The Halloween Blast 2008 is on for this coming weekend! We have negotiated discount hotel rates at the Ocean Inn across the street from the kite shop. Just tell that you are staying for the kiteboarding event, and the price should be $69 versus $89 for the normal rate: http://www.staugustineoceaninn.com/

Cost of each event is $15 per person, or $30 for all 3 events - SUP, kiteboarding course racing, and big air/kite loop competition. Please call Eddie Toy at 904-347-6872 for more information.

Here is the updated schedule:

Halloween - Friday, October 31, 2008

The latest forecast is calling for a northeaster starting Friday, so we will likely ride at Matanzas Inlet Friday afternoon. Sunset is around 7, after which we will meet at the kite shop for authentic Jamaican Jerk chicken thanks to local kiteboarder and DJ Raggamuffin!

7 p.m. - Halloween Blast Tailgate Party - Jerk BBQ and kite movies at Ocean Extreme Sports/Extreme Kites - bring a cooler and a smile
10 p.m.-1 a.m. - Halloween party at Panama Hatties and Papagallos in St. Augustine Beach
http://www.panamahatties.net/
Papa Gallos "The Santuary" Halloween Party

Saturday, November 1, 2008

10 a.m. - SUP Event registration on the beach at A Street in St. Augustine Beach
11 a.m. - SUP relay ocean/wave riding race at A Street - 3 person teams share one board, paddle out around a buoy, catch a wave, and back to the beach
Noon - break for lunch - Mango Mangos is located at A Street and A1A Beach walking distance from the beach
http://mangomangosstaug.com/
1 p.m. - ocean downwinder from A Street to Matanzas Inlet - 10 miles - wind dependent
3 p.m. - register for kiteboarding course racing on the beach at the north side of Matanzas inlet
4 p.m. - kiteboarding course racing
5 p.m. - kiteboarding big air/kite loop competition
7 p.m. - awards banquet and gear raffle at Matanzas Innlet Restaurant located on the south side of the Matanzas inlet bridge
10 p.m. - DJ Ragga spins reggae/hip hop at the Dunes Cracker House in St. Augustine Beach

Sunday, November 2, 2008

10 a.m. - SUP demo on the inside flat water lagoon of Matanzas Inlet - parking on the northwest side of the bridge. Come check out the latest gear from Ocean Extreme Sports!
1 p.m. - setup downwinder from St. Augustine Beach to Matanzas
3 p.m. - ride Matanzas Inlet on the outgoing tide until dark - demo some of the 2009 kite gear

2008 Event T-Shirts will be available at Ocean Extreme Sports and on the beach Friday and Saturday. All event participants will receive a t-shirt and prizes for the top 3 places.

We will be taking video and photos the entire event, and putting together a multimedia presentation during the first couple of weeks of November. Please take some photos and video yourself as well and send us some of your work to be included!

*To purchase raffle tickets please feel free to call the shop or contact Eddie Toy at one of the events*

For more information please check out the following:
http://www.kiteboardingmag.com/article/Spots/Matanzas-Inlet
http://www.kitebeaches.com/beach/matanzas_inlet.html

Here's some video from years past:
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looks like great wind down there today. Wish i could make it. Tomorrow looking good?

A good time was had by all!! Kinda got rained out on Sunday but Friday and Saturday were really good. Here's a pic from Saturday... tons of pics and vid to follow

First of all, thanks to all of the kiteboarders who showed up for the 2008 Halloween Blast! And a special thanks to DJ Ragga for his effort in making our Friday night BBQ out of this world. Anyone who tried the jerk chicken that night experienced a different level of culinary delight.

Saturday morning we showed up at A Street for the SUP race, and the wind was howling from the NNW. After several unsuccessful attempts at placing buoys in the growing high tide mid-break barrels, the SUP event was cancelled. Everyone who signed up for the event had already pumped up their kites and was out kiteboarding by that time!

Although we had planned for a more organized downwinder with everyone at once, it seems that not everyone was clued into the schedule. One separate group headed downwind from 11th Street, and a couple of other groups followed from A Street. Either way the conditions were epic, with perfect sideshore 20-25 knot winds from the N and some peaks close to head high.

After a quick lunch everyone headed to the north side of Matanzas to enjoy the outgoing tide and continued strong wind. Around 4:00 p.m. we setup the buoys for the course race, and then called a rider's meeting to make sure everyone knew the rules. About that time a few people noticed a kiter down drifting out into the surf in the middle of the inlet, so it was time for a boat rescue! It was not the prettiest rescue, as the kite lines got wrapped around the prop in the process, but we eventually made it back to the beach.

The course race included about 11 riders, and started around 5:30 p.m. It was a windward/leeward course, with the upwind leg first followed by a downwind leg, and then back upwind to the finish line. While Rob Moffit had a strong start, it ended up being a photo finish with Don and Paul Beiderwell in 2nd and 3rd place. Next time we will probably do a few laps, but everyone really enjoyed the race, and we will start planning more course racing events soon!

The wind died a little after the race, so it wasn't enough for a big air/kite loop event. But everyone was content to ride some more until dark. We all got together for dinner and drinks at the Matanzas Innlet restaurant, and then I think everyone was pretty pooped from the weekend. I for one crashed hard around 11 p.m., and was glad to have the extra hour to sleep in!

Here are some photos from the event, with more to come:
http://www.oceanextremesports.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=1278

Just posted another gallery from the weekend. More to come!

http://www.oceanextremesports.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=1392

Hey,

Short video:

http://it.youtube.com/watch?v=12W3DK4owEI

Clew In