REAL Flagship Store Build Out

This week REAL Watersports celebrates its 8th

Year Anniversary. A lot has changed since

then...

inlcuding the construction of the REAL

Flagship Store in the Village of Waves, NC.

My 36th Birthday

Today is my 36th birthday. I celebrated all weekend with some great surf and kite sessions and in the company of some good friends from New York. We had a campfire on the beach Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday night. We ate a lot of fish tacos and drank a lot of beers. Good birthday weekend for sure!

Today, after work, I checked two surf breaks before deciding that the ocean was too flat to long board. My SUP is out of commission. I tried to make it over a wave a few weeks ago and as the wave crested and I realized I wasn't going to make it, my body slammed so hard against the board that it literally snapped the board in half. Only my deck pad and a little foam held it together. Too bad. It was only a month old.

I've taken my beatings getting my surf skills up to par... bruised ribs, a gash on my back from eating the sand in the shore break, and a sprained ankle. Hopefully these things come in 3s because I'm 36 now! My body can't take this kind of beating! :o)

But I never expected to so soon into my SUP career snap a beautiful 11 foot Takayama in half!

So now I'm long boarding because all I have left is a long board. And I'm getting good! Surfing is no joke! You have to pay your dues, but it's worth it. I can honestly say that I am as addicted to surfing now as I am to kiting. Lucky for me I live in Cape Hatteras and can do one or the other every day! Every single day!

Happy birthday Carl. It's going to be a good year!

My Bio on the REAL Website

After spending 12 years in New York working in the investment management business, Carl accepted the position of marketing director for REAL and moved to Cape Hatteras in February of 2009. A long time snowboarder and kayaker, Carl learned how to kiteboard in the winter of 2007. Immediately recognizing the growth potential for the sport, Carl started a kiteboard club in Manhattan and spent his weekends teaching fellow city slickers how to kite. His passion for kiteboarding and teaching kiteboarding led him to realize that this sport was what he wanted to devote his career to. Although Carl still misses the pizza, the jazz and the nightlife of NYC, he is very grateful to wake up to the wind and the waves of Cape Hatteras every morning.

Summermodo

It took a tremendous amount of planning and preparation but thankfully Summermodo went off without a hitch. Heineken Light was the sponsor. Twnety-two editors and readers from Gizmodo, Popular Science and Popular Mechanics came to Cape Hatteras to test water gadgets. They tested everything from a giant hamster ball made for a human to a 2010 model Sea-Doo jetski that can go 70mph across the water. Everyone took a two day kite camp at REAL, spent their nights at Watermen's Retreat and were fed by Mojo's Sunset Cafe on the back deck of REAL. We had Mojo Collins and Camp F perform for them Friday and Saturday night. It was a great time! The blogging just started on Gizmodo and I look forward to reading more of their reviews.

Check it out yourself at Summermodo!

First Ride

This is what REAL Watersports is all about!

We make new riders everyday. Claire, one of our coaches, captured THE moment when a student,

clearly very young, does a water start and for the first time, something clicks! He's up and riding.

He's cruising across the water being pulled by the kite for the first time! It's a beautiful moment.

This is why I moved to Hatteras! Moments like this!

Harness the Wind

To commit yourself to learning something extraordinary

To then take it to the next level

To try and master it

To make art of it

That's what it's all about

The Instructor in Me

Sometimes, even as marketing director, you have to roll up the sleeves and get your hands dirty. :o)

Nicole was my first student since I left New York. It felt really good to instruct. That's why I'm here. That's how it all started. I got my certification and started teaching lessons on the beaches of Long Island. For me, teaching kiteboarding is almost as fun as actually kiteboarding. Thanks Nicole! What a great sport to be able to introduce people to!

My New Long Board

Hawaiian Pro Designs - 9'3" In The Pink

This board, as well as my 11'0" SUP, were shaped by Donald Takayama.

Both boards are works of art. They'd look amazing just hanging on a wall. But that's not what they were designed to do. They were designed to be wave riding vehicles and that's how I intend to use them.

Like I tell all kiteboarders...you must have no wind activities. You can't just sit on the beach with a wind meter waiting for something to happen. In the words of Trip Forman, co-founder of REAL Watersports, extremely passionate kiteboarder, surfer and SUPer...and my boss...

"There is always a session to be had."

A Waterman...or Waterwoman...is proficient in all three sports. Since I arrived in Cape Hatteras in February I've been working to improve my skills at all three. Lately I have to admit I've been spending more time in the ocean on a SUP or long board than kiting. Besides being an extraordinary workout, surfing skills without a doubt improve your kiting abilities in the ocean...especially in the surf. Now that I'm catching waves consistently and feeling much more confident in the ocean, I crave a good SUP or long board session as much as I crave a good day of kiting.

It's Saturday morning. The day is all mine. Doesn't look like there's going to be much wind today (we're coming off of three days straight of NE winds allowing for some epic ocean downwinders so no complaints here). I'll definitely be catching a surf somewhere. I had a great SUP session last night on the south side, across from the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum. Still nursing my ribs though. My new Tak SUP and I had quite the collision last weekend. I probably should be taking it much easier than I am but...life is short. :o)

REAL Alumni Retreat Recap

Special THANKS to all that attended the 1st Annual REAL Alumni Retreat in Montauk, NY June 26-28 !

This past weekend turned out to be the “Beginning of Summer” for the Long Island area, as they have been drowned in rain and colder than average temperatures for the entire Spring season. During the REAL Alumni Retreat, we experienced air temps in the upper 70’s all weekend long, with clear blue skies. Summer was in stock and the beaches were packed !

Conditions were perfect for surfing and standup paddleboarding at Ditch Plains in Montauk on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with a solid 3-4ft SE groundswell and light offshore winds. This is a rock bottom pointbreak, making for long left hand rides, much longer than what we experience herein Cape Hatteras with our sand bottom and shorter, more hollow waves.

The REAL Alumni showed up in full force and were surfing and standup paddling their brains out, many taking 4 sessions or more each day ! REAL Co-Founder Trip Forman started off Saturday by taking a 6:30am dawn patrol surf on his new Takayama “In The Pink” 9’6, followed by a 12 mile standup paddle around Montauk Point to Gossman’s Dock on a 12’ Naish Glide SUP, then finished the day with some incredible evening glassy waist to chest high lefts on his new 9’6 Stretch Standup Paddleboard. Nuzzi rocked Ditch all day long switching between the Tak 9’6 In the Pink and the Takayama 11’ SUP. Sam Bell, Jason Slezak, Bryan Elkus and Dave Betz also put in more than their fair share of water time on all the surf and sups they brought north in the REAL Heli-Van. All these guys were on the water or helping people on the beach from sun up to sun down ! Sessions, Sessions, Sessions…. Everyone was having fun and enjoying the first few days of the northeast Summer !

The evening party schedule was just as intense as the daytime’s water schedule ! Friday night saw everyone heading out to The Shagwong Restaurant for dinner and then to The Surf Lodge for after dinner drinks. The REAL Alumni Retreat Party on Saturday night was hosted at The Sunset Saloon, right on the water with a catered BBQ, Beer and Wine, and a live band from Long Island, “My Friend Ben”. The band was impressive with great musical talent and a solid following in the crowd. Everyone was asking, “When are these guys going to play in Cape Hatteras ?”. We hope soon, because they put on a killer show ! 100 RSVP guests were treated to dinner and drinks while another 150-200 people showed up to join in on the fun throughout the party. It was a great night with a beautiful sunset !

The wind held light on Sunday providing another epic day of surfing and standup paddling,then turned SW and increased on Monday to 15-20mph !Riders headed to the local kite beach at Napegue Harbor for a warm air and water, flatwater session. Slezy-J wowed the crowd when he whipped out the REAL Kicker from the back of the heli-van and set it up on Lazy Point right off the rocks. Slezy rode his signature model, the new LF Influence Kiteboard and a Liquid Force Havoc 12m and 14m kite. As the wind lightened at the end of the day, he kept powered by switching to a LF Havoc 16m and surfboard. All the riders were on 10m to 16m kites most of the day and it was the perfect ending to an unbelievably fun weekend !!!! REAL : Kite, Surf, Standup, Style…..Check, Check, Check, Check ! Mission Accomplished !

Everyone involved with the REAL Alumni Retreat would like to THANK everyone that turned out this past weekend to make it such a special event. It was great to see everyone at the beach, take sessions, enjoy new locations, listen to live music, throw a few back, dance, stay out too late, make new friends, learn new sports and all together, have a great time with good friends.

Special thanks to Lilly and Grant at The Ditch Witch for feeding us all weekend and to Alice at The East Deck Hotel for making this trip the best one yet !
We’re coming back next year so don’t miss The REAL Alumni Retreat in Montauk, NY !!!!!

http://www.realkiteboarding.com/index.cfm?page=newsitem&id=1601

Home

Today was my first day back in Waves after almost a full week in the New York area. First stopping in to see my parents in NJ, then making a very efficient visit to Manhattan to visit my tenant (wanted to spend the absolute minimum amount of time in Manhattan) and then heading to Montauk. It was great to see my family and so many friends. It was great to meet so many like minded people...so passionate about the water...and from all different walks of life.

That's one of the beautiful things about kiteboarding and surfing. I've seen it in kayaking as well. No doubt it exists in the sport of sailing. Community. That's the only word to describe it. Within each of those sports mentioned exists a global community of people that share one thing in common...an inexplicable draw to the water. To them it's a playground that is different every single time they venture out. No two days are ever exactly the same. You could paddle or surf or kite or sail the same body of water one hundred times and never have the same experience twice.

As I arrive back in Hatteras and get settled again...and after a very successful Alumni Retreat and a very enjoyable visit with new and old friends...I feel very content. I feel the most relaxed and the most settled I've been since I arrived here in February. It felt so good coming over the bridge last night. This is home.

An Alumni Retreat update is coming but I need to sleep. Sessioned today as usual. Kited at sunset in the Sound. Was blowing 20 SSW.

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.

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!

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

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!

Jimmy Buffet Visits the REAL Flagship Store

Apparently I'm in good company. Jimmy Buffet wrote about visiting REAL on his blog as well! Click on the photo to be taken to Margaritaville!

60 Day Evaluation

I spent this past weekend in New York. I had loose ends to tie in the city and then I drove to Montauk to find a venue for our Alumni Retreat. Saw some good friends. I then spent time with my family in New Jersey. It felt good to be back. It was the first time in a long time that I looked at Manhattan, Montauk and my hometown...and all the people in my life...with such appreciation. It may have had something to do with the spectacular weather, but no doubt it felt good to see everyone. I think they call that home sickness.

But today, back in Cape Hatteras, I cranked away on the 20+ projects I'm working on to help grow this business. For example, this weekend I am hosting an editor with Go Outside from Suao Paulo and the Latin American distributor for North Face. Pretty cool. I am enjoying work for the first time in a very long time. That feels good.

And tonight...yet another sunset session. I don't think I'll ever get bored of the sunsets here. Even better...riding a strapless surfboard in the sound as it sets. Religious experience every time.

So far so good...and it's probably not a bad thing to appreciate the people and places in my life a little bit more.

REAL Alumni Retreat Details Thus Far...

REAL Alumni Retreat

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
PM : Burgers and Beers at the Shagwong Restaurant
Saturday, June 27th
AM : Kite, Surf and Standup Sessions in Napegue Harbor and Montauk Areas
PM : REAL Alumni Retreat BBQ Dinner Party (Location TBD)
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 !

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