NEW Photos, Keys Comp - CKA Springbreak Championship

[ricki]

The Collegiate Kiteboarding Association (CKA) held their Spring Break Regional Championships in Islamorada, FL recently at the La Siesta Key Resort. The wind was a bit on and off but the location could easily put that out of mind. Despite the uneven winds they got a number of events off. I drove down to visit on Saturday during the comp and grabbed some images.



The venue




A 180 degree view across the property and out into the Florida Straits
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A reciprocal 180 degree view of the resort, docks and Red Bull tent
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The reason this event came about was in very large measure due to these three guys, including (right to left), Mike with Otherside Boardsports, Matt founder of the CKA and Neil with Tiki Beach. Otherside Boardsports provides a variety of gear for board sports, kiteboarding instruction and more in Islamorada. We all know what Neil does so very well behind the mike and scenes in bringing great kiteboarding events about. Matt is developing a nice string of singular collegiate events to his credit as well.




The La Siesta Key Resort was the scenic location of the event. Nearby shallow water, no to minimal waves make this an intriguing area to ride. Kiters would do well to launch, ride and land in the shallows away from potential entanglements posed by seawalls, docks and pilings.




The guys get setup




Racing




Neil holds the Captain's Meeting along with Matt
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Alligator Light is not so very far away. It is an ideal turning point for longer races or some nice cruising when the wind is right.



Sliders and kickers, water toys abound for riders to hit.***



Alex handle passes












Lined up, shredding hard. I think they got three course races off in the morning.








Joes flys off the kicker







Alex rides south








Raise your arms if you're sure? About what?!








Bin Alex rides












Wind eased off so the guys cranked up the grinch for some kicker time




Matt slides along but Jaime further out takes the focus







*** On the subject of HITTING sliders and kickers aka "obstacles" without logical safety gear, a short aside. The human head contains a fragile, precious pudding, our brain. It doesn't deal well with impacts, think about banging your laptop hard against a slider. It bruises very easily, lacerates and bleeds, either surficially, bad or beneath the surface, far worse. Like your laptop, when you bang it things may stop working properly, memory can be lost or the damn thing might just fail entirely. You can get a new motherboard fairly easily, when it comes to brain transplants, you're totally out of luck. Instead of luck, why not use your head, for real. Use of helmets when riding on obstacles is mandatory in wakeboarding competitions and for good reason. It makes sense for kiting competitions too.








Not quite sure what is going on but it looks interesting.




Joe goes up for a pass









Checking out the mangroves








Tiny bubbles?






That's a first look, more photos to come ...

[ricki]

Returning for more images from the CKA Springbreak Championship in Islamorada ...



Palms buffered by mangroves



Alligator Reef Light has marked the Florida Reef Tract for shipping since 1873. Been a way point for kite runs somewhat more recently.



Riding is still going well to windward to Teatable Key






Looking south across the resort
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Matt docks the Otherside pontoon boat so useful in placing race marks



Neil calls the troops in



Joe boosts, camera crew in tow



Alex launches yet another reverse jump across the kicker.



Jaime shreds by guys setting up a new long slider. Wonder what they're staring at?



All the comforts of home!



Aside from Jaime Field, this was the only other lady I saw on the water. How about working some women's comp's. into things?






Matt signals a right turn as his board heads that way












A view east over the northern part of the resort.
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The wind has ebbed so time to hit the kicker. They guys get ready to tender a rider and line out to be pulled into the kicker by the Grinch



Nice rooster tail



Glorious starts ...



... some messy stops and no lids in sight. More to come on that
in Grinch kickoff photos in the next installment.



How will it go?

[ricki]

I was planning on putting up the third installment of photos primarily consisting of kicker - grinch and some impressive wipeouts but thought better of it. I was happy no one was hurt but it could have happened. Highlighting impressive photos of poor practices isn't a great idea, sliding over obstacles - need to wear the gear, etc.. I've done too much of that with Keys events already. Understand some plans are in the works to tighten things up while still preserving the fun. Looking forward to shooting and showing everything in the future.