Post Session Bliss

Post Session Bliss: A state of extreme happiness that kiteboarders are overcome with after a good session on the water. Most kiteboarders experience this sensation for the first time immediately following their first ride. It is what makes this sport so addictive. It is what we strive to achieve with every session. It is part physical, part psychological and part spiritual.

Commitment

First Annual REAL Alumni Retreat - Montauk, NY

REAL News
REAL Alumni Retreat
LAST CALL FOR RSVPs is Friday, June 19th !!!

REAL will be hosting a catered BBQ with LIVE BAND at:

Sunset Saloon
93 Navy Rd
Montauk, NY 11954
June 27, 2009
7pm – 10pm
In order to ensure that we have enough food and beer, you must RSVP by June 19th !!! Don’t wait another minute. It’s going to be the party of the summer !!!

PLEASE SEE THE UPDATED ITINERARY BELOW.

REAL is proud to announce the launch of our 1st Annual REAL Alumni Retreat scheduled for June 26-28, 2009 in Montauk, NY.

What : REAL Alumni Retreat
Where : Montauk, New York
When : June 26-28, 2009
Why : Kite, Surf, Standup Sessions, Demos, Clinics and Parties
Who : All REAL Alumni and their Friends
RSVP : Alumni@realwatersports.com

The 1st Annual REAL Alumni Retreat will happen June 26th-28th in Montauk, NY and YOU and your friends are invited ! The REAL Alumni Retreat is a weekend set aside each year so that all of our clients and their friends can get together and celebrate our years (or days) on the water with great sessions and great parties !

We decided to host our 1st Annual REAL Alumni Retreat in Montauk, NY since it is the home stomping ground of REAL Co-Founder Trip Forman AND because Montauk/Napeague Harbor offers a wide variety of session opportunities for kite, surf and standup paddleboarding action !

Already confirmed in attendance from the REAL TEAM are Trip Forman, Matt Nuzzo, Jason Slezak, Sam Bell, Jeff Soderberg, Ryan Evans, Bryan Elkus and Carl Giordano.

REAL Alumni Retreat Schedule
Here is how the schedule is looking for the three day weekend. As we get closer, this will be updated.

Friday June 26th
AM : Kite, Surf and Standup Sessions in Napegue Harbor and Montauk Areas
7PM : Burgers and Beers at the Shagwong Restaurant
9PM : Drinks at Surf Lodge

Saturday, June 27th
AM : Kite, Surf and Standup Sessions in Napeague Harbor and Montauk Areas
7PM – 10PM : Catered BBQ with Live Band at Sunset Saloon

Sunday, June 28th
AM : Kite, Surf and Standup Sessions in Napegue Harbor and Montauk Areas
PM : Drive home with huge session hangovers !

Because we are at the mercy of the wind and the waves, we will provide everyone with a cell number to announce exactly where we will be kiting or surfing or SUPing. We will also be announcing locations and activities on Twitter.

We urge you to book your accommodations soon! Please email us at Alumni@realwatersports.com if you’re not familiar with the area and would like some advice on where to stay.

PLEASE RSVP
In order to help us plan this event more efficiently, please RSVP by sending an email to Alumni@realwatersports.com for you and your friends attendance. Also we need your t-shirt size(s), so we can hook you up with some new RED Threads !

Also, please be sure to print out a copy of the Montauk Area Local Kiteboarding Guidelines.

We look forward to seeing you and your friends at the 1st annual REAL Alumni Retreat !

Baptism

Today after work a bunch of us headed to Corbina to surf. The waves were bigger than I’d seen them in a while and still being a rookie surfer, I was intimidated by the size of the waves as well as the number of quality surfers in the lineup. I watched from the beach for a few minutes before deciding to paddle out. When the waves are head high or bigger, just paddling out can be an ordeal.

Since I got to Cape Hatteras in February, the ocean has intimidated me. In all three of the tri-sports, as I call them, kiting, surfing and standup paddle boarding, I had taken my beatings in the ocean. And of course, my imagination is always running wild about what lurks below my feet. Today, after paddling out, as I sat on my board to catch my breadth, a dolphin breached within 15 feet of me. But it takes a half of one second for your mind to register DOLPHIN and not MAN EATING SHARK. Needless to say I was very relieved a half a second later.

They’re beautiful when they’re that close and at eye level with you. This fear or intimidation that plagues me actually subsides after spotting sea life. To see fish below your feet and dolphins breaching makes you realize that you CAN coexist in the ocean with all of the sea creatures around you. No reason to fear.

Without that fear, your body relaxes and confidence returns as you acknowledge the fact that it’s just water. Attack that wave! Paddle hard! Feel the board accelerate! Get on your feet! What a tremendous feeling of confidence to surf a wave.

The ocean water here in Cape Hatteras is so clear and so clean that you feel refreshed enough to not require a shower after your session. But it’s also cleansing to the soul. To enter the ocean feeling so small and exit, after your session, feeling larger than life. I was immediately reminded of why I’m here and why I came to this place. I’ll sleep like a baby tonight in my board shorts. I don’t want to shower just yet. I’m going to let the salt linger on my skin until the morning.

First Ride

Yesterday I caught my first wave on a standup paddle board. I've been doing a lot of flat water paddling and can now paddle six miles or so at a clip without much fatigue. I'm hoping to race in the 2nd annual PaddleNYC which is a 28 mile race around the island of Manhattan in August.

http://www.seapaddlenyc.org/

So I've been working on my endurance...which, in paddling sports, for me seems to come very naturally. But I had not ventured into the ocean, which is much trickier than flat water, since early Spring, still in a thick wetsuit. Yesterday, in beautiful, warm turquoise water, I was paddling in board shorts. And after paying my dues with some serious wipeouts and lots of falling off going on, something clicked. My timing is better. My acceleration is better. I'm using the paddle to brace myself, recover and extend my ride down the line. I caught three or four nice long rides. Even got two compliments from the beach! So right now my stoke level is sky high.

Another sport to master. Another art form to explore. Another step forward in my quest to be a waterman.

Freeflow

It's amazing how good people, music and fresh air can change your life. Like going from black and white to color.

Post Triple-S Update

It has now been one week since the Triple-S has ended. I'm still recovering from what seemed like one LONG day meshed together. Preparations leading up to the event and then the actual execution of the event...rider check in, coordinating housing, allocating rider jerseys, crowd control, security, banners, bands, food....WOW! And although I'm glad it's over, it was an amazing time. I'm already looking forward to next year. It's not too often that you get to hang out with the some of the best riders in the world.

It was back to reality this week...which meant digging out from the pile of work on my desk. Lots going on this summer! We've got the First Annual REAL Alumni Retreat in Montauk, NY June 26th to June 28th and that's my priority right now.

Last night I went for my first SUP session in the ocean. The water here in Cape Hatteras is warm enough to just wear some boardshorts...and so clean and transparent. I felt like I was in the Caribbean. It's amazing how the Gulf Stream pushes such crystal clear, turquoise colored water right into my backyard.

Wind is back today and I'm looking forward to a lunchtime session. Life is good!

My Nieces, Katie and Emily

Cape Hatteras Colors

2009 Triple-S kicks off in Cape Hatteras, NC

The 2009 Triple-S Invitational kicked off on Saturday, May 30th with the official Triple-S Welcome Dinner and Opening Ceremonies Party. The Triple-S Invited riders and the public were treated to a classic Carolina BBQ Pig Roast with all the trimmings outside right on the water at The Slick. The Welcome Dinner started at 5pm and put the sun down as “DJ Chela” kicked up the music and the Triple-S Opening Ceremonies Party. As the crowd started to wind up, spectators were stoked with a 6 table Triple-S athlete autograph session on the official event poster. Imagine being able to have one poster with signatures from Aaron Hadlow, Ruben Lenten, Robby Naish, Andre Phillip, Greg Norman Jr, Jason Slezak, Sam Bell, Brandon Scheid, Kevin Langeree, Susi Mai, Clarissa Hempel and all the Triple-S athletes, all on one poster ! The vibe during the autograph session was off the hook as the excitement (and music) kept building and building ! AT 9:10PM it was time to party and the tables were cleared and the dancing began….The Triple-S Opening Ceremonies Party continued thru until 11pm with rider introductions and a speech from Robby Naish officially kicking off the event. Unbelievable music and dancing continued until 11pm at REAL and MOJOs, and then carried on to the after hours party where DJ Chela threw down until 4am ! Needless to say, everyone was loving the 11am riders meeting on Sunday morning !

http://www.realkiteboarding.com/index.cfm?page=newsitem&id=1590

Pelican

Evening at the Beach

Morning Walk Over the Dunes

2009 Triple-S Invitational

Final preparations in the works!

Cape Hatteras listed as one of Top 10 Beaches in USA

Although I'd be a little nervous if I ran into Dr. Beach on the beach, I am very happy to report that Cape Hatteras, my new backyard, is ranked by him as one the the best beaches in the U.S.

Click on the link below for the full story.

http://www.drbeach.org/drbeach

John Wayne Cancer Foundation

The John Wayne Cancer Foundation is THE major sponsor of the 4th Annual Triple-S Invitational, hosted by REAL Watersports May 30th to June 5th, 2009. The Triple-S is considered the world championship of freestyle kiteboarding. The three S's of the Triple S are SURF, SLICKS and SLIDERS....three very distinct riding competitions. 24 riders from 12 different countries will compete.

Here's to TEAM DUKE! Click on the photo to be taken to their website.

Women in Kiteboarding

Below is the mission statement for the Women's Kiteboarding Association (WKA). Click on the photo to be taken to their website. I am a huge fan of any initiative to introduce more women to the sport of kiteboarding. At REAL, we're doing our part by offering a three day camp "REAL Riding Girls" designed for women and taught exclusively by female coaches. No doubt kiteboarding is for everyone and I look forward to the day when there are as many women as men rigging kites in Cape Hatteras!

"Mission

The Women's Kiteboarding Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to the progression and promotion of women of all ages and abilities in the sport of kiteboarding, as well as the establishment and preservation of free access to a clean shoreline and ocean environment.

What We Do: The WKA will initially focus on promoting kiteboarding to women through events such as Kite Nights and Women's Kite Clinics. The organization will also serve as the principle women's kiteboarding resource for the media, potential sponsors and partners, women amateur and pro riders, and anyone looking to get into the sport.

Who We Are: The WKA was founded by kiteboarding industry leaders and riders Tonia Farman and Stacy Boggs in June 2005. Recognizing a need for women to learn, progress, and enjoy the sport with confidence and camaraderie, Tonia and Stacy set out to create one cohesive community.

Goals:
PROMOTE and encourage women of all ages and abilities in the sport of kiteboarding.
REPRESENT women as positive, athletic, and confident in the kiteboarding arena including media, competitions, and overall kiteboarding community.
PROVIDE a rich resource of information on kiteboarding to ALL.
FACILITATE interaction between members of WKA. ENHANCE kiteboarding opportunities in ways which will not adversely impact nearshore ecosystems.
MAINTAIN the right of low-impact, free, safe, and open access to kiteboarding. "

REAL Team 2.0

REAL Team 2.0 represents the talent we have amongst the sales and coaching staff here at REAL in Cape Hatteras. Extraordinary talent! In this photo are the men and women that will represent REAL in riding competitions on a national and international scale.

You'll notice I'm not in this photo. I tried out but...let's just say I have some training to do. I'm on the junior varsity REAL team...that's REAL Team 0.75...kind of like the Bad News Bears of kiteboarding. :o) But an honor nonetheseless!