Kiteboarding, with its adrenaline-pumping excitement, is a sport that calls for an unwavering commitment to safety. This is particularly true for women, who often bring a unique perspective to managing risks in extreme sports like kiteboarding.

Understanding the Female Approach to Safety

Women’s approach to safety in kiteboarding often differs from their male counterparts. Generally, women adopt a more cautious and methodical approach to risk. This difference can partly be attributed to a heightened awareness of physical limitations and a stronger inclination towards mitigating risks. Consequently, women kiteboarders are more likely to seek training and instruction, enhancing their skills and minimizing injury risks.

Social conditioning also plays a significant role. From an early age, women are typically conditioned to be more risk-averse, while men are often encouraged to embrace risk and physical challenges. This upbringing influences the way women engage with extreme sports, leading to a more measured and thoughtful approach.

Personalizing Safety in Kiteboarding

However, it’s essential to recognize that safety in extreme sports is not a one-size-fits-all formula. Regardless of gender, every individual needs to adopt safety measures that align with their skills and comfort levels. This includes wearing appropriate safety gear, seeking professional instruction, and practicing responsible behavior on and off the water.

Expert Safety Tips from the Women’s Kiteboarding Collective

In a recent Women’s Kiteboarding Collective Zoom webinar on safety, board members Laurel Eastman and Holly Peck shared invaluable safety tips for kiteboarders. Here’s a roundup of their expert advice:

1. Kite Leash Positioning: Attach your kite leash to the front of your harness for efficient safety ejection.
2. Kite Leash Eject: Ensure the kite leash EJECT is accessible on your harness for quick release in emergencies.
3. Kite Release Protocol: In case of a tangle or mishap, release your kite by ejecting the depower loop, even when assisted during landing.
4. Practice Ejecting Your Safety: Regularly practice safety ejection upon landing to develop muscle memory.
5. Communication with Assistants: Clearly communicate your plan with your launching assistant to ensure coordinated movement.
6. Right of Way Awareness: Understand and respect right of way rules – right hand forward gives you the right of way.
7. Buddy System: Kite with a friend or in areas with other riders, and avoid kiting further than you can swim back.
8. Emergency Gear: Consider adding a marine whistle or a shatterproof mirror to your impact vest/PFD for emergencies.
9. Kite and Bar Adjustments: Learn about different kite sizes, adjustments to your bar/kite, and appropriate kite size for varying wind conditions.

Additional Resources

Safety is paramount in kiteboarding. By adhering to these guidelines, you can enjoy this exhilarating sport with confidence and caution. For further insights, check out The Women Kiteboarding Collective’s YouTube playlist, featuring an array of expert speakers and resources dedicated to kiteboarding safety.

Remember, every kiteboarder’s journey is unique, but safety is a universal priority. Embrace these tips, and let the winds guide you on a safe and thrilling adventure!

Please mark your calendars for our upcoming expert panel. Wednesday, Nov 15th at 1pm New York (10am Los Angles, , we will have top riders and industry professionals share their tips and tricks so YOU can advance your kiting and winging skills.

Register for the Zoom call here

Save the Date – 1st Wednesday of the Month in 2022

Dates & Featured Speakers!

February 2nd with Board Member Frances Rivera | all about winging

March 2nd with Kiteboard Designer | Owner of Litewave Boards, Dave Turner

April 6th with Kitesurfing Champion Jalou Langeree

May 4th with Kiteboarding Pro Su Kay

June 1st with Kiteboarding Pro Michaela Pilkenton

Video of February’s Chat about Wing Foiling!

Does your session ever end with a tangled mess atop your head? Do you worry that sun, wind, and saltwater dry out your scalp and cause damage to your hair? Sure, long days in the water can take a toll on your hair, and tricks and tumbles can result in endless tangles. Don’t fret. There are plenty of strategies you can employ to keep your hair healthy and free of tangles.

In the article below, the ladies of the Women’s Kiteboarding Collective share tips for taking care of your locks before, during, and after the session.

The Question….

“My vacations are all spent in and on the water. Every time I get out of the water, my wavy locks are a tangled mess. Even with all of the tricks my stylist gave me, it still takes forever to get the tangles out. Ladies, what works for you?”

—- Trena Partee

Coconut oil

The Women’s Kiteboarding Collective is in agreement: coconut oil to the rescue! Coconut oil is great for mitigating both dry hair and tangles. It’s a natural product that’s less toxic, for you and the environment, than many alternatives. Coconut oil is readily available and can be purchased in bulk. Try this: coat your hair with coconut oil, then put it up in a braid or bun. Then, simply wash it out after the session.

Coconut oil and braid it.

– Annalisa Nathalia Dovey

I have super long and thin hair, so I get you. I do braids with oil and it works perfectly.

– Laura Piantoni

Even if your hair looks great, wind does dry it out. I do a deep conditioner or oil and a bun while I kite.

– Liz Saint Pete

Coconut oil then braid, that’s the only way I can manage my long hair after sessions.

– Samina Laurinaityte

Think about the marine environment — conditioners and personal care products pollute the water and cause damage to coral reefs. Coconut oil is a better alternative for protecting hair from salt water and sun damage.

-Clare Strawson

I soak my hair in coconut oil for at least one full minute before getting in the water. My hairdresser told me that once your hair is wet for a minute, it stops absorbing water. I don’t brush until after a shower. Also, the advice to use Olaplex is spot on.

-Traci Hornbaker

I have to use coconut oil… I literally saturate my hair with it, put it up, and it always combs out with minimal breakage… nothing else works… you do have to wash it out after… or if you’re going out and don’t mind the slicked back look, then you’re good to go.

-Melissa Pellegrini

First, use some oil on your hair to protect it from salts etc., then braid.

-Yulia Merkulova

Coconut oil works wonders!

-Rebecca Wilcox

I feel your pain. My hair is fine. It would take a half an hour to comb out after getting in the ocean. Then a friend recommended coconut oil. I just bought a big vat from the cooking oil section. I brush it on before I go into the water and then rinse with fresh water afterwards. If I stay on the beach, I still get beach waves that I can actually run a finger or two through! It does make my hair oily, but once I shampoo, it goes back to normal. Plus, I feel that since it’s natural it’s better for the environment/reefs?

– Teresa Wheeler

Skip the shampoo, and only use conditioner!

Some, especially those with curly hair, find that skipping shampoo is the way to go. Try using shampoo every other day, once a week, or even less frequently. Factors like the texture of your hair, the climate, and whether you’re in salt water or fresh water influence how often you should shampoo. Daily conditioner, on the other hand, will help your hair stay moisturized and tangle free.

“I follow the curly-girl method and only use conditioner. I took a break a few weeks back and used shampoo again and my hair was a tangled mess. Back to conditioner only and it’s pretty tangle free most of the time. I also use a little leave-in conditioner immediately post shower. I don’t have the best curls ever, but they are cute enough for me!”

—Kimmy Gustafson

“You need to shower with fresh water straight after the session, as soon as possible. And before going for a fresh water shower, I sometimes put conditioner in straight after my session for a few minutes and then I rinse it with fresh water. Later, you can shower at your home at the end of the day again and wash your hair. I use shampoo maybe 2x a week but conditioner on a daily basis.”
–Paula Novotná

Hair mask or conditioner before jumping in?

Try a hair mask, normal conditioner, or leave-in conditioner before hitting the water. Remember to check the ingredient list on the products you use before your session. Similar to your sunscreen, hair products can seep out of your hair and add toxins to the water.

“I put a hair mask/ conditioner on my hair before I jump in the water. It helps with pretty beach waves when my hair air dries. Also, it smoothes my hair when I rinse and clean it.”

–Diana Dina Merino-Tillman

“Put conditioner in your hair before you hit the water, and make sure to rinse salt out as quickly as you can.”

–Lisa Linhardt

“Try a leave-in conditioner. Mine is called FIX. Just comb through wet hair and forget.”

–Pip Sawyer

Braids

Braiding your hair before your session can help to prevent tangles.

Leave-in conditioner to the rescue

Before your session, wet your hair then add an environmentally friendly leave-in conditioner.

Julia Olson
I use a leave-in conditioner from Kerastase.

Carly McKinnon
Put a really thick conditioner (free of parabens and fruit extract) in your wet hair before heading into the water. Salt water makes your hair sticky, so this helps me big time!

Sarah Brooks
Wet hair plus conditioner. My hair gets tangled even when it’s in a braid. It’s hard to find fresh water sometimes though, so I’ll just put conditioner straight into dry hair.

Ximena Olds
Cover with conditioner or coconut oil or avocado paste before getting in the water.

Randi Nicole
I use It’s a 10 Leave-In Plus Keratin. I found that putting conditioner in before getting into the water helps, too.

Christina Colón Maples
My hair is super fine and gets knots just by somebody looking at it. I use Olaplex 6. I use it before and as soon as I get out of the water. Even after my hair is tangled, I can put it on and it eases it all out so I can brush it.

Heather Feather Lamoureux
Aveda does a great leave-in conditioner which works well, but Moroccan oil is defo worth the spend.

Sandra Bicego
I add conditioner to my hair before going out then again when back in.

Laurel Gropper
Spray bottle water with moisturizer in it — use it before and after kiting! Then, I use a hair masque while in my post-kiting sauna — can’t beat it!

Spray bottle water with moisturizer in it — use it before and after kiting! Then, I use a hair masque while in my post-kiting sauna — can’t beat it!

-Laura Gropper

Braid and moisturize

Douse your hair in a nice thick conditioner and put in a French braid.

–Laney Pratt

Olaplex everything, braids, fresh water to rinse always in the car, hairbrush, and a hood for diving.

–Kadri Kullerkupp

Braids covered in coconut oil or get Silicon Mix Conditioner.

–Monica PN

One big braid, a baseball cap, and Revlon All Soft Conditioner.

–S. Mary McCreath

Hair butter, hands down!! Without this, my brush won’t get through! I’ve also started to braid my hair when kiting so it doesn’t get tangled.

–Natt Erich

Don’t wash, just rinse

Keep it simple. Try rinsing your hair after your session and forgoing the shampoo.

Argan oil

Try argan oil to moisturize and soften your hair.

I use argan oil after I kite. I find the spray convenient to use on tangles after kiting.

–Tina Poblacion

I love Moroccan oil shampoo and conditioner for my curly hair. When it’s summer, I use argan oil to thoroughly soak my hair.

–Vanessa Strappaveccia

Hair mask

A hair mask can be a useful tool for protecting and repairing damaged hair.

I give my hair a mask that’s made with avocado + egg + coconut oil + olive oil. Leave it in for 20 minutes then wash it off. When you go in the water, apply sunblock on your hair directly. It works well for me.

–Anastasia Bannikova

I use the blackberry/coconut Giovanni hair mask every day. My hairdresser noticed a difference when I switched and combing out with a wet brush in the shower is now a breeze. After kiting, it is still hard but not nearly as bad.

–Tonya Tyre

Tips From a Hairdresser

Let’s hear from an expert. Paula Marie Davies, who is a kiter and a hairdresser, shares her professional advice.

“I am a hairdresser and a kiter. As many have said, braids will keep your hair from matting in the wind. Then, if you can, rinse with water to get most of the salt out. Then, once you’re home, use a shampoo that removes salt. Your shampoo is key because it will remove the salt from inside the hair. Then, condition with a moisturizing conditioner. Be careful of oils as they sit on the hair rather than penetrating the hair, and you need that moisture inside. “

–Paula Marie Davies

After reading all of these wonderful suggestions, the author of the original post, Trena Partee, decided to make a list of all the suggestions already mentioned above. Here is the list:

“I synthesized suggestions from my previous post for those of you who are interested:

• Some type of braid, bun, structured ponytail, or plaits
• Conditioner, hair mask, or hair butter (some before/some after)
• Coconut oil/butter
• Argan or Moroccan oil
• Avocado paste
• A hat
• Homemade hair mask
As requested, here is the entire list of products:
• Kerastase Leave-In Conditioner
• FIX
• Olaplex
• Tweak-d by Nature Restore Rejuvenating Oil
• Monat
• CHI Keratin Conditioner
• Silicon Mix Intensive Hair Deep Treatment Oil by Avanti
• Sun Bum Anti-Frizz Oil
• It’s a 10 Leave-In Plus Keratin
• Kerastase Nutritive Masquintense exceptionally concentrated nourishing treatment
• Sexy Hair Tri-Wheat Leave-In Conditioner
• Giovanni Hair Mask
• Revlon All-Soft Conditioner
• Aveda Leave-In Conditioner”

–Trena Partee

Conclusion

Now, you’re ready to kite like a pro and still have your mermaid locks at the end of the day. There are many ways to take care of your hair, including routines, products, braids, and more. Keep experimenting until you find a solution that works for your hair and habits. Please let us know what’s working.

Stay awesome, and stay tuned for our next article!



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]]> 776 https://womenskiteboarding.org/kiteboarder-business-leader-holly-peck/ Mon, 03 Jan 2022 00:24:24 +0000 https://womenskiteboarding.org/?p=836

While learning to be a kiteboarder, I realized the traits required of me to be a proficient kiter were the same ones that make a good business leader. Here’s how:

1) Commitment – to Long Term Goal Achievement.

When you take up kiteboarding, you realize very quickly that you have just committed to a long term goal! Only now do I understand how funny it is when people say “I want to try that, can you show me?”. It is a process like no other, and when I say that, I mean One. Long. Process. At least it is for those of us who had no prior experience to speak of with board sports such as snowboarding, wake boarding or surfing. When my boyfriend introduced me to the sport, I went in thinking I’m not sure about this…but I’ll give it a try. Little did I know that commitment would equate to 25 hours of private lessons, countless hours in the water practicing on my own over an 18 month period in several water bodies. Ok, I have to admit it was more enjoyable trying it in St Lucia; even when you suck, at least you have that beauty around you for inspiration! But most of my learning was right here on the Texas coast of South Padre Island…not the prettiest of water, but consistent wind and shallow depths made this an amazing location to practice. And, the people at Kite Beach there were so very supportive to learners, including my amazing Coach. I put myself in the right area, with the right conditions, with the right people, and over time, a LOT of time, it all came together. Finally.

So how does this relate to being a business leader? Leaders are required to commit to long term business goals, and then meet them in the face of troubling times and many challenges that become obstacles to success. There are some really complex large-scale initiatives I’ve worked on before in L&D, and watched my late husband manage huge projects at a high tech computer router company. Sometimes people, budget or technology get in the way of a smooth project completion. There’s tension and frustrations and conflicts. But no matter what obstacles occur, a leader plugs along day-in and day-out, keeping their eye on the ball, inspiring others to do the same. They trust the process, albeit sometimes painful and slow….but a process that will ultimately lead to success. Because smart leaders know success requires them to surround themselves with the right people and environment to assist them in achieving their goals. And finally, when it all comes together, that leader looks back on the last year and says, “Well done, we did it!”. That is an amazing feeling.

2) Courage – in the Face of Fear.

“Courage is being fearful and doing it anyway”. There have been many times in my life I was fearful, but especially when I lost my young spouse suddenly of a heart attack. What was next for my children and myself? I decided to look fear in the face and move forward and even started a Facebook page called Faith vs Fear to help others in scary life moments. And as a Life Coach, I thought I had a handle on Fear. Until kiting. This sport unleashed all my anxiety! I mean, I could DIE doing this or get hurt very badly; I could drown, or get caught up in the kite lines and be maimed, or get a head injury by crashing and hitting the board. I’d heard stories. And even if I escaped injury, what if I couldn’t learn the sport after trying for years? What if I embarrass my boyfriend who was a pro? Every time I entered the water for a lesson or for practice on my own, I was terrified. I forced a smile and a good attitude in spite of the fear. Some sessions ended in my secretly wiping away my tears of frustration and failure. Finally, it hit me – I would Not. Let. This. Beat. Me. Even when a gusty wind pulled me and my kite up 5 ft in the air – super man style – and slammed me on the water face first, I would suit up the next day in my wet suit, impact vest, waist harness and all the barrage of gear and walked into that (sometimes murky) water and manage my mind monkey and say to myself “I got this, you will not beat me, I will conquer you”. So glad another girl kiter told me, “talk to the kite, out loud, it helps”. It sure did; I controlled it, it didn’t control me.

In business, we encounter scary situations as leaders. The winds around us change and sometimes we find ourselves in uncharted waters. We have to push ourselves through the scary times and have faith in the end result. Think about reorganizations you’ve been involved in over the years and how nerve-wracking those are…who are the new players?…will I get (and like) a new boss?…how will my job change?…and the scariest of them all…will I be laid off? Or, if self employed like me, will I lose a client if they aren’t satisfied or if their budgets are cut drastically (because people development is always the first to go in budget cuts). Have you ever had a high-level, high-stakes presentation? Even though I speak for a living, I still get anxious before a really big presentation. I spoke on Political Pitfalls for Women to a women’s leadership group for a high-tech company in Dallas, and when I walked into the event center, I suddenly realized they were simulcasting it around the country to every employees computer! Heart racing. I needed a few minutes in the bathroom mirror before countdown to manage that mind monkey. “I got this, I’ve done this hundreds of times, they will like me and I will succeed!”. Same self-talk, different place; it works. Even if fearful, suit up and go back in…the water’s fine.

3) Risk Taking – with Cautious Curiosity.

In learning to kite, you sometimes you lose your board from a crash, and if you simultaneously lose the stronger wind, it’s impossible to get back to shore by flying your kite. And when your car looks like a dot on the beach, you realize you have a LONG way to walk carrying all your board and kite through chest-deep water. After doing that once or twice, I realized sometimes you don’t have control out in the water, and that I would have to take that risk if I was to learn how to judge the winds before kiting too far out in the ocean. But the most important thing I learned was to be cautious and understand safety procedures before embarking on an extreme sport like kiting. I’d learned as a beginner I should wear an impact vest for flotation and protection, to correctly connect my kite lines to the bar, to release the lines quickly so you’re not connected to a large kite out of control, to wrap my lines up in the water and to flip the kite upside down to connect it to my harness so the wind wouldn’t catch it and take me away. And, most importantly, I learned my boyfriend would always be close – kiting with me with a watchful eye. I should have trusted that I knew how to take risks with cautious curiosity and learn the sport. Not stupidly, but cautiously…being confident in my knowledge and skills. And, because of that, and continuing to take cautious and calculated risks, I can proudly say I am a novice kiter now!

In business, leaders need to rake risks to achieve higher levels of success in their career. Recently, I had an opportunity to learn and deliver a global leadership program at a computer hardware/software company based in Austin. When I moved to the area, one my goals was to land them as a client so this was one of those put-it-in-the-universe-and-it-happens-kinda-deals. Then I got a phone call asking me to deliver a leadership program there. I hesitated – why, you ask? Fear of failure. This gig was risky…to learn in less than a week’s time a 3-day program I hadn’t seen, much less delivered. Leaders were flying in from around the globe and they expected a strong leader and a dynamic, valuable program. How did I get through it? I did it with cautious curiosity and asked a lot of questions before the program, because as they say, “it’s not having the right answers, it’s knowing the right questions”. Once I received the information and people resources I needed, I trusted that the risk was worth taking and that I had a safety net. After all the hours of course prep, the time to deliver the program was upon me. And, guess what? Just like the day I was able to put it all together and ride that board while flying a kite, propelled with the wind….everything came together to deliver a successful training program. Preparation meets opportunity equals success. The program was a success and the leaders were happy, as was I. But what really put a smile on my face was when the client asked me to do several more programs within the company, and I was referred to other areas of the company for more work! I stepped out of my comfort zone, asked many questions, worked hard, and succeeded. It’s true…no risk, no reward.

4) Determination – to Learn and Apply.

To learn kiteboarding, one must be determined and committed. When I was introduced to the sport, I was told I needed to learn to fly a kite first. How hard can that be? I flew one as a kid. The difference is these kites can be 17 meters in size, and when you’ve got 25 mph winds, you learn quickly and painfully the power of mother nature. I’ll never forget the first kite flying lesson where the wind overpowered me and up I went into the air, landing face down in the sand! I had sand in my mouth even the next day. Good news is that when you can control the kite in various wind conditions, you’re half way there. I was determined to do this well, because I had no board skills – no snow boarding or wake boarding in my past. Crash after crash trying to ride that board in the water, I realized I sucked. But, after witnessing a 70 year old man kiting I thought, if he can do this, surely I can! So I learned to ride on a board, but only going downwind. My coach sternly told me after seeing my out-of-control rides that I had to learn to ride upwind. This involves turning and edging the board so you can control your speed and get back to shore on your own without a rescue or the dreaded walk of shame. In spite of an arm injury and a deflated ego, I kept at it day after day trying various boards and kites to see how they affected my performance. Then my boyfriend promised me a steak dinner at the nicest place in town once I stayed upwind. That challenge motivated me and that steak dinner was the best tasting meal I’ve ever had. I could now kite upwind! Determination, time commitment, and a no-quit attitude all guided my success and to this day I feel it’s been one of my greatest accomplishments…right up there with my solo trip to an African photo safari in the bush of Tanzania during the great migration, but that’s another story.

As a new entrepreneur 24 years ago when I started my professional development firm, I was fortunate in that my former employer became my first client. I was blessed to double my previous income as a new business and it was exciting! What started out as an experiment and a risky move in the eyes of my advisor (my father) became a booming business. A business so strong, in fact, that I had to recruit people to help meet the work demand. I loved that feeling of succeeding in the face of fear and proving I was right to take the leap of faith. Fast forward one year later. The telecom and high tech bubble burst. Devastating. I learned the importance of diversification. I was determined to see my business succeed, keep my trainers employed, and be a contributing force to my family with a new baby. Failure was not an option. My business had crashed early, just like my initial kiting sessions. I could have easily quit and headed back to a full time corporate job, but I realized I needed to stick with it and try a different approach. So I set off to network, get referrals, marketed to various industries, joined associations and applied to speak at conferences. Things started happening. Our client base now includes nearly every industry in Corporate America. Today, we are a global firm serving Fortune 500 clients – specializing in moving left brained leaders into their right minds through learning the 3 P’s of Leadership: presentations, people skills and political savvy. Determination to learn new things and apply that knowledge, leverage our experience, and reach out to new people to create partnerships over time…without getting discouraged from set-backs, fuels our success today. Leading a business is a lot like learning to kite; trying, failing, reinventing, learning more, experimenting, trying again, and again, until finally you succeed!

5) Mindfulness…staying aware in the moment.

When you’re learning kiting, to be successful and learn quickly, you must be ever aware of the conditions of the changing wind direction, the waves, and therefore what your body must do to keep riding. The goal as a newbie is to not crash. Crashing is NOT fun, and is painful on so many levels, physically and mentally. Every moment riding can require a different strategy and movement of your body. Nothing stays the same in kiting. If the wind picks up and is gusty, you have to de-power your kite while riding. If you don’t have enough wind, you power it up. If you get going too fast downwind, you have to push your arms and kite bar way out – called sheeting. Another strategy for slowing down is knowing when to start edging your board by turning your hips and your head in the direction you wish to go, upwind. It helps if you let go of the bar with one hand that is pointed upwind so your body turns more easily (what? let go of the bar? scary!). This is done while simultaneously pushing your heels down on the back of your board to edge. As you can probably tell by now, there’s a lot going on moment-by-moment to avoid crashing and keep riding. Your long term goal is to have a great session, but you can’t be thinking two or three steps ahead while you are trying to kite. There’s also no way you can think of anything else while kiting, besides kiting. That’s why people are attracted to the sport…it’s so mind-freeing! The key learning is being mindful of your body and what to do with your equipment in the ever-changing conditions, which will give you a safe, and hopefully, a long, fun ride.

I remember reading once about a respected CEO in Corporate America. When someone asked him how he got everything done and was so successful, he said that he didn’t multi-task as many think is the key. He said HIS key to success was staying mindful in the moment, having laser-like focus on the item or person in front of him until it was completed with quality before moving on to the next item. Wow, that philosophy is foreign to most of us in business today trying to juggle a hundred things a day! Add to that parenting and a social life, and well, you get the idea…stress and always feeling like we fall short in one of our roles, right? I have a feeling that particular CEO also prioritized well and said NO to things that weren’t truly important to his goals. The late Dr Stephen Covey once said, “It’s easy to say NO to something when there’s a burning YES in you for something else”. So true. If business leaders today lived by that philosophy, combined with the laser-like focus on each important task or person before them, I’d bet they and their business unit would be wildly successful! But alas, it’s easy to get distracted from the important thing in front of you and ignore irrelevant less important (but seemingly urgent) things. If we can achieve this mindful state, we can certainly achieve our goal without crashing and burning! Just like in kiting when you need laser-like focus on the one thing keeping you afloat. Nothing else matters in the moments you are adjusting your body and your kite to stay on top of the water – you can think of nothing else. And THAT is what helps us be successful in business; focusing intently on the thing we are trying to achieve, without distraction, staying IN THE MOMENT and adjusting as needed with the person or task until the conversation or task is completely achieved with quality.

The same traits required to be a proficient kiteboarder – Commitment, Courage, Determination, Risk Taking, and Mindfulness- are the same ones that make us good leaders in business. Same skills, different place. Whether you find yourself in the boardroom or on a kiteboard like me, I wish you smooth sailing!

Holly St John Peck
President, Women’s Kiteboarding Collective ]]> 836 https://womenskiteboarding.org/short-arms-bar-problem/ Mon, 24 May 2021 21:53:23 +0000 https://womenskiteboarding.org/?p=732

Short Arms?

Behind every problem, there is a solution.

Remember, early on in your kiteboarding progression, learning that if you let go of the bar, the kite stops pulling? This wonderful feature is employed by riders of all ability levels. How nice is it to release the bar to set the kite down on a wingtip while you roll out your shoulders and refocus? This move frees both hands for a quick ponytail readjustment or a tightening of the laces on a pair of boots.


The Issue

However, the whole system breaks down when you go to retrieve the bar and find that it’s barely out of reach. Instead of convenience, it becomes an annoyance. Additionally, on some bars, access to the depower cord is located about an arm’s length up the center lines, making powering up or depowering the kite a bit of a stretch. Anatomically, many women find that their wingspan is a little bit shorter than that of the archetypal kiteboarder, making the question of how to reach what’s just out of reach? a common topic among female kiters.
The question was posed in our group by Nikke Iturrino-Suárez, who wrote:

Please recommend a bar for my kites, I’m 5’1, and it’s difficult to reach sometimes, thank you.

The Solutions…

We went looking for solutions to the short-arms-can’t-reach-the-bar situation within our community to make this gripe an issue of the past. Our amazing community of smart and helpful women kiteboarders went above and beyond, chiming in from all over the world to provide advice based on their personal experience. If you’re struggling with reaching the bar or the depower, you’ll find some great advice in this article. Read on for our top tips!

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Try Different Brands and Models

Some bars just work better for short-armed people. If your equipment isn’t working for you, it might be time to try something else. To help you figure out where to turn, we have recommendations from our community about the control bars and accessories that ride like a dream.

Ozone Compact Bar Expand Carla Ribeiro
“I have had 2 solutions. Duotone has a smaller chicken loop that you can use with the Trust Bar or the Click Bar. I used it with my Neo and my shorts arms.
Then, I switched to Ozone and I bought the children’s bar. The Compact ….it’s perfect.” Nina Macaraig
Ozone Compact Contact bar, with a small chicken loop (unless you do a lot of unhooked riding, then it should be a medium one).
Margie Olds
Diamond women’s specific bar from Airush. I can finally reach the depower!!

Access bar! This is the bar I use and I love it

Featured Companies:

Duotone- Trust Bar

Duotone- Click Bar

Ozone Compact Bar

Airush Diamond Bar Expand Margie Olds
Diamond women’s specific bar from Airush. I can finally reach the depower!!

Access bar! This is the bar I use and I love it

Featured Product:

Airush Access Bar

Ocean Rodeo Shift Bar Expand Lisa Duarte Martin
Ocean Rodeo Shift Bar is so easy to power up and down by myself out on the water and has an easily adjustable depower so the bar is always in reach. Core Sensor Bar 2S Expand Kimberly Kelly
I love my Core Sensor Bar 2 S

Featured Product:

Core Sensor Bar 2 S

Slingshot Bar Expand Kimmy Gustafson
I fly the Slingshot bar with the below the bar depower! You can adjust the throw even while kiting.

Slingshot Bar

North Bar Expand Yazi Juarbe
I had the same problem, and the North control bar with the small chicken loop fixed it! Katie Loo
I started riding the North Navigator bar this year and ordered and attached the small chicken loop. Amazing the difference a smaller chicken loop makes…

Featured Products:

North Control Bar

North Navigation Bar

Cabrinha Recoil Expand Jolanta Bathe-Taylor
I use Cabrinha Recoil and am very happy with it. I can adjust whilst kiting too. Bianca Costa
Cabrinha Recoil Bar.

Featured Products:

Cabrinha Recoil Bar

Duotone Click Bar Expand Kirsten Kyngdon Neumann
We have both compact and Click Bar, and I’d recommend the Duotone Click Bar over the Ozone Compact. With the Click Bar you can adjust the throw to your liking (I always have it the third shorter so that I can reach easily) plus everyone can reach the click mechanism for power/depower. Becks Silke
Duotone Click Bar, my riding and confidence changed instantly. Christine Brenner
Duotone Click Bar is nice because your depower is on the end of the bar, plus you can get the smaller chicken loop which will keep the bar closer to you.
Lisa Braunwell
I have heard good things about the Duotone Click Bar. I personally like my Naish Torque BTB, and my F-One. Both are easy to reach to depower and comfortable to use. Lisa Sprod
I purchased a Duotone Click Bar and it’s been very helpful. You have the power/depower on the bar so no reaching for that, plus you can adjust the length of the throw, and lastly, you can get the smaller chicken loop. I’m very pleased after many hours of trying to figure out the best option and am very happy with my decision. Holly St John Peck
Duotone Click Bar! I love mine, bought after polling women kiters around the world last year. Great for short arms and it’s very intuitive to power up and down right at the bar! Annie Bryce
The Click Bar all the way!
Bruna Iacuzzi
Click Bar and freeride chicken loop by Duotone

Featured Product:

Duotone Click Bar

Freeride Chicken Loop By Duotone

The Harlem IPS Bar. Expand Kanjani Kathi Heusel
The Dutch brand Harlem also has a click bar which makes it easier especially for us girls to reach it as sometimes we can have issues reaching the depower as we have shorter arms… their bar is made to fit all kites! Maloe Bik
The Harlem IPS bar is the perfect bar for you! It’s made with an adjustable bar trimmer. Check it out Harlem Kitesurfing

Featured Product:

Harlem IPS Bar

Your Kiteboarding Harness Can Make a Difference

The relationship between your harness and your bar influences how far you have to reach. It’s important to make sure the harness isn’t the problem. Consider playing around with which harness you use and the size and style of your spreader bar. Many harness companies offer different sizes and styles of spreader bars. Make sure your spreader bar fits your harness and that the whole system fits your body and style of riding. For wave riding a waist harness can be preferable because it allows the hook to move more easily from side to side, allowing the body to get into more natural positions when riding toeside.

I couldn’t reach the bar at the beginning and my instructor figured out that my harness was the problem… the metal part (spreader bar) was sticking out a bit too far …

-Ximena Olds

Have you tried a seat harness? When I used to teach kiting I found this to be an excellent solution…

-Julia Roterman

A seat harness will put your center of gravity much lower to the ground, which is fine for free-riding and foiling. But if you like to jump, then you should go with a waist harness…

-Nina Macaraig



Make Adjustments to the Bar

After adjusting my North bar- i am happy with it now- it only took me 5 years to acknowledge that it can be modified to personal needs… and it was so easily done as well- i was struggling so much before cause the bar was just too far away- and with my Dice, i really didn’t feel that i lost any depower.

-Fu Chs

I just learned… you can make the depower shorter on most bars. Just did this with mine.
-Katie Loo You can try a shorter chicken loop PU, you can potentially gain up to 3 cm. Also, I use a slider spreader bar for my harness (great for waves and it gives you more body position freedom, especially for the toe side). The rope for the slider spreader bar needs to be very tight so that you gain some centimeter(s) in comparison to a harness hook. Kid bars with the shorter bar throw are also an option but you lose depower.
-Linn Nordhagen Few things you can try to reduce the length.. @if your harness bar has a thick padding behind, remove it. If you worry about the bar press into your belly, add a strap and tighten it with the harness. @2nd, Don’t use a bar, use Shackle. If you don’t do unhook. You can use a shackle with a quick release. @3rd, cut the chicken loop shorter @4th, remove Cabrinha power system, custom your own trimline system ( or if you have a new Cabrinha bar, the rope still kinda short, remove it and replace a much longer rope ).
-Cavian Cav

Try a Short-Throw Bar

At first, making modifications to your equipment setup—such as adjusting the length of the throw—can seem like a dramatic step. However, if you think this might help you have a more enjoyable session, find an out-of-the-wind spot, pull out the owner’s manual, and give it a try. If you are adjusting the length of the throw, remember that the tradeoff on some models is that your kite might not depower as much when the bar is fully out. The same tradeoff comes into play when you are using a stopper ball on the depower: the bar won’t slide all the way down the depower lines, so it will be easier to retrieve, but the kite won’t fully depower when you let go of the bar.



With Experience Comes Knowledge and Comfort

Experience helps in so many areas, and it definitely helps with the short-arms-hard-to-reach-the-bar situation. The more time you spend on the water, the more comfortable you become as you relax and figure out small adjustments that can make a big difference. So, keep riding!

“Not sure if you are a beginner kiter but…. I had the same issue.. when learning and until … I was more comfortable, way more comfortable.. the bar is still a weird reach but as my kite skills got better so did the bar reach.. sort of.“

–Alexandra Powers

“When I first learned I used an older version of the Cabrinha bar, I could never reach the bar once I lost it. After that, I tried the bars with an adjustable stopper ball. It works well when I kite in a more consistent wind condition. And I could rest my arms while riding because the stopper ball holds the bar for me. But I couldn’t quickly dump the power by just simply letting go of the bar and pushing the ball away, sometimes it got stuck. Then I tried smaller chicken loops like most of the female-specific bars. But I hated the smaller chicken loop while practicing unhooking. So now my choice is no stopper balls and big chicken loops and just use this technique in the video. For grabbing the bar, just pull the whole front lines below the bar.”

–Mandy Xie

Changing Your Posture May Help

Making small adjustments to your riding position can make reaching up to your center lines easier. Try leaning back into your harness, and ride with your kite a little lower (which also helps to keep the harness from riding up).

“North Click Bar with small chicken loop. I move the stopper down too, confident that if there’s an issue the stopper will move. I can’t cope with the seat harness and heard that the depower below the bar is hard to pull – no leverage. I tried a Recoil Bar from Cabrinha but it didn’t really help. Get a good fitting hard shell harness, preferably designed for women that doesn’t ride up so much and work on riding position – lean back!”
–Susan Scott-Knight “You could move the stopper or even better change your posture”
–Lucila Alexandre Dupey

Choosing the Right Gear for the Conditions is Key

Riding overpowered means you’re always looking for opportunities to lessen the pull. Depowering the kite by pushing the bar away can put you in an awkward position—it makes it harder to dig your heelside edge into the water because your arms are reaching toward the kite, which pulls you off the edge. Rigging the right kite for the conditions can help alleviate this situation. If the conditions change, remember that it’s easy to go in and quickly change kites!

You might also be riding overpowered (kite oversized for wind) and/or need to trim (move your depower so the bar is in a comfortable position before you start riding) your lines. I found those two things were affecting my riding. And don’t worry, you’ll be transitioning (turning) before you know it!

-Samantha Lippiatt

Conclusion

At this point, you’ve probably realized that there are as many solutions as there are shades of the color blue. You can try a different bar, shorten the loop on your current bar, adjust the length of the depower throw, try a different harness, or adjust your posture. And of course, keep at it because experience helps. If one solution doesn’t work for you, try another. The bottom line is, you don’t need to sacrifice your safety or comfort.

Stay awesome, and stay tuned for our next article!



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Inspire

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Connecting, Educating & Inspiring Women in Kiteboarding

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]]> 732 https://womenskiteboarding.org/april-giveaway-dakine-harness/ https://womenskiteboarding.org/april-giveaway-dakine-harness/#comments Wed, 07 Apr 2021 21:44:49 +0000 https://womenskiteboarding.org/?p=587 We have teamed up with lovely folks from Dakine to bring one beautifully crispy brand new harness to one lucky lady in our community!

You Can Win A Brand New Kiteboarding Harness From DAKINE!

Here’s how you enter to win:

STEP ONE: Submit one photo with a caption on the pinned post in our Facebook Group.

The photo can be of anything. The caption should be a fun motto or slogan to go along with your photo.

STEP TWO: submit your email on the form linked here

You have until April 30th to submit your photo on the pinned post in our Facebook group & submit your email via our form.

Get creative!  We are looking forward to all your interesting, funny, cool, touching, original submissions. 

Check Out The Kiteboarding Gear Prize!



The WAHINE Harness – Great for Kiteboarding & Windsurfing!



Good luck ladies! Have fun with this great community giveaway, brought to you by us, The Women’s Kiteboarding Collective, and our awesome friends from DAKINE.

]]> https://womenskiteboarding.org/april-giveaway-dakine-harness/feed/ 9 587 https://womenskiteboarding.org/finding-inspiration-through-networking-with-the-womens-kiteboarding-collective/ Thu, 01 Apr 2021 17:52:50 +0000 https://womenskiteboarding.org/?p=553 Heidi Ettlinger – Snowsports Industry Guru



In February 2021 I attended the first ever Women’s Kiteboarding Virtual Meet Up and noticed profound similarities to the female community I serve in snowsports. Beginning in 1996 my career path shifted from Human Services and Counseling to becoming a full-time snowsports educator serving the public and professionals. 

Along the way I would find a special niche: helping women achieve their goals guided by my own struggles and by listening to their stories. Eventually, this would culminate in building programs for women in snowsports that offered the opportunity to: 

• Train with highly experienced world class colleagues
  
• Enhance their platform for leadership in the industry
  
• Energize their skiing/riding, teaching, learning and coaching
  
• And ultimately, change the industry landscape by shaping the future

With a long career in outdoor recreation focused on skiing, I’ve recently been on a journey to explore how I can merge winter and summer by transitioning my coaching and training skills to kiteboarding, snowkiting, and wingsurfing. I grew up sailing on Lake Champlain in Vermont, and with an introduction to kiteboarding from the outstanding team of coaches at OuterBanksKiting.com I’ve found a renewed passion for harnessing the wind and taking my sense of adventure in new directions. 

Snow Winging with Heidi – Enjoy The Ride!

How to Help Women in Kiteboarding

I was struck by the Women’s Kiteboarding organization’s mission that directly connected with a call to action in my own work: helping more women cross the barriers and challenges to participating in snowsports. 

“This year we want to get together with you all, and fulfill our organization’s mission to connect, educate and inspire women in kiteboarding!” The Women’s Kiteboarding Collective – Mission Statement

The power of bringing like-minded women together to build networking opportunities offers enormous potential not only to them individually, but through collective support that culminates in opening the door to future participants. 

Here’s what it comes down to. 

In outdoor recreation pursuits that include a gear factor, instruction to obtain skills, and time for guided practice, women either encounter experiences that support them and they continue – or they don’t return. 

These are perceived barriers that might prevent women from starting the sport, or might lead to women quitting. I believe we would serve women better by helping lower these perceived and real barriers to entry. 

Lessons from Female Snowsports Professionals

Recently, as a member of the Women’s Initiative Task Force for the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) and the Association of American Snowboard Instructors (AASI) we conducted a nationwide survey of over 9,200 female members. The survey had an overwhelming 45% response rate including over 5,000 open comments!

The results produced the first comprehensive report examining women’s experiences as snowsports educators. 

Most notably, these findings are consistent with what I have personally witnessed in other areas of outdoor recreational pursuits for women, like in kiteboarding.

Women: There’s a Place at The Table for You – We Hear You!

The report, titled “Women Belong on the Mountain – Investing in Women in the Snowsports Industry” identified Six Key Findings: 

1. The Big Picture: Culture and Belonging: An overview of systemic issues affecting underrepresentation of women in PSIA-AASI. 

2. The Pipeline: Understanding the pathway to high levels of certification within PSIA-AASI and beyond.

3. Professional Development (Parts 1 & 2), Certification, Traits of Trainers: The challenges of professional growth.

4. Mentorship: The value of mentorship in supporting personal and professional growth. 

5. Gear Factors: Gear limitations and the roadblocks to skill development. 

6. Implicit Bias: Awareness of the issues that hinder success at high levels. 

Read The Report of Female Snowsports Professionals

I look forward to the opportunity to support The Women’s Kiteboarding Collective by sharing and building upon what has been learned in other areas of the outdoor industry to better serve women! We are stronger working together, and having the cross discipline connection and sharing of knowledge will help us all as we welcome new women into outdoor sports, and support the amazing inspirational women in our communities. 



About Heidi:

Heidi has dedicated much of her career to building and leading women’s adventure programs (in winter and summer) for the public and professionals. Many of these have served as a catalyst for helping more women successfully pursue outdoor recreation and build professional endeavors in their chosen field. Her proudest accomplishment was founding an internationally attended women’s program in snowsports, to help more women contribute to the diversity in leadership roles within the outdoor recreation industry. 

For more information about Heidi visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidi-ettlinger-7178244/

]]> 553 https://womenskiteboarding.org/kristin-solbach-boese-on-kiteboarding-and-her-life/ Wed, 24 Mar 2021 21:53:42 +0000 https://womenskiteboarding.org/?p=536

SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT

Born in Potsdam, East Germany, Kristin Boese grew up behind the iron curtain. As one of the best students in her school from year one, Kristin soon showed interest for various sports and excelled in most, but ended up focusing on kiting.

It was a good decision, as she become a 9X kite world champion!!!

Enjoy hearing Kristin speak about her lessons learned and how we can apply the same wisdom.

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]]> 536 https://womenskiteboarding.org/leadership-transition-welcome-to-our-new-president-holly-st-john-peck/ Mon, 15 Mar 2021 17:57:23 +0000 https://womenskiteboarding.org/?p=527 We are Your Tribe: Encourage, Support and Celebrate One Another! (a personal message from our new President)



On the heels of “International Women’s Day”, I was reminded that we have unique challenges in life which men do not. In my own life, I’ve experienced sexual harassment at my first corporate job, a divorce from an alcoholic abuser, and becoming a young widow suddenly with two children to raise.

Not easy to overcome.

Somehow I figured out that the best protection any woman can have is courage…to find our strength and move forward, knowing that we can DO and RECOVER from anything in life!

Lucky for us, we also share a special and innate gift as women to encourage, support and celebrate one another. Why? Because we understand the challenges.

It’s as if we are connected by an invisible thread to every other woman – success and failure are both shared by us all. In my past, I was fortunate to have a tribe of women who helped me be strong after each roadblock. I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without those women, personally or professionally.

Fast forward to the present…I’m now in my mid-50’s, and with the encouragement and coaching from women kiters, I’ve become proficient at the extreme sport of kiteboarding! And, to be honest, I had to muster courage every step of the way to learn to kite; it didn’t come easy to me. I feel stronger and more empowered now than I ever have before! I’m sure many of you can relate to this feeling while learning to kite or advance your skills…I am woman, hear me roar! (Or, I am woman, watch me kite?)

For 25 years, my passion in business has been developing women leaders to break the glass ceiling in large corporations. Personally, I founded a non-profit to help young widows like me find their new normal. Then I realized all women need a little support in life, so I co-founded a women’s virtual coaching group that culminates in a retreat each year. But in the past several years, I found a new personal passion – kiteboarding.

I’ve now become an IKO certified Instructor and created with my spouse a couples kiting retreat in South Padre Island, TX. I’m thrilled I’m now able to combine my love of kiting with supporting women by joining this strong Board as your new President of Women’s Kiteboarding Collective.

As I carry the torch from Tanya Ezekiel, the amazing Board of Directors and I will continue the global movement of women kiters who encourage, support and celebrate each other’s independence, intelligence, courage, confidence, strengths, abilities, power, professionalism and grace… all through our mutual love of kiteboarding.

We have already begun Virtual Meet-Up events via Zoom every two months with women guest speakers to inspire you and allow connection with other women kiters, and we will continue to provide you updates on the latest gear and kiting techniques, hold contests with kite gear as prizes, and update our website search engine for ease of use.

A few things I’d like to resurrect from our past are to install local ambassadors for our organization to take things more local for you, plan retreats and camps at various locations, and to bring back “International Women’s Kiteboarding Week” where we come together from all over to connect!

Yes, we have unique challenges as women, but we also have special innate gifts! So, if the winds change and you ever find yourself in uncharted waters, know that you have a large network of women here to kite with, as well as support you and encourage you to find your own strength. Then, we will celebrate YOU! We are your tribe.

To good winds and great friends!

Holly St John Peck
Incoming Board President 2021-2023
Women’s Kiteboarding Collective

Our Board Bios (Frances, Gee Gee, Holly, Laurel, Margaret, Nicole)

REGISTER FOR OUR NEXT VIRTUAL MEET UP: https://linktr.ee/womenskiteboarding

More on Holly’s work:
www.pecktraining.com (company, training/coaching business leaders)
www.eepfoundation.org (non-profit helping widows)
www.relentlesslyyou.com | https://www.facebook.com/rureadytothrive (women’s coaching groups, annual retreats)
https://www.facebook.com/couplekiters/ (couples kiting retreats)



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