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lukeThere is no denying that when it comes to kiteboarding, Real Kiteboarding — located in Waves, North Carolina — goes big. This became clear in late May when two Wake Park Project flatbed semis pulled in front of Real’s 21,000-plus-square-foot flagship store and delivered the John Wayne A-frame. To date, it’s the world’s largest kiteboarding slider, measuring 80 feet long and 6 feet high with a 20-inch-wide slick rail running from end to end.
Now take 24 kiteboarders — handpicked for their expertise in riding surf, slicks and/or sliders (hence, the Triple-S) — throw them into a noncompetitive event format and capture every action-packed moment on camera. That’s about the gist of Triple-S. “It’s a simple format,” states event director Trip Forman. “The only rules at Triple-S are to session as much as possible, enjoy the parties at night and, at the end of the week, vote for the riders who pushed the hardest.
A majority of this year’s event was focused on slicks and sliders, as there was little swell. Fortunately, on the final day of the event, a swell magically appeared, allowing the riders to showcase their surf skills, making the event a “true” Triple-S.
In the end, it was obvious to everyone involved that the Triple-S offers a perfected format that allows riders maximum fun and freedom to express themselves, resulting in creative and progressive riding where the athletes continually inspire each other. And in one short week, kiteboarding evolved. — Aaron Sales
Photos: Sequence by Toby Bromwich, all other images by Bryan Elkus
Tags: Andre Phillip, Brandon Scheid, Bruna Kajiya, Cape Hatteras, Clarissa Hempel, Davey Blair, Dylan Thompson, Ian Alldre, Joby Cook, Real Kiteboarding, Susi Mai, The Wake Park Project, Triple-S Invitational, Waves North Carolina
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