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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