Back in October 2001 a strong easterly wind came through. A bunch of guys converged on Bathtub Reef Beach on Hutchenson Island to go kiteboarding. Whoops, sorry meant to say kitesurfing. The big move to change the name by the media had yet to really take hold. Today, you might have trouble finding enough sand to launch from. Coastal recession has taken quite a bit away from this spot.



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album347/Old_Gear_Goes.jpg
That's Neil out there on a Naish ARX (?) in his pre-Slingshot days! I think that is Greg Kuklinski on his NEXT kite or pehaps Mike.




http://www.fksa.org/albums/album347/Seasmick_Ho.jpg
There's an oldie, a Seasmick kite. You can just see the top of Neil's head as he is hidden by a nice sized wave. Look at the wind streak the water, it was pretty well honking that day.




http://www.fksa.org/albums/album347/Irma_Charges.jpg
Terri heads out on a small AR5 kite.




http://www.fksa.org/albums/album347/Gang_in_2001.jpg
The gangs all here, almost seven years ago. How many folks can you identify, going right to left?




Hey Neil, Greg, do you guys remember this session? I seem to recall there were some interesting twists so it might come to mind. Here's something to think about. Just how brave (knowingly or not) or lucky these early guys were. I had lofted into a house about 11 months before so I was riding in the ICW to the west not feeling up to hitting the Bathtub in those conditions. I think my smallest kite was about 10 m which I thought was too larger for the winds coming through at the beach.


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Yep, Iremeber that day well, I was on like a seven totally nuked. I remember boosting big and loosing my kite, getting slammed on my back and my kite ending up in a tree. Was blowing a solid 30+ straight onshore. Amazing that Erma and Terri went out. Good to see Scotty from Hanna Crew on the left. A real blast from the past. Cheers Neil

Thanks for your input Neil. That was some day. Hopefully Greg will drop by and put up some recollections too. Here's a few more fuzzy shots, poorer resolution in those days.



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album347/...indsurfers.jpg




http://www.fksa.org/albums/album347/Neil_Jumps.jpg
Neil launches one. I wasn't around for the powered wipeout. Not hard to imagine in these conditions.




http://www.fksa.org/albums/album347/Terri.jpg
This really dates the images. Terri is setup with a board leash.



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New stuff in imaging for the Internet. How about a global video view of the world?
Why not get immersed in it, be sure to pan around to get the full image ...


http://dvice.com/pics/immersive_camcar.jpg
Bugs are on the prowl on your street!




http://demos.immersivemedia.com/index.php?clip=RB
Charge some waves in Teahupoo


http://demos.immersivemedia.com/index.php?clip=NG
Go back in time in New Guinea, sail an outrigger and hang out in early islander dance sequences


http://demos.immersivemedia.com/index.php?clip=FJ
Slide UW and checkout a Fijian reef


http://demos.immersivemedia.com/index.php?clip=SD
Take on some snowboarder racing, not much risk of slamming in this time



How do you house something like this? How about like ...

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/images...itahiti11x.jpg
More at: http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/03/14/index.html




Or, why not paddle into something to take home?

http://www.immersivemedia.com/blog/w.../image-506.jpg
From: http://www.immersivemedia.com/blog/?m=200803



Be sure to checkout the Red Bull clip documenting this new technology in waves ...
http://www.redbullsurfing.com/videos/immersive/


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Greg Meintjes is one of the original kitesurfers in Key West. On windy days you can often find him on the beach there or out on the Flats ripping it up. He is a moderator and regular on the Florida Keys Forum at http://fksa.org/forumdisplay.php?f=98 .He was chosen to be one of the lucky Eclipse Full Throttle sponsored kiters. Beyond all that he is a good ambassador for the sport. I met up with him recently down in KW and grabbed a few shots of him in action with his new kites.


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album347/Launched.sized.jpg
Paul Menta just gives Greg a launch




http://www.fksa.org/albums/album347/...ches.sized.jpg
Getting ready to go




http://www.fksa.org/albums/album347/Greg_jumps.jpg
Greg pops one in Eclipse "Full Throttle" livery, looking mighty fine!




http://www.fksa.org/albums/album347/Greg_out_001.jpg

See you from Key West for now.


Photos by Rick Iossi



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Back in the day, way back, there was Wipika and not a lot else.
Here's a look at the Northshore of Maui, Year 1998 ...


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album347/m14.jpg
Rigged up and ready to rip


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album347/m15.jpg
Remember that transverse Emergency Depower line?
Had almost forgotten about those. How about those LONG
leash lines and wrist cuffs? Naish used those for a while as
well.


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album347/M05.jpg
The cloud stack building up on Western Maui. Checkout that directional Mat Pendle is riding!
Still have a few of those too. Wonder if he was thinking about GK in this shot?


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album347/m11.jpg
The guys at the start of things

Photos by Sylvain Cazenave and posted on wipika.com which may be gone (?)
but if so, it's not forgotten.


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album347/hp_bar.jpg
A peak at a new prototype destined to shake the world market (from 20 years ago).
Bruno L. heads out on an early kiteboard (windsurfing board?).

Summer weather seems to be here finally bringing a fair amount of rain and little useable wind. Had to happen sooner or later. So, between short bouts of thermal winds on to other things, like diving. Headed down to the Keys for some wreck scooter free diving (may put together a video on that) and a quick reef dive with my good friend Capt. Slate at Atlantis Dive Shop.


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album347/Grotto_1.jpg
Scootered into a grotto awash with minnows, and what should I see?




http://www.fksa.org/albums/album347/Lurking.jpg
A lurker, belting out opera? Or, was he getting a dental job from a neon gobi?




http://www.fksa.org/albums/album347/Lurker_2_001.jpg
Any guesses as to what this big fella is? PC or the original name will do. I can recall when these were pretty common down that way and docile as big dumb dogs. Then butthead poachers took them out along with the tame loups. Here's an idea, a poacher spearfishing contest!? That is with the poachers being taken for prizes. Seems fair.




http://www.fksa.org/albums/album347/Grotto.jpg
Motoring out the far side of the cave and up




http://www.fksa.org/albums/album347/Keys_Sunset.jpg
The obligatory Keys sunset, another great day!


Photos by Rick Iossi


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CJ has been a regular and competitor at Florida kiteboarding events for sometime. Quick with a smile and a laugh, she has been a familiar sight at events and in articles. Here's a look at some images.


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album347/CJ_2.jpg
Running lines out at the 2006 Kite4Girls competition on Key Biscayne
Photo by Rick Iossi


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album347/CJ_5.jpg
The pre-party for the 2006 Tampa Bay Kitemasters fell close to Halloween.
So, why not come in mufti? There's Irma off to the right, a likely candidate
for a future POD.
Photo by Rick Iossi


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album347/CJ_4.jpg
Wind waiting in style in the 2007 Kite4Girls. Wonder if rabbit ears would help my wakeboarding?
Photo by Rick Iossi


http://www.fksa.org/albums/album347/jump_cj.sized.jpg
Throwing a nice jump on their honeymoon in Costa Rica in May of this year
Photo by Dustin Sleichter, her new husband



http://www.fksa.org/albums/album347/CJ_7.jpg
Near La Cruz, Costa Rica
Photo by Dustin Sleichte


Best wishes for your new life together CJ and Dustin!



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Trying to move things on to a new page.

Sorry for the distraction, still trying to crank up a new page.