HawaiiKiteCrossing

Rider Profile: Raquel Lima

noreply@blogger.com (AaronCanFly) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 07:28:00 +0000

Coming back from the 2007 crossing team is Raquel Lima. She is an avid kiteboarder and world-traveler and is very stoked to be part of the 2008 team!

My name is Raquel Lima. I am 23 years old and I was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

When I was 16 years old I saw pictures of people kiteboarding and I thought it was pretty cool sport. In 2002 I moved to Maui to learn how to do it :)

I also like to snowboard, snowkite and rollerblade.

I am a Level 2 IKO Instructor and love to travel all over the world teaching the sport of kiteboarding.

For the channel crossing I will be riding new Naish Kites. I have been riding for Naish Kiteboarding since the age of 16.

Press Release: Maui to O'ahu by Kite Power

noreply@blogger.com (AaronCanFly) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:04:00 +0000

On July 26th-27th, 8 kiteboarders will attempt a first-time channel crossing from the island of Maui to the island of O'ahu. The 100 mile route will take two days to complete as a non-competitive team event. The first leg will start from Ho'okipa beach on Maui's north shore and go to Kaunakakai, Moloka'i. On the second day the riders will depart from Kaluako'i beach on Molokai and head to Kailua, O'ahu.

"The route is treacherous", says Paul Franco, the leader of the expedition and a kiteboarding veteran, "the wind can really nuke at one moment and then back off the next". And then there is the possibility of shark encounters. According to Paul, the previous year's Maui to Moloka'i crossing event got close to some feeding frenzies, marked by diving seabirds and churning water. "You definitely don't want the wind to die off when you're near those areas".

Although the event has support boats, Paul is adamant that he'll either be kiteboarding or swimming for it. "Sometimes you just need to drift and wait for the winds to pick up again so you can get your kite back in the air". Paul and the other riders will be hoping for good wind for their July event.

Paul says the event is a tribute to the original Hawaiian seafarers, who harnessed renewable wind power to routinely travel between the islands of Hawai'i as well as around the Pacific. "We will be doing all the major Hawaiian island channels in coming years, including the notorious Big Island to Maui crossing through the 'Alenuihaha channel". More information about the Hawai'i Kite Crossing, including future event plans, is available on their website, HawaiiKiteCrossing.com.

The event is not-for-profit with all donations after-cost going to the Molokai Youth in Motion charity. Paul and the other riders send a very big Mahalo (Thank you!) to their sponsors: Naish Kiteboarding, Maui Tacos, Fresh Island Fish, Bump Networks, Kiteboarding School of Maui, Maui Kiteboarding Lessons by Aquasports, Jim Sanders Realty, Kiteflix.com, Maui Web Designs, Sea Escape Maui Boat Rentals, Mendo Clothing, Kahului Alehouse, and the Hotel Molokai.

From Maui to O'ahu by Wind Power!

noreply@blogger.com (AaronCanFly) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 07:35:00 +0000

Thanks to our advertising partners, the first time Maui to O'ahu kiteboarding channel crossing is ON!

Set your schedules for the event to take place on July 26th and 27th, 2008.

The first time ever! Maui to O'ahu via kiteboard

We are a group of kiteboarders who in 2007--having grown tired of the usual route between the islands of Maui and Moloka'i--pioneered a more challenging channel-crossing adventure. Starting at Ho'okipa Beach on Maui's North Shore, we sailed around the West Maui Mountains and into the windswept Pailolo Channel; skirting the pristine reefs of eastern Moloka'i, we continued all the way down the southern coast to the port town of Kaunakakai.

This time, beginning on July 26th 2008 we will ride one island further! On the second day we will leave beautiful Kaluako'i beach on the western shore of Moloka'i, and ride out into the rolling swells of the Ka'iwi channel all the way to Kailua bay on O'ahu. All told our two-day journey will total 100 miles of open ocean kiteboarding!

Check out last year's crossing!

Last year's journey, shot end edited by our staff . . . enjoy it!

Again, we extend a big Mahalo (thank you!) to all our advertising partners!

Aloha!