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.
So far, with over ten years of teaching experience, we can honestly say that you are never too old to learn to kitesurf. We have successfully taught hundreds of people over 40 years of age to kitesurf, both male and female. One of our most successful students was over 70 when he came to us to learn and he has continued to progress at home in the US. Even Barrack Obama recently learnt to kitesurf at the age of 55.
Check out one of our Facebook Videos of one of our mature students progressing here.
Check out the difference between location and instruction here on just one of our Trip Advisor Reviews.
Fantastic Kite surfing instruction
'These guys were great for learning to kite. I had a few lessons before, but George helped me put it all together. Extremely knowledgeable about the sport and very safety focused.'
Want to see more of Lake Weyba and the perfect learning location? See our Youtube videos here.
Our new Balance & Training category has just gone live, check out the range here!
With the addition of the Gibbon Slackline range last year, and most recently the Vew-Do balance boards, we've had an amazing response and demand for the gear both in store and online. So we've dedicated a section of the online store to balance and training gear and hope to add even more great options for balance recreation and cross training in the future! Watch this space!
Vew-Do Balance Boards are an awesome balance training aid developed and fully produced in the US. Originally created to assist with snowboard instruction and training the boards have been hugely popular among those with a passion for boardsports, whether it be surfing or kiting, skate, sup, snow or anything else. Vew-Do boards will provide hours upon hours of entertainment, all while being excellent balance/board training and practice.
Their gear has also been instrumental in certain avenues of physiotherapy and rehabilitation therapy, can be utilised in other fitness and training areas such as yoga and pilates, and has even been intergrated into offices all around the world, used in conjunction with standing desks to keep people physically active and moving throughout the work day!
Gibbon Slacklines are another awesome balance training tool that can provide plenty of fun when you can't get out on the water, though maybe a little less approachable than balance boards! Originally a bit of a niche sport done mostly by rock climbers in bad weather, Gibbon have brought slacklining to the rest of the world with a simple and easy to use setup making the sport a lot more approachable. Compact and easy to use, but difficult to master, they're a great bit of fun for any sports enthusiast. A few sessions and you'll be pulling off moves like this.. maybe:
16th - 30th July
Book for 1 or 2 weeks - twin share private accommodation options are limited so be quick!
The team will be back in Fiji again this year for a fantastic winter escape offering wind, flat water and waves for all levels.
With share accommodation from $50 a day including meals & private rooms from $1295 for 7 days, you can't go wrong.
Beachouse offers a surf break right on your door step, a windy lagoon of flat water for intermediate kiters and some awesome breaks only a boat trip away including Serua left/right and Frigates.
The resort boasts a small and personal feel with day trips available for non-kiting partners or non-windy days. Island trips, waterfall walks, market trips and so much more make this location suitable for everyone to enjoy. Laze in a hammock, swim in the swimming pool or snorkel around the crystal clear waters.
George and Fiona will lead a group for downwinders as the conditions permit. The lagoon offers flat and shallow water for intermediate riders and the surf break is suitable for most kiters. The inside wave offers a perfect beginner SUP or surf wave, while the outside break is a fast and challenging option for the more advanced surfers.
We already have heavy bookings for the first week, so be quick to secure you spot. Contact us on 0754556677 for more details or email here.
Everyone knows you can surf a SUP, race a SUP and play on flat water with a SUP, but not many have experienced the advantages of Adventure SUP.
The Noosa Everglades is the ideal place to tour with a SUP. The pristine waters offer safe swimming, glorious natural wonders and established overnight camping locations.
You don't need a touring SUP to take advantage of this awesome activity. There are some very affordable options out there from our Run Out Naish Glide Touring, a used Race SUP or some of our longer flatwater SUPs on special, like the Starboard Blend or the Fanatic 11'6 Fly.
Adventure Sports sell all the accessories you might need for a day or overnight trip including deck nets, lashing points, waterproof backpacks, paddle leashes, hydration, light weight tents and so much more.
Check out the adventure SUP video here and take a browse through our SUP accessories catalogue online here.
They always say you have to start somewhere. Saturday the 17th September was the very first Nisco SUP Race in Noosa and for those who attended, it was a great day.
The weather was perfect, JB from Naish joined in to show the team the ropes and everyone enjoyed some one on one coaching and participation. Even the Yacht Club boat crews had a little time to join in the fun.
We already have registrations for the October's event, some travelling from Hervey Bay and the team are all hyped up to see loads of people, especially kids join in. So to make the event even more affordable, we are allowing kids to participate FREE when coming with an adult.
The registration is only $15 and this includes the board use, coaching if time permits and the support of the rescue boat from the Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club.
As we build up these events over the season, we will be planning a round of the National Nisco competition where not only the relay race will featured but all divisions will be on show including the 10km endurance and full course race.
For more details, call us at the shop on 0754556677 or register online here.
To check out more photos, visit us on Facebook.
The Noosa series is open to amateurs, families or anyone just wanting to get out on the water for some fun in the sun this summer.
The format is for teams of 4-5 people to race in relay around a marker approximately 100mtrs offshore on the Noosa River. The winner of each heat will go in the finals to see who takes the title for the day.
The event is hosted by Adventure Sports in conjunction with the Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club who have made their facilities available for the race series which starts in September.
To cover board hire and the NYRC safety vessel there is a $15 entry fee per person. There will be some great prizes on offer for the winning team and you can grab a coffee and breaky at the NYRC afterwards if you like.
The event is open to anyone who wants to join in and have some fun. All ages, all fitness levels. Bring your own team or we can add you to a team on the day.
If you enjoy the series, you can join in to a round of the National competition to be held in Noosa in January, where all race formats will be held including a long distance and full course race.
To register, visit here
We had 10 days away recently, working on an early summer tan in Fiji, staying at The Beachouse Fiji on the Coral Coast. The boys were left home holding the fort while Rachel joined us for the first 7 days, enjoying her first Fiji experience, despite the near drowning at Sigatoka and the reef bite :)
Beachouse Fiji was a new spot for us and we were not really sure how it would all turn out. A few locals joined in for the adventure and we were all stoked with the experience. The Beachouse offered plenty of alternative activities for the non-kiting family members and provided us all with plenty of waves and some great wind for kiting.
For the first 7 days we explored a variety of surf options including a boat trip to Serua. With so many activities on offer including Island trips, day tours to the markets, bush walking and even horse riding, everyone had something to keep them busy. We enjoyed some great SUP sessions on the inside break while the short boarders took advantage of some hollow reef breaks.
The second half of the trip offered up some good quality wind of around 18-25knots and we even managed to do a downwinder to the Warwick Resort over some nice clean reef breaks.
Plans are already underway for the 2017 trip, so if you are keen to be kept up to date, then let us know. We will likely spend 3-4 days on Malolo Island before heading to the Beachouse again. The Malolo Island stop over will provide us with a few days exploring Namotu, Swimming Pools and Cloud break but still provide conditions to suit our intermediate paddlers and kiters at Beachouse.
Check out the photos on Facebook
It might be getting cooler, but Noosa has been beautiful for the occasional DI kite and local SUP sessions.
The water is crystal clear and the waves might still be on the small side, but they have been pretty clean and consistent for SUP.
Take a look at a few photos of the fun we have been having.
Follow us on Facebook to see all the DI & Rivermouth kiting plus all the local SUP photos.
