RV SUMMER TOUR 2007: US Kiteboard Racing Nationals and the Big Air Wind Jam, San Francisco, California

Posted Wednesday 1 August 2007, by Miguel Willis

Wednesday, July 25 - Sunday, July 29, 2007

Mark Twain once said "The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco," and as we sat huddled, shivering, waiting for our next race, we understood exactly want he meant. The scenery was impressive though, the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Treasure Island, and the city of San Francisco made for quite a majestic backdrop.

We were here for the US Kiteboarding Nationals, which is run on a course race format. This discipline has just been recognized in the sailing community. We quickly realized that for this type of competition, equipment is all important, and without having a directional board with large fins we were at a huge disadvantage.For an indepth account of this competition, see Stacey's reports, starting with The US Kiteboard Racing Nationals.

After the Nationals, it was time for the Big Air Wind Jam. Here, there was to be a 30 foot, diesel powered mega ramp. With water being pumped down the face, it was going to create a surface which riders could boost off and pull insane hangtime. Well that was the theory....the reality was a little different, The ramp wasn't working as well as planned, so they held a regular hangtime event.

Jesse Richman managed to catch a freak gust and went for an impressive 22 sec jump while looping the kite above his head. Keep your eyes out for it, someone who caught the jump on camera should be posting it up on the web soon! (In the meantime, Stacey caught 17 seconds of it ... Jesse's 7-Loop Kiteloop Jump.)

The boarder cross event came next with a fair amount of tangles and crashes providing some good entertainment for the crowd. I managed to get taken out at the 2nd buoy when someone's kite flew through my lines, ending my dreams of glory ...

~Miguel

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