In 2010,
the BVI added another destination event to its sports arena.
Long the dream of its founders Charlie Smith, Scotty Wilson, Abby O’Neal and Sir Richard Branson, the BVI Kite Jam inaugural event attracted pro and amateur riders from all over the world to cruise, schmooze and ride the waters surrounding the British Virgin Islands. With the week focused on having fun, sharing knowledge and making the most of the available winds, the event was a global success and attracted the endorsement of Billabong, so that now in 2011, the event is named the Billabong BVI Kite Jam. There is a lot to be expected from this year’s event, and there is a lot planned. The event organizers have made every effort to make each part of the tour unique, with every aspect of adventure and freedom that the sport dictates. Unlike other wind-related sports, kitesurfing has light and compact equipment—everything can fit into a bag or two. Add wind, flat water or waves, and attach a rider, and the magic begins to happen. Imagine a wakeboard or snowboard on your feet and a parachute boosting you up with your board being the drag. Kiting deals with wind on a global sphere, not at water level. The wind “up there” in power zones propels and boosts the rider along at high speeds with very little sound at all. With a giant power feathering at the rider’s fingertips and propulsion from a small wake, the rider boosts into airtime and a number of transitions at accelerating heights and then glides back to water level and continues. In the Caribbean Sea, not a surf zone or lake, there are no limits. There is a slight celebrity status of Kite Jam. Sir Richard Branson is one of the founders alongside his long-term Necker Island employees Scotty and Charlie, and the BVI Premier’s daughter, Abby O’Neal. All four will be kiting alongside world tour riders. The list has the world’s best from all shores, including the who’s who of current global kiteboarding. From the men’s division, kite jammers include Davey Blane, Chris Burke, Tom Court, Jeremy Lund, Jon Modica, Andre Phillip, Jason Slezak and Madison Van Heurk. On the women’s side, professional kitejammers are Kristin Boese, Tura Jensen, Gretta Krusie and Susie Mai. These are the stars from the world of kiteboarding—in your magazines, videos and pro shoots, and they’ll be here in the BVI jamming together. It’s not often you get to see all that
Above: A Kite Jammer catches some air. Photo by Paul Hubbard/Rainbow Visions Photography. Opposite top: Some of the founding members of Kite Jam enjoy a relaxing moment. Photo by Erin Calmes/ Ketafilms.com Opposite bottom: BVI kiteboarder Michael Hirst glides on the water.Photo by Sayula Hirst.
www.bvipy.com
FEBRUARY 2011
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