Ventura Kiteboarding Lessons and Kitesurfing Surfkiting Training

 A lot has been happening at Ventura Kiteboarding since July 3rd's post.

We have been really busy with teaching/training students and doing "some"  promotional riding.
Ventura Kiteboarding was ecstatic that a former student, Billy S. and graduate of the Ventura Kiteboarding System had contacted us.

One of our top students, we remember when Billy, with a few extra pounds was sweating bullets on the beach, while we were doing our sand training. Wondering silently if Billy had the "fuel" to body-surf with the kite. Once in the water, he had it wired. Body-surfing with the kite is simple with proper instruction and technique applied. To this day we joke, that to Billy the sand is Kryptonite.

He followed thru with Ventura Kiteboarding for graduation and gear. We did a supervised-ride-along at the Po!nt and Billy was on it here and in Malibu whenever it's windy. One of our top-students, and to this day he will claim, "kiteboarding changed my life" Amen, braddah you're not alone!

Billy has been thru a couple shoulder surgeries, (non-kite related) chasing a deer or the deer was
chasing him.....................long story. What's important, his doctor has approved "light" usage of the arm. Billy's been meeting up with us during lessons and promotional riding, training on his 7m in light winds.

My Daddy always says, "bring something to the party" Billy has shown up with a big lens digital camera and an "elephant" memory card. Shooting lessons, dogs, scenery and some Kiting too!

All Photos courtesy & stoke of Billy "Sweet" Street:


























Morgan, Cedar and our Master Instructor at VenturaKiteboarding.com
Photos, show a typical sand lesson. Set up and fly with supervision. We inform our students at this
stage, we could go "snowkiting". Middle of July with Ventura Kiteboarding we stick to kitesurfing.
Be sure to check in with us for our Snowkite trips this Winter.

"Sand Sliding" with the kite

5 minute set-up of the kite                                         

Are you ready to start Kiteboarding? Contact us.
www.Venturakiteboarding.com

Ventura Kiteboarding "No Place Like Home" (AGAIN) Kitesurfing

July 1 at the Po!nt, meet up with the usual cast of characters and a few Ventura Kiteboarding
Core Crew members.
MarcoPolo, Mark Ride-All, Jamie, JoeMcDammit, Grumpster, TonyG among others. Word
started to filter from up-wind, Emma is rideable. MarcoPolo went to Malibu and most went
to Emma.

We decided, with a King's Low Tide to walk up-wind to the turrets. The wind was cooperating,
starting to ramp up. Easy upper teens to low twenty and STEADY.

Mark-RideAll was using his landboard (think big skateboard with large rubber wheels) and 12.5
Flexi. He rode non-stop for 30 plus minutes. Zig-zagging on the compacted wet sand. He tossed
the landboard aside and exchanged for his surfboard. Mark went out topless with only his shoes
and socks. The water temperature is rising, but it's not that warm. A certain Seinfeld episode comes
to mind, about George screaming to his date that saw his full frontal "picture" "It's THE WATER
It's THE WATER.........the water. (Insert maniacal laughter here) I digress, off topic.
We interviewed Mark the next day, (no not about the water) in regards to riding with shoes on.
He actually enjoyed it and possibly may be his new thing going strapless. No strap riding on the
surfboard and wake-skate. Walking on the rocks with shoes on will be an obvious advantage.

I set up my 12.5 Rasta Flexi. Say hello to Andrew, Jamie and McDammit who hiked up-wind
to Emma and did down-winders to the Turrets.

Self-launch and well powered. The first ramp of a wave I hit, sending the kite and launch into
the air. Extending the tail of the board down and the nose up, reaching and holding the nose grab.
Floating down-wind, holding the grab and position until the very last second for extra style points.
Landing softly, carving up-wind I notice 10 plus kites at Emma. 3 kites including me at The Turrets.
Another 3 straddling the cove.

This was kiting 1999 style, we started a few years later, but we know of stories from the Kite Pioneers.
Major Holiday weekend underway and 5 guys out at The Po!nt! "Are you kidding me with this" I
shouted to a seal that seemed to be frolicking on his back staring at my colorful Rasta kite. Red, yellow
and green, one of the better design formats from Flexi.

The surf was maybe chest to shoulder high with a few slightly overhead sets. Riding from The Turrets past the "old spot" to the cove was the order of the day. Not sure of the distance but 400 to 500 yard rides may be conservative.

The swell and wind angle was custom made for wave riding. Drop in bottom turn and straight back up
the face to bash the lip and repeat. I could actually hear the spray, as buckets of water came cascading
down in deluge form.

Best wave of the day, I had to pick pocket Dumont. Going starboard (out to sea) I am in a toeside stance on the ready to face up on any wave downwind (rights). Dumont is in a regular foot stance (left foot forward) coming in heel side. I slightly head down-wind, thinking he will take the first wave, he doesn't the next wave he passes on also. The third wave is best of all, 2 or 3ft. overhead. Not sure what Dumont was doing. He let 2 previous waves go by without an attempt to ride. I pointed at this wave which was forming and jacking in front of me and cackled. Simultaneously throwing my kite down-wind and immediately on "wave of the day". Dumont attempted to switch to goofy foot to ride down-wind but had to go up-wind first during the transition. He should've gone left -Karma peak style- I left nothing but trails and an avalanche of broken wave behind.

Most goofy footers ride the Po!nt way too slow. Ventura Kiteboarding keeps a virtual file on every rider. Think scouting report used in other sports. Some prefer rights to lefts, some Goofy's will
let a right go to favor their left. Some riders will mow the lawn and push the shopping cart. The Po!nt is a wave riding first, kite location. Twin tip and jumping is done but not in the wave-riding arena.
Triangle right of way, head out to the horizon, turn and come back up-wind. Get on a wave down-wind and when completed clear out of the riding area and repeat.

Most obey this protocol, what may appear to others as chaos is flow of traffic and taking turns. There is a form of priority. If a rider is clueless, a place like the Po!nt will sort the rider out real quick. Wrapping kites with someone should never happen, but will if a rule is broken.

I rode for three hours straight and caught more waves than I could in 3 days of surfing.
Felt good to be out in epic and empty conditions.

We at Ventura Kiteboarding are keeping busy with new students. Now if this Thermal Heat bubble
causing fog would let up a bit. We could instruct and ride.

Ventura Kiteboarding wishes all a Happy & Safe 4th of July. Catherine and I will be indoors, due to
the residents tradition of gunfire on the 4th. All good in the hood.

Warm winds,
                    Tom and the Ventura Kiteboarding Crew

June Gloom and S.U.P. (Stand Up Paddleboard) Ventura Kiteboarding / Kitesurfing

Claim It! with Ventura Kiteboarding / Kitesurfing and SUP

June Gloom has arrived and we just can not seem to get an early clearing.
The Eddy, (counter clockwise cathedral spin of clouds) hangs over us daily.
Plenty of Phase 1 and Phase 2 lesson opportunities. Phase 3 requires a bit
more power from the wind. Next week we will be booked with our Phase 3
lessons. So contact us right away to reserve your day with Ventura Kiteboarding /
and Kite Surfing.

Ventura Kiteboarding contacted Mark "Ride-All" our 6'5 215Lb Team Rider
and decided to dedicate some low to non-wind days to SUPing.

We went to a locally well known beginner spot and had a blast. We stayed down-current
from the main break, about 10 surfers out. Our board of choice was a 10'6 Customcostco.
These boards are 20 plus lbs. and could "mow down" another water user. Until our SUP
game is tight, we will stay clear from others.

Standing above the water and paddling is super fun, and a good work-out. Tony G. a kiter and
SUP stand out (pun intended) states: "a total work-out from the tip of your toes to your chin".

We were working on standing on the board in a parallel stance paddling to catch waves and turn
to our stance to ride. With some effort and skill these boards can catch un-broken waves and the
rides can be much longer than a "crawler" (prone paddler).

We decided to start bringing SUP boards on the low wind days and eventually go SUKing,
pronounced like the U in sushi. Stand Up Kiting. This will put those "tweener" days into
play. Stay tuned...............

SUPing Mark Ride-All Ventura Kiteboarding Team 

 SUP Full Moon with Ventura Kiteboarding 

Ventura Kiteboarding goes SUPing

Ventura Kiteboarding Happy Father's Day Kitesurfing Art Card

Ventura Kiteboarding wishes you a
Happy Father's Day and many more happy Kitesurfing Days.

The Po!nt and a solo dream session.

Warm winds,
                Tom and the Ventura
                  Kiteboarding Crew






Artist: Jared

Cut Off Low Captured On Satellite Image Ventura Kiteboarding

West Coast featuring California,
Stunning Cut Off Low, broken off from a Low pressure system
to the North. Note the eye and the tail in this well formed counter-
clockwise cyclical event.

On the East Coast, would this appear to be a
hurricane?  Contrary to looks, this piece of
weather typically brings a "tease breeze" of
8-12 knots. Ventura Kiteboarding will do
miles of big kite and big board down-winders
with the Ventura Kiteboarding "Shuttle" and "Sherpa" pick up service.

To find Ventura Kiteboarding: the bottom quarter of this image shows Point Conception protruding and just a half inch below you will see the Channel Islands. We are located directly on the Main Land inside of the islands.

Please remember Ventura Kiteboarding conducts:
lessons, supervised ride-a-longs, kite/wind consulting and Baja Wave-Riding Camps throughout the year. Contact us anytime @



http://www.venturakiteboarding.com/Ventura_Kiteboarding/Home.html


Warm winds,
                Tom and the Ventura Kiteboarding Crew
                   

"No Place Like Home" & Kitesurfing the Po!nt Ventura Kiteboarding

The Ventura Kiteboarding Crew, were held in place by a solid "Tease Breeze" for most of the day.

Mark T. our "elegant big fella" 6'5 215lb. light wind specialist core crew member had just gorged on
Taco Wednesday. He was calling and reporting from on site, after his obligatory drive by's. "Just 5 more knots". Like any other sporting event, might as well be a mile, an extra time-out, put 30 seconds back on the clock, one more round, a fifth quarter, etc........... The local sensor was reading high, 13-16mph. We subtract 5 for accuracy.
Other similar calls were coming in around 3:00 pm, "just a few more knots". Tease Breeze was the pattern. Not wanting to miss out, we head over to the Po!nt.

Tom J was pumping up a new Italian kite, powder blue and white trim. The color of my junior prom tuxedo. Dr Yo put up his GINORMOUS Fly'ser and barn door board concoction. Earl the pearl, dad of Pro local phenomenon Ian, showed, Big Sean, Kirk or is it Kurt, Tip, Mark T. and Kiting Jesus.

This Crew viewing with arms folded and watching Tom J. stroke his kite and Dr Yo starting to stay up-wind had little to no interest to go out in bare minimums. Mark T. had pumped his new Flexi, but was not budging from his cozy saddle of the truck in the car lot. His allowed time to ride was elapsing.

Suit up or not, rig or not, I see Kiting Jesus, who has Ventura Kiteboarding on retainer. I say let's go, he agrees. The wind miraculously picks up to 15 to 20. Tom J. is parked on his 10.5m "chick kite" and Dr. Yo is looking wound-up on his "German wing". I launch KitingJ on his 12m Cabbie and self launch the 12.5 Flexi Rasta well powered and smiling, knowing we have 2 plus hours before dark.

Grumpy, Young Gun and JJ add Tom J, Paul F with Dr. Yo, Kiting Jesus and myself. "No place like home" with everyone spread out from the Turrets to the "old spot". The wind direction was a little too westerly, allowing "one hit wonders" then zip left up wind on the same wave finding open face to backside snap. I ride down to the "old spot", Grumpy, Paul F and Tom J have a Triangle offense and defense going. I score two waves of way less quality then the Turrets and horizon tack back up.

I continue to ride until most of the Ventura Kiteboarding Crew have left. Young Gun and OG (me)
had weathered the lighter wind and now the sunset thermal dump has bumped the wind back up.

YG has freakish skills, been riding maybe 2 years. He is surf-kiting, performing strapless aerials and doing on-shore transitional jibes, with 360 degree shove it's. College may have to be put on hold. YG needs to hook up with Ian A. Ben Wilson Pro Team Rider and get pushed into the next level. YG is respectful of his "OG"s, smart, no attitude or ego and would be an asset for the Noise Kites from Ben Wilson Surf. The Noise is designed as a wave dedicated kite. Surf-Kiting, to use the same board one would surf on with a kite. Good Luck Young Gun, Ventura Kiteboarding will sign off on your resume.
Remember after Uncle L. Ventura Kiteboarding helped in the Kite Schooling.

Starting to get late, hungry, tired, thirsty and a few more unmentionables, I call it for the eve.
Young Gun, tells me "just like the old days", referring to the other Ventura Kiteboarding crew members not to be found. I burst out in maniacal laughter, his "old days" of riding are a year ago?

EasyEric, a Ventura Kiteboarding student shows up to say hi. He is eager to help roll up and "sherpa" the kite gear back to the Ventura Kiteboarding Truck. "EasyE" is taking lessons and purchased gear.
Hunting-haunting-stalking us is a sure sign, kite school graduation will be in Eric's future. He has finally submitted to us that Utube is for entertainment purposes only.
We have recommended the perfect board and EasyEric has submitted to more lessons. We remind him to practice more body-surfing with the kite and that he will need this skill to not lose his new board purchase.

We have a supervised ride-a-long with an Alaskan visitor, scheduled today and tomorrow,
stay tuned, could be good story.

Warm winds,
                    Tom and the Ventura Kiteboarding Crew

Toad Needs A Ride From Ventura Kiteboarding

We were teaching at Port H. two twenty-somethings from the U.K. Kate and Kat, as an instructor try to keep that straight during a lesson.

We tossed up a trainer kite, worked the power zones and power strokes. Worked in some walk-a-longs with the kite on the edge of the wind window. Had just enough time to work on down-loops. When their boss's text came thru calling them back to work. That was a very short "day off". We schedule another day and check the forecast.

 Ventura Kiteboarding has the rest of the day off. Now 2:00 PM and the only wind in 20 miles in both directions is at Port H. We survey the water and a 5 knot current is running in the direction of the wind. Our 10-15 knots of wind is crippled by this current that just won't quit for the last 5 years. Basically subtract 5 knots from you portside tack. No worries if your doing a down-winder.

A former student Strat showed up. I suggested other locations. He wanted to ride solo after not being out in a "while". Watched Strat do real well on his big kite and twin tip combo. Plenty of wind, the current just took him down-wind as predicted.

Finally the Leo sensor comes alive. Now reading 15 to 20. We hold our position and check the Po!nt which is reading a dismal 10 and then drop to 8. The next Leo reading was 16. Time to re-locate, 19 miles away we arrive to 18-25 mph. "Rather be lucky than good" with some chest to forehead surf running and NO ONE OUT!

We zip past County as a few surfers are packing up. Fun, but blown out mush dribble. Slow and sloppy. We check the overhead at North Beach and Heavens is serving up very kiteable point waves. The outside kelp is keeping the inside glassed. The wind is deceiving because of the lack of texture on the inside surface. A head high set wave makes it's way thru the kelp bed. Just before the wave pitches a stream of "liquid smoke" (atomized sea spray particles) from the waves lip, gets obliterated in the down-wind direction.  "It's ON" I say in a high pitched voice, to replace an excited scream. Nobody around but did not want to wake the Chumash Spirit.

We ride down to North Beach, immediately suit up. Check the wind meter upper teens to tickling twenty. Check the paid sensor site 18-25. Santa Barbara Buoy East is averaging 30. What to rig? Can't go big, don't want to go small. Process of elimination presents me with rigging medium, my PL Venom equal to a 10m SLE.

Self launched and very well powered. Take off from the Northern end of the car lot and wondering but not caring where are the other kiters. You know the routine, out to the Horizon and up-wind to Staircase. Then down-wind thru the surf and take advantage of the butter glass. Got some really good waves, just on the inside of the reef and kelp. Repeat, complete with perm-a-grin.

The County line kites started to trickle out and eventually grew to around 10 strong. Suddenly after an hour of riding. "Toad" down-winded from County, waved and went to the "Slot". Wind lightened up and he barely made it back to North Beach.

(Normally we would not blog such trivial dialogue, but I simply can not resist) What's up Toad? (not real name, but real similar) Toad: "The wind took a crap, I was going to Zuma". "Down at the Slot it shut off and I barely made it back to you" "I need a ride back to County". Toad self lands his kite arrogantly or was it ignorantly(?) in front of a man reading a book on the beach. Not 10 ft away, rude to block the man's view as well. Toad is a "piece of work".
Ventura Kiteboarding tip: Always self land your kite down-wind of people and other living things.
I decide to save the lecture and walk away.

I walk back up-wind,  to go "surf-kiting". Wait for a set wave in waist high water. Hop on your board, power stroke the kite and get a few hits in on paddle free waves. Walk back up-wind and do it again. Wind go to light for my Medium sized kite. Self-land and walk back to the Ventura Kiteboarding truck.
(More blog boredom, but can't resist)
Toad is sitting on the tailgate of the Ventura Kiteboarding truck, and kite gear is in the bed.
More Toad dialogue: "It took a crap". "It's over" "yeah it's 6:00" "it's done this before" "only a localized wind"............"we're done" blah Blah blah. "where's your kite?" On the beach, I reply.
Toad has been riding for 2 and a 1/2 years. He must forget or ignore, I learned at this location 10 years ago from the Malibu Godfather of Kiteboarding, Traig. I gently remind Toad of this again and he goes silent. I tell Toad the wind is coming back on, "liquid smoke" is spraying the lips again.

Toad rambles over to the man book reader. Bums a ride back to County.

I self launch again and ride another hour. One surfer joins the line up with me. I give him a wide berth
and any and every wave he wants.  Once I get on a set wave(s) from Heavens, the lone surfer is smiling and hooting as I hit some top speeds faster than the wind. I manage to get a few slashes, hits and carves in down the line. My surf friend seems to be analyzing the kite and board set up. We easily co-exist then the wind got light again, I am back to walking the beach and "surf-kiting".

Getting late, quarter to eight. Roll up, and watch the surfer get his best wave of the evening. I signal a fist pump, he returned the same. Walking up the beach he stopped by for a quick chat. I gave him a Ventura kiteboarding card. Telling him, I was the surfer 10 years ago, at this very spot. After watching Traig kite as I surfed..................... Poetry in there somewhere. Dontcha think? Definitely a thoughtful reflection, of how far we have come and not done yet.

Ventura Kiteboarding tip: Ride like it's not going to blow tomorrow.
Ventura Kiteboarding tip: When Toad shows up, deal with him on your own terms.

Warm winds,
                    Tom and the Ventura Kiteboarding Crew.