The whole environmental aspect of manufacturing has become so topical of late so we thought we would share just a little of what some of our major brands are doing to offer a sustainable product.
We were excited to discover that Duotone have made their boards carbon neutral this year and are using recyclable packaging (no plastic, no Styrofoam) to bundle up their boards to send overseas.
With recent changes to our staffing at Adventure Sports, we have decided to make some minor changes to our trading hours.
As of the 1st March, the shop will be open Tuesday - Friday 9-5pm and Saturday 9-2pm. Lessons will still be held on Mondays subject to wind and bookings but the shop will be closed.
George and Liam both recently completed their L1 & L2 ASI instructor qualifications. With four intensive days of training covering rescue, SUP safety, paddle strokes and progression, the guys were pretty pumped. This has opened up a new avenue for Adventure Sports into the future.
Many of our customers have been asking our team to teach them to SUP or to help them progress with their SUP technique. When you buy a board from us now, you won't only get quality products, excellent advise and back up service, but you can also take advantage of our qualified team of instructors.
This training is reserved for customers who have purchased boards from us so if you are looking for some additional help in making the most of your SUP, then give the shop a call or contact us here.
In case you don't know the story; Keahi's dad Chris de Aboitiz started the school "Kitesurf Australia" in the late 90's and was instrumental in bringing kiteboarding to Noosa. At that time, Keahi was only very young but it didn't take him long to join his dad in teaching kiteboarding. The rest they say is history. Keahi has gone on to win the World Wave Championships twice & the Tarr family has continued what the de Aboitiz family started all those years ago.
When we purchased the shop in 2007, Keahi was still at school and just making his mark on the kiteboarding world. We couldn't help but share a few photos for those who didn't know Keahi then.
This photo is when Keahi won the Coolum Kite Festival Downwinder Race hosted by Adventure Sports. A lot has changed in 10 years.
We are pleased to bring Cabrinha Kiteboarding to Noosa and it continues to be a pleasure working with Keahi on building the kitesurfing community locally.
Check out some of the local crew at the Cabrinha demo day recently. We all enjoyed catching up with keahi and checking out his form, even in the light wind conditions.
Thanks also to Alan from Cabrinha for all your hard work pumping kites :)
We also hosted a safety clinic where George took some of our intermediate riders through safe launching and landing practises along with self rescue. The turn out was great and the feedback was really positive. Let us know what you enjoyed learning the most.
Keahi proving light wind is no excuse.
It's that time of year. The wind is beginning to pick up, the sun is out & the water is crystal clear and warm. But.....Your kite has been in storage for a few months and before you head out for your first big session, it might be time to do a little maintenance.
Check your kite for small holes. If there are any pin holes, patch them now with some sail repair tape.
Check the stitching on the leading edge & struts. Is it worn? Are there any loose threads? If you are not sure, bring your kite in for a check up in store.
Check your pulleys, leader lines & pigtails for general wear. Ensure the pulleys are running freely and there is no fraying of the attachments on the kite.
Check your bar. Does the release work? Does the depower/trim rope need replacing? Are the lines in good order?
Check the kite pumps up. It might sound simple, but you would be surprised how many people get caught out at the beginning of the season. Some older model kites that have been in storage might have valve leaks and it's the worst thing to find when you rush down to the water & pump up on that perfect day only to find your kite won't hold air. While checking valves, check hoses, hose clamps & valve connections for leaks, damage or missing zip ties (collars).
The most cost effective time we have found to change your kite over; especially if you kite regularly, is after 2 full seasons. This is around the time you might find you need to replace depower ropes, lines, wearing parts like pulleys etc. Make these our problem, trade in your kite while it still has a good resale value and grab the latest gear for trouble free kiting this coming summer.
Alternatively, add a smaller kite to the quiver to take the load off your main kite. We have a good selection of used kites to choose from but even better, there are often some great clearance bargains this time of year as the new season equipment arrives.
Grab your board and a screwdriver. Tighten all your fin screws, pad screws and generally take a close look at your inserts, pads and straps for wear and tear. There is nothing worse than having the best session of the season ruined by a broken or unattached foot strap.
Surfboards need maintenance too. Strip off the wax and start fresh, replace damaged deck pads and check your fin boxes for any signs of stress. Why not try out a new set of fins this season for improved performance and snappier bottom turns. Fins really do make a difference in the surf.
Check the cleats on your harness. It's been left unused for a while and the cleats might be seized up with salt and corrosion. Many models have replacement cleats as spare parts.
Does your safety leash work? Is it full of sand and need a good soak? Test it out & invest in a new leash if you need to. It's what ensures your kite doesn't end up in the trees if you have to go to safety in an emergency, but it also needs to work properly in the surf in case you have to let the whole kite go to avoid damage in a wave.
Check out a few of our most recent wear and tear discoveries.
Your kiting gear is like your car. It needs regular maintenance to offer you trouble free use. Your car needs a service and oil change to ensure it won't let you down when you really need it. If you are not sure where to start with kite equipment maintenance, then bring your gear into the shop & get the team in store to take a look for you.
Beachouse Fiji hosted two of our groups over 2 weeks with people travelling from Noosa, Sydney & Adelaide to enjoy the local Fijian hospitality of this unique and genuine location. Andrew and the team looked after us with boat trips to kite, fish and surf along with a few awesome nights of DJ tunes, live music and all night dancing and entertainment.
In the first week we enjoyed an awesome downwinder along the reef hitting Serua left/right, Pipe, Jays and every break in-between. We all rated this in our top 10 ever surf sessions. The video will be ready very soon, so keep an eye on our Youtube Channel or Facebook.
The second week was a little lighter wind but the crew were all intermediate riders and really got some great training in the lagoon doing mini downwinders and boat packdowns.
When it wasn't windy, we had some awesome SUP sessions on the Beachouse break with a few guys taking a boat trip to Frigates to surf. We took time out to enjoy lunch at the EcoCafe Wood fired Pizza cafe, spent plenty of time on the Fijian massage tables, shot a little pool and basically relaxed with the Beachouse community; many who live in outlying villages.
Fiji holds a special place in the hearts of the Adventure sports team. Fijian's are laid back, community focused and always super cruisie; something we value on holiday and at home in Noosa.
If you want to join us next year, we are taking expressions of interest, so send us a message here.
To see more photos, check out our Facebook Album.
