7th Annual XtremeBigAir's KiteXPO March 28 - 29, 2009 - Pismo Beach - California

Brought to you by The Kiteboarder Magazine and XtremeBigAir.com

Information for Exhibitors or Vendors of the KiteXPO 2009 - Click Here

Live Webcams and Latest Wind Report/Forecast for XtremeBigAir's KiteXPO - Click Here

XtremeBigAir's Pismo Beach KiteXPO 2009 was a great success! We look forward to seeing you next year mid March 2010!

Here are links to pictures of KiteXPO 2009:

From Paul Lang: http://paullangphotography.com/pismo_09/

From KiteForum: http://www.kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2355841

KiteXPO 2009 is going to be March 28 - 29, 2009. It is going to bigger than ever so mark your calendar and we will see you at the XtremeBigAir's KiteXPO 2009!

New this year, SUP Demos!

A great way to get your water fix and exercise when there’s no wind, the SUP demo portion of the event will take place between 9a to 12 noon daily. Confirmed participants SUP Accessory: DaKine,C4, Naish, Surf Industries, Paddlesurf Hawaii (pending) and still growing!

  • * Registration: Daily from 8:45a until 2p
  • * Demo Hours: 9a to 12p or whenever the wind starts blowing!*
  • * Skill Level: Use at your own risk. Need to be comfortable in the ocean, aware of others.
  • * Other: Must sign waiver and provide credit card info security deposit to demo gear. Demos limited to 20 minutes unless otherwise arranged with vendor.

Free Demo 2009 Gear and Accessories!

17 KITES COMPANIES COMING TO DEMO – BIGGEST EXPO EVER!

We are happy to announce that Ozone will also be exhibiting at the event making this year’s Expo our biggest ever!

* Advance: Check out the new Lamba-shaped Kaiman kite and foldable travel board

* Best: Come demo the new Kahoona, designer Peter Stiewe’s favorite kite for the surf

* Cabrinha: Try out Cabrinha’s new IDS system

* Caution: Try the new Trespass sizes and 2009 kites including the new Mayhem X

* DaKine: Check out the new 2009 accessories line from DaKine including harnesses, footpad/strap systems and more

* Eclipse: Take advantage of Felix Pivec’s strapless surf clinic! See registration for details. Clinic is planned to be next to registration

* F-One: See and try the new line of bamboo directional boards

* Flexifoil: See the new 2009 kites for the first time including next gen Ion’s and new Neutron’s

* Liquid Force: Check out LF’s extensive board line and new safety system

* Mystic Boarding: Try on the new harnesses, impact vests, wetsuits and other accessories for size

* Naish (Sol Kiteboarding): Try out Naish’s SUP boards and next gen sigma shaped kites

* Ocean Rodeo: Check out OR’s new Diablo kite and Mako board (140 board in raffle)

* Ozone: Fresh the snow in Utah, Ozone will have their full line up

* RRD: Check out RRD’s SUP board, Screw It footstrap system and 09 line up

* Surf Shades: Stylish, made for the surf/kitesurfing and very reasonably priced

* Slingshot: See for yourself if SS’s RPM kite gives you the best of both worlds between the Rev and Fuel

* Underground: All the way from New Zealand, see what Underground has to offer for the season

* Vari Kites: See and try out the new Condor One kite for the first time

* Victory Tropiskin manufacturers a wide range of apparel and waterwear

* Wainman Hawaii (Kite Naked): Test the new Blunt boards and try out the 6.5 Gypsy (Gypsy raffle prize)

Racing season is starting and pro rider Chip Wasson has some great tips to share with you. Come check out what’s new in the racing world at Chip’s Clinic on Sunday, at 1pm under the big tent. Also, don’t forget about pro rider Felix Pivec’s strapless surf clinic on Saturday, at 1pm under the big tent!

Kite Demo Hours: 12p to 5p

Reclaim your garage and turn your old gear into a tax deduction”

Kitecyle.org is a non-profit organization that recycles your old gear into reusable grocery and all-purpose carrying bags. Bring your old kites, windsurf sails and hang gliding sails and get a tax write off (US Citizens/permanent resident)! Now with 501c3 status, donate your old kites, windsurf sails or paragliders to Kitecycle and get a nice tax write off! Kitecycle is also looking to set up other collection centers. See Lydia/Kitecyle near registration.

The UCSB Collegiate Kiteboarding Club will be back again to host the BBQ on Saturday the 28th. Tickets are $10 each and quantities are limited. BBQ will start between 5:30p and 6:30p, depending on how long the wind lasts that day! The BBQ will be held on the beach on the right side of the Grand Ave beach ramp. You can park in the lot or drive on beach and park on left as no cars are allowed on right of ramp. BBQ is $10 per plate and quantities are limited. Email ccgherb@aol.com for reservations or see registration. Sorry but due to increased liablity issues/insurance requirements, we will not be providing kegs this year. Please BYOB.

SOLO PADDLESURF TO LAUNCH AT KITEXPO! A new SUP-dedicated company, SoloPaddlesurf has been in the works for the past year and a half and is launching its first boards at the Pismo SUP and KiteXpo demo event! Based in Southern California, the team is composed of guys with varying ocean sports background in windsurfing, kiteboarding and of course, surfing. SoloPaddlesurf will be raffling off their new Carbon Fiber paddle and will have all five of their new SUP boards available for demo. Check out http://www.solopaddlesurf.com for more info.

Other SUP Participants:

Global Surf Industries: Global Surf Industries (GSI) operates from its world headquarters in Manly on the Northern Beaches of Sydney, Australia. In September 2002, GSI entered into a joint-venture agreement with Cobra International. Today, GSI has a portfolio of 11 brands and offers seven SUP boards.

C4: C4 Waterman consists of some of today’s most respected and accomplished watermen including Brian Keaulana, Mike Fox, Todd Bradley, and shaper Dave Parmenter. C4 has eleven SUP’s in their 2009 line and will be raffling off some killer swag including a new carbon paddle.

DaKine: Check out the new 2009 accessories line from DaKine including harnesses, footpad/strap systems and more

Mystic Boarding: Try on the new harnesses, impact vests, wetsuits and other accessories for size five of their new SUP boards available for demo.

Surf Shades: Stylish, made for the surf/kitesurfing and very reasonably priced

Victory TropiSkin: Test the products in the water and check out their Kore Dry tech yourself

SUP demo hours; 9a to 12p or whenever the wind starts blowing!

HYPERFLEX ADDED TO RAFFLE PRIZES!

Hyperflex USA has generously donated two AMP 4/3 fullsuits to the raffle! The AMP 4/3 is a cold water wetsuit designed for surfing, kitesurfing and windsurfing. It is 3mm in the chest, back and leg panels, and 2mm on the shoulder and arms. Suits retail for $269.99 each. For more info, see http://www.hyperflexusa.com.

Main Raffle Prizes and sponsor donations:

* 2009 11m Best Waroo kite

* 2009 6.5 Wainman HI Gypsy kite, courtesy of Kite Naked

* 2009 140 x 140 Ocean Rodeo Mako board

* Headhunters sunscreen has generously donated a bunch of the good stuff to keep you protected!

* H20 Audio has donated four ipod cases and headphones!

* Donkey Dick Kiteboarding has donated their new kitesurfing watches with kite graphics!

* Hyperflex USA has donated two 4/3 AMP wetsuits

* FCS has donated some rack pads and changing robes

* Cabrinha has donated the Cabrinha Travel Trolley Bag

* Carbon paddle from C4

* Carbon paddle from Solo Paddesurf

WEATHER REPORT

So far, so good! We use a combo of Noaa, our local forecaster from the nuclear power plant and local knowledge.... unless we get some weird high pressure system that spikes temps above 85 like last year, it should be great conditions for SUP demos in the am and Kite demos in the afternoon.....our typical pattern is no to light winds in am with wind picking up between 11a and 2p. The location for the Expo just happens to be the main SUP spot in Pismo as well:-)

…SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM PDT THIS AFTERNOON… …GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 PM PDT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH LATE THURSDAY NIGHT…

.TODAY…NW WINDS 20 TO 25 KT WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS TO 35 KT. COMBINED SEAS 9 TO 11 FT DOMINANT PERIOD 9 SECONDS. .TONIGHT…NW WINDS 20 TO 25 KT INCREASING TO 25 TO 30 KT WITH FREQUENT GUSTS TO 40 KT. COMBINED SEAS 10 TO 12 FT DOMINANT PERIOD 9 SECONDS. .THU…NW WINDS 25 TO 30 KT WITH FREQUENT GUSTS TO 40 KT. COMBINED SEAS 11 TO 13 FT DOMINANT PERIOD 9 SECONDS. .THU NIGHT…NW WINDS 25 TO 30 KT WITH FREQUENT GUSTS TO 40 KT. COMBINED SEAS 10 TO 12 FT. .FRI…NW WINDS 15 TO 20 KT WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS TO 25 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT. NW SWELL 7 TO 9 FT. .FRI NIGHT…NW WINDS AROUND 15 KT WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS TO 25 KT IN THE EVENING…BECOMING VARIABLE 10 KT OR LESS. WIND WAVES 2 FT OR LESS. NW SWELL 7 TO 9 FT. .SAT…WIND VARIABLE 10 KT OR LESS…BECOMING NW 15 TO 20 KT. WIND WAVES 2 FT. NW SWELL 9 TO 11 FT. .SUN…NW WINDS 20 TO 25 KT INCREASING TO 25 TO 30 KT. COMBINED SEAS 11 TO 13 FT.

POWER PLANT FORECASTED WINDS AS OF 3/25:

An upper-level trough will pass our area today producing sustained strong to gale force (25-38 mph) northwesterly (onshore) winds this afternoon through Thursday night.

Gentle to moderate (8-18 mph) and at times gusty northeasterly (offshore) winds are forecast early Friday morning, shifting out of the northwest late Friday morning and continue at gentle to moderate (8-18 mph) levels through Friday night.

Gentle northeasterly (offshore) winds are forecast on Saturday morning, then increasing out of the northwest to moderate to fresh (13-24 mph) levels on Saturday afternoon and night.

Strong to gale force (25-38 mph) northwesterly winds are forecast on Sunday through next Thursday.

Alternate wind plan: The forecast is great but just in case the wind shuts down at the event site and is better down south, participating kite vendors have the option of moving down the beach. We will make this call between 1 and 2p. If we set up another informal demo site downwind, just look for Kinsley's Nissan Frontier Xtreme Big Air truck and flags. It will be located between the Grand Ave and Pier Ave beach ramps. NOTE: It is snowy plover season. DO NOT LAUNCH OR LAND SOUTH OF THE PIER AVE EXIT. YOU MUST LAUNCH/LAND NORTH OF THE BATHROOMS. YOU CAN KITE PAST THE EXIT AT YOUR OWN RISK (IT IS LEGAL BUT YOU RISK NOT MAKING IT BACK UPWIND) BUT CANNOT STEP ONTO THE BEACH OR YOU WILL RISK A HEFTY FINE.

Link to XtremeBigAir's 6th Annual KiteXPO 2008: XtremeBigAir's KiteXPO2008

For 2008 we had KILLER RAFFLE PRIZE $7000: Besides great swag including hats, t-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, harnesses, sunglasses, beach towels and more: this brings the total value of raffle prizes to over $7000!
Raffle tickets are $1 each. You must be present to win. Our grand prize raffle items included:

  • Freak Dog/EH Unleashed 9m Unleash Kite and 128 Twintip board
  • RRD 7m Hypertype complete
  • Best 10m Bullaroo complete
  • Underground board, TBD
  • $350 gift certificate from DaKine
  • Elemental Herbals is providing 75 lip balms and 5 gift packs worth $50 each
  • Onscene Safety First Aid Kit $129 Value!

BBQ IS BACK: You asked for it, you got it! The BBQ is back this year, thanks to the UCSB Collegiate Kiteboarding Club. Just $10 for a killer Central Coast Style BBQ meal. Do not miss the XTREMEBIGAIR's bonfire, BBQ, new movie projector screen complete with new sound system and the raffle! We will be raffling off half the raffle prizes must be present to win!

With all the new innovations in kiteboarding, you won’t want to miss KiteXpo 2009!
Come test all the latest 2009 gear FOR FREE at KiteXpo 2009 in Pismo Beach, California. Located halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, Pismo Beach is a perfect venue for a testing event. Pismo offers a wide sandy beach and 8 miles of coastline; enough room for manufacturers to showcase their full 2008 line and plenty of space for you to test all the new stuff! Don’t miss this opportunity to meet directly with kiteboarding manufacturers and ride the newest equipment at one of California's best and most consistent kiteboarding locations.

Testing Hours: 11am to 5pm

*Testing is only open to intermediate plus level riders who can go upwind.

New Products to Be Unveiled and over $$$$ in Raffle Prizes!
We are excited to announce that a few new products will be unveiled for the first time at the event!

WHO'S COMING:

REQUIREMENTS FOR TESTING

Kitexpo is a free demo event open to intermediate level riders. You must be able to go upwind consistently and be able to do an ollie as a minimum to participate. Registration is from 10:30a until 3p daily and demo hours are from 11a until 5p daily. 

You will first need to register under the Red Bull tent and sign a waiver. You will also need a driver’s license and credit card to complete your registration. You will be given a wrist band to show you have formally registered. To test the gear, you need to give the manufacturers either your driver’s license, passport or credit card. They will return your ID or card when you return the gear.

Directions to the KiteXPO 2009 at Pismo Beach:
Click for Driving Direction to Park Avenue - KiteXPO

    Traveling south on US Hwy 101 from San Francisco and the Bay Area:
  • Take Hind exit in Pismo Beach.
  • Turn RIGHT onto Hind Ave. - Left on Price St - Right on Ocean View Ave.  Left on Cypress St. Right on Park Avenue to end.
    Traveling North on US Hwy 101 from Santa Barbara and the Los Angeles - San Diego Area:
  • Take Price Street exit in Pismo Beach.
  • Left on Ocean View Avenue. Left on Cypress St - Right on Park Ave. to end.
The KiteXPO is on the beach at end of Park Avenue, Pismo Beach.

Pismo Beach's Hotels, Motels and RV booking and more:

http://www.classiccalifornia.com/lodging.htm   
http://www.slocountyparks.com/activities/oceano.htm
http://www.groverchamber.com/camp.html
http://www.aircamp.com/
http://www.oceanodunes.com or 800.444.7275

Pismo Beach is half way between San Francisco (SFO) and Los Angeles (LAX), about 3 1/2 hours by car.  You can flly into our small airport: San Luis Obispo (SBP).  Pismo Beach  is on an expansive stretch of peaceful coastline. Discover why this area is known as one of the best secrets of California. Enjoy endless hours of outdoor activities including kiteboarding, paragliding, surfing, kayaking, ATV, Horseback riding, hiking and mt. biking. Lush valleys that produce some of the finest vintages of wines and champagnes in the United States lie within a few minutes drive from Pismo Beach.

For lodging, RV and camping options check out http://www.classiccalifornia.com/lodging.htm. You can also camp on the beach, which is available on a first come, first serve basis. A limited amount of passes are available for camping.

Additional Information of local hotels:

Sand Castle Inn 800-822-6606           $189-Non View, $239-Pier View, $279-Ocean View 
Beach Comber Inn 805-773-5505      $109-1 Bed, $129-2 Beds

Pismo Beach Hotel 805-773-4445     $89-Queen, $99-King
Sea Venture Resort 800-662-5545     $189-Spa Deluxe Room

For more economical accommodations, try Motel 6 or Rose Garden Inn (rooms start at $40 double occ.). They are less than 10 minutes away from the event site.
Directions and find out how far you are from Pismo Beach where we offer our kiteboarding classes

We are locating in Shell Beach/Pismo Beach which is 10 miles south of San Luis Obispo or 100 Miles North of Santa Barbara or half way between Los Angeles(LAX) and San Francisco(SFO).  You can fly into the local small airport in San Luis Obispo(SBP) from either LAX or SFO.  If you have your own helicopter or small airplane, you can fly into Oceano Airport and we will pick you up.

Local accommodations, rv parks, and campgrounds can be found at: http://www.classiccalifornia.com/lodging.htm

There are many things that you can do here: surfing, paragliding, kayaking, mt. biking, scuba diving, rock climbing, hiking, deepsea fishing, wine tasting, atv,  etc...  Shell Beach/Pismo Beach is really a wonderful place to spend your vacation.

Join us on the next World Famous XtremeBigAir's KiteBoarding Xpeditions