Coming from a pretty diverse background in watersports, I’ve always loved mixing it up and trying different things. I grew up surfing and got hooked on kitesurfing when I was about 11. Adding a kite to your quiver is the perfect way to get the most out of all conditions, and all those small, onshore days instantly become a lot more fun. You can generate a lot more speed than you normally would in mushy surf and it can be hell of a lot of fun in real waves, too. After winning the kitesurfing wave world title the last three years, this year I decided to spend a little more chasing some swells to some of the more well known heavy waves around the world. I’ve always really enjoyed trying to kite heavy waves and just showing people what is actually possible with a kite.
When I got the chance to get down to Teahupoo this year, I wasn’t totally sure what to expect. Although I’ve spent some time kiting in heavy waves, Teahupoo really is another level just because of the way it bends and how thick the lip is. Although the lines will cut through the lip to some extent, it’s no easy feat to make a barrel out there–most of the time, it will just pull you through the back. I was just stoked to get a few bombs amongst the guys towing out there. I’ve had some good barrels in my life, but those go down as some of the biggest barrels I’ve had on a kite so far!
See more from Keahi at Keahideaboitiz.com, on Instagram, and on Facebook.
