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by Jessica Valenzuela

Jessica Valenzuela, Founder of Mavin Digital and Author for Just Kite It putzing with a 3m kite, Hood River, Oregon

Do you remember the first time you saw a kiter and said “oh, way cool. I want to try that!” Do you remember the first time you held a trainer or a big kite…got intimated and didn’t know how to control that thing up in the air, but you continued to hang on to the bar because you wanted to be a kiter? Do you remember your first time ever to ride that board a few feet then fell over? And repeat, then repeat until finally you were gliding not quite like a swan, but just gliding and staring into the horizon with your kite in full control? Then on to the next level of progression…and the next.

They say kiteboarding is like learning how to ride a bicycle. You’ll never forget once all the elements of balance and movement click. This is true and more. There is progression. A personal choice that one has to make and commit to.

What I Learned

Learning is a staple. I personally like to try new things because I want to learn. Learning can be a lot of fun, specially in kiteboarding. Patience, focus and the ability to fund your fun are prerequisites of the sport. Then your world opens to new beginnings and experiences each time you get out and kite!

• A new way of thinking and being. One can only plan so much in life, but the truth is everything can change in an instant. You have to be prepared to make that change, embrace it and be happy with it. The wind teaches you to be in that zen state of mind really well.
• Make a plan. Quite a contradiction to my first point. This is a lesson of preparedness. Come in the water with a plan of action, implement and know when and where to exit.

Jessica Valenzuela, progressing in kite and board control with a 12m in low winds, Cape Hatteras, North Carolina

• Age does not matter. Kiteboarding is a sport where an 8-year old or younger and a 60-year old and over can play together. That part really is so cool! It also reminds me that you can learn anything at any age — you just need to want it really bad.

• The right gear makes a big difference. I didn’t think I would have it in me to ride rollers. I tried a number of times in Maui and felt uncomfortable with my current board, which happens to be a really advanced board. I can only guess why the retailer who sold it didn’t recommend against the purchase at that time. Now that I have access to a board that fits my riding style I can bump and grind in the rollers that used to be so intimidating. Keywords here: know which gear is good for your level of kiting and riding style. Then try it before buying — always. What is good for Joe is not necessarily good for you.

Learning to snowkite, MaiTai Winter in Skyline, Utah, photo courtesy, Steve Gibson

• Travel is a great way to learn and add to your life’s palette, network and build your business. I’ve met some of the most wonderful people on kite beaches. I’m hoping to meet more of you in the many kitebeaches around the world! And yes, a number of my kiting friendships and non-kiting friendships have turned into business for Mavin Digital. Very cool!

A taste of Maui Magic, Jessica Valenzueal at MaiTai 2010, Maui, Hawaii

• Travel smart. You don’t need to spend buco $$$ to afford travel. Be creative. Be sincere. Be open. Remember, you’re traveling to learn how other people live and how it is done in their turf. Be respectful.
• Sometimes you have to do non-fun things. Like body dragging to your board or to safety, untying knots from your lines, self-rescuing because the wind died or you got blown offshore or it could be something else, walk back a few miles at times through tall bushes and uncut trails or be sitting for hours without wind (then you just paddleboard, surf, kayak or drink beers) and the list of non-fun things about kiteboarding is plenty. Remember, a zen life requires the ying and the yang for you to gain full-satisfaction and appreciation.
• Kiteboarding is a community. A growing sport were almost everyone knows everyone. While at Crissy on June 24, watching the race from the beach someone shouts my name and says “Jessica Valenzuela!” It was Pierre Wolf who I knew on email via the MaiTai 2010 event. In a few seconds another voice asks me “are you Prezemek’s friend from New York?” A few minutes after that Bobby who I kited with once in Tobay Bay was saying “hey Jessica is that you?” Kiters naturally head for the kite spot whenever they visit a place. We tease each other about our kites, the face-plant after a kite loop and many other silly things, yet you can count that a kiter will help you out if you are having challenges in the water. And when you are out of the water.

What Is Next?

I can only look forward to progressing further into the sport, meeting fellow kiters and learning from the Kiteboarding Tribe. I hope to inspire those who are thinking of trying it - jump in and get your feet wet! At first you may not like it because it is not the easiest skill to learn in the world, but as time goes by you’ll be thinking of ways to manage your schedule so you can kite when the wind comes. And that is only the beginning.

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Jessica kiting Treasure Island, Bay Area, photo courtesy Erin Loscocco

I’m looking forward to checking new spots to kite, progressing into a few tricks, riding Crissy and under the Golden Gate Bridge in style!

Jessica taking a lesson under the Golden Gate bridge with Capt. John Von Tesmar. photo courtesy Erin Loscocco

Gratitude

Big thanks to my instructors from the different schools Bill (Island Riders), Jaz De Lille (New Wind Kiteboarding), Sensi Graves (Real Kiteboarding), Dominique Granger (Real Kiteboarding), Jeff Kafka (WOW Kite), Luke Svanberg (Luke’s Kiteboarding), Nick Obea (Kitehouse), Mark Stevens (Action Sports Maui) and Capt. John von Tesmar (KTI), the pros who spread the stoke of the sport daily, fellow kiters who inspire me to get in the water as much as I can and the non-kiting friends who have patiently encouraged and supported me with my kiteboarding addiction.

To the kiteboarding/kitesurfing tribe, be safe out there and wishing you good wind from the Bay Area!

Remember your first year as a kiteboarder / kitesurfer and want to share lessons learned? Write [email protected].

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