CHECK OUT THIS KILLER KITE VIDEO!!! CLICK HERE:
Local rider James Ropner and local custom Kiteboard shaper Gabriel Loyd have teamed up to generate some sick board designs and quality entertainment content!
Kite Leave a comment
Interview with Shaper Gabe Loyd 1 comment
Full Name: Gabriel Loyd
Age: 37 yrs
Home location: Oceano
Kite Style: strapless
Stance: regular
Years Kitesurfing: 7
Other sports or activities: Surfing, Snowboarding, Backpacking, Camping, Sailing big boats
Anything else: I love the ocean, nature and adrenaline.
Q. What or who got you started Kitesurfing?
A. I saw a guy Kitesurfing in 1998 at Margaret river Western Australia and another Kitesurfer in Bonaire back in 2003 and I told myself that, “I’m doing that” and I did.
Q. What is the biggest Kitesurfing challenge you have had to overcome?
A. Getting back into Kitesurfing after flying into a parked truck.
Q. What do you like most about Kitesurfing Pismo, Grover and Oceano beaches?
A. It’s like a skatepark. You can pop airs all the way out, do huge lippers on the outside and ride lefts all the way in before going for a speed run on the inside.
Q. What are your favorite Kitesurfing conditions?
A. 30 knots and big waves.
Q. The perfect Kitesurfing trip?
A. I would get fat barrells all morning with no wind, have lunch and kite for 3 hours every afternoon.
Q. Worst Kitesurfing injury?
A. Hitting a parked truck– I had 3 broken ribs, received a concussion and 10 stitches. The truck was destroyed!
Q. Best Kitesurfing session?
A. This one 5 hour session from Oceano Pier Avenue up to Pismo Pier. When I came in I just felt destroyed and could not remember much… I just new it was the best session!
Q. How old were you when you first started surfing?
A. Four years old.
Q. How does Surfing cross over into Kitesurfing and visa versa?
A. Surfing gives you wave knowledge and once you learn kite dynamics you find yourself pulling alot more moves and airs without the kite. The sports cross over especially wave riding! If you’re an accomplished surfer then you can most likely become an excellent Kitesurfer.
Q. How many years have you been shaping surfboards?
A. 8 years
Q. Do you have any recommendations for people who want to pick up Kitesurfing?
A. Be carefull and take lessons! Never underestimate the power of the wind–it can kill you. If you remember anything in the moment before an accident just remember to release and dump your kite!
Q. Where do you draw your Kitesurfing inspiration from?
A. My surfing experience for sure! I’ve surfed some of the best waves around the world and being smooth, fast and powerful is a style I would like to transfer over to Kitesurfing.
Q. Do you have a saying or motto that you live your life by?
A. “What is life if your not having fun?”
Q. What was the best advice you were ever given?
A. “Control your fears with wisdom.” My dad told me that after my kite accident.
Q. What gear do you ride and why?
A. I ride “Loyd Kiteboards” and “Caution Kites“. I shape Surfboards and Kiteboards and I love creating and riding new shapes regularly. I can take two of your favorite boards throw in a little Loyd touch and make you the most insane Kiteboard you have always dreamed of. I’m addicted to innovation and blending Surfing with Kitesurfing. I ride Caution Kites and I’m happy to represent one of the original “core” Kitesurfing companies out of Santa Cruz.
Q. Anything else you’d like to share?
A. Take out one of my custom Loyd Kiteboards and feel the difference between Asian mass produced production line pop outs!
Contact: Gabe Loyd at 805.441.5103 website http://loydsurfboards.com and facebook
Windy Tuesday Leave a comment
A forecast like this is worthy of calling in sick to work!
Tue…NW winds 20 to 25 kt with gusts to 35 kt in the morning. NW winds 25 to 35 kt in the afternoon…with gusts to 45 kt NW portion. Combined seas 8 to 10 ft dominant period 7 seconds…building to 11 to 13 ft dominant period 8 seconds in the afternoon. Patchy fog in the morning. Slight chance of rain in the morning.
This was one of the windiest day’s this season with gusts up to 55 knots! Victor Sellinger captured one of these gusts with a go pro mounted to his kite lines!
Interview with Jason Lee of California Kiteboarding Leave a comment
Age: 31
Home location: Grover Beach, CA
Kite Style: Wake, Twin-Tip, Strapped Surfboard, Strapless Surfboard, Other – All the above
Stance: Regular
Years Kitesurfing: 10
Other sports or activities: SUP surfing / distance, swimming, cross training, snowboarding
Q. What or who got you started:
A.The Original Wipika Kiteboarding Website
Q. What is the biggest kitesurfing challenge you have had to overcome?
A.Catering my schedule around the wind.
Q. What do you like most about Kitesurfing Pismo, Grover and Oceano beaches?
A. Great conditions only 5 minutes away from my house. A great kiteboarding community.
Q. What are your favorite Kitesurfing conditions?
A. Steady 7M with a long period interval providing butter water between the section or fully powered 8M side shore with double overhead peeling waves.
Q. The perfect Kitesurfing trip?
A. Kite, SUP, Scuba, snorkel, food, beer, travel and my wife.
Q. Worst Kitesurfing injury?
A. The ball slapper from doing low kite loops.
Q. Best Kitesurfing session?
A. Anytime the wind doesn’t die.
Q. Do you have any recommendations for people who want to pick up Kitesurfing?
A. Take a lesson from californiakiteboarding.com
Q. Where do you draw your Kitesurfing inspiration from?
A. Lou & Hadlow.
Q. What was the best advice you were ever given?
A. Unhook
Q. Do you have a saying or motto that you live your life by?
A. Grow a sac and send it back.
Q. What gear do you ride and why?
A. The latest and greatest because it’s not safe to ride dunnage.
Q. Anything else you’d like to share?
A. Kiteboarding is not just an extreme sport, it’s a lifestyle.
Local Pismo Beach Rider Victor Sellinger Explains the Importance of Cross Training for Kitesurfing Leave a comment
Cross Training Workouts for Action Sports and MMA
Are you ready to enhance your extreme sport skills
My name is Victor Sellinger, I am the 35 year old owner of MMARoots.com. I Kiteboard (11 years), Kickbox (17 yers with two upper level brown belts one, in Koei Kan Karate and other at The Pit Hawaiian Kempo), Motocross (7 years), and formerly Windsurfed (age 9-25, former US Amateur Champion). I have always sought to improve my sports and hobbies by increasing my fitness levels, but before there were cross training workouts, there were Martial Arts. Martial Arts taught me discipline, agility, flexibility, reaction time and how to break my falls. Over the last seven years, I have witnessed the blending of cross training workouts and martial arts exhibited by legendary trainer John Hackleman of The Pit Martial Arts and Fitness. My experiences with cross training workouts and John Hackleman have done more than exponentially improve my fitness level; they have completely enhanced my sport skills and enjoyment.
My passion for action sports came first, and searching for a way to enhance my sports came second. Seventeen years ago I realized that when I trained in Martial Arts, my entire experience on the water (windsurfing at that time), was dramatically enhanced. Fast forward to today and my multi-sport excursions to Mexico are all about getting in as much time on the water or trails as possible. If I did not utilize cross training workouts and perform Martial Arts before going down to Mexico for at least 10 days prior to taking off, there would be no way that six hours a day of Motocross, Stand Up Paddleboarding, and Kiteboarding would be possible.
I see so many “Weekend Warriors” who only go Surfing, Paddleboarding, Kitesurfing, motor-biking, or hitting the punching bag on the weekends. I cannot tell you how many times I see these guys crumble after only an hour. I hear them say, “I’m tired and sore. It’s going to be a short session today.” It drives me crazy to hear that! If you truly love your adrenaline-junkie action sport and want to get all that you can out of it, you need to support it with solid cross training workouts. Legendary trainer John Hackleman has used cross training workout concepts to develop CrossPit. The concept is simple, if cross training workouts are working for Martial Artists, they will work for all action sports.
I want to see every home garage in the USA outfitted with an unconventional gym specifically created to help them with their sports and hobbies. Every action sport requires general cross training workouts involving core-strength and stamina. They also have specific training that involves the muscles and fitness aspects required to improve their skills. For example, kiteboarders should utilize Gym Ring Training to enhance their core strength, stabilizing muscles, and arm and grip strength. Motocross riders require massive endurance and reaction time, a perfect excuse to perform high-rep ballistic exercises like kettlebell juggling. Paddleboarders can use specific kettlebell exercises that mimic paddling or simply tie a resistance band on a stick, attach the band to the wall, and stand on an indo board balance trainer for time.
I have developed and performed hundreds of workouts over the years that are specific to the action sports I love. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be posting a series of cross training workouts that specifically target the muscles and overall fitness aspects of each of my sports. If you’re ready to take your sport or hobby to the next level, stay tuned.
Contributor Information:
Victor Sellinger is the owner and manager of MMARoots.com, a top provider of MMA and fitness equipment and supplies. Victor Sellinger is an extreme athlete that has been involved with kite boarding, kickboxing, stand up paddleboarding, windsurfing, and Motocross for the past seventeen years. Find out more.
Coastal Waters Forecast for The Waters from Pt. Piedras Blancas to Pt. Arguello and Westward 60 nm (PZZ670) Leave a comment
Pismo, Oceano, Grover Beach State Vehicle Recreation Area Leave a comment
Here is a detailed map from Grand Avenue all the way to just past pole 8. Just past pole 8 are some cables that mark the end of the road. You can kite on the water past the cables but do not get caught on the beach with your kite gear unless you have an extra $350 you want to donate to the county. Kiteboarders can only launch on the beach between October 1st and February 31st. You can launch and land anywhere IN THE WATER ONLY between March 1st and September 30th.
Snowy Plover Off Season October 1st through February 31st Leave a comment
Snowy Plover season is over between the dates of October 1st and February 31st. This means that kiteboarders can now launch and land there kites all the way down to pole 8. Other wise known as “cables” Pole 8 add’s an extra 8 miles of beach for kiteboarders to land and launch kites. Be very cautious when traveling down the beach during high tide especially any further than pole 4. During low tide you should not have a problem getting down to pole 8, however any other time it is highly recommended that you get to pole 8 by 4×4. It is also very important to watch out for off road vehicle when launching and landing anywhere past the river mouth (pole 1). Certain restrictions regarding landing and launching past 
pole 8 are in place.
Pismo Beach, Grover Beach, Oceano Beach Kiteboarding Leave a comment
Pismo Beach all the way to Point Sal is all open game for great Kitesurfing! We are currently only using about 8 miles of the 30 miles of beach!
Pismo, Grover & Oceano Beach Kiteboarding 