Extreme Kites Kiteboarding

Most water sports, especially those involving boards, follow a similar path. That path invariably starts in Hawaii, where it spreads quickly to California, and slowly to the east coast of the United States. The latest movement first hit my radar on the cover of Outside Magazine in May of 2002, with Laird Hamilton shown riding a small wave with a duck taped paddle in his hand. The article was entitled "Shape of your Life" and detailed Laird's fitness plan, based on setting a goal of a surf or kite trip in 4-6 months down the road, as an incentive to get in shape and prepare for the trip.

The thing about exercise is that, in my experience, it is much easier to sustain week after week if you do something fun, and get exercise at the same time. I got a SUP in December of 2007, and have been out there every chance I get since. At first I could only standup paddle for about 45 minutes in small waves and I was done. It was all I could do to carry the board back to the car after those first couple of sessions. Now I can go for 2-3 hours, paddle several miles down the beach and back, and still have energy for an afternoon kite sesh.

Board design has changed over the years, and like kiteboarding, the boards are going shorter and fatter. The latest shapes from Starboard arrived in the shop today, and represent the latest design direction: 8'5" X 30" wide, single-concave from the nose through the middle, convex in the tail, stinger mid-way up the rail, 4 fins, swallow tail. The traction pad has a kick tail, and it looks like it will really turn in the pocket, which is why it is called the "Pocket Rocket". We will have more information coming soon, but check out this photos of the different colors and styles available.

Awesome looking board!!!

I know this much... Starboards knows how to make some pretty sick windsurfing boards, especially "short, wide, light wind" beasts.
I would bet those SUPs are made well and designed well.

buying a SUP was one of the best decisions I have made...unlike the other boards I buy and sell in one week(As Codder says...)...I've actuall kept my SUP for over a year and am not giving it up... I can take it out and have a blast on some good sized surf days, but even better, just go out and play around on some really small 6 inch wave days and have a blast... It's great exercise, fun, etc...
Here is one of the more fun days I have had on it... typical Florida 6 inch wave day, noone out except me and some dolphins, very fun day.... love my SUP board!!!

(the beginning of the video is my 5 year old with the helmet cam strapped on her head...like father, like daughter...)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ODpo6IG ... annel_page