Kitesurfing: a newbie on the world tour

Tala    kiteboardingholidays     Competition, kitesurfing, kitesurfing holidays, kitesurfing world tour, women at war

I guess it is safe to say I am a newbie on the PKRA world tour. Having only turned professional a few months ago, the door was opened to a world filled with non-stop travel, living out of a suitcase filled with bikinis and board shorts, competitions and always in search of that perfect wind to keep on training.

Kitesurfing and loving it! Image: Flickr/Bitten Dallas

Last year I was living and working in Cabarete, and along came the world tour stop in June! I was asked to take part in the competition as they needed more girls to compete – in such a male dominated sport they only had about 10 girls competing compared to 40 men!

So there I was with absolutely no clue what the rules were, what the flags meant or even where I was meant to be on the water – as a result, I missed the first two minutes of my first heat with only five minutes to go, but what an adrenaline rush though of having to show everything you have in only seven minutes!

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Cook Islands Kitesurfing Competition 2011

Ian K    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts, kiteboardingholidays, Tribe Adventure Travel Blogs, Tribe Kitesurfing Blogs     Aitutaki, australasia and pacific, Cameron Dietrich, Competition, cook islands, Cook Islands Kitesurfing Association, International Cook Islands Kitesurfing Competition, Jesse Richman, kiteboarding, kitesurfing, Motu Maina Iti, Muri Lagoon, Pacific Island, Pacific ocean, Rarotonga, South Pacific, water sports, wind sports

In June 2011 the Cook Islands will be hosting its inaugural International Cook Islands Kitesurfing Competition in Aitutaki, with some of the world’s biggest names in kitesurfing competing. The Cook Islands Kitesurfing Association has organised the event which promises to launch the Cook Islands as an international kitesurfing destination with some of the world’s biggest names set to compete in the line-up.

The competition opens with an exhibition event on 25th June 2011 at Muri Lagoon and the main competition takes place at Motu Maina Iti off Aitutaki from 29th June to 2nd July 2011.

Two-time world champion Jesse Richman has confirmed he’ll be competing; the Maui born 18 year old is a two-time KPWT champion and has won gold in international competitions all over the world. Also competing and going for gold is Cameron Dietrich, one of kitesurfing’s biggest names and has also been named the sport’s worldwide ambassador.

The judge’s panel will also include some impressive names in the kitesurfing world. Three-time Queen of the Air Susi Mai has agreed to judge along with Tahitian pro rider Moehau Goold.

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Top 10 Ontario Adventures

Mark Pawlak    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts, Top 10 Adventure Sports Travel Lists     Canada, canoeing, canopy walk, Competition, helicopter flight, Hiking, ice climbing, Kayaking, mountain biking, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Ontario Tourist Board, Scuba Diving, snowmobiling, trekking, whitewater rafting

By having real temperature shifts and heavy snowfalls in winter, and strong sunrays blaze through its clean skies during summer, Ontario is ready and waiting all year round. read more

Adventures in Canada: Win a £5,000 holiday in Ontario

Mark Pawlak    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts     Adventure Travel, Algonquin Provincial Park, Canada, canoeing, Competition, Kayaking, Lake Rousseau, mountain biking, Muskoka Lakes, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Ontario Tourist Board, Toronto

Where in the world has nine million hectares of prime natural wilderness to discover, 330 parks to explore, and a list of adventure sports opportunities as long as its crystal-clear rivers?

It’s Ontario, Canada! And if you enter Ontario Tourism’s competition, you’ve the chance to enjoy the very best of this wonderland for free!

If you win, they’ll fly you, and a mate, premium economy class to Toronto where you’ll begin a 12-night adventure provided by tour experts Tailor Made Travel.

Canoe in Toronto

To enter, read through to the end of this piece then visit the  Ontario Tourism website and answer one question (you’ll find the information you need below) – before you know it, you could be canoeing, hiking, and mountain-biking among Canada’s most impressive natural wildernesses. read more

Forces Fitness: Have we found the ultimate challenge?

Mark Pawlak    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts     Challenge, charity, Competition, Exmoor, fitness, Royal British Legion, united kingdom

If there’s one group of people who push themselves well beyond the usual boundaries of fitness, it’s the military. The closest civilian extreme sports events get to military fitness is in overlanding, or outrageous ultra-distance events such as the Marathon des Sables.

Well, the Royal British Legion has laid down a challenge: Get a team together and test your fitness in the Exmoor 30:30.

It’s not for the fainthearted or the phoney brave; the event gets its name from the distance involved (30 miles) and the weight each competitor needs to carry (30lb/ 13.6kg). read more

The ultimate urban adventure sports challenge?

Mark Pawlak    Adventure Sports & Travel Thoughts     Adventure Sports, adventure sports community, Challenge, city, Competition, Event, events, extreme sports, parkour, pole dancing, racing, Snowdon, team activity, team sport, united kingdom, urban, urban sports, Wales

There’s a belief that adventure sports belong in the hills, on top of mountains or offshore. Well, a new breed of urban adventurer is running, jumping and riding through our streets. While others opt out, these adventure sports people are getting in on the latest urban challenge: the Rat Race.

And they take part in teams, as well. So much for adventure sports events being solo events; the Rat Race is as much about teamwork, as it is personal endurance. And you’ll need plenty of endurance and stamina to make it through; expect to run, bike, kayak, climb and abseil against the clock, all day!

If you still can’t imagine it, think team orienteering, just without the trees and torrent-driven streams.

So, how does it work? read more