The Pismo Kitexpo is now called the XBA Kitexpo, in honor of founder Kinsley ThomasWong of XtremeBigAir (XBA). In celebration of Kinsley’s love for the ocean and his desire to share his stoke, Kitexpo now benefits the Oceano Junior Lifeguards summer program. As many of us watermen and women know, a program like this changes lives! When we can get kids excited about the ocean, they will in turn respect it and its inhabitants. This program runs during the month of July.
- WHERE: Pismo/Grover Beach, California, North of Grand Ave Beach Access Entrance
- WHEN: April 13-15, 2018
- TIME: 11:30a to 5p daily (registration 10a-3p except Sunday, 11a to 2p)
- COST: $20 pp includes raffle ticket good toward grand prize drawing of Core XR2 Riot 9m plus Sensor 2 bar, MSRP $1798!
For 15 years Kitexpo has been a free demo event. Due to increased expenses that the event can no longer absorb, a $20/pp fee will now be charged to all participants. The $20 fee will get you a raffle ticket good towards thousands of dollars of prizes and two raffles, 3 days of demoing gear from 14 brands plus we are trying to organize adding a downwind truck/rides for the weekend only (PENDING STATE PARKS APPROVAL. Details tbd).
SCHEDULE
April 13: Shave ”˜N Flav, SLO County’s #1 Food Truck, Beach Dinner at event site benefitting Oceano Jr Lifeguard Summer Program, 6p -8p; Music/drinks afterward at Fin’s Restaurant, band until 9p
Join us for the kickoff dinner at the event site as we also celebrate event founder Kinsley ThomasWong’s birthday.
Get 3 delicious tacos, rice, beans and a beverage, plus salsa bar! $25pp by reservation until 5p PST, Tuesday, April 10 only.You must click on host message to see meal and payment options and either reply to host or put your dinner choice in your RSVP reply please! https://evite.me/HD76GpdWX4
Meat taco plate includes award winning chicken, carne asada and el pastor tacos!
Veggie taco plate includes black beans, fresh sweet corn off the cob, roma tomatoes, mild jalapeno rings, napoles and garlic, slow simmered and served on warm tortillas with melted jack cheese.
We’ll also be doing a drawing for a special prize tbd for Friday night dinner participants only.
RSVP MANDATORY and DINNER CHOICE MANDATORY: Please RSVP by 5p PST, Tuesday, April 10. Click on the ‘message from the host’ for dinner and payment details and RSVPing, please reply in your comment what meal you would like and quantities if more than one reservation was made.
We need a final headcount and guest menu choices for the food truck. Cost is $25/pp. https://evite.me/HD76GpdWX4
April 13-15: KiteXPO demos 11:30a to 5pm
Must be intermediate level or better kiteboarder/surfer/SUPer, comfortable in crowds, able to do basic tricks/self rescue, sign waiver and provide CC info (VISA/MC only) to demo kiteboarding and/or SUP gear. Registration is 10a-3p Fri and Saturday , and noon to 2p Sunday.
Kitexpo demo participants will get a plastic card with participating vendor logos on it. This card will come with a zip tie that you can loop around your harness or wetsuit zipper. Request each vendor mark their logo when you demo their gear. We will do a Sunday morning raffle at 11a with the cards so participants demoing brands need to submit their card to registration with their name/number written on the back by 5p SATURDAY WHEN REGISTRATION CLOSES to be eligible for a Sunday drawing.
Demo participants will also get a raffle ticket when registering. There are no raffle ticket sales this year so your chances of winning something are pretty darn good!
Please take note of the NO KITING PAST PIER AVE/POLE 6 RULE March 1-Sept 30 due to snowy plovers or you risk getting a hefty ticket! Official rules at https://nebula.wsimg.com/46729eef5eed1560c1d5ab14a13ef69f?AccessKeyId=CC79776E70AA351B5F52&disposition=0&alloworigin=1
Participating vendors: AXIS, Airush, Blade, Cabrinha, Core/Carved, DaKine, F.One/Manera, Liquid Force, North/Ion, Naish, Nobile, Ozone, and Slingshot/Ride Engine!
April 15: Beach BBQ/Bonfire and music with Jess Clemons 6p-10p
Light it up! The Oceano Jr. Lifeguards and friends will be cooking up a storm to help raise funds for their summer program. Last year’s meal was insanely good and a complete sellout! Tickets are sold at the event only on a first come, first serve basis (only 125 tickets!). BBQ will be at the event site picnic area, in front of registration, followed by our traditional beach bonfire and new this year, music, weather permitting, by the talented Jess Clemons. Kiters and music lovers in the Hood River, Portland, Baja and Nantucket areas are no stranger to this sultry songstress but if you haven’t heard her before, you are in for a real treat!
Drawing at 5:30p? TBD….
Interested in donating something toward the raffle & silent auction? Email [email protected]
April 14-15: Food trucks on the beach, trainer kite lessons/free to the public, meet a lifeguard!
We’ll have at least one food truck on the beach Sat and Sun on the left side of the Grand Ave access ramp next to OLA.
Interested in learning to kiteboard? Get a free trainer kite lesson and get your questions answered by one of the SF Bay area’s leading instructors, Tony Parsons of Wind Over Water. Must sign waiver at registration trailer and get wristband for lesson. 12p to 2p only.
The Oceano Jr. Lifeguard Association will be down by the Food Truck area from 12p to 2p to answer any questions about the association, summer. Jr. Lifeguard Training Program and with all their toys on display, including their newly restored surf dory! Surf Dory Boats honor the old ways of lifesaving. These boats are much lighter and specially handcrafted with wood, fiberglass, resin, and metal hardware. Each boat is built with a false bottom and are designed to take on water from crashing waves and flush it out the stern. These boats are extremely rare and lifeguarding beaches take pride in the boat that represents their communities.
ABOUT TONY PARSONS:
Growing up in Northern California with a lifelong love for boardsports including surf, skate and snow, it was only natural that when Tony first saw kiteboarding 16 years agi on the coast in Santa Cruz, he knew he had to try it. From that moment forward, life for Tony has never been the same. Driven by his passion for riding the wind and sharing that feeling with others, he began teaching six years ago. Now a Level 2 certified IKO instructor, Tony has taught over a thousand students in Northern California, Miami, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Costa Rica.
Living and riding in the San Francisco Bay Area, Tony said, “There is no better place to enjoy the wonders of kiteboarding than here in the Bay area. With our perfect summer winds, beautiful scenery and so many different spots to ride, its no wonder people come from all over the world to learn kiteboarding here!”
ABOUT WIND OVER WATER:
Since April 2004, Wind Over Water Kiteboarding has served and supported the needs of the local kiteboarding community and kiteboarders worldwide. The biggest reward for their efforts is the chance to share their experiences, and see people and the sport growing together.
Wind Over Water stands out from the competition with exceptional Kitesurfing & Kiteboarding Lessons. Virtually all their instruction is one-on-one with radio helmets for ease of communication on the water. Students are supported by Personal Watercraft (Jet Skis),to provide added safety and make instruction more efficient.
LODGING
For lodging information, visit www.classiccalifornia.com We suggest anything in the Pismo Beach or Grover Beach areas. Arroyo Grande, Shell Beach and Avila Beach are within 10-15 minutes of event site.
Thanks to LUV2CAMP for providing us with our registration trailer ”” check them out! www.luv2camp.com