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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 12 14, 2019
  • TIME: 11:30a to 5p daily (registration 10a-3p except Sunday, 11a to 2p)
  • COST: $20 pp includes ticket good toward Fri and Sun drawings

For 16 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  ticket good towards Fri and Sunday giveaways, 3 days of demoing gear from a multitude o brands, plus we have added a downwind truck/rides for the weekend only for Fri and Sat demo days only starting at 2 or 3p, weather dependent. 


Local Victor Sellinger testing the wind strength at Pismo. Photo courtesy Victor Sellinger


SCHEDULE 

April 12-14:  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 and possible breakfast TBD between 10a -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 ticket when registering good for Fri drawing 4:30-5p and Sunday drawing 11a.

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, Cabrinha,  Duotone/Ion, F.One/Manera, Liquid Force, Murray’s (Gath, Forward WIP, Dakine, Dynabar) Naish,  Slingshot/Ride Engine and RRD! Note FCD new boards will be available for demo from the Tkb registration booth. 

ALL KITEXPO REGISTRANTS WILL ALSO GET A KITEXPO PUNCHCARD WITH ALL BRANDS PARITICIPATING LOGOS ON IT. ATTACH IT TO YOUR HARNESS OR WETSUIT AND GET BRANDS TO MARK OFF THEIR LOGO WHEN YOU DEMO THEIR GEAR. SUBMIT YOUR CARD BACK TO US BEFORE SUNDAY 10:45AM WITH YOUR NAME AND PHONE NUMBER ON THE BACK. REGISTRANTS THAT DEMOED ALL BRANDS WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A SPECIAL PRIZE ONLY. ALL OTHERS WILL GET AN EXTRA RAFFLE TICKET FOR THE FINAL SUNDAY DRAWING.  YOU MUST BE PRESENT TO WIN.


April 13:  Beach Mediterranean Dinner/Music/Bonfire 6p-10p

This year we will be serving up pita gyros with all the fixings, stuffed grape leaves and even baklava for dessert starting at 6p!   Tickets are sold at the event only on a first come, first serve basis (only 125 tickets!). Dinner will be at the event site picnic area, in front of registration, followed by our traditional beach bonfire.  Live acoustic music with a cello, guitar and more (sounds weird but its super cool!) and special performance with Taizen, Kinsley and Jamie’s son who now plays 6 instruments!  Bring your own insrtuments and join in the jam session!

Saturday is also Kinsley’s birthday so we’ll raise a toast in celebration. Meal ticket sales start on Fri and includes one beer or beverage from Firestone (805 or limited qty of IPAs). $20/pp. Beer at bonfire is $5 until supply runs out! MUST SHOW ID FOR BEER. Vegetarian? All the fixin’s make up an excellent salad — we know from experience! Gluten Free? All good except the pita and baklava:-)

April 13:  Game of Chance

New this year, attendees can purchase an opportunity for a Game of Chance @ $10 per chance. If you answer our kite-related question correctly, you will get a ticket good for Saturday drawing before the BBQ. Game of Chance opportunity available Fri and Sat until 5p only. Drawing between 5:30p and stat of dinner at 6p.


DOWNWINDERS! April 12 & 13 only, weather dependent

One of the coolest things about riding at Pismo is doing a downwinder where you can play in the waves without worrying about getting back upwind.

On Friday and Saturday, April 12 and 13 only from 2p until 4:30p, Tkb /XBA will have a 15 passenger van ready to pick you up down by the bathrooms BEFORE the other beach access entrance at Pier Ave, where you start to see houses again from the beach. 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! You can kite in the water but you cannot exit the water or fly your kite over the beach. Official rules at https://nebula.wsimg.com/46729eef5eed1560c1d5ab14a13ef69f?AccessKeyId=CC79776E70AA351B5F52&disposition=0&alloworigin=1 

The Downwind Service will be part of the $20 Expo Fee which also gets you a ’ ticket (Fri and Sun morning) and 3 days of demoing. . As this is a new addition to Kitexpo, please bear with us for any hiccups that may occur this first year”¦.

RIDER REQUIREMENTS 

  • Must be solid intermediate or better rider able to go upwind, self rescue, self land and self launch*
  • Must have a buddy when going downwind
  • Must clear with the brand the gear you are taking downwind. They will give you a silicon bracelet to wear. Only riders with this bracelet on will be picked up in the van.
  • Must attend downwind meeting at registration 12p for briefing, show buddy, and sign waiver (must attend meeting and sign waiver each day if you plan to do both days)
  • Upon landing, must deflate leading edge only (make sure struts are closed:-) and roll up kite neatly, detatch bar and roll up lines and wrap all inside your harness so we can accommodate as many as possible in the van.
  • Must have special silicone wristband given to you by brand to receive ride in Downwind Van (you will get more at the downwind meeting).

DOWWIND TIPS AND INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO LAND

The Downwind Van will run on Friday and Saturday only starting at 2p until 4p only. Pickups will be scheduled every 30 minutes (2p, 2:30p, 3p, 3:30p, 4p). If we cannot pickup total pickup on one of the runs, we will run more frequent runs. If no one is left at the downwind meeting spot, when the van takes off, the next van pickup with run as scheduled.

  • Do not go too far on the outside. It’s often washing machine conditions out there and the fun of downwinding at Pismo is riding in the waves and the super smooth flat water in between them.
  • This is a mini downwinder that is just under 2 miles long (1.9) so you will definitely not want to go straight downwind (10 minutes or less). Locals often ride upwind to the Pier and downwind back to their cars:-)
  • Look for either a participating brand, Tkb or XBA flag or banner. This is the landing area where we will have a self landing/launcher tool if no one is around to help you out.
  • Organizers reserve the right to cancel the downwind service if they deem conditions are unsafe (wind, swell, tide, etc). We will make this call at the daily Downwind Meeting.

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SPONSORS + OFFERS

Thank you to our generous sponsors for their support. We have lots of amazing stuff to giveaway this year! Please remember and support back the companies that help make kiteboarding events possible:-)

Stoked to have Patagonia onboard as our lead sponsor!

Have you checked out Patagonia’s  Planing line? That’s what we got! Shorts for men and women, tops, dry bags and backpacks. Sweet!

 

 

 

Tkb’s registration trailer generoulsy donated by Luv2Camp. Get some friends together and come camp on the beach!  Just book it and they bring it to the beach for you fully loaded! www.luv2camp.com

 

 

 

It’s nice when you have a hookup:-) Thanks to kiter Dan Larsen, we have some sick hoodies and a spanking new GoPro 7!

 

 

Murray’s will be representing Dakine this year and boy do we have great swag! Trucker hats, beanies, bags, backpacks and more!

 

 

Florida-based Platinum Sun was started by a kiteboarder and generously donated a bunch of lightweight sand-free towels, an awesome drybag and one of their new super awesome neoprene jackets.

 

New this year, we are serving amazing mediterranean food on Saturday night from one of our favorites places! Jaffa happily and enthusiastically supports lots of community events and we apprecitate their support!

 

 

 

 

Firestone just happens to be in our backyard. We’ll be serving up 805 beer and have some IPAs too at the Saturday night BBQ.

 

 

 

 

 

Of course this event wouldn’t be possible without our supporting brands! We’ll be giving away a $1K plus F.One 5’6″ fish directional board, LF inflatable couches, straps/pads, harnesses.. too much to list!

 

 

 

Need insurance for your special event? These are the go to guys that know our industry well!

 

From being selected to be part of the Space Flight Insider Photographers to shooting the action of the Amgen tour, Hunter also generously supports his time to many events like the XBA Kitexpo and more. Check out Hunter’s work here

 

 

 

 

Local kiter Tom Reilly is also the owner of Central Coast Kayaks in Shell Beach. Take an exploratory paddle of the caves and coastline before Expo starts.  Mention ‘KITEXPO’ for:

15% off any tour | 10% off any rental/purchase

 

 

 


BENEFICIARY

OCEANO JR. LIFEGUARD ASSOCIATION

OLA is an amazing local organization that is helping to train our next generation of watermen.  They provide scholarhips to kids that couldn’t afford to attend the junior lifeguard program.  This not only provides an incredible education in our ocean and life skills that come with it; but also a career path into lifeguarding and state park ranger for those that keep with it.  While at the event they will be helping us to keep you all safe, fed  and help everything run smoothly.

 


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

UPDATE 4.4.19: The North Beach Campground is under construction until the end of May.

 Stay tuned to www.thekiteboarder.com for updates.