Category Archives: Yoga

Mar4

March is here with guest blog by Sensi Graves, Kite Chica and swimwear designer is helping us ease back into spring.

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March is here with guest blog by Sensi Graves, Kite Chica and swimwear designer is helping us ease back into spring.

It is the beginning of march and I am yet again waking up to the sun shining, how good does that feel!!! So nice to smell some spring in the air, and feel everything around us coming back to life. The temperature is slowly rising and the days a lot brighter, I have been trying to make the most out of this with lots of cycling and walking, and have been now getting back in the gym trying to get ready for a new season.

Have only sadly had one kite session since my last post, which was a pretty sweet one that I nearly missed out on due to over sleeping. The first pre work  and sunrise kite of the year, with just my friend Dan and me on the water, wind was a bit on the light side so I was on my 14m BEST TS, which still managed to give me lots of height when jumping with out much effort and wind. And as big as the kite is, it is still fast turning and feels light to fly, really glad I got this kite as I have used it quite a lot already in winds as light as 12 knots. This giving me a much wider chance of getting out, looking forward to putting it through its paces this summer. As I had not been out in a while it was nice just jumping around and getting back in to the rhythm of rotations, load and pop and jumps. And to be quite honest it was still friggen freezing, only lasted an hour and  I was to scared to crash in the icy water.

All is not lost though, I had the amazing honour of writing a spread for Kitegirl magazine about my journey with KB4 girls. I really enjoyed doing this and putting it all together, it was a good experience to see how a write up is done, from creating a story to getting the right pictures. I was really pleased with how it read and looked when it was published and hope you enjoy it too. A massive thank you to Tanya, editor at Kitegirl for this opportunity and helping to share the KB4girls experience. This is the now second edition of Kitegirl Magazine and is yet again packed with lots of goods reads with the main focus being on Kari Schibevaag and Snow Kiting. Also some reviews on 2012 twin tips, stories on warmer getaways and tips for strength training.  So with this being the winter edition, this can only mean one thing. The next one will be for summer? Hopefully by then we will have some sea breezes and will be out on the water more and longer. For now though you can read Kitegirl as a magazine or on the new Kitegirl App for  ipad, iphone, android or online, there are more videos, pics and links included. Click here for more info.

This week’s guest is Sensi Graves,

I met Sensi last year in New York at the Dream Extreme KB4 girls event, she is real fun and very bubbly, great to be around, only kiting for 3 years and 23 years of age but already a excellent rider, a great coach, and a swimwear designer specialising in  bikinis for ladies who are active on the water. So here is Sensi’s story to you, I hope you enjoy reading as much as I did.

Name: Sensi Graves

Age: 23

Nationality: USA

Years Riding: 3

Tell me a bit about yourself/your story:

I first touched a kite in 2007 but did not really start to ride until 2009. I started coaching over the summer at REAL in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. The conditions and the people there make for amazing sessions and progression and I couldn’t get enough. Now that I’ve graduated college I travel and ride, documenting my sessions along the way. I also work for Liquid Force AND most exciting, have just launched my bikini company, SENSI, for girls who ride.

Where are you from and where do you live now:

I am from Northern California and have always loved sports. Besides team sports, I started skiing at age 2 and snowboarding at 10. Through in a bunch of wakeboarding and a little bit of surfing, and you get a great childhood. Currently I am in Maui but have been traveling pretty consistently over the last two years.

How often do you kite?

Whenever it’s windy!

Are you sponsored/what kite do you ride and why?

I ride the Liquid Force Envy because it is so smooth, stable and consistent. I also ride the LF Influence 133 with Melissa bindings. If you ride boots, I highly recommend the Melissas because they are super easy to get on and off, they are really comfortable and they have Velcro closure straps which means no fiddling with laces. I have a Dakine Wahine harness, which in my opinion is the top of the line harness and has every feature you could want. I have an O’Neill top, spring suit and full suit as well as a Patagonia 4/3 which is the warmest wetsuit I have ever worn.

Apart from kiting what else do you like to get up to?

I love doing yoga and working out. I also love to cook, especially bake. ….and read, I’m always looking for a new good book. Otherwise I spend lots of time designing my swimwear and promoting my line! Finally I enjoy freelance writing and documenting my experiences on my blog sensigraves.com

Do you compete?

This year I took 4th at the Ro Sham Throw Down. There are not that many wakestyle kite events out there but really I just like to ride anyway. I kite for myself.

How did you learn to kite surf?

My dad dragged me along to lessons at REAL Watersports. Despite not even knowing what kiting was, I picked it up really quickly and fell in love. I always love trying new things and this was an especially good new experience.

Who inspires you the most?

In kiting, my boyfriend Brandon Scheid, because I see how hard he works and how much he pushes himself in the sport and Kristin Boese, because she is so determined, caring and such a great promoter of women in the sport. In life, Ellen Degeneres because she did not let discrimination keep her down, is a savvy businesswoman and simply rocks and Tonia Farman (founder of Athletes 4 Cancer) because she is such a strong woman and fights for what she believes in.

Favorite trick?

Unhooked front roll, Indy grab and riding down the line on a surfboard.

What are you working on?

Strapless wave riding (always) and landing blind. Maui has not been the most conducive to my flat-water progression.

Favorite kite food?

Tacos, chips and guacamole, fruit and lots of water.

What is your current music choice?

Re Hot Chili Peppers, Rolling Stones, Lady Gaga, Atmosphere, any of the Marley’s, a little dubstep…

What is your preferable riding style?

Wakestyle, hitting sliders and strapless wave riding.

Most traumatic experience?

Last year in Maui, I was on the outside of the reef at Kite beach and the wind died. The waves were sizable and so I was stuck self-rescuing while battling white water. Once I reached my kite, I climbed inside with my surfboard to try and float in. All of the sudden a wave broke right on top of me, pushing my kite and I underwater. As I surfaced, my board shot out, I became tangled in the bridle and the kite started to power up. I was scared to death frantically pulling the lines off of myself. Luckily I got untangled pretty easily and after that I was far enough inside where the waves were much smaller and I could swim my kite in. It was a lot of work.

Do you keep fit, what do you like to do? Any tips?

Stretching is very important in any sport and when you’re training really hard it really helps to prevent injury, which is why I recommend yoga to any and all. I also run, strength train and recently went to a gymnastics gym to jump on the trampoline with a bar attached to the wall. This was the best off the water training I’ve done and so if you have a gym near you, use it!

Top 2 beaches and why?

Pomato Point on Anegada because it’s so beautiful with the clearest blue water, is a great launch and has good flatwater. Also, the black sand beach on Maui. It’s so majestic and tranquil.

Can you talk to us a bit about your new brand?

I wanted to start SENSI, after experiencing constant frustration with my bikinis when riding. . It was hard to be active and have to constantly adjust my swimwear. I wanted something that stayed put and still had that flirty, cheery quality that makes bikinis so much fun.

SENSI is designed to empower women by providing reliable, cute and comfortable swimwear for a vigorous and energetic lifestyle. The goal of the brand is to capture the essence of women who are living their lives through watersports and hopefully inspire women to change their lives to include watersports. Also, we value the planet and encourage the use of sustainable resources and respect for one’s environment. Save the ocean!

If you could have any super power what would it be?

Teleportation.

Where do you see yourself in a couple of years?

Still traveling the world and selling bikinis!
Motto?

Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine! and yes is always the right answer!

2012 Plans:

Big events include the Sunset Swim Charity Event at the Triple S Invitational
Athletes 4 Cancer fundraiser
Ro Sham Throw Down in Hood River, Oregon
KB4Girls events

Continued travel, writing and spreading bikini love!

Website/blog:

www.sensibikinis.com

www.sensigraves.com

Dec8

Guest blog by Tala Elajou and Jezmondo Jones.

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As I put this blog  together, I am looking out to the sea, it is not looking so appealing today! The water is murky, its cold and raining, big shore dump and gusting up to 40 knots, hoping it will drop of a bit later when the tide is out.

The windows of opportunity are closing in as we get deeper into the winter with the mornings staying darker and the nights drawing in. No more pre and post work sessions for a while, and when you do get some free time there might not even be the right wind.

So with less time on the water, its important to stay on top of fitness for when the summer season begins again, I like to stay on top of this with yoga, walking and cycling. Loving You Tube for this, did an hours class this morning with out even leaving the house, here is a nice class Yoga Class for Athletes to keep you flexible and great for beginners. Also loving the Yoga Down load channel with lots of 30 min exercises , perfect for a quick session before work and a nice way to start the day. Check it out!

So today we have a double guest entry by female wave rider Tala Elajou and male free styler Jezmondo, it makes for a interesting read to see the different styles of riding and kit used. Thank you both for making the effort to put these write ups together, hope everyone enjoys the read :-)

Name: Tala Elajou


.

Age: 24

Nationality: French/Saudi Arabian
Years riding:3
Tell me a bit about yourself / your story:
I’ve lived all aorund the world, grew up in dubai and then went to boarding school in UK, the University in Florida, where I studied Marine Biology. After that moved to Cabarete and learnt how to kite, spent about a year on and off in Cabarete. Kiting has take over everything, and has really taken me to some wonderful places. I became an instructor and then started doing some competition, kiting has become such a passion. I spent more time on water then I do on dry land.
Where are you from and where do you live now?
Between Brazil and the Canary Islands- Some of the best place in the world to keep riding constantly. In brazil get wind from the right, and in Gran Canaria wind from left, so I can always practice my wave riding in both directions
How often do you kite?
Almost everyday, living in both these places, the wind blows almost everyday. Longest time i’ve spent not kiting was a month.
Are you sponsored/ what kit do you ride and why?
Yes, by CORE and CARVED. I have been kiting with them for past year, and they are fasntastic kites. I ride the 7m and 9m GTS with short lines for wave riding. I ride the CARVED 5’10 Burner wave board, strapless. No wetsuit sponsors, but wear Airbound Apparel clothing.
Apart from kiteing what else do you like to get up to?
I try and spend time surfing or getting better on the SUP on those none windy days. I absolutely love the SUP, feel like its such good exercise, and trying to ride waves with those beasts and a paddle is hard work!! I used to Scuba dive a lot as i studied marine biology, but since kiting I havent done so much.
Do you compete? If so what was your best and not so best experience?
I did a bit of freestyle competitions (Cabarete and France on the PKRA), but I wasnt the most talented at freestyle :-) and learning a trick took ages!!!! so after getting a bit bored of freestyle I decided to try strapless and fell in love straight away, love having that free feeling of my feet not being in strapls! Felt myself improving and now looking to ride bigger and bigger waves and eventually maybe do some competitions in wave riding.
How did you learn to kite surf?
I had tried about 7 years ago in Dubai, but once I got dragged across the beach without safety, I didn’t want to try again! However, after finishing university , I wanted to take some time off and try if again , as people said the kites were safer nowadays, and so booked a flight to Cabarete where I learnt, and eventually became a kite instructor.
Who inspires you the most?
Anyone that pushes the limits of kiteboarding, and takes it to a new level. People inspiring to become bigger and better and make the sport better, are the people who inspire me.
Favourite trick?
Just hitting that perfect lip on a wave so hard, gives you so much satisfaction, and big bottom turns!
What are you working on?
I am trying hooked in front side air with the strapless, but can’t say I’m even close! Also constantly trying to ride bigger and bigger waves strapless
Favourite kite food?
Mexican food, a good burrito is the best food after a kite session.
What is your current music choice?
I love any indie band, or acoustic guitarist. I love listening to bands link Cat Empire, Dispatch, and good old Jack Johnson is always a winner.
What is your preferable riding style?
Strapless , wind from the right, 7m kite with short lines, and nice clean waves..what more can you ask for?
Most traumatic experience?
Getting caught in a deathloop heading straight for a rocks in Portugal, couldn’t find my leash to release the kite and I was going straight towards this rock pier. At some point, my kite had stopped looping for a second and my friend was able to catch it!
Top 2 beaches and why?
Vargas in Gran Canaria, you can always ride with a 5m as wind is always pumping, and the conditions get better and better there as wind blows, you get those perfect clean waves! Brazil,so many spots here, hard to choose, but, Brazil has that perfect wind and nice waves too!
If you could have any super power what would it be?
Teleporting. There are so many amazing places to see in this world, and untouched places to discover. I would love to be able to teleport and go wherever I decide, and be there in a second! Ride some waves, then teleport back!
Where do you see yourself in a couple of years?
Inpiring more and more women to ride strapless and big waves, strapless riding is still such a new sport, and its still rare to see women going out in big waves on a strapless board! Oh and living in the Canary Island, constantly living the life, and chasing the wind!
Motto?
““Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Disc

Jezmondo:

Q : How did you learn to kite surf?

A : I was out in Maui, Hawaii windsurfing in 1997 and saw Lou Wainman kiting and just has to get involved. Sold all my windsurf kit out there and bought my first kite/board, Wippika 6.5 Freeair.Q : Who inspires you the most?
A : There are so many people that inspire me in the Kitesurfing world. In particular good friends Aaron & Sam Light who continue to push the sport forward with there incredible ability. But legend Lou Wainman has always been an inspiration to me.Q : Favourite trick?A : Probably the ‘Megga Loop’. But I do like a Front_Flat_3 to blind off a big kicker : )Q : What are you working on?
A : Always working on new boards offs, current pass I am working on, Slim to blind.

Q : Current Sponsors?

A : BEST Kiteboarding for boards, currently using the 2012 Best 135 Armada and the BEST GP’s 11m, 9m & 6m, here is also a review on the 9m :-)

Having ridden The RRD Obsession’s for the past 4 years and absolutely loving them the thought of going back to my routes with a C Kite was both exciting and frightening.

After the best part of 20 travelling hours I arrived to a packed beach in Cumbuco, Brazil. Peeps were on 7′s and 10′s. I have 11m, 9m, 6m so was an easy decision for the 9m. Everything was great right out of the bag, the one pump system worked very nicely and it was obvious (to me anyway) that BEST had pulled there socks up with the the quality. (Lets be honest BEST haven’t had the standards of North, Cabrinha, RRD and Flexi over the past few years. ) All change now though, the kite feels strong and the stitching is very tidy with plenty of re-inforcement. Don’t get me started on the graphics… its so time for kites to start upping the banter with some fingers sticking up and gold chains going down, quite simply the kite looks awesome. The bar had me slightly worried on inspection, I like an easy to use de-power, single bit of rope with a cleet, easy. Here I find myself with 5 lines and all kinds of straps to pull. I like the fact that you get a spare 5m set of lines to add if you feel its needed, nice touch. The CL is nice and large with the option of a donkey dick although the quick release is a little large for me. Ok so thats a quick first impression. So now flying it.

There are so many words that can describe this kite but the one obvious one that stands out a mile on first flight is… STABLE. Being used to a bridle system with ‘pullies’ flying the GP was another level of power. Being a bit of Kite Loop fan to say the least this was one of the most exciting prospects of the good old C kite experience. I couldn’t help myself but pull one on my first jump…. Hooked in, about 20 foot off the water the kite turned and I had that feeling that I hadn’t had in a long time. WANNNNNNNGGGGGGGGG. Going back to the Obsessions quickly not a lot of pressure was needed to get the loop over and done with so being used to that I pulled in the same way, resulting in one frigging massive MEGGA loop, the kite loops much slower and with so much more power and aggression. I love it. Unhooked is where the kite is at its best, as I said before so stable, when going for a handle pass the kite just sits there and doesn’t have that recoil feel that so many kites have, I guess due to the ‘pullies’ which this doesn’t have. Hangtime, surprisingly good with a lovely floaty feel about it, leaving plenty of time to get that board back on your feet from those fun board offs.
Thats just a few words on first flight, I’m not sold on the depower set up but maybe after a few more hours on the water it might win me over.
Q : Favourite kite food?
A : Pasta, pasta, pasta.. Love the pasta.Q : What is your current music choice?
A : Anything funky with a big beat, currently listening to a lot of Electro Swing.Q : What is your preferable riding style?
A : FreestyleQ : Most traumatic experience?
A : Megga loop going wrong few broken ribs, knocked out, nearly drowned and big gash in my leg. Not nice.Q : Top 2 beaches and why?
A : 1. Pro Kite Beach, Maui, Hawaii. Why, windy as hell with sick kickers and flat on the inside.
     2. Cumbuco, Brazil. Why, has it all waves, flat water lagoons, hot chics and wind every day.Q : If you could have any super power what would it be?
A : It would have to be flight, I love flying.

Q : Where do you see yourself in a couple of years?

A : Seriously thinking about moving to Brazil to run a kite centre in Cumbuco. Uk sucks right now!

Q : Motto?

A : Wanggggggg… and mines a Mohito.

Website/blog: Really need to update it as haven’t touched it in years, will get round to it soon www.jezmondo.com