Info/Reg Now Online for Big Air Jam/US Nationals/BoarderX!

marina c · Since 03 Apr 2006 318 Posts California/Gorge Summer Obsessed

Crissy Field in San Francisco, CA, will soon welcome thousands of spectators and Big-Air Freestyle, Course Race, and BoarderX competitors during Crissy Kite Days, July 25-29, 2007.

The five-day kiteboarding extravaganza kicks off with the first ever US Kite Course Nationals where intermediate to advanced riders are encouraged to turn out to experience this form of racing, now officially recognized by the US Sailing Association. Who will be the first to claim bragging rights as the first US Kite Course Racing National Champion? Sponsored by the St. Francis Yacht Club, for more info and registration see http://www.stfyc.com/Default.aspx?p=DynamicModule&pageid=229573&ssid=79628&vnf=1

The event will also unveil what may be the biggest kiteboarding ramp seen to date. Using two diesel pumps, organizers at Confluent Entertainment have engineered a jump that pumps water to the top and creates a steady flow on the surface of the ramp, allowing riders to load up their fins before boosting their best airs. All competitors are welcome with open qualifiers on Friday and Saturday before the main event. For more info and registration, go to http://www.athleteslounge.com/events/event.php?eventid=2198

Confluent has consulted with BoarderX course expert Neil Hutchinson to create the best possible course and provide an organized, efficient race event. A maximum of thirty-two riders will compete in separate heats of four riders as they jump over various kiteboarding obstacles and maneveur around marker buoys. If you can go upwind, check out this high energy, action-packed form of racing. Qualifiers will be held on Saturday. Register Online at http://www.athleteslounge.com/events/event.php?eventid=2198

Join pro and local riders Billy Parker, Kristin Boese, Stacey Fonas, Jason Slezak, Davey Blair, Jeff Kafka, Damien LeRoy, Madison Van Heureck, Dimitri Maramenides, and Oliver Govers for this fun-filled week of big air, racing, gear clinics, demos, music and parties in one of the most vibrant cities in the world. Crissy Kite Days is free to the public and there will be plenty of room for you to kite with the Golden Gate Bridge as your backdrop.

Special thanks to Best Kiteboarding, Flexifoil, Ikitesurf.com and the St. Francis Yacht Club for their sponsorship and support. For daily updates on new riders, sponsors, parties and happenings, see www.bigairwindjam.com

For the official press release, go to http://www.bigairwindjam.com/press_release.html

forrest · Thu Jul 12, 07 8:21 am

So, will they pump water from the top going down? How deep will this layer of water be? How tall is the ramp?

marina c · Thu Jul 12, 07 11:09 am

Forrest... originally they wanted to build the ramp to a 30-foot jump off point but has since been scaled down to around 15:-) They are currently in testing mode as this is obviously something that has never been done before so I would check back at the website for updates.

www.bigairwindjam.com

forrest · Thu Jul 12, 07 11:12 am

I can't wait to see this. If it goes from bottom to top, forget the kite, lets just surf the ramp!

tinyE · Since 21 Jan 2006 2004 Posts not really an XTreme Poster

i would be surprised if it goes bottom to top.

back in my waterski jumping days, we used big bilge pumps to wet a waxed ramp surface... it made it slick so you wouldn't suffer from the surface tension (without wax), and sticking to the wood (without wax or water).

All we used was a thin layer of water... just so it's wet.

I can't think of any benefits to pumping more than that on the ramp.

marina c · Thu Jul 12, 07 11:50 am

Hi guys,

The ramp is built around a 20 foot wide x 40 foot long barge. It is about 30 feet long and 10 feet high with about 3-4" of water pouring down from top to bottom. Gabe Brown took some footage of the first tests and should be posting within next few days....

pkh · Since 27 Feb 2005 6548 Posts Couve / Hood Site Lackey

3-4" of water? damn that's a lot of water... so you could like edge up it? crazy... I want to hit it. Very Happy

chanson · Since 31 Jan 2006 1873 Posts WISCONSIN Chimey

YEah, I wold think with that much water you could edge, load, and pop off the end..... Very Happy

at least I think thats the idea. sounds really cool. Razz

marina c · Thu Jul 12, 07 1:26 pm

hey guys,
Try to make it to the event!

Anybody that can go upwind can enter for the Kite Course Races/BoarderX and open qualifiers for the ramp are Friday and Saturday.....

gabe · Since 16 May 2005 475 Posts Obsessed

a 10ft ramp with a watery surface? surely this has never existed in nature before!

get some big fans and you'll have a great indoor sport for japan.