Cruising down the Straits of Florida.
To stop on Key Biscayne near Miami, FL, USA to visit Crandon Park and checkout Kite4Girls.
The is the Second Annual K4G event and is the creation of Christophe Ribot of http://miamikiteboarding.com/ . Interestingly enough his son arrived a short time before last year's event. This started an intriguing tradition as you will see further along.
Let's not forget the army of sponsors, judges, volunteers that came together to make this event a reality. Thanks!
Better get setup. Irma styles as Damien rides by. Helmets were required for all competitors again this year. Crandon Park requires helmets, Level III PASA or IKO certification to be able to ride at the Park.
Setup all around. Andrea runs her line out. I understand this is her first competition!
Unfortunately, about the time the heats cranked up the wind ebbed quite a bit.
Captains meeting! Neil Hutchinson broke out of his home to come down to act as chief judge at this event. Neil has been a regular judging many events in Florida for sometime. You may recall that Neil suffered a serious leg fracture about a month ago. He is still in a wheelchair and getting across all that sand to the event site is no easy thing. Major thanks to Neil for coming down despite the obstacles and discomfort to yet again do an excellent job judging the event.
Irma gets a launch from C.J.
Spectators checkout the action.
Brad and Melia Lange of Islamorada Invitational fame show off their Ava born close to this years event. Carrying on the tradition started by Christophe last year during Kite4Girl.
Maria picks up to head on out.
Kitesafari, one of the event sponsors offers a riding experiences abroad for kiteboarders.
The Kiteshop, a new Key Biscayne kiteboarding shop
Miamikiteboarding.com offered free intro lessons during the event.
Snack time!
Damien Leroy, rider for Cabrinha poses with a competitor.
Paul Ruggiano gives a clinic for kiteboarders from a chiropractic perspective. Paul has been providing expert warmup tips to wind sport addicts for a long time both on the beach and through his practice at Brickell Family Chiropractic, http://brickellchiropractic.chiroweb.com/
Luco hits the water with Lola.
George of http://kiteflix.com/ in action!
The event was so popular that seating became hard to find.
It was LIGHT at points.
Real light wind!
Read to go again.
Menda waits as Irma strolls by.
Still waiting ...
Terri shreds.
Laura heads about.
Still up there.
HEY, how'd Mikey get in there, they guys were kept off the water until the women's heats were over. Ironically, the wind returned after the women's competition concluded as shown by Mikey as he throws a kite loop. It was so light at points during the comp. that being able to throw ANY trick was an accomplishment.
As long as we are having a look at the guys, here's Damien.
There are still more shots to come, stay tuned.
Also, why not tell us what stuck in your memories from the event as competitors, spectators or the guys trying to milk the lighter winds.
Copyright 2005 FKA, Inc.
