Monday, August 23, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Amongst the Waves
Riding high amongst the waves
I can feel like I
Have a soul that has been saved
I can see the light
Coming through the clouds in rays
-Eddie Vedder
I can feel like I
Have a soul that has been saved
I can see the light
Coming through the clouds in rays
-Eddie Vedder
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Interview with the International Kiteboarding Organization
Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to visit Cabarete and hang out with Sandrine Roussos, CEO of the International Kiteboarding Organization (IKO). Sandrine has been living in the DR for eight years and is now starting a family here with her husband, Charlie, and baby boy, Micah. You may think that’s odd, for a woman from Greece, to settle down in this bustling little Caribbean town, but in fact Cabarete is packed with expats. French, German, Italian…Greek, you name it! All drawn to the turquoise sea, spectacular wind and smiling Dominican faces.
For Sandrine, the connection to the DR is more than this. IKO was incorporated and headquartered here and Sandrine is now the sole principal. At 8am, Monday through Friday, she greets her staff at IKO’s corporate office and goes about her day arranging instructor training courses, coordinating the translation of student training manuals and assisting IKO affiliated schools around the world attain liability insurance. No doubt she is passionate about kiteboarding and a hard working entrepreneurial woman!
Here is what she had to say:
What was the original vision behind IKO?
The IKO was founded as an independent and neutral organization (with no ties to a brand or country) in order to help grow the sport in a safe and responsible manner. At the time, in 2001, the sport was starting to grow fast and no one was certified to teach. IKO developed the content to make teaching fun, safe and effective, which really helped grow the sport by making it accessible to everyone.
What is the difference between PASA and IKO?
While both organizations work hard at building up the standards in the industry, PASA is specific to North America. IKO, on the other hand, is the recognized authority around the world. We have IKO Centers and instructors in over 100 countries. IKO is also the world’s largest network for kiteboarders. We started nearly 10 years ago and have trained over 400,000 kiteboarders throughout the world.
Why should I go to an IKO certified instructor versus just anybody?
IKO Instructors have been really well trained. Their knowledge is what will help you get a fun and safe learning experience. At lots of beaches, we always see kiteboarders teaching their friends or relatives. This is really a disaster waiting to happen. People not learning with the proper structure to a course will miss out on building extremely important safety skills. You never know when you will need them. You should never cut corners when you learn.
Does IKO have any say in the price charged for lessons?
No. Each Instructor and Affiliated Center sets his or her own price.
Does IKO still offer insurance to schools? Individuals?
We are currently working on a new insurance program for individuals and instructors. Centers can purchase insurance through our different providers (depending on the country where the school is located). Insurance has been a big challenge for the IKO recently. Since kiteboarding is a new sport for insurance brokers, they have to write a specific contract for IKO and its members. This is taking longer than we had hoped because of the international element. But we are the only organization in kiteboarding seeking to cover its members all around the world. The goal is quality coverage at the best price possible.
Where do you see the sport going?
This is only the beginning! We are seeing lots more people take up kiteboarding and it is becoming much more accessible to families and children too. We have also seen great growth in snowkiting and powerkiting, which we are also very excited about.
Does IKO get involved when access issues arise?
Only if we are asked to speak to the local authority. There are a lot of issues starting to come up with access in the US. This tends to be caused by riders acting recklessly and not respecting local guidelines. As kiteboarders, we use public beaches and have to respect all the other users, as well as the other kiters. There is no room for ego and for aggression on our waters. Access is everyone’s responsibility. If you see someone abusing your beach, you need to do something about it. There are authorities in certain areas that are only allowing access to kiteboarders who have been IKO certified. The reason for this is because in the certification process, you are trained to respect other water users and to avoid hazards and dangerous situations. You are also trained to self-rescue and to properly use your safety systems, all of which make you a more responsible kiteboarder.
What can we expect from IKO in the future?
Tons! It has taken us a lot of hard work to get to where we are now. We have very exciting plans that will be taking shape over the next 6 months, including a much better website experience. We are upgrading all of our content. The new Instructor Manual will be ready soon and will join the new Kiteboarder Handbook and Kiteboarding Vision. We are also in the postproduction phase of a fantastic new instructional DVD, which will be ready this summer. It’s the perfect companion for kiteboarders wanting to improve.
Where's your favorite place to kite?
I have Greek blood so I am partial to the wonderful islands of Naxos and Paros. I am also very excited about checking out spots throughout Asia and the Pacific next year.
Learn more about the International Kiteboarding Organization at www.ikointl.com.
For Sandrine, the connection to the DR is more than this. IKO was incorporated and headquartered here and Sandrine is now the sole principal. At 8am, Monday through Friday, she greets her staff at IKO’s corporate office and goes about her day arranging instructor training courses, coordinating the translation of student training manuals and assisting IKO affiliated schools around the world attain liability insurance. No doubt she is passionate about kiteboarding and a hard working entrepreneurial woman!
Here is what she had to say:
What was the original vision behind IKO?
The IKO was founded as an independent and neutral organization (with no ties to a brand or country) in order to help grow the sport in a safe and responsible manner. At the time, in 2001, the sport was starting to grow fast and no one was certified to teach. IKO developed the content to make teaching fun, safe and effective, which really helped grow the sport by making it accessible to everyone.
What is the difference between PASA and IKO?
While both organizations work hard at building up the standards in the industry, PASA is specific to North America. IKO, on the other hand, is the recognized authority around the world. We have IKO Centers and instructors in over 100 countries. IKO is also the world’s largest network for kiteboarders. We started nearly 10 years ago and have trained over 400,000 kiteboarders throughout the world.
Why should I go to an IKO certified instructor versus just anybody?
IKO Instructors have been really well trained. Their knowledge is what will help you get a fun and safe learning experience. At lots of beaches, we always see kiteboarders teaching their friends or relatives. This is really a disaster waiting to happen. People not learning with the proper structure to a course will miss out on building extremely important safety skills. You never know when you will need them. You should never cut corners when you learn.
Does IKO have any say in the price charged for lessons?
No. Each Instructor and Affiliated Center sets his or her own price.
Does IKO still offer insurance to schools? Individuals?
We are currently working on a new insurance program for individuals and instructors. Centers can purchase insurance through our different providers (depending on the country where the school is located). Insurance has been a big challenge for the IKO recently. Since kiteboarding is a new sport for insurance brokers, they have to write a specific contract for IKO and its members. This is taking longer than we had hoped because of the international element. But we are the only organization in kiteboarding seeking to cover its members all around the world. The goal is quality coverage at the best price possible.
Where do you see the sport going?
This is only the beginning! We are seeing lots more people take up kiteboarding and it is becoming much more accessible to families and children too. We have also seen great growth in snowkiting and powerkiting, which we are also very excited about.
Does IKO get involved when access issues arise?
Only if we are asked to speak to the local authority. There are a lot of issues starting to come up with access in the US. This tends to be caused by riders acting recklessly and not respecting local guidelines. As kiteboarders, we use public beaches and have to respect all the other users, as well as the other kiters. There is no room for ego and for aggression on our waters. Access is everyone’s responsibility. If you see someone abusing your beach, you need to do something about it. There are authorities in certain areas that are only allowing access to kiteboarders who have been IKO certified. The reason for this is because in the certification process, you are trained to respect other water users and to avoid hazards and dangerous situations. You are also trained to self-rescue and to properly use your safety systems, all of which make you a more responsible kiteboarder.
What can we expect from IKO in the future?
Tons! It has taken us a lot of hard work to get to where we are now. We have very exciting plans that will be taking shape over the next 6 months, including a much better website experience. We are upgrading all of our content. The new Instructor Manual will be ready soon and will join the new Kiteboarder Handbook and Kiteboarding Vision. We are also in the postproduction phase of a fantastic new instructional DVD, which will be ready this summer. It’s the perfect companion for kiteboarders wanting to improve.
Where's your favorite place to kite?
I have Greek blood so I am partial to the wonderful islands of Naxos and Paros. I am also very excited about checking out spots throughout Asia and the Pacific next year.
Learn more about the International Kiteboarding Organization at www.ikointl.com.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
BVI Helicopter Shot
Chris Hafer, photographer from Germany, took this photo of me from a helicopter during our downwinder in Anegada. Thanks Chris!
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
KB4K Wrap Up
Since the 1980s, Cabarete, Dominican Republic has been a water sports Mecca, first attracting windsurfers and later kiteboarders from around the world. Amongst these watermen and waterwomen, Cabarete is a household name. If you’ve been, then you understand why. That is, consistent wind, flat water and waves with a spectacular Caribbean backdrop of palm trees and sandy white beaches.
But like many Caribbean nations, the Dominican Republic suffers from poverty. In fact, according to the 2009 Human Development Report, 15% of Dominicans live on less than $2 per day. Despite their smiling faces and enthusiasm for kiteboarding, many of those children you see at Kite Beach lack access to proper housing, education and healthcare. For precisely this reason, two kiters joined forces to make a difference.
The Second Annual Kiteboarding 4 Kids Charity Event (KB4K) was held in Cabarete February 11th to the 14th. Inspired by the Kiteboarding for Cancer event that takes place each year in Hood River, Oregon, KB4K was organized for the sole purpose of helping the children of the Dominican Republic. Volunteers raised $21,257, twice last year’s amount. Beneficiaries included Dominican Crossroads, Kids Alive, DREAM (Dominican Republic Education and Mentoring Project) and a number of other local charities.
Laurel Eastman and Dr. Kee Park are the two co-founders of the event. In 2008, Laurel Eastman, founder of Laurel Eastman Kiteboarding and seven-year resident of Cabarete, received a call from Dr. Park with the idea. Park says, “I signed up as a rider/fundraiser for the Kiteboarding for Cancer event in August 2008 at the Gorge. Had such a blast and for a good cause. I thought why not have a similar event in Cabarete and called Laurel and the rest is history.”
Dr. Park, originally from New Jersey, has been going to Cabarete with his family since 2001, learned to kite there in 2006 and now owns a home there. He spent 14 years as a neurosurgeon in Missouri before leaving his practice to volunteer in third world countries. He is, at this moment, in Ethiopia.
When asked why she got involved, Laurel Eastman explained, “There’s a reason why I’m still in Cabarete after 7 years. The people here are endearing and have such tremendous spirit. But Cabarete and its surrounding areas are poor. Illiteracy is high and the average education level is 5th grade.”
Over eighty kiters and local kids participated in the three day event. Highlights included speed trials on day one, bodysurfing competitions on day two (no wind) and big air contests on day three. Jan Marcos Riveras, the current wave-riding world champion and Cabarete native, was involved everyday coaching, riding and encouraging the many local kids who idolize him. Slingshot, Best, Core Kites, Dakine and many other sponsors gave out prizes including kites, boards and harnesses. One could infer from the many smiling faces, both young and old, both foreign and Dominican, that this event was well received by all.
KB4K 2010 from Alexis Pierret on Vimeo.
Kiteboarders and other outdoor adventure enthusiasts learn never to leave a footprint. That is, to leave the beaches as found, clean of plastic water bottles and trash. “Pack out what you pack in” they say. But for the children of Cabarete, this is one footprint worth leaving behind. With two years under their belt, Laurel and Kee have big plans for next year. Their objective is to bring in some major sponsors to fund an even larger and more successful event in 2011. Congratulations to all of the organizers, volunteers and participants. Just Kite It looks forward to next year’s big event!
Check out www.kb4k.org for more information on next year’s Kiteboarding for Kids.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Goodbye to REAL
Yesterday was my last day as Marketing Director for REAL Waterports. It was a good run. A lot of it documented right here on this blog. Highlights most certainly include the planning and execution of the 4th Annual Triple-S Invitational, the Alumni Retreat in Montauk, NY, the Heineken-sponsored Gizmodo event and the 2009 REAL Holiday Catalog. WOW! What a year!
Thank you to Matt and Trip, the two guys who started it all, for giving me a shot. I understand now what it takes to run a small and growing business...all the moving parts...trying to keep an eye on everything. I have a lot of respect for them and I wish them all the luck in the world.
The best part about REAL is the people. Really good people.
As for me...stay tuned.
Thank you to Matt and Trip, the two guys who started it all, for giving me a shot. I understand now what it takes to run a small and growing business...all the moving parts...trying to keep an eye on everything. I have a lot of respect for them and I wish them all the luck in the world.
The best part about REAL is the people. Really good people.
As for me...stay tuned.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Holiday Sessions Continue in Cape Hatteras
Warm Weather holds tight in OBX
Warm weather, wind and waves continue for Cape Hatteras!
Plenty of wind and waves on tap for the coming weekend no matter what your sport. Unseasonably warm weather, water and epic conditions are expected to continue through the upcoming weekend! We’re still wearing t-shirts and the weather is feeling more like early October than December. Check out what’s on tap for this coming weekend:
Wednesday 12/2 : SE winds 30+ mph, 68 degrees, building SE swell.
Thursday 12/3 : SW winds 25-30+mph, 63 degrees, 9-10ft S swell.
Friday 12/4 : NE winds 15-20mph, 60 degrees, 5ft S swell.
Saturday 12/5 : NE > NNW winds, 25-30+mph, 58 degrees, 10ft NE swell.
Sunday 12/6 : N > NE winds, 20-25mph, 50 degrees, 10ft NE swell.
Warm weather, wind and waves continue for Cape Hatteras!
Plenty of wind and waves on tap for the coming weekend no matter what your sport. Unseasonably warm weather, water and epic conditions are expected to continue through the upcoming weekend! We’re still wearing t-shirts and the weather is feeling more like early October than December. Check out what’s on tap for this coming weekend:
Wednesday 12/2 : SE winds 30+ mph, 68 degrees, building SE swell.
Thursday 12/3 : SW winds 25-30+mph, 63 degrees, 9-10ft S swell.
Friday 12/4 : NE winds 15-20mph, 60 degrees, 5ft S swell.
Saturday 12/5 : NE > NNW winds, 25-30+mph, 58 degrees, 10ft NE swell.
Sunday 12/6 : N > NE winds, 20-25mph, 50 degrees, 10ft NE swell.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
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