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by Carl Giordano

British Virgin Islands, Nature's Little Secret

Tortola, British Virgin Islands – For ten years, the kiteboarding industry has struggled in its efforts to convince the American media that kiteboarding is for everyone. Most media coverage portrayed kiteboarding as a new extreme sport, on par with base jumping, meant only for those willing to risk their lives for that ultimate rush. Even as equipment and teaching techniques advanced, even as men and women of all ages were drawn to the sport and even as kites became ubiquitous across the summer skies of places like Long Island, Cape Cod and the San Francisco Bay, the media just didn’t seem to care. Only kite fatalities were reported reinforcing the preconceived notion that kiteboarding was dangerous and certainly not for everyone. Television networks and major sponsors continued to dismiss kiteboarding as a fad.

But every so often kiteboarding seemed to catch a break. Like in 2003 when the Boston Globe wrote about presidential candidate John Kerry’s love for kiting and in 2007 when Bay Area entrepreneur Bill Tai’s invite-only kiteboarding event in Maui caught the attention of Fortune.

This time we have Sir Richard Branson to thank. It is no secret that the Virgin Group Ltd founder is a passionate kiteboarder. The photo of Sir Richard is likely the single most recognizable image of kiteboarding on earth. It helped that, at the time, he had a naked fashion model riding on his back. And so it was met with great acclaim and excitement last year that Branson was to host a major gathering of amateur and pro kiteboarders at his ultra exclusive island resort in the British Virgin Islands, Necker Island.

The first annual BVI Kite Jam took place March 1st to March 5th. It was organized in conjunction with the BVI Tourist Board and designed to bring attention to the British Virgin Islands as a premier kiteboarding destination. Major sponsors included Necker Island, Kiteboarding Magazine, Philip Stein, Digicel, Sunsail, Cape Air, Bitter End Yacht Club, Fiji Water, Heineken, Billabong, Cabrinha and Liquid Force.

Participants had two options. The first and more economical was to spend the week aboard a Sunsail catamaran. For about $3,000, Kite Jammers slept aboard the forty foot, twin hull boats and sailed from Tortola to Virgin Gorda to Anegada and back. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were included in the package. Throughout the week, these buffet style meals and the post cocktail session which followed allowed Kite Jammers to mingle with the biggest names in the kiteboard industry. The second and less economical option was to stay at Necker Island. For $25,000, a couple could spend the week on Necker Island and be shuttled to the various kite sessions and parties. Meals were also included with this package. Necker Island Kite Jammers reported eating and chatting on numerous occasions with Sir Richard Branson himself.

Unfortunately though the wind did not cooperate and only one day was kiteable during the 5 day event. Of course this was nobody’s fault except Mother Nature. Many regulars to the BVI described this particular windless winter as most unusual and not one likely to be repeated.

The WOW moments

Sunset from Bitter End Yacht

For starters, these green islands are stunning and the perfectly turquoise water that surrounds them is nothing short of mesmerizing. Every so often in life you find yourself face to face with such incredible beauty that just observing it becomes an activity worth immersing yourself in. No doubt I found myself on many occasions throughout the week simply sitting and soaking it all in. It is quite fitting that the BVI Tourist Board uses the tag line “Nature’s Little Secret” to describe this spectacularly beautiful place.

Often I read posts on kiteboard forums asking for advice on family friendly kite destinations or non-kiter friendly kite destinations. I now believe with the utmost of certainty that the BVI is undoubtedly both of these. Whether hiking, scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, kayaking, surfing, fishing or simply sun bathing is the thing your family members or non-kiter friends are looking for, they will find it here in ample supply.

How to get here and where to stay? Most Kite Jammers flew through San Juan, PR and took a connecting Cape Air puddle jumper directly to Tortola where most of the sailboat charters are based. I found a cheap flight from New York directly to St. Thomas and took a high speed ferry directly to Tortola. The forty-five minute ride was quite relaxing.

If you’re a boat person and certainly if you have sailing experience, the best way to experience the BVI is via a sailboat charter. The BVI Kite Jam used Sunsail for its flotilla. I found the boats to be clean and comfortable for up to five or six people with four cabins, two full bathrooms and a kitchen for cooking and eating meals.

If you’re prone to sea sickness as I am or simply require a proper bed and bathroom at the end of a long day on the water, I would highly recommend the Bitter End Yacht Club in Virgin Gorda. As part of the press group, I got to spend a few nights here. Between the rooms, the meals and the views, the only way to describe this place is heaven on earth. Of all of my experiences in the BVI, I was most sad to see this one end.

There are two kinds of kiteboarders. The first wants to experience a place like the BVI in small groups. After all, coordinating sessions and meals for fifty kiteboarders is cumbersome! If you fall into this camp, then you’re better off organizing a kite vacation amongst friends and coming to the BVI in small groups. Call Sunsail directly. You’ll be in good hands for sure.

The second type of kiteboarder prefers to have meals and social activities planned. I have to admit, I enjoyed knowing my meal and social schedule throughout the week. All I had to do was show up. The organizers of BVI Kite Jam are all locals and no doubt that makes all the difference in the world.

What the BVI Kite Jam offers which you will not get anywhere else are the people. No other kite trip to the BVIs offers you the opportunity to kite alongside and mingle with the who’s who of kiteboarding. Andre Philip, Susi Mai, Tom Court, Gretta Kruesi, Davey Blair, Kristin Boese and many more pros were with us all week long. The Anegada downwinder that we managed to squeeze in would have been great without all of these pros, but being out there with all of them made the experience priceless. Beyond that, I enjoyed chatting with the editors of Kiteboarding Magazine and Laurel Eastman, arguably the biggest name in kiteboard lessons with three schools around the world. Of course, we can’t forget Sir Richard Branson himself who ate, chatted and sessioned with us throughout the week. And finally, Denni, the fashion model in the famous Branson kiteboarding photo I mentioned earlier, and her boyfriend, Stephane, the photographer who took that spectacular shot. I have to admit it was pretty cool hanging with all of these folks! The people alone made this trip worth it!

So is kiteboarding becoming mainstream? Will the media ever really care? Late in the week, Sir Richard Branson stood on a chair at Cow Wreck Beach and announced to all of us that Billabong had just agreed to sponsor next year’s BVI Kite Jam. This is hugely significant for a number of reasons. For starters, Billabong, a major surf apparel brand, is recognizing that kiteboarding is here to stay. With a name like Billabong on board, other major brands will start to pay attention. Inevitably, with the potential for real sponsorship dollars comes media attention.

So let me say THANK YOU to the organizers of the BVI Kite Jam for moving the ball forward. Special thanks to Sir Richard Branson for associating his name with this event. An entire industry owes you it gratitude. My sense is that like kiteboarding, the BVI Kite Jam is here to stay. I’m ready to book next year’s trip right now! More photos of this amazing trip in our Flickr set!

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