Chuck Patterson, a pioneering kiteboarder,  shoots a video of a Great White shark circling while out Stand up paddle boarding with a GoPro camera.

Me my Shark and I from Chuck Patterson on Vimeo.

Richard Branson plans to kite across the English channel for his 60th birthday.When he gets to France, he is set to become the oldest person to manage the feat.

He turns 60 on Sunday, said:
“Kitesurfing is one of my favourite sports. I absolutely love the amazing rush you get when going at high speeds, in high winds, with the most beautiful kite acting as your only guide. I know that kite-surfing across the channel will not be quite the same as kite-surfing in the beautiful waters of the Caribbean but I can’t think of anything I’d rather do, with my family and friends, to celebrate turning 60.
My wife swears I get more barking as I get older – this year I’ve almost crippled myself running 26.2 miles in my first marathon and now I’m putting my poor 60-year-old bones through an arduous 24.4 miles, over water, hanging onto a giant kite. Joan could have a point!

But as Holly, Sam and my nephews will be doing it with me at least I can claim the whole family is barking and at the end of the day they are Joan’s children as well – so she’s 50% responsible.”

He plans to do it  in August, with the exact date to be decided depending on the weather.

Got to love that you can’t find the dude kiting without a pic of a hot Chick on his back!  I this case it is pro kiter Susi Mia.

So Stefaans ended up on the cover of Design Product News Canada. The article is about ThinkDesign’s 3D CAD tool that was used to design the 2010 kite bar.
Read the whole article

We will have all the 2010 Ocean Rodeo demo gear for sale at 25% off.
The gear is all  brand new and will be what is used for that weekend.  So it will have very little if any water time on it.

Check back here or email me for if you want to to pre-pay to ensure you get it.

The Notice of Race for the 2010 North American Course Racing Championships has just been published and is available here for download.

You can register online for this event by following this link.

The event is hosted by Asociacion Mexicana de Kitesurf for and on behalf of Copa Mexico and the Mexican Sailing Federation and will be held from March 1st (Registration) till March 6th at Bucerias,Nayarit / Mexico.

20000 US Dollar are up for grabs and will attract the best course racers in the kiteboarding world.

The event will be based at the beach in front and to the south of hotel Decameron, in Bucerias, Nayarit, Mexico.

Conditions to be expected: Onshore to sideshore winds ranging from 8 to 25kts; water conditions are choppy with occasional small shorebreak on windy days.
Average water temperature in March is 24 degree celsius (75F) but sudden cold currents can drop it as low as 20C (68F) so a neopreme top or shorty is recomended. Air temperature ranges from a high of 27C (81F) to a low of 17C (63F) at night, averaging 22C (72F).

Provisional Schedule:
Saturday February 27th Amateur course racing & clinic.
-11:00 Riders meeting for amateur course racing clinic/qualifyer for intl fleet.
-12:00 First possible start.
-18:00 Opening Ceremony of Copa México as a whole at the Skybar of Marival Residences´ Penthouse.

Sunday February 28th Amateur course racing
-11:00 Riders meeting for amateur course racing clinic/qualifyer for intl fleet.
-12:00 First Possible start.
-TBA party

Monday March 1st Free day of competition
-17:00-20:00 International course racing registration.
-TBA party

Tuesday March 2nd International Course Racing
-11:00 riders meeting
-12:00 First possible start
-TBA party

Wednesday March 3rd International Course Racing
-11:00 riders meeting
-12:00 First possible start
-TBA party

Thursday March 4th International Course Racing
-11:00 riders meeting
-12:00 First possible start
-TBA party

Friday March 5th International Course Racing, National freestyle.
-11:00 riders meeting for international course racing
-12:00 First possible start
-15:00 end of international course racing, riders meeting for national freestyle
-15:30 first possible start for national freestyle
-TBA party

Saturday March 6th  International Course Racing Finals & National freestyle
-11:00 riders meeting for international course racing
-12:00 First possible start
-15:00 end of international course racing, riders meeting for national freestyle
-15:30 first possible start for national freestyle
-19:30 Prize giving ceremony for international course racing at Marina Riviera Nayarit.

Sunday March 7th National Freestyle finals
-11:30 national freestyle riders meeting
-12:00 fisrt possible start
-TBA prize giving ceremony/party

Air Mexicana is offering 25% reduced tickets, booking information is available at the registration page.

The organiser will provide shuttle from Puerto Vallarta Intl Airport. For details see the notice of race.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.internationalkiteboarding.org

PREVIEW PICTURES: http://www.internationalkiteboarding.org -> Press Center
Hi-Res Pics and Videos available on request.

ClASS MANAGER: Markus Schwendtner

For more information about the International Kiteboarding Association, please do not hesitate to contact us at:

The International Kiteboarding Association
Rohrbecker Weg 43
14612 Falkensee
Germany

Fon: +49 1713819139

http://www.internationalkiteboarding.org
info@internationalkiteboarding.org

So the International Kiteboarding Association officially is working to get kiteboard racing added in to the 2016 Olympics!  I just got the press release below that includes a link to the brochure.  The thing that I noticed is how much the roots of our sport from here in the SF Bay come through in the images used.  Lets hope that we can get some of the local SF boys and girls on the podium in Rio.

So here is the Press release:

With the successful bid of Rio de Janeiro and the Olympic Sailing Regatta 2016 held on the beaches of the Copacabana, Kiteboarding would perfectly suit  into this scenery and add a true highlight to the Olympic Games.

Have a first look at the 2009 brochure and learn more about what kiteboard racing has to offer to the Olympic Games

“Kiteboarding is the purest form of sailing and would be an awesome addition to the Olympic Family within the framework of the 2016 Olympic Sailing Event. Kiteracing is not weight sensitive and all of your equipment can fit in the back of a regular car. Its colorful, dynamic, inexpensive and super easy to learn… and can be done in water as shallow as 2 inches deep, opening up many places where no other craft can navigate.
As a five-time Olympic Athlete within the sport of Windsurfing and now a professional kiteboarder, I feel Kiteboarding would marry well within ISAF’s umbrella of international and Olympic Sailing events. Why not introduce the sport to the world for the 2016 Olympics. It is the most modern and efficient form of wind powered sailing on the planet.“, says two-time olympic medalist Michael Gebhardt (USA), member of the IKAs Olympic Commission.

• Kiteboarding perfectly suits the IOC strategy
• Kiteboarding is the best performing of all sailing classes
• Kiteboarding offers equal opportunities for any kind of athlete
• Kiteboarding is affordable and transportable
• Kiteboarding is media attractive
• Kiteboarding brings the sports top athletes to The Games
• Kiteboardings Olympic Campaign is supported by the major manufacturers
• Kiteboarding can help to make Olympic Sailing attractive again

Watch out for our regular updates on the development of kiteboard racing towards the Olympic Games !

The high-resolution version of the 2009 brochure “Kiteboarding and the Olympics” can be downloaded here

Quick demo video of the 2010 Ocean Rodeo SLE kite bar.

So what is it like to kiteboard under the Golden Gate Bridge.  Well here is your answer.

Erin Loscocco did a POV video and posted it on YouTube.

I was riding bikes with the family on the San Francisco Marin Green today and happen across the Family Kite Festival. www.fdkf.org

It was good fun. My son got me make a kite and fly it.

But the best part and why I really wat to share it with all of you is that the Hornblower Hybrid boat is giving bay cruises for $10!

The cruise was 45 minutes from Gas House Cove (across from the Marina Safeway) out to the Golden Gate Bridge and back.

There is a bike on board so you can pedal and put some power into the boat.

We got luck and took the 4:30 cruise tonight and got to shoot some pictures of the local kiting below.

The new Ocean Rodeo 3.0 SLE kite bar will blow every thing else out of water.

Bar Construction: Hydro formed extruded alloy tubes are fused to a computer shaped solid alloy center delivering the perfect combination of strength and light weight.

Ergonomically shaped for the ultimate in comfort, the bar matches your hands natural grip, resulting in more comfort and control.

Integrated bar end / floats do double duty adding floatation and padding. The molded EVA ends are designed to make winding lines easy.

Adjustable Bar lengths. Available in 2 sizes, simply pull the rear line leader from side to side through the bar end to set your bar length: Available in two sizes: 42cm to 49cm or 48cm to 55cm.

Textured Bar Grip: embossed EVA bar grip is colored to for easy “left/right” – “port/starboard” recognition.

Refined trim line center hole allows for unrestricted bar movement while polished alloy centre reduces center line wear.

Stretch cord line retainers: Elastic cord retracts inside bar end when not in use.

Self aligning trim loop: The top molded section of the chicken loop mates with center line slot. When unhooked the chicken loop will position flat facing you for easy hook in.

Easy trim loop replacement: Trim loops can be ordered in different sizes and are easy to install thanks to the chicken loop hub system.

Front line spreader bar: Stainless steel front line swivel assembly auto rotates with front line tension, minimizing front line twist.

Ergonomic release cuff: Easy to locate and grip in an emergency situation, the cuff can be activated even when chicken loop is tight against the bar.

New reduced profile cleat provides easy operation with less wear to the trim line.
Trim loop tubing features stiffer construction making hooking and unhooking easier while increasing durability.

Donkey dick is mechanically attached to the chicken loop and can be easily removed or repositioned.

3 stage tension adjustable bar stopper, set your bar throw.

Kite leash (included with bar) shown attached to center line.

Kite leash (included with bar) attached to front line re-ride.

The SLE 3.0 Bar comes complete with two attachment straps for you harness. The lower fits on a harness spreader bar. The top strap can be used for a handle pass leash attachment when the leash must slide.

Easy to maintain: All the features on the bar and chicken loop assembly are easy to access and maintain.
As you now see this kiteboarding bar has a user friendly design. Simple, time proven tried and tested push away release from the kite. Made for control responsive kite control, comfort and safety. Built to last.
Ocean Rodeo’s latest generation SLE kitesurfing bar offers the most desirable features in terms of performance and safety ever offered in a kite bar.