Author: Bryan Elkus

Weekend of Kiteboarding in Cape Hatteras, NC

It was a weekend of great riding in Cape Hatteras, NC. Saturday I did my first New Inlet downwinder. It is an 8 mile adventure in the Pamlico Sound. We started from REAL and headed north with the SW winds. We had a serious crew with us some 20 riders or so. Jumping from canal to canal we made our way to the new inlet. It was a great session and can’t wait to do it again.

Sunday was full of more sessions. We did SDA to REAL and then another session in the Slick. It was great to see all the new kiters out learning with their coaches this weekend. With all the great wind everyone was having an amazing time.

May 3, 2010
First Slider Session of the Year

Yesterday was the start to another long stretch of SW winds in Cape Hatteras, NC. After a long day at work, I helped Sammy pull out the JWCF Slider for the first kite session of the year. Everyone had a great time and we rode the slider for hours. It was great to get back out there and hit the sliders. It seemed like everyone picked up their trick list right where they left off last year, which should make for a progressive season.

After a good hour on the water, I went to go grab the Go Pro camera to get a couple shots. Of course on my first hit I activated the quick release on the kite when I fell by accident, and poof the next thing I know Lulu’s brand new 10m Liquid Force Envy is hundreds of yards away flying towards the beach. After Lulu and Brian ‘BCS’ Smith came to my rescue, I tacked back up wind to try it again, but the battery was dead. I guess it just wasn’t meant to be… Maybe next time ill get some better shots from the camera.

May 1, 2010
NW Sunset Kiteboard Session

After a gloomy but windy day, It was cranking NW tonight. Doing tricks in 30 knots+ on an 8m is really just not that fun. So Brandon Scheid and Brian “BCS” Smith headed out for a session in the Backyard of REAL on 10m kites and short lines. The short lines take out some of the power in the kite allowing the kite to slow down. They rode until the sun went down.

April 27, 2010
Monday Surf and Kite Sessions

Monday was again very busy as usual. I woke up at sunrise hoping to shoot kiting, but the wind decided not to get up that early, so we went surfing. There were finally some decent shoulder high waves that came out of nowhere in Rodanthe. Zack, Jason Slezak, BCS and I surfed for a bit before work.

After getting a ton of stuff done at work Jason, Stucky and I headed down south to catch up with the SBC crew and score a kite session. We wound up across from Kite Point oceanside. It was windy (lit on 8m kites windy) and all the usual locals were there. After Jason got some waves, we meet up with the POC crew up at Chimi House for a boost session. Stucky and I pumped up for a sunset session.

Then we headed over to the POC Team house in Avon for dinner and some drinks. What a day!!!

April 27, 2010
Surf Contest, Kite & Skate Session

I headed south on Saturday morning to catch up with one of our reps Raven Lundy to shoot a surf contest that Billabong was hosting. The waves were pretty tiny but slightly building, so they went a head with the contest. I hung around for an while snapping away.

Then meet up with Jason Slezak at the Cape Hatteras High School where he and some other kiters were helping to teach kids, who cannot afford lessons, how to kite.

Heading back to the contest I found the waves were a bit better than when I arrived early that morning. I hung around for a while longer getting some better action shots. Then it was off to Frisco to meet up with team POC and score a kite session in some waist high beach break.

We packed it up after a couple hours and headed North to Rodanthe where I meet up with Slezy, BCS, Bell and some others for a great skate session on the mini ramp. REAL also hosted a little get together for the surf competitor and families on the back deck.

Finally I caught up with the Michigan crew who is in town for the week for a couple of drinks and called it a night.

April 25, 2010
Sunset Standup Shoot with Trevor Murchie

Friday was a crazy busy day. I had to put together an ad of Surfer Magazine. Once that was finalized, I grabbed Trevor and a SUP for a quick shoot. We drove up to SDA and I had him take a quick session on one of the new Gerry Lopez Lil Darling SUP 8’11.

April 24, 2010
OBX Bike Week with Mojo Collins

Last night was the mid way point for Outer Banks OBX Bike Week in Cape Hatteras, NC. REAL Watersports hosted a party on the back deck with Mojo’s Sunset Café, in the Village of Waves. Playing live on the back deck of REAL was Mojo Collins and his band. They rocked out all night. I think it was one of his best performances at REAL thus far.

April 22, 2010
Nags Head Skate Park Session

Jason and I missioned north after work to meet up with Ed D’Ottavio (master skater and builder), who was in town for a couple days. We went to the new skate park up in Nags Head. I shot the guys for a while. The park was packed with skaters when we arrived, but we managed to get some good stuff. I really have been trying to minimize the post work by framing the shot the first time, and had some luck tonight.

As the park started to thin out and the sunset, I decided it was safe enough for me to give it a go. Ed and Slezy helped me figure out the corners and I started to get a line going. It was a blast and can’t wait to go back!

April 21, 2010
Evening Skate Session with Jason Slezak

After Joe Shriver’s Memorial Service, I headed back to work for a while. We then had an FCS Demo/Tech session with Nigel from FCS. He gave us all the details about the new fins and gear that FCS is releasing this year. After a great sunset, a couple of us went over to Jason Slezak’s House to grab a skate session on his ramp.

April 20, 2010