Becky and I NEED YOUR VOTE: This will take you less than 1 minute - no registration needed.
If our picture gets the most votes - we move on to the next round of voting.
If we win all rounds (which is just against the 40 pictures that are currently competing in groups of 4 and works way to smaller groups like a tournament) then we will win a all inclusive trip including airfare to Cabarete in the Dominican Republic. Yes, I know we have been there, but a free trip is a free trip!!!!!
Go here to this link and vote for this picture (see below)...please!!!!
Also, if you want to go and vote for other pictures other than this one to help us out, vote for all the worst pictures in each grouping in order to mess with the voting statistics for the other pictures.
If Becky and I get the most votes we get a paid vacation, including airfare back to Cabarete. You can vote 1 time per week.
Please vote. Each week I will remind you as the voting keeps taking only the winners of each 4 pictures, and little by little working the way to the winner.
Vote for this pic!!!! which Becky took this picture of her kite caddie in Cabarete…
That's right! You heard correctly, I made it into my first kiteboarding magazine. Well, not a picture, but they used a quote of mine.
There is a long standing debate that kiteboarders should wear boardshorts over their wetsuit. I am FOR wearing boardshorts, other dorks out there are against it ;)
Here is a scan of the mag....
September Kiteboarding issue - click to enlarge
"Shorts please! Save your salami-smuggling,
butt-huggin' style for your lady,
but while on the beach, for the love of board shorts, cover up!"
Ryan Theory Curtright - click to enlarge
Good times! Keep on WindRockin'!!!!....with boardshorts on of course!!!
Well, first of all, I have been riding quite a bit.
Let's see... I went to Jetty several more times in August. I also went with Devon Carrol to Roosevelt in the Gorge for my first time on Labor day weekend.
Roosevelt rawked...although Devon and I planned on going to Potholes but bailed and went to the Gorge instead. This wouldn't be a bad thing except both of us only brought 10m kites as our smallest. Needless to say I was litski! Lesson learned, even with minimal room in the car....bring all your kites!!!
Then the second weekend of Sept, Becky and I met my parents in the Willamette Valley in Oregon to go wine tasting all day Saturday. Then on Sunday we all made the trip to Hood River and I got an hour on my 13m. Good times, and Becky got a picture or two of me jumping. For my folks this is only the second time they have seen me ride..let alone jump.
Now for some of the most exciting news.... on short notice I got asked if I would DJ the 10th Anniversary party for SBC Kiteboard Magazine sponsored by SBC Kiteboard Magazine, Liquid Force, and Monster Energy Drink.
I was sooo freaking stoked to get this booking! I have been wanting to get the hook up and solidify myself as the go-to DJ for all kiteboarding events in the Pacific Northwest....and beyond if possible. Here is the flier for the show.
And yes while small...my theory logo is on there! SShweet!!!!
So yeah, super stoked. Becky and I head down on Friday and stay at my friends Adam's house near Multinohma Falls. I am very ready for the gig since I spent a good amount of time all week getting prepared and have a ton of wicked remixes ready for the show. I plan to play stuff that everyone recognizes, but all in styles that they haven't heard before.
The show is held the same time as the main trade show for all of the kiteboarding and wakeboarding brands to come demo and show their gear off to the shops. This means that tons of industry people are in town, and the party should go off!
This is even more assured when the wind does not deliver on Saturday. In other words, no kiting equals lots of partying.
I head to the British Pub to set up around 5pm. I get to kick it and have a few beers during set up with Jason Slezak, Liquid Forces pro wakestyle rider. Super cool guy/ And I just got his LF Influence 142 board....which is his pro model....and I got 2010 Synergy bindings. Here is a pic.
Anyways, the party was off the chain!!!! Here are some pics. Most of them are of the usual suspects from Seattle, but there are lots of other pics up at the SBC Kiteboard Magazine Facebook page...
the window treatment at British Pub in Hood River
Yes, this is my logo on the window under Monster Energy... my favorite drink in the world, Blue Monster
Seattle's finest dance off!!!!
this is my bass-face!!!!
So, I still have yet to receive payment, in the form of gear, from Liquid Force, but from what I understand...it should be on its way soon. I am told I will be getting a harness and a twin skim.
The weekend after this party Becky and I got a visit from Brian and Lacee (two friends we met in Cabarete). They came to Seattle for a wedding, but were hoping to get out on the water. And thank goodness Washington did not disappoint. We got one of the sickest sunny southerly days at Double Bluff. It was rad! Finally I got myself a professional pic taken by a local photo hero, Dmitry!
Check em....
Becky getting ready for a go...
1st pro shot of me jumping....Booyaaah
get out of my way kite......
Well, that's about it. I went riding on Saturday at a new location, Iverson Spit. Wicked good winter kiting location that has a treadmill-like effect. Looking to get some more time there before it gets too cold out.
Oh yeah, speaking of cold weather...I hate being in the water and being cold....so, I bought a snowboard to start snowkiting this winter. I am stoked. I got a new pair of Switch bindings from 2001 and new Van's compatible Switch boots.
Needless to say that after last night's final festivities, I am one hurting unit in the morning. And guess what? I haven't even started packing my suit case, let alone my kite gear. Holy crap, I got to get on this and start packing and quick like....but I hurt hella bad.
No worries though, this is Cabarete and my personal helper, aka kite caddie Alberto, knew that we needed to catch a ride to the airport at around 9am so he got a ride to F10 at 7am to help me pack up. And he does the most amazing job of getting everything as small as possible and uber organized....he must have some experience doing this before this. Haha!
So, my morning is vastly improved without having to worry about all my kite gear.
Around 9am, after saying goodbye to everyone, Sean, Becky, and I pack our stuff into the back of a taxi van and head to the airport. 12 hours later we are landing in Seattle.
Looking back, this trip was amazing. If I was to give you some highlights, well of course the riding was fantastic and I improved greatly....but the highlight and most memorible moments of the trip all come back to one thing...and that is the human element of the trip. In no order.....
Hanging the first week with Danial Stoner and family...they are awesome. Becky and I definitely want to meet up again with them all.
Bringing Isaac a laptop computer so he can stay in touch more....and hanging and partying with him.
Having Alberto help Becky everyday...and myself. Always smiling and being there to pump and rig our kites, to break them down. It was great to have him up to our room for dinner one night.
BBQing it up and serving food to the others at F10..including Joseph and the other Haitian caretaker.
Meeting Laurel Eastman, Susi Mai, and Sir Richard Branson...of course that was cool to meet those guys!
Partying up with Georgi from amazon.com!
Hanging with and spending time with our good friend, owner of F10, Alex. He is a true friend.
And spending time with Wendy and Pedro...two awesome souls of like mind on our favorite island in the Caribbean!
One of the craziest things about leaving the D.R. is that all of the locals we know had one thing in common to ask us when we were saying goodbye, "When will you be back?" No joke, everyone asked us that. This was probably the hardest moments of being in the D.R. and the only time I felt compelled to lie to my Dominican friends. You see, if you have been reading my blog at all, you know Becky and I want to find a island somewhere in paradise, move, open a kite shop and school, and live our lives out wearing flip-flops every day for the rest of our lives.
So while we would love to head back to the D.R. every summer, it is time for Becky and I to move on and find a little island that is just waiting for the two of us to move there.
So, next year we plan to hit the road to find our little piece of paradise...and while we love Cabarete, we need to find our own windy paradise that isn't fully saturated with schools and shops. So wish us luck, and Cabarete and all our Dominican friends, just know that Becky and I love you....and someday most likely the wind will blow us back to your waters.
So, today is our last full day in the Dominican Republic. Yes, it is a sad day, but we plan to take full advantage of it. Becky and I wake up feeling refreshed after a wonderful evening with our friends Wendy and Pedro. We stay at Wendy's house in the apartment downstairs that she occasionally rents out. We wake up to the most amazing view that is off the private deck of our apartment. The view alone was worth staying at Wendy's place. At the same time I hope I don't miss an epic session today.
click for full panoramic view
Wendy's backyard is almost as impressive as the front!
Wendy's backyard
After joining Wendy for a fresh fruit breakfast (watermelon, papaya, mango and grapes all covered in a light sweet yogurt...amazing taste and very refreshing and re hydrating) we head downtown to pick up Pedro, so that he can help us wheel and deal for jewelry at the local pawn shop.
Wendy has been telling us about the pawn shop and how it is her new secret place to get jewelry at massive discounts. Needless to say Becky and I go hog wild. We end up spending about $100, and I imagine that US value would be somewhere around $500 or more for everything we purchased. So yes, an amazing deal.
After buying our jewelry, we make a quick stop and refuel Wendy's car for her as a thank you for driving us all around for two days. Becky gets some video out the car window of Puerto Plata on our way to the gas station.
Then, after gassing up, we head to Sosua where we plan to buy all the traditional Dominican items for gifts and for our own souvenirs. We plan to get some wood carvings and other handmade gifts there. Wendy knows a vendor who will not treat us like tourists, but instead give us the local price. We are stoked...and man isn't it so great to have local friends when in a foreign country!
We park in Sosua, which quite a cute little town nestled in the hills over looking Sosua beach and the bay. When we park we pay a street guy, which Wendy lets us know is a good thing, as he will sort of "watch over the car" while we are gone so that it doesn't get broken into or stolen. When we get out of the car we are visited by a family of locals.
local Sosua family greets us when we park
We decide that rather than rush to the Sosua market near the waterfront, that first we wanted to eat lunch and Wendy says she knows just the place to take us. When we get there we are welcomed by the most amazing view!!!!
click to enlarge view of Sosua bay and beach
Here is another picture of the same view only looking a bit more down towards the crystal clear, sky blue water.
Sosua bay has water that is unbelievably clear, it is also one of the top scuba and snorkeling destinations in the Caribbean.
We definitely did not miss the opportunity to get our picture taken with Wendy, who has acted the last two days as our awesome tour guide ;) She just plain and simple kicks ass! The food we have here is delicious, but the view makes it taste all that much better. Becky and I both know that we can not tell Sean about last night and today, because he will be sooo bummed that he didn't push himself last night and come with us even though he was spent!
Wendy, Becky and I smile for the camera overlooking Sosua bay
We take a little video of the view, water gleaming in the sun as if a thousand diamonds are sprinkled throughout the bay.
be sure to watch this in 720p HD quality for best view
After finishing our fantastic lunch, we decide to walk off our lunch by footing it over to Wendy's Sosua vendor friend. In the group picture above, the shop would be just inside the trees slightly over my left shoulder....so yeah, a decent little walk. I didn't get near as many pictures as I should have, as the market in Sosua is quite unique. Just 25 meters from the beach, underneath the trees in the shade. Very cool. Very touristy. Both Becky and I are very glad we have a local friend to help us get the good deals!
Becky and I do buy quite a few things from Wendy's friend. We get a few things for friends, as well as a Buddha mask for our kitchen wall, to go along with the current theme since Blaze brought us back a Hindi Buddha from her travels to St Thomas.
After shopping we head back to F10, were we say good bye to Wendy. Like I said, her and Pedro are such great people. We will miss them...although it is a small world...hopefully we will see them again someday. We do keep in touch through email, so that is one small thing that makes saying good bye to our good friend much easier.
When we get there Sean is just getting out of the pool. He let's us know he had a pretty uneventful evening and morning...lots of sleeping and resting up after such a long day at Playa Grande. He is bummed too when we tell him about getting to pick my own fish out the night before...even though he does agree that it was for the best that he stayed at F10 and slept.
While we are sitting there ,the boys that normally help Becky with her gear and assist her walking her kite back up wind, show up carrying a turtle they just caught across the street near a pond/slew. Poor guy...not only do they mess with him, getting him to bite sticks and things, but little does he know that tonight he will most likely end up as dinner for one of the kids family, after which they will polish the turtle shell and try to sell it for a tourist. (no, this is not an endangered sea turtle).
Sean changes his clothes and gets ready. There is no wind today, as it is slightly overcast, so instead we all decide to run into Cabarete one last time.
We catch the moto-taxis into town. Becky takes some video from behind the driver...I am piled on behind her. So, yes, there are 3 adults riding this one scooter.
Sean wants to get some souvenirs since he was not with us when we went to Sosua earlier today. Also, I had my eyes on a wood carving to bring back to my friend Bobby. I score it for about $20....which is great because they were asking for $100 for pieces like this all around Cabarete....but I can drive a hard bargain and had been working on this guy all week. I told him sell it to me for what I offer, or I go home without it in the morning and he won;t make the sale. He agrees but definitely keeps it on the down-low so no other potential customer hears what kind of deal I talked him into.
We then walk around a bit. Sean and I stage a shot for Becky of us standing in front of a cigar shop, which several times a week has someone rolling cigars by hand in the front window.
We decide to walk down to the beach to have ourselves one last meal and some drinks in Cabarete. We end up running into the two Boston brothers staying at F10, Jon and Steven Pasquino. They both arrived yesterday and are getting IKO certified. They work at Air Support on Cape Cod. I definitely want to go visit them and ride around Plymouth Rock!
We take a few pictures of the sunset and some group shots during our last evening in paradise.
Cabarete sunset...last night here
Sean, Becky, and I
Steven and Jon Pasquino from Air Support in Cape Cod
After getting a few pics, the five of us take a walk down the beach to find a good place to get some grub.
Cabarete water front filled with restaurants
We finally decide on a place that looks to have some decent food. All of us are hungry. Sean has his eyes on some pasta and Steven is crazing a decent burger. We all enjoyed ourselves chatting up about kiting, Cabarete, and the kiting conditions back home....we also down quite a few Cuba Libres, which always makes for some good pics!
After dinner we negotiate a moto ride back to F10, with a quick stop at the gas station to buy several pints of Ron Barcelo run....I think we brought back 5 pints and diet coke. Needless to say we get trashed, go swimming in the ocean in the dark, body surf in the shore break, and then swim in the pool. I end up being super smart in my drunken state and try to dive off the pool ladder. Yeah, real smart-like I almost put my face into the concrete side of the pool, narrowly missing the edge...I do however bang my knee. That is going to hurt in the morning.
Sean and I also have a cool hang session with Joseph, the Haitian caretaker of F10. It is so cool, because obviously I do not speak Creole, Joseph does not speak English.....and all of us speak only little bits of Spanish....yet we hang and have a wicked good time together. We slowly chat and are able to communicate. It is a magical evening....of which Sean agrees, the vacation was fun but it is experiences like this, sharing time with someone who we struggle to communicate with and yet somehow find a way to do just that.....that makes this trip super cool and memorable..... and yes, magical too!
Needless to say, I go to bed very drunk with plans to get up at 7am in order to pack and get to the airport by 11am.
To be continued..... tomorrow we leave but it isn't over yet!
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