RACE is On !!! - Kiteboard Masters Pt. I

[ricki]

Miami Kiteboarding was catching up, completing two events that suffered from light winds last year. As it happened, MKB and all the participants lucked out with the 2009 continuation of the 2008 Miami Kiteboard Masters. The wind delivered, just long enough to run all the race and free style heats, yeeha! The venue Crandon Park off Downtown Miami on Key Biscayne, FL




Walking in, some folks are already out




There's Melissa's, lets trail along




Folks are getting setup




It's still early, later on the entire beach was covered up with kites




Agata, one of the organizers from MKB says hi




Another great event at Crandon, the beach a bit later on




Lonny goes strapless on a skimboard and does very well too!



Inja sets up




Paula helps Kent with his pre-race warmup. Paula was heading out to a triathlon, needing to warmup herself she lifted Kent a few times after.




Damo and Gebi



Kent practices board levitation, beats leashes. May the force be with you?




Inja heads out




Agata rides




Todd shreds along




Aagata and Lonny head out




Stewie jumps over Todd?




Specators, spectating!




Mike and Inja




Captains meeting, this time for free riding




Here's the course that Kent, Neil and Christophe constructed. It was a good concept allowing a reaching race in both directions, action well in view of the spectators onshore, with the island in the lee of the racers for most of the run and dramatic views of the racers charging down the line. The ran THREE of these with time left over for a bunch of free style runs, well done guys! Shots of the various heats are mixed together below.




Waiting for the start of the course race offshore




Charging down the line




I thought there were six, but it looks like there were SEVEN kites tangled in one of the three races by the outer mark. I don't think I've ever seen seven kites tangled at the same time before. The winds lightened at points, the folks had to sine their kites and were a bit too close. This happened in the middle race, not to be repeated in the third.





Gebi rounds the mark




Melissa moves up from behind




Ken comes up on Melissa




Getting kind of thick but in good order, here!



Tommy transitions around the mark




Inja and Barbie capture the action




Coming and going at the outer mark








Damo heads in




Kent in the lead by a good margin




Kent and Todd at the finish




Gebi rides in




Melissa stretches out in the minutes between heats



Felicia, son Hunter shooting video while Billy sports a great new concept in mobile video




Race results



The women winners are up








Thanks to Neil, Kent, all the riders, volunteers and sponsors for making these events happen. They are a lot of hard work and planning but well worth it!




Thanks Christophe of MKB for bringing the event together!


Those are just some of the shots, still have to cover the free style. More to come ...

[thierrydehove]

Great Photos Man
sorry I didn't introduce myself when we "chatted".. shame on me
Next time then... I am working on my photos also soon in this forum, facebook and my site http://www.tropical-paradise-kitesurfing.com

Take care
Thierry

[AEsco48]

Great event.... my pics are up at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...709104&l=0f4cd no need to register to view them, feel free to use them Rick...

[ricki]

Originally Posted by AEsco48

Great event.... my pics are up at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...709104&l=0f4cd no need to register to view them, feel free to use them Rick...

Thanks Andres, excellent shots! You were using a Canon long lens on a monopod? Well poised to catch lots the action.

Rick

[AEsco48]

Originally Posted by RickI

Thanks Andres, excellent shots! You were using a Canon long lens on a monopod? Well poised to catch lots the action.

Rick

Yup, that was me...

[ricki]

Loaded for bear but shooting kiters?


From: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...3803198&page=3

Nice setup!

[ricki]

Originally Posted by thierrydehove

Great Photos Man
sorry I didn't introduce myself when we "chatted".. shame on me
Next time then... I am working on my photos also soon in this forum, facebook and my site http://www.tropical-paradise-kitesurfing.com

Take care
Thierry

Thanks Thierry, really like your images a lot! Excellent camera setup you have too. My oversight, get too distracted by shooting at times. Hope it was a good day for you.

See you at the beach,
Rick

[ricki]

Just noticed this shot going back through the archives. It is the largest tangle I have seen to date. It is amazing how fast they untangled and resumed racing on the whole.