profanity

New for 2011, Best is introducing the Profanity, a dedicated wakestyle twin tip board shaped by board designer Franz Schitzhofer. We spoke with Franz to find out more about the new addition to the Best board line up. ... Read More...

DESIGNER’S CORNER: 2011 Epic Screamer LTD

Epic introduced the Screamer 10 LTD in 2010, which was positioned as an ultra-performance and super powerful kite. We spoke with Epic Kiteboarding owner Dimitri Maramenides and his kite designer Momi to find out what riders can expect from the 2011 LTD version and what makes the 10 meter so different from the rest of the kites in the Screamer line. ... Read More...

DESIGNER’S CORNER: 2011 Slingshot Rally

Slingshot’s 2011 LEI kite product line maintains is roots in the C-shape DNA. Each one of their kites has evolved from the original C-shape kite and then has been refined to meet the needs of various conditions and riding styles. Kite designers Amery Bernhart and Tony Logosz shed some light on their newest creation, the Rally, an open delta C-kite. ... Read More...