UPDATED WEEKELY OCEAN RODEO REFLECTS ON THE WEEK OF WORK, WHAT LIES AHEAD AND HOW TO CHANGE THE WORLD ONE RIDER AT A TIME.
Cabrinha Race Series #1, OR represents!
Posted by EvanStolze on April 19th 2008
Congratulations and a big shout out to regional team rider and SF Crew member Chris Slocum for his outstanding performance in the first heats of the series. Chris battled it out with well over 40 competitors in sketchy Crissy conditions to end up 7th place overall. The was the first time that Chris, Eric, Allen and Stefaans had raced on their Rise kites!
Stefaans pulled what appeared to be the most balsy move of the night when he tried to port tack the fleet as it was clearly the favored line....unfortunately it not pay off when another rider who had the same idea balked when the rest of the fleet was heading straight for them on starboard. The result was a twisted mess of kites that ended the heat for him altogether and resulted in a very late start in the second.
Thanks very much to Steve Gunn, Cabrinha, Ozone Travel, Adventure Sports Maui and the St.Francis Yacht Club for doing such an excellent job!
source:http://www.jeremietronet.comI am still in Union island with Linn, I just extended my visa to be able to stay more and get more footage ... I have been here for one month already but it seems like 2 weeks or even less.I met a guy named Lee, he is living here and he is a really nice friend, we have been spear fishing barracudas and Spanish mackerel between some big 2.50 meter black tip sharks ...This was scary especially when one was following me while I was going for a fish, Lee just made some signs that there was something big behind me ... scary I tell you, even if they don't attack ....
As some of you already noticed I created a new forum on the website ( check the forum link in the menu ). It is a forum where you can comment on the news, ask me a question about your next trip or ask me for advices to land your tricks . Beginners to handle passes, don't hesitate to login and ask your question or post your videos for me to comment on the mistakes .
Here is my new small video clip. It is a Grab slim chance in really slow motion with the explanation on how to do it. It is also helpful if you want to land a simple slim chance.Enjoy:
Ocean Rodeo is proud to announce the launch of its Learn To Ride Program.
In conjunction with 8 of its key North American shops and their schools Ocean Rodeo has established destination Learn To Ride Centers in some of the nicest cities and towns in North America. We will also soon expand this program into Europe and into many more key North American cities.
Proper lessons are the best way to learn to kite in both a safe and efficient manner. Approved Ocean Rodeo Learn To Ride Centers offer trained instruction in some of the world's nicest kiteboarding locations.
Double Rise Session At Hookipa, Maui w/ Richard Tamplin and Kevin Collins
Posted by Richard Tamplin on April 3rd 2008
Riders: Richard Tamplin/ Kevin Collins Photo: Jon Malmberg
Over the past couple months I have been meeting up and riding with Kevin Collins, a long-time Maui local and regular kiter at Lanes. As a well-accomplished wave rider, Kevin knows the in and outs of this narly spot very well.
For those whom don’t know, Lanes is the downwind break connected to the “point” at Hookipa. Due to space, kiters are not allowed to launch at Hookipa so Lanes is our reefy, gusty home launch!!! Hookipa is world renowned for windsurfing and surfing. Plagued by rouge, powerful sets and nasty off shore currents, Hookipa is the source of many humbling wave stories.
Many times when others just say its “closed out” and no good at Lanes (in other words: too big), Kevin is game. I became well aware of this the day after my birthday. (Yikes) Here’s a picture to describe what some may call “closed out”. That little speck up in the corner is my kite.
"Close-out" Rider: Richard Tamplin Photo: Jon Malmberg
Working with photographer, Jon Malmberg, Kevin and I wanted to get some shots with two of us on the same wave. In doing this I feel like I was able to learn a lot about the local wave and the positioning from Jon and Kevin. In waveriding, each person has his or her own style, strengths and weaknesses. This experience allowed me to gain more potential out of this very tempermental wave.
"Happy Birthday!" Rider: Richard Tamplin Photo: Jon Malmberg
On this big day, the waves were too closed out and we didn’t really get any shots, other than white walls. A couple of days later we were able to get some shots on some smaller, more manageable waves.
Riders: Richard Tamplin/Kevin Collins Photo: Jon Malmberg
Riders: Richard Tamplin/Kevin Collins Photo: Jon Malmberg
Rider: Kevin Collins Photo: Jon Malmberg
Riders: Richard Tamplin/Kevin Collins Photo: Jon Malmberg
Kites are such efficient tools; however, some may argue that they are too efficient with wave kiting. They allow kiters, some with no surf experience, to get in and out of some very advanced surf. When I started wave kiting, I had no idea what these waves were capable of. Like an excited kid with way too much candy, I would eco-tow myself into waves without any idea of what this giant or not-so giant wave could do to me. I did some good humbling on my own to knock this innocence out of me. My advice would be to surf, swim, observe, listen, and most importantly ride. (Even if the wave is not over head, it can still swallow you!!!)
I would like to thank both Jon and Kevin for the invaluable knowledge they both taught me and Ocean Rodeo for supporting my wave & wind addiction.
Aloha,
Richard.
jeremie tronet & Linn Svendsen -Ocean Rodeo endless summer trip in the Caribbean -
Posted by jeremie tronet on March 28th 2008
union island
jeremie tronet Diablo+ mako surf in the grenadines
The Caribbean is full of of various spots, each island is completely different and has so many different spots to offer.
After Barbados with its nice waves we came back to the Grenadines islands where we were for 10 days on the Ocean Rodeo catamaran. I wanted to go back there to be able to shoot my next video.
We flew from Barbados to St vincent in Kingston where we spent a night and then caught a ferry to Union.
As soon as we came in the boat Linn mentioned that the boat looked familiar to her, and after few minutes she noticed that it was written all in Norwegian with the name of her city in Norway written on the life jackets. It was actually an old boat from Stavanger (where linn is from) which ended up in these small Caribbean islands. The contrast is really interesting.
Norwegian ferry in the grenadines
We arrived in Union where we already stayed 2 weeks. I found a really nice apartment right on the hill with an amazing view a few meters away from the spot. From our beds we can see Palm island and many other islans.
Lorenzo and Elody found this place for me, they are a very nice french couple living on the island with their two kids.
It is blowing almost everyday here with beautiful crystal clear water everywhere.
Jeremie in the new apartment - nice view
Luckily there was an amazing north swell, the whole Caribbean got an incredible swell with over 20 feet in Puerto Rico.As soon as I saw that on internet I tried to get a plane or a ferry to go to Barbados where the waves would have been huge. Unfortunatly everything was full and the private planes a little to expensive.
Jeremie and the mako surf board 2008
Big set in the Caribbean
So we stayed down here and enjoyed the smaller waves. I had 2 nice days with very nice waves around 10 feet for the biggest one. But before to go in the water Linn scared me a bit when she told me that she saw 2 fins in the water, it might have been nurse sharks which are not dangerous, but when I lost my board a couple of times and took over 10 minutes trying to get it back, I was a bit scared.
We got really nice pictures that will be in the next magazines.
The next days we had some great sessions in some other spots around Clifton and Ashton the 2 small villages on the island.
Jeremie and the 129x39 jeremie tronet signature model board
Full moon session
A few days ago we were taking some nice full moon pictures in the lagoon, I had the camera set correctly on a tripod in the water ( a few centimeters deep ) and we were shooting the kite with the moon, the pictures were good until Linn dropped the camera in the water.
We lost the 20D canon and the 10-22mm canon, the flash have been recovered.
Ocean Rodeo is sending me a new 40D and a new lens for us to be able to do this trip, I am now waiting the gear coming with UPS.
This will give us the opportunity to get the video footage for the diablo movie, the C kite from Ocean Rodeo.
Linn Svendsen enjoying the flash and the full moon
stars in Union
We are here for 2 more weeks. Next we should be heading to Grenada and maybe directly to Venezuela in Coche to be there for the PKRA.
After the chaos of the Cancun airport (mass influx of spring breakers) I was really stoked to have a beer in hand and be blasting southward through Playa del Carmen and on to the solace of Tulum. There I met up with Marco from www.extremecontrol.net and had a fantastic time. We had three great days of wind, and ran demos at his location on the beach beside the hotel and beach club El Paraiso. Good times were had by all - warm water, sun, wind, a killer DJ, drinks, food, spectacular scenery and topless women.....what else does one need to be happy?
On the first day I went upwind and rode in front of the ruins - I have a feeling I am likely in hundreds of vacationers photo albums.
I stayed at a really cool jungle hotel that Marco and his girlfriend Heather run called Uolis Nah. Located within walking/biking distance of the center of Tulum and a short drive to the beach made it the ideal choice and I highly recommend it. If you are looking for a destination that offers much more than just kiteboarding, contact Marco and head to Tulum!
Cheers,
Evan
jeremie tronet surf trip in Barbados
Posted by jeremie tronet on March 10th 2008
After leaving the island of ste Lucia we landed in Barbados 5 days ago.
This Caribbean island is really different than the other ones I have already been to. More flat, less vegetations, good Rum and some amazing waves are the ways to describe Barbados.
I found a nice place right on the beach at Silver rock on the south east of the island, where the wind is stronger.
We are staying at "Bright's" place just in front of the "Silver rock".
It is the perfect accommodation, really spacious and you can see the wave spot from your room.... perfect.
There is also a really nice hotel: Silver point. A bit more luxury.... you can choose depending on your budget. http://www.silverpointhotel.com.
Barbados offer various good waves for surfing, this is why I chose this destination, to do a really nice trip in the waves and finaly try this nice surfboard board Mako from Ocean Rodeo.
Soon as we arrived we met Brian Talma, famous windsurfer living here. He runs the windsurf and kiteschool right on the surf of Silver rock.
He is a really nice guy, giving us all the information we need to find the best spots on the island. We might go paddle surf in few days, he has a few really nice boards ... I hope the waves will be good enough.
A few days before coming in Barbados I sent an email to Jim from the kitesurf magazine Kiteworld about some publications we were working on. I got an answer from his co worker Seb telling me that he was on holliday ... A few days later, I meet him on the beach for the first time without even knowing he was in Barbados. It was a funny situation.
I don't know if you read kiteworld, if not you really should have a look at their magazine, it is really interesting with beautiful pictures in each issue.
Yesterday we went to Bachiba with Jeff and Kurt, 2 very nice guys from the US we met down here. The spot is known for the big waves braking along the coast on the north but unfortunately the wind wasn't good enough to reach the big sets.... so we drove up to the north and found a really nice beach with nice waves but only 10 to 12 knots ... I decided to pump up my 12m diablo and tried to get some nice Aerial handle pass pictures off the lip with the surfboard ... we got some really great shots.
Today we drove back to Silver rock and went kiting on Long beach with Jeremy, an English dude who's running IKsurf: http://www.iksurfmag.com , the kite magazine on line, and Mathias, a guy from Austria.
The spot is amazing, white sandy beach and blue water, but unfortunately the swell went down and the wind to .. we had enough to do some good pictures with linn going kiting.
Unfortunately Mathias going back on the beach missed his edge and broke his foot on the beach ... I drove him to silver rock to find Kurt who could give him a ride to the nearest hospital where he is having surgery right now ... I hope he will be alright !
We are leaving Barbados on Friday, we will fly to the island of St Vincent and take a ferry boat to the Grenadine Islands where we will be staying for a month to shoot the new diablo video.
So, I am sorry to say that my three weeks in Mexico has finally come to an end. Overall, I enjoyed Cozumel the most. The accommodation, food, company, riding and all around stoke spread by Adrian from Cozumelkiteboarding.com and Adam and Elea from Aircompany were fantastic and I can't wait to go back!
The 14m Rise was probably the most tested and most popular kite on the trip, especially in combination with the new Mako Wide. If you need a killer light wind combination that smokes upwind and eradicates chop, then this set up is for you. I also rode the Mako Wide well powered on an 8m and at no time did it feel like too much board. Order or demo one today if you can!
On the last night of the trip I met Estrella in a bar. As it turns out she is a kiteboarder and a friend of Adrian's, who I am now really hoping that we hook up with some OR gear!
