Brandon Scheid - Kiteboarding and Surfing

CWC Extravaganza

2012-01-11T11:24:00.000-08:00

Here is a short video from our trip to the Wind Or No Wind Board Jam at CWC. We had a blast riding the cable for 2+ weeks, its amazing how fast you can really progress. I enjoyed every second of it! Hope you enjoy!

Maui Vibes

2011-12-24T17:01:00.000-08:00

After spending two weeks at CWC for the Wind Or No Wind Board Jam it was finally time to fly east. Sensi and I will be spending the winter on beautiful Maui. We have been here for just under two weeks, and Maui has already delivered. We have scored some great kiting, surfing, and hiking not to mention the amazing food. It won't be long until the rest of the Liquid Force team will be joining us out here for a full winter of fun.

Been loving my LF Envy!

Hana, Maui

2011 Wind Or No Wind

2011-12-18T00:28:00.000-08:00

So the 2011 Wind Or No Wind is a wrap, whew what an event! After having a few days do decompress and unwind, I took a look through the photos. Unfortunately I don't travel with a 7D, so these shots are courtesy from Sam Medesky and Tom Court. The event was quite amazing this year, everyone was stepping up their game this year. Progression was the name of the game! There were some 9's thrown, several 7's, and an unimaginable amount of sliders ridden.

While the wind never ended up cooperating, we did get to get out behind a beautiful X-Star and ride the double stair set. The days were long and filled with lots of sessioning. There was plenty of partying as well, with The Gov going all out with dancers, fireworks, and never ending jager shots.

At the end of the contest I ended up winning the 2nd annual Go Pro Challenge with fellow rider Tom Court. I also walked home with a 3rd place in the cable division. I came out to CWC to have fun, so I was stoked to walk away with some awards. I am working on a short edit, so keep your eyes peeled for some cable action soon. Lastly want to thank Liquid Force for providing the ultimate shred stick, rode like a dream!

Brazil 2011

2011-12-04T01:18:00.000-08:00

So after getting home from Brazil I put together this little edit from the trip. I had a blast riding with everyone and I can't wait to see the full video!

There is also a short teaser from the 2011 Ro-Sham Throwdown, look for more to come soon!

From Brazil to Michigan

2011-11-13T09:09:00.000-08:00

After a month long kiting trip to Brazil, the last thing on my mind was kiting in the cold Great Lakes, but once I heard the stoke in Bryan Elkus's voice I knew I was in for an adventure.

Sensi and I met up with Elkus mid day began packing the gear into the car and fueling up on food for the days activites. We drove north to Montague Beach, a quiet little beach just north of Muakeegon. The second I stepped out of the car the first thing that hit my mind was "brrrrrrrr". All the while Bryan is raving about how nice the weather was, it actually was really nice sunny and 60. We headed out to the beach only to find five other kiters on the water already, so we got our kites setup and suited up in the thick stuff. Sensi was lucky enough to snag some booties, gloves, and a hood, just a 4/3 for me.

There was some really fun kickers on the inside, and a nice jetty to...I guess jetty start. We had a blast riding some small, but really clean waves. We ended up riding right up until sunset, racing back to the car to get warm at the end, we were stoked! All bundled up and warm we headed back home for some much needed rest and to prepare for the next days adventure!

sunrise in my backyard

After a little bit of discussion we decided to make the long drive up to Frankfurt, MI to make the most of the Great Lakes swell. When we showed up to the beach there were 10 people out kiting, and a handful of surfers already in the water. The wind was cranking and the waves were rolling in off the jetty, solid head high and clean. We ran back to the car and got setup alongside plenty of frothing locals. One thing about riding on the Great Lakes that blows me away is the level of stoke. Everyone had smiles ear to ear, I heard plenty of hoots, and met some amazing new people.

The wind ended up just getting stronger and stronger, I rode my 9m Envy got litt, put up a 7m and Elkus got blown off the water. I managed to slide the pretty gnarly concrete jetty and throw some mega boosts. The color of the water even reminded me of the Caribbean, the temperature was just a bit off. After our session we headed out the jetty to play a game of don't get wet with Lake Michigan.....we both definitely lost. We made the long drive back home as the post session coma was setting in. It was a great weekend, certainly one I never expected!

Hurricane Irene Kite Shots!

2011-11-13T08:21:00.000-08:00

So I'm pretty jazzed to see the shots from Nate Appel and I's post Hurricane Irene disaster session made it into this months Kiteboarding Magazine. It was a really fun sessioning all the destroyed docks, but it came at a heavy cost. The hurricane ended up shutting down the island for 5 weeks and ruined countless houses on the island. You can read the full story in the article

Looks mellow, but to tap this pole you had to hit the downed portion of the dock as a kicker, and land on a slightly flooded slick island. Sleazy and I couldn't stop smiling!

The slick island was completely flooded!

Taiba Trick Attack

2011-10-31T13:22:00.000-07:00

LF Taiba Trick Attack from James Boulding - Steez Prod'ns on Vimeo.

So last week James Boulding took the long trip over the pond, Craig Cunningham and I linked up with him for a days shooting. We scored a solid four hours in the lagoon, considering the short time the video turned out sick. Steeze Productions sure doesn't disappoint, pretty stoked to be riding with the Liquid Force Team. It seems we all have a like minded approach to kiting and it makes it really fun on the water. I am also stoked with my first ever shoot on the camera side, check the shots of James Boulding for my camera work!

Welcome to Brazil

2011-10-08T05:33:00.000-07:00

So my trip to Brazil started with missing the ferry out of Cape Hatteras..not the best start. The following 36 hours of flights, airports, and taxi rides were by no means fun. But when I awoke to the howling sound of the wind, it was all worth it. I arrived in Taiba three days ago and the wind has still not stopped blowing. The town reminds me of a old fishing village, possibly from some writers far fetched imagination. Well at least the conditions have been unreal!

Flying in to Fortaleza

We have been sessioning mostly in the lagoon here in Taiba, it's just a short downwinder from the house. Every morning so far has been 7m weather, the new 2012 Envy is amazingly smooth and predictable, even in the really strong wind. My body is in shambles after only three days, but I'm hoping to just power through the pain. I have however been progressing my personal quite a bit and I am excited to see where 30 days gets me.

The Canadians arrive!

After the first few days we were joined by the Canadian contingent comprising of Sam Medysky, Craig Cunningham, and photographer extraordinaire Josh Pietras. It's nice to have a crew of like minded riders to ride with, it definitely helps push the level of riding on the water. We have had some epic session so far and I'm sure we are going to have a ton more. We even managed to take a day trip to Caupie lagoon yesterday, its was a nice change of pace even though it was crowded. The local kids here ride at such an amazing level, it was like sitting court side at a pro sports game.

Overall it has been an amazing four days here, I can't wait to see what happens over the course of the next month. Keep checking back to see whats been going on down here in the South American shred fest!

What a nice sand quarter pipe

2012 Envy

2011-09-20T07:39:00.000-07:00

2012 Liquid Force Envy from Liquid Force Kites on Vimeo.

Just a short video and ad featuring the Liquid Force 2012 Envy. I am really excited for the upcoming year with the Envy. I have been using it now for a few years and this years incarnation is the best one yet, not to mention the amazing graphics. Get out and get your hand on one....you wont regret it!

Getting Some Press

2011-09-06T20:18:00.000-07:00

Just a few new shots that got publicized in the last few weeks. I am really happy to see the sunset shot above to make the cut, it was the first time I rode 10m lines. I am still stranded in NY as a result of Hurricane Irene, hope to get back on the island soon, wish me luck!

Hurricane Adventure Camp!

2011-09-04T17:01:00.000-07:00

After waiting as long as possible for the weather reports, we finally made the decision to evacuate Hatteras Island. Hurricane Irene's path put the eyewall right on top of the island, the worst possible scenario . Looking at the picture below, looks like we made the right call. We packed up the car and headed up the coast to the great city of New York.

We ended up getting hit by the hurricane there too, but it wasn't nearly as bad as where we left. The house we've been staying at is just beautiful, and we have been making the most of everyday. So far we've gone to the city twice, attended the U.S Open, did some lake high diving, trap shooting, and much much more! Looks like the forecast for wind up here is on for tomorrow, so its off for another full day of activities here at the NYC Adventure Camp!

86th story view

Grand Central

The real starry night

Boom!

REAL Peru 2011

2011-08-24T09:52:00.000-07:00

After having a week or so to decompress from travel, I took some time to look through some of the photos accumulated over the 10 day trip. I cant help but be blown away by the memories that the photos stir up. The morning glass offs with fish filled lineups, the dust I think I'm still finding, big open faces, and best of all pure stoke! Fellow Liquid Force and REAL Teamrider Jason Slezak, REAL Co-Founder Matt Nuzzo, myself, and eighteen of the happiest people I've met ventured off into North Peru for one of the best kite vacations ever.

We stayed at the beautiful Samana Chakra Resort located in the little town of Mancora. The place was amazing from the accommodations to the food, everything was top notch and dialed in. Plus every morning it is glassy and it is only a short walk to a very nice left hand point. I had some of the best waves of my life in the wee hours of the morning...simply amazing.

Everyday around 11 we would load up the four vans with ungodly amounts of gear and drive off into the ancient desert. The sandstone was 45-55 million years old and riddled with chasms and canyons, what a sight. We would end up going to any of the several points that were working that day, looking for good conditions. We found some amazing wind and waves at Tres Crusas, a giant left point in the middle of nowhere.

We spent the next 10 days sessioning our asses off, surfing every chance we could and kiting most days until dark. There were no late nights on this trip, people could hardly stay awake for dessert most nights. That's what the trip is about though, riding hard and racking up that session count. I just hope everyone that joined us had as amazing time as I did. Now its time to batten down the hatches for this weekends Hurricane. Check back in for some big wave shredding!

Liquid Force 2012 Catalog

2011-08-09T18:47:00.000-07:00

Open publication - Free publishing - More board

Check out the 2012 Liquid Force Product Catalog shot in beautiful Cape Verde. It was shot by the great Bryan Elkus and it turned out amazing!

2012 is going to be an amazing year....watch out!

Getting some Face Time

2011-07-30T17:24:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to pop in and share some of the recent print coverage that has been hitting shelves. First Bryan Elkus and I scored the cover of Kitesurf Magazine. We worked hard to get this shot, riding well past sunset amd taking a few licks. I am really happy to score the first shot on the Hatty up-rail! You can check out some video action from the session HERE, shot by my man Nate Appel. Man it has been a great season out here on the island.

Next is the first of the 2012 Liquid Force ads, all of the shots came out of our amazing trip to Cape Verde. I had such a blast hanging out with the whole crew, and I must say that 2012 is the year of LF! Check out the shot from below....graphics looks amazing!!!

Got ups?

Lastly is some print found in Kiteboarding Magazine from this years Triple S contest hosted at REAL Watersports. I was really stoked to score the opening spread, that one sure got the adrenaline pumping. Overall its been a great summer and the ball keeps rolling, I'm off to Mancora, Peru for REALs annual Peru trip, pretty stoked to get some time in world class surf. Check back for some South American updates!

Summer Time Sessions

2011-07-24T22:20:00.000-07:00

After an amazing trip with the REAL Team to Hood River, OR I arrived back in Cape Hatteras with summer in full swing. The Bermuda High was locked in place and the SW was on, the only downside was the staggering side of heat. Temperatures in the 90s combined with high humidity made for a staggering mid day session, I only lasted an hour.

SW on tap all day!

I spent my session taking solo laps in the slick, a thing you don't get all that often these days. Its always nice to be home...to think of all the time I've spent in that little corner of the world is astounding. Riding is feeling solid these days, really having a fin time learning switch tricks and adding more new grabs. All in all a great day!

Kite Spain Article

2011-07-19T21:46:00.000-07:00

Check out a short piece that I wrote for Kite Spain Magazine, I was pleased with how it turned out and we got to use some of the shots from the 2010 Liquid Force Photo Shoot. Finally made it back to Hatteras after an amazing trip to Hood River. I will gather up all my media and make a post in the upcoming week. Enjoy!

Liquid Force 2012

2011-07-15T10:06:00.000-07:00

So the 2012 Liquid Force product teaser just dropped and it's looking amazing. Our team trip to Cape Verde was a huge success and we are just starting to see the fruits of our labors. I am looking forward to a amazing year so stay posted!

First session back in the Gorge

2011-07-09T08:50:00.000-07:00

We arrived in Hood River super late in the evening, and awoke to some typical howling winds. Everyone was really excited to shake the dust off and get some riding time in the river. We headed down to the event site to register for the KB4C event and get our shred on. These are just a few quick shots from my session...to bad the battery died in 6 minutes, oh well. Looking to get a ton more this week so check back in soon!

Getting Litt!!!

2011-06-28T14:33:00.000-07:00

Just a few Go Pro shots from today's session. Brian "BCS" Smith, Eric Rienstra, and I all headed out on tiny kites in the REAL Slick. With the 2011 Ro-sham-throwdown coming up it was nice to get some realistic Hood River conditions. I put up my LF 7m Envy and was blown away by how much fun it was to do some really powered wakestyle. The kite is smooth and turns on a dime, took some getting used to but by the end of the session everyone was throwing down!

Show me some BASE!

Showing off for Sensi's lesson

Big Spray!

Vote for AWSI Kiter of the Year!

2011-06-24T17:58:00.000-07:00

I just found out about my nomination for Kiteboarder of the Year. I have been having a stellar year, and I would be super stoked to take home the win. If you have a moment head to the links and vote.

Thanks!

http://kiteboardingmag.com/contests/2011/06/23/vote-for-the-awsi-kiteboarder-of-the-year/

http://www.sbckiteboard.com/personalities_article?news_id=1699

2011 Triple S is a Wrap

2011-06-11T18:33:00.000-07:00

What a week tons of sessions, tons of carnage, and a whole hell of a lot of fun. The 2011 Triple S will go down as one of the best events kiteboarding has ever seen! I was super pleased with the results, and my body is definitely feeling it today. I managed to walk away with a 4th in men's slick, 3rd in best session, 2nd in sliders, 1st in best wipeout, and 1st place overall....not to bad! Check out the full results here. Props to Brian "BCS" Smith for taking 2nd overall and holding it down for the Hatty Crew! I would like to thanks my sponsors Liquid Force, REAL Watersports, Dragon Alliance, and O'neill. Check out all the video updates below and there will be a ton more coming in the next few weeks, stay tuned!

2011 Triple-S Session Report 1 from Real Watersports on Vimeo.

2011 Triple-S Session Report 2 from Real Watersports on Vimeo.

2011 Triple-S Session Report 3 from Real Watersports on Vimeo.

2011 Triple-S Session Report 4 from Real Watersports on Vimeo.

2011 Triple-S Session Report 5 from Real Watersports on Vimeo.

2011 Triple-S Session Report 6 from Real Watersports on Vimeo.

LTR is back in town

2011-05-28T15:15:00.000-07:00

LTR at the Mill Pond from Lifethereal on Vimeo.

Charlie from LifetheReal is back in Hatteras from his wallet sweatshop in Maine. The wind has been on, we have been doing a bit of shooting and prepping for Triple-S. Check out some shots from the new flat bar, and some booter hits.

Kicker Hits

2011-05-27T07:44:00.000-07:00

With REALs 2011 Triple-S event just around the corner, we have been pulling out all the features to get some warm up, for most of us its the first hits of the year. Yesterday it happened to be the kicker, the wind was perfect SW and I rigged my 12m Envy. Chuck from LTR is back in town and was out filming. Hopefully he got some shots, keep your eyes peeled for some video soon.

Watch out Evan!

Quick Hits

2011-05-23T17:36:00.000-07:00

Quick set with Brandon Scheid from Nate Appel on Vimeo.

Just a quick edit from our wake session last night. Props to Nate Appel at Cineaptic for getting some shots, there is a great forecast for wind so stay tuned!

Calm before the Storm

2011-05-22T20:12:00.000-07:00

We made the most of the last day of high pressure here on Cape Hatteras with a great wakeboard session. The forecast is looking all time for the next week, so it was nice to get some glass before the wind arrives. We had a great crew out on the water, and everyone was learning new tricks. Big props to the girls for pushing it hard and getting some great hits! Like always, professional photographer Bryan Elkus was there to capture the action...the shots look great. Finally starting to get some practice for REAL's upcoming Triple-S contest. Check back in for some more coming later this week!

No Stress, Cape Verde

2011-05-09T06:50:00.000-07:00

Just a few shots from around the island here in Cape Verde. We have been scoring a ton of wind on the 2012 LF Photo Shoot. It has been an amazing time with the crew. Look for all the shots to be coming up soon all over the place!

Kite Spain Cover

2011-05-02T06:54:00.000-07:00

So while away in Cape Verde for the 2012 Liquid Force photo shoot, I saw that Kite Photographer Bryan Elkus and I scored the cover of the latest issue of Kite Spain Magazine. The shot was from the 2011 LF photo shoot on the wall ride. Other than that here are a few shots from around town here in Cape Verde!

Not a bad view from my room.

SW is going off!

2011-04-25T07:38:00.000-07:00

BonK from Toby Diggens on Vimeo.

Just wanted to pop in and share a short little edit of whats been going down in Hatteras. We have been getting creative with the jibs here, making some new features. We salvaged a nice log from the sound and made a fun little jam. The summer SW is on tap all week and people have been sessioning their brains out! Stoked with how the edit turned out for one short session of filming. Look for more to come from Cineaptic Digital Media over the next few weeks.

Also pretty stoked to see the new issue of SBC Kiteboard, managed to score the cover with a shot from our recent trip to Maui. It was shot by the one and only Tracy Kraft, I am really pleased with how it turned out and the magazine as a whole. Good to see a lot of good content and photos filling the pages. Looks like the next few days here on the island are going to be all time, so check back soon!

Waves are up on the Banks!

2011-04-18T14:14:00.000-07:00

The nice thing about Hatteras in the spring is the variety of sessions you get. One day we were riding at Kite Point, the next day in the slick, and finally some chunky waves in the ocean. With a giant cold front wreaking havoc inland, we were feeling the SE juice. Nate, Elkus, Sensi, Craig, and I all launched our LF Envys from ramp 27 and headed out into the rather large surf.

The waves were really fun, big and slabby, its crazy how the water moves out here in the ocean. I had some really fun waves and took some heavy ones on the head. The ocean here certainly keeps you on your toes. With the forecast looking all time for the next week, there will be a ton more coming out of The Banks!

Check out Pro Photographer Bryan Elkus's surf shots from the morning after HERE!

The Slick is Going Off!

2011-04-11T18:46:00.000-07:00

The past few days have been all time in the Slick! Just like every other April, I've been riding nothing but my 7m. The weather has been really nice and its starting to look like summer is just around the corner.

We have been getting creative with the jibs in the slick, Trevor brought a short rail with him from his stint in the city. We also found a big log on the shoreline and jammed it into the mud and made a log jam. It seems to be making everyone really happy...so looks like its there to stay.

Just enjoying the days here on the island....tons of sessions!

SW Juice in Hatteras

2011-04-04T20:03:00.000-07:00

Spring in Hatteras can only mean one thing, strong wind! It seems like in April I never put my 7m away, and today was a great example. It started with a morning slick session with the Real Crew, perfect wind for the 7m envy. It was fun to ride with some power again and work on some new tricks. After a much needed mid day break, we got everyone together for a new inlet run. Ten riders, eight miles, canals galore, and some big land gaps!

Slaysssh!!

After a few small warm up gaps in town we got into the really fun stuff. About 2/3 of the way through the shoreline becomes riddled with bays, canals and some of the only "back country" kiting that I know of. BCS and I were taking turns booting the biggest land gaps we could find...gets a little more crazy when you have to clear a distance. Definitely gives you a big ol' dose of adrenaline.

In the end everyone had a great time exploring and booting their brains out. What a great way to spend a day on the island!!!

Monster gap!

Dead end....I think not!

Back in Hatteras

2011-03-23T17:48:00.000-07:00

Finally our long cross country drive has come to an end, we finally made it to Cape Hatteras. It feels good to get settled in, and it feels even better to ride. We have managed to score two SW sessions in the slick since I got back. First session was lit on my 7m Envy, man what a way to shake off a 15 hour car ride.

Launching from REAL sure is nice

After the muscle pounding 7m session we scored another day of riding on the sound side. This time is was great for the 9m. It felt great to get back into the flat water and shake off some of the dust.

It is great to be back on the island riding, skating and working. This is just the beginning of a great summer here on Hatteras Island!

Its Snowing, time to Drive!

2011-03-09T14:34:00.000-08:00

As the snow started falling out of the sky all I could think about was getting to the mountains. So, Sensi and I Packed all our stuff in the car and began the cross country drive back to Hatteras. But we were by no means in a hurry, plenty of time to play in the snow.

Beautiful Mendocino County

Our first stop was to meet up with Sensi's brothers in Tahoe. The drive across California was amazing, so many beautiful sights, and one of the biggest cherry groves I've ever seen!

When we arrived, it was on!!! They had just got 6-10 ft of snow the week before and plenty of new fresh snow as well. We got some much needed rest and hit Sugar Bowl early the next morning!

Lake View thanks to Dragons new APX goggle! No Frames needed!

We ended up spending 5 days riding amazing conditions, but we had to get moving at some point. We heard that it was snowing in our next destination, Park City, UT so we packed up and headed off across Nevada. Turns out there isn't much to see....lots of nothing, we did get to drive through the Bonneville Salt Flats though! Now were here in Park City for a bit, hoping to get a few more snow sessions this season. Looks like wind tomorrow, so maybe some kiting too!

It goes on and on and on!!!

Into the Redwoods

2011-03-09T14:14:00.000-08:00

So after spending the winter in Maui, it was finally time to head back to the mainland. We started our cross country journey in Northern California. The scenery is unlike any I've ever seen, a stark contrast to the tropical view I had become accustom to. Sensi and I decided to take advantage of the nice weather and headed off down the Avenue of the Giants. This road takes you through several untouched Redwood groves, it is very humbling!

We stopped along the road in several different spots and took some small hikes, unfortunately 99% of the original forests were logged leaving little left to explore. Still the sheer size of the trees makes up for the small trails. It's amazing to think these trees have been growing for 2000+ years!

The Media Begins from CWC!

2011-02-18T13:48:00.000-08:00

Wind Or No Wind 2010 @ CamSur, Philippines from Boomroom Media on Vimeo.

So the media is beginning to trickle out from the 2010 Wind or No Wind Jam. The video is put together by the Gov's personal production team. It gives a nice glimpse of what it was like to be there during the event, good memories!

There is also a shot taken by fellow kiter Tom Court that ran in KiteSpain Magazine. It was a full feature on the event through Toms lens. Looks pretty nice to me!

Surfs Up!

2011-02-08T22:38:00.000-08:00

Right on track with the forecast the wind started to turn on in the morning, so we headed off to Kite Beach to make the most of the day. When we showed up the wind looked a little lighter and we took our time getting on the water. I rigged my 12m Envy and took out my DLX, the wind was perfect and Craig, Eric and I had a really fun session.

After smacking my head enough it was time to grab some waves. I rigged up my line mount from Kite Hero and snuck out to the reef. The waves were coming in like giant walls and closing out on the outside, so I snagged some waves at boneyards. The shape of the wave reminded be of the draining sand waves back in Hatteras, secretly I cant wait for Ranger Runs.

IKSURFMAG Issue 25!!!

2011-02-08T10:36:00.000-08:00

So stoked with the latest issue of IKSURFMAG!!! I managed to score not only a full feature in the magazine, but the cover as well. Huge props go out to kiteboarding photographer Bryan Elkus for all of the shots. I was happy to see our hard work from the summer of 2010 at REAL finally go into publication, definitely some of my favorite shots. You can see the issue here. Things are starting to wind down here in Maui, my departure is getting closer and closer. Looks like some great wind today, so were off to score what looks like our last session here. Check in later for some more GoPro shots from the session!

Rocking on the Liquid Force Wall Ride.

KiteHero Line Mount

2011-02-04T16:56:00.000-08:00

So I just got my new GoPro line mount from Kite Hero. The mount is amazing, super simple to use and it makes for some really interesting photos and video. If your a kiter and you have a GoPro then this mount is a must for sessions. I can't wait for all the cool things that can be done with the line mount.

Sunsets in Kehei

The conditions were finally good for Kite Beach, solid power from my 12m Envy and filled in on the inside. Shooting shots every 2 seconds you miss a lot so I was stoked just to get a few good ones.

Few New Shots

2011-02-02T22:54:00.000-08:00

So its been busy here in Maui, fellow LF team riders Julien Fillion and Jason Slezak finally got out to the island. Between flatwater sessions at Kitebeach and wave riding at lanes, everyone has been getting their fill of sessions. The wind and waves here on Maui have been all time, I couldn't ask for more. I just saw that couple new shots from Bryan Elkus got published in Stance Magazine and Kite World. Pretty sweet to see something other than tricks get published. The two other shots are from our recent hike at Seven Pools, one of the most amazing places on the whole of Maui. Enjoy!

Team REAL Shreds CWC!!!

2011-01-23T19:17:00.000-08:00

Team REAL at CWC from Sensi Graves on Vimeo.

REAL Team at CWC from Sensi Graves on Vimeo.

Sensi finally wrapped up the edit from the Wind Or No Wind Board Jam. We shot this during a few quick sessions using the Go Pro I won in the Go Pro challenge. Featured are REAL Watersports team riders Jason Slezak, Sensi Graves, and myself. Really happy with how the edit turned out with such little footage. Cant wait until next year!!!!

Stumped on Maui

2011-01-19T11:20:00.000-08:00

Stumped on the sea shore from Sam Medysky on Vimeo.

Check out this video made by Sam Medyesky here on Maui. We shot the video in the three days following Sams accident. I'm super happy with how the video turned out, especially for only shooting for three sessions. Also there are some shots from the past few days kite and surf sessions. Swell is hitting tonight, off to Jaws in the a.m.

Shots from Craig C

Kiteboarding Magazine

2011-01-14T11:39:00.000-08:00

Just a few shots from the latest issue of Kiteboaring Magazine. All the shots are from Bryan Elkus, pretty excited to see how the summers hard work is starting to pay off. Look for more Elkus shots to be popping up all over the kite world!!!

Triple-S 2011 ad!!!

Kiting in Kihei and the NW Corner

2011-01-14T11:07:00.000-08:00

So the weather decided to mix it up a bit and switch from the usual NE trades here, to Kona(SW) winds. So we packed up all the new Liquid Force gear and headed off to Kihei. We stopped at a few different beaches before we found Maui Sunsets. The conditions were perfect when we showed up!!!

When we looked up-wind we were so stoked to see a giant coral jetty. It made a super flat water slick, the water depth was a bit low and with the tide dropping we knew we had to hurry.

Sensi putting up the 7m Envy

The wind was perfect for 9's, Craig, Sensi, and I scored a great flatwater session it was so nice to ride butter again. We rode until the tide dropped and the reef started popping up out of the water. It turned our nice flat water pool into a cheese grater. We headed in and took some much needed rest and just made it in before the rain came through. It was great to get back on the water and have some fun, hope we get to score this spot again before we leave!!!

Reminiscent of The Slick!

After a few days of torrential downpour the sky finally cleared up. We took full advantage of the break in storms and planned a road trip around the NW side of Maui. The road was quite harry, lots of switchbacks and steep drops with no guard rails.

No wonder the beef tastes so good.

About half way through our trip we came across some ancient lava flows. We took some time to climb right down to the waters edge, it felt like we left the planet earth. I could not believe how geologically foreign this place felt, simply breathtaking!

Down near the ocean there were several pools full of fresh water. It felt great to take a swim and enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings. I keep thinking I've seen all this island has to offer, but I find myself being continually surprised. Maui is truly an amazing place!!!

Fresh picked wild raspberries

Props to Craig for the shots!

On Top of the World!

2011-01-06T21:52:00.000-08:00

The wind decided to take a break after the last stint we had. So in the mean time we decided to take a trip to the top of Mt. Haleakala. It was quite an amazing drive filled with winding roads, cows and clouds.

After some hairy turns and amazing views we finally made it to the top. The sight is quite breathtaking!! The whole crater is visible full of dormant cinder cones. The elevation is 10,023 ft above sea level, crazy thing is it's another 19,000 ft to the ocean floor. You definitely feel insignificant up there.

Top of the world!

Silversword...only found here on the slopes

Towards the end of the night we got a little creative with some silhouettes and some long exposure shots. After dark the sky filled with thousands of stars, apparently it's the 4th best place to observe the night sky. We wrapped up the night with a long windy drive back down the mountain, and we all walked away with one amazing experience!

Props to Sam M. for some of the shots.

Wind Or No Wind on Sports Unlimited

2011-01-06T12:23:00.000-08:00

Just some video updates from our recent trip to the Wind Or No Wind. Really cool to see the trip to the waterfall, just goes to show theres more than just a world class cable park. Keep posted for tons more as it starts to trickle in.

Wind Or No Wind Cable Edit

2010-12-31T10:38:00.000-08:00

Check out this short video from the Wind Or No Wind Jam at CWC! It was put together by Tom Court, my fellow winner of the Go Pro Challenge. It brings back old memories....ice cream anyone???

Gettin' some Maui Style!

2010-12-30T19:47:00.000-08:00

Getting ready to shred

So far Maui has been amazing, it has only lacked one minor detail....wind. Well all that has changed! With trades lining up for the foreseeable future and two big swells on their way, its officially on.

Kehei Session

We managed to sneak in a little kite session a few days ago on the south side of the island in Kehei. It was a little light, but armed with the 12m Envy and 139 Kaos we managed to score some fun. It was finally nice to get some kiting in, even if it was just a little taste!

We took advantage of the no wind days and did some exploring down the Hana Highway. We went to the bamboo forests, black sand beaches, and even hiked down a lava tube! It all ended with a beautiful waterfall and some amazing banana bread!

Bamboo Forest

Lava tube entrance

After some sight seeing we finally got the real deal...trades! Sam, Sensi, Craig, and I all headed down to Kite Beach to check it out, by the time we got out of the car there were 50+ kites in the sky. Guess everyone else has been waiting as well. I had perfect power on the 9m Envy, Sensi took the 7m and Craig went out on his 9m Hifi. The wind was the perfect direction for the "Pro Pool" and everyone was having a blast riding. After riding for a few hours we all headed into the beach for some much needed beers. What a great day on Maui, can't wait for more!!!

The "Pro Pool" was firing!

Maui

2010-12-18T22:59:00.000-08:00

Famous Kite Beach

So we've just arrived on the beautiful Island of Maui. We have had a few days to settle in, get gear lined up, get some surf boards, and sample some of the local dining. Let me tell you its a big step up from the Philippines. We have been hiking most mornings and scored a few surf sessions. I officially caught my first Hawaiian right! The wind hasn't shown its face yet, but the surf is starting to fill in. Looks like the next few days are going to be insane. Cant wait to try all my new Liquid Force Gear. I'm here with fellow LF team rider Craig Cunningham and Northern brethren Sam Medysky. We also managed to catch a Pepper show in a sick outdoor venue, not to shabby. I am having a blast here already, can't wait for more.

And the Crew

View from the back deck

The house we got through Kite Camp Maui is amazing. Freshly remodeled with a beautiful view, not to mention I can hear the ocean from my bedroom!!!

Start of the hike

At the Top

Tavares

Coming out on top at the WONW!!!

2010-12-13T15:39:00.000-08:00

So with the Wind Or No Wind in the bag, I guess it's time to share some of the shots. It has been an amazing trip, one I will hopefully be taking yearly. Not only did we get to shred the worlds best cable park, but we got to get out and experience what Cam-Sur has to offer. We took two side trips, one to Mt. Isarog National Park for a waterfall adventure and the other to Pasacao Beach for some 2.0 shredding. After the final days of riding we had a huge closing party, pig roast and some voting! When all was said and done I managed to score 1st place Cable Rider, 3rd place Kite Park Rider, 2nd place overall, and me and Tom Court scored 1st in the Go Pro challange! I'm super stoked with how it all went!!! The other top spots went to Aaron Hadlow and Sam Light, big ups to those guys for killing it all week long!!! I can't say enough about the event, it was amazing!!!! Big thanks to Morris for getting the whole thing organized, and I cant wait for more events like this to start popping up!!!!!

Slezak Killing it!!

Chillin with the crew

Also a article about the event in the local papers!!!

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=638807&publicationSubCategoryId=69

WONW Jam Day 1

2010-12-03T16:12:00.000-08:00

Wind!!!!!

Just wanted to pop in and share some shots of the riders here at the Wind or No Wind Jam. I'm here with fellow Liquid Force Team Riders Jason Slezak, Craig Cunningham, Moe Goold, James Boulding and Morris. Everyones been ripping hard, and our bodies are feeling the burn. Team UK (Aaron, Sam, Tom, James) is throwing down with proper style. We even got the hit the winch park for a few hours. Check out the shots and keep posted for more updates as the event keeps rolling!!!!

Boom!

Sensi rocking out

Slezy and me from the chopper

doubles

Craig C.

Tom Court

Fs 3 down the steps

Great Day at CWC

2010-11-30T21:01:00.000-08:00

Morning Mountain View

Wood Cabin #1 Home sweet Home!

What an amazing day here at the Camsur Watersports, with the hectic travel my sleeping schedule is a bit off. We woke up at 5am with the sunrise, we headed down to the cable to scope out the sliders. It was like a mirror, sun rising lighting up the mountain in the background.

Glassy Morning

Short walk to paradise

We started off with a quick easy morning set on the rails. Everyone was throwing down and the progression is going through the roof. Team UK is holding it down, and they are all a blast to ride with. After some more riding we headed off for the daily massage, a.k.a hour of pain.

Boom!

I have been riding my new Liquid Force Watson Hybrid. Loving the soft landings and the flex for the rails. We all took our turns shredding the cable well into the darkness. Double sets with the stadium lighting has to be one of the highlights of the trip so far. After dark the whole crew headed into Naga City for some dinner. We ended up with the biggest table of food anyones ever seen. I must say things are great here in the Philipines!

California to Cam Sur

2010-11-28T14:45:00.000-08:00

Nor Cal

Cam Sur

So after spending the fall in Nor Cal, it was time to start the winter travels. First stop, Cam Sur Watersports for the Wind Or No Wind Jam!!!! It only took 25+ hrs and a trip to the other side of the world...but were here!

Church Creek

Winding dirt roads

Spy Rock

Before taking off for the Philipines, we headed to Napa Valley for Thanksgiving. The area is amazing, felt like I was in Italy for the day. Fine dining, wine, and great company what more could you ask for.

Beautiful View of the Napa Valley

Mountain View

We spend our first day riding the park with Sam Light, Aaron Hadlow, James Boulding, Craig Cunningham, Tom Court, and a few others. Everyone is already throwing down and loving it here, the $10 massages don't hurt. For now we are just going to keep shredding, preparing for the WONW Jam. Can't wait for everyone else to get here and the party to start. More to come daily, keep checking in!

Present Tense

2010-11-14T10:47:00.000-08:00

Present Tense Teaser from Nate Appel on Vimeo.

Nate Appel is blowing it up once again. Check out this teaser for his up-coming movie Present Tense. It was shot across North America featuring the Triple-S, Ro-Sham-Throw Down, and the LF team shoot. Looking like its going to be a great movie!

Riders Match Été 2010 : nablend - Na Blend Crew
Uploaded by Riders-Match. - News videos from around the world.

Also a extended trailer for the up-coming video feature with Stance Magazine. NA Blend follows the most progressive North American wakestyle riders across the country. Props to Ben for the editing, going to be insane!!!

Going Big!

2010-11-03T19:30:00.000-07:00

Look out Lifethereal is blowin up! Just a few shots taken during the 2010 Triple-S contest hosted by Real Watersports. It was super windy during the planet run and I was riding a 8m LF Evny om 10m lines. It was only my second time riding such short lines. Its quite different, and a lot of fun!

Talk about POP!

LF Getting it in Kiteboarding EU!!

2010-10-24T18:59:00.000-07:00

Liquid Force got a ton of shots in this months Kiteboarding EU magazine. All the shots are by Bryan Elkus, he's been killing it this year and these photos just add to all the amazing shots he's taken.

Chad Waroll REAL dock!

Morris and Nate

Slezak

LuLu rocking it

Petter the European destroyer!

Also a new edit from Chuck at Lifethereal. Some old footage some new footage and led in by my man Clint Mills!!!!

LTR in Ontario

2010-10-16T09:28:00.000-07:00

Ontario part 2 (feat. Evan, Brandon and Craig) from Lifethereal on Vimeo.

Chuck at LTR just finished up the video of the crew in Ontario. The trip was super fun and we got a few good days of shooting. Lifethereal is a lifestyle company and I'm proud to be a part of the team. Super stoked with everything and the edit turned out great. Craig and I are holding it down for Liquid Force in the Great White North!

More Love!

2010-10-12T22:21:00.000-07:00

Been getting some recent photos published around in several magazines. Most of the shots are done by the man Bryan Elkus. We have been riding and working together for awhile now and we've got a ton of work done this summer. I'm pleased with how the shots ended up and really stoked on my first ad spread with Liquid Force. It turned out great and I'm stoked to be involved with them in kiting. Hands down the best company in the game!

Here is a short video on the 2011 Envy, hands down the best kite ever made. Safe, reliable, smooth what more can I say....every time I put the kite in the sky, I can't help but smile!

2011 Liquid Force Envy from Liquid Force Kites on Vimeo.

Slim, Kiteboarding Mag B. Elkus

Next batch is from the REAL team trip to Hood River. It was quite a trip we did a little bit of everything.

Bottem corner for me. BCS lighting up the page next door!

Profile Video

2010-09-24T08:24:00.000-07:00

Brandon Scheid 2010 from Lifethereal on Vimeo.

Just a short video put together by Chuck over at Lifethereal. It included all our summer riding and a few extra clips. Turned out good!

Getting some in Hatteras!

2010-09-23T12:20:00.000-07:00

Fall is my favorite time to be out here on the Outer Banks. The weather is beautiful, and the conditions don't get any better. The day after arriving home from Canada we scored some SW and got a great session in the slick. Its always nice to come back to your home spot and get good riding. Every time I ride my 9m Envy I have so much fun! After an epic day of SW the NE kicked in from Hurricane Igor. The ocean was massive, 12 ft @ 15 sec. The REAL team was on it scoring all the sessions, Sunday the swell maxed out and the outside bombs were 15ft+. It was awesome to be in the ocean dodging whitewater and just trying to survive.

After Hurricane comes the dreaded high pressure. Well for us that just means one thing Wakeboard. Sabo, Pete, Kevin and I all headed out for a little slider riding. We had the JWCF rail and the Scoop A-Frame out. It was really glassy and everyone was learning new tricks and having a great time. I managed to land some new things on the Wayne and was really pleased with the overall vibe on the water.

Only a few days later we got a little hunch that a spot called Jockeys Ridge was going to go off. So Sensi, Sabo, BCS, and I packed up the car and headed north to the dune. It is quite an amazing little spot here in Hatteras. It heats up during our hot days and makes a nice thermal giving an extra boost to the SW winds.

We were having a great wake session, I was perfect on my 12m Envy, until the thermal kicked in. We went from throwing wake tricks to throwing big deadmans. I love that about kiting, one minute your riding low powered, then the next your 40 ft in the air. After a bit fooling around we cam across a stump right near the waters edge. We were having a blast air transitioning and tapping the tree. BCS even nailed a sweet double bonk! It gave us something else to mix it up on the water and that helps keep it fun.

After all the riding we gorged at the local burger shack Five Guys. By the time I was home I couldn't keep my eyes open. Who knows what the next day holds, somehow its always fun here in Hatty!

System 2.0 the the Boarder Pass!

2010-09-16T09:33:00.000-07:00

For our last big adventure in Canada fellow team rider Craig Cunningham and I headed to Boarder Pass. It is a System 2.0 setup in Sarnia. It was my first time ever riding a 2.0, it was amazing. The whole setup was ideal, it was located in the breakwaters of a marina, which made for glassy conditions all the time.

They had two main features in the park; a battle ship rail, and a flat bar with dance floor. It was a little different than the kite or ski, but we got it pretty dialed by the end of the night. It took a second to negotiate the turnaround but once we got it, it went very smooth. Last time Craig headed to the cable no one was throwing air tricks. This time we were set on getting some rolls landed. It took a bit to find the right spot, but before long we were stomping s-bends and raileys to blind. It was cool to see such progression in such a quick time.

We ended the night when we couldn't see anymore, we were frothing! It was so much fun, I recommend everyone tries to get some time on the 2.0. It was quiet, glassy, cheap, efficent, and so fun. Look for a ton more to pop up around the U.S!

Canada Eh!

2010-09-13T21:51:00.000-07:00

LF tent at the Sauble Beach Kite Jam

Finally I have some time to sit down and get something up here. Between Hurricane Earl and our impromptu trip to Washington D.C, and the Sauble Kite Jam it's been a busy few weeks. The report from the Great White North is a good one, I've been having a blast up here. It started with a pickup from Buffalo from fellow LF Team rider Craig Cunningham. We headed from the airport straight to Sauble beach, the drive is about four and a half hours so we were glad to arrive at Sam's cottage. Chuck at LTR, BCS, Eric R, and Sam were already there after hearing about the last few days we all headed off to bed. The wind was howling all night, good signs for the up-coming weekend. The next morning we got up and headed off to one of the most popular kite spots in Ontario, Oliphant. It consists of two large flat water bays, the bottoms are sandy and very shallow. The spot looked like it had a ton of potential, but unfortunately the wind was light. We still managed to score about 45 min of powered riding before the wind died. I was on my 12m Envy and was very pleased with the low end of the kite. After our session we headed back to the cottage to help the crew finish up some slider work for the next days event. Watching the sunset over the lake was a fitting way to end the day!

The next day we headed down to the beach to get everything set up for the event. There was just enough wind to ride a ton of people filled the beach to fly kites and watch some of the local riders rip it up. The wind was a little light for the contest so we just got everything 100% ready for the next day and did some kite buggying. I'll eat my words on this one, I've said it was super lame but it is far from it. The wind was onshore and the beach was large and hard packed. You could get a ton of speed and even do some powerslides. It was fun for the crew to get their first rides on the buggy and there was some very entertaining crashes!

Day two of the Kite Jam conditions were offshore and light, perfect time to do some wakeboarding. We got the crew together and put all the rails out in the water. We had a up rail, a 40 ft up gap to flat, a kicker and a super ghetto up flat rail. I drew the very first slot and got to test all the rails, and these rails wern't the JWCF rail, pretty sketch! We each got one warm up pass and three that counted. I had some solid hits on the rails and a nice 5 off the kicker which put me through to the semi final.

The semi was Eric R., BCS, Elliot D, Mitch L, and myself. I was having a hard time putting together a solid pass so on the last hit on the kicker I went for a big tantrum. To my surprise I stuck it and the crowd went wild. It was a close call but Eric and I squeezed through to the final, and I was able to edge him out for the overall win.

The third and final day we awoke to wind! It was blowing 15-20 out of the west with bluebird skies. By the time we got to the event site there were 20 kites in the sky. The turnout was amazing, at one point there were 50+ kites in the water. With the large amount of people and the onshore conditions it was decided to run a expression session and have some fun on the water.

Between the buggy, twintip, surfboard, and wakeskate I think I rode every type of craft that day. It was so fun to kite again, I couldn't stop smiling!

After riding for the crowd I headed down the beach to play on a pole and fence I had seen earlier in our trip. The water level was just right and I was able to get some fun stalls on them.

After everyone had their fill of the wind we came in to close up the event and announce the winners. With no freestyle heats ever getting run the top spot went to the rail session winner from the day before.

Local boy Elliot D. took 4th, BCS snagged himself 3rd, Eric took second, and I took the top spot.

Hatty crew goes 1,2,3!

LTR sun shirt

After we got everything wrapped up we all headed off to Oli to catch one more session for the day. We scored a sick wakestyle session in a secret spot only known as Steinbag Cove. It was a rock slick about 4 miles off shore, the water was glassy and jello blue. If you took the wetsuit away you could have mistaken it for the tropics. It was one of the most beautiful places I've ever kited, on the Great Lakes who would have guessed?

After the session Craig, BCS, Dave Tran, Chuck at LTR, and I all headed back to Long Point to hopefully score a session the next day. We showed up to Craigs secret spot in Long Point, the Long Point Slicks. The spot is amazing, its a flat water slick surrounded by marsh grass on all sides. You have to take a boat through a secret path to get to the spot. It was great to be powered on a kite in flat water again. Craig, BCS, and I sessioned all day while Chuck at Lifethereal shot along with Dave Tran. We got a ton of killer shots and it was great to ride with the boys in our own private slick.

Looks like we are going to go to the cable tomorrow and get some more riding in. It has been a blast in Canada so far and I am already looking forward to the 2011 Sauble Beach Kite Jam. As always, stay tuned for more!

Learn to Kiteboard! Real Team Featured on NBC

2010-08-23T12:27:00.000-07:00

View more news videos at: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/video.

NBC Learn to Kiteboard! We were lucky enough to have a filmer from NBC out here in Cape Hatteras. She managed to catch some riding on a solid SW day with Andre Phillip, Jason Slezak, Brian "BCS" Smith, Bryan Elkus, Lulu, and myself. It was pretty cool to see that kiteboarding is starting to chip away at the mainstream media. Overall the segment turned out good, considering the conditions. Pretty stoked to see kiteboarding on NBC!

Just Kickin it With Ryan Evans

2010-08-16T11:15:00.000-07:00

Brandon Scheid - Just Kickin' It from Ryan Evans on Vimeo.

Just popping in to send out my interview with Ryan Evans. It is another in his Just Kickin It series, he has been doing some web interviews with some of the people involved in the kite industry. We shot it over Skype while I was traveling this past winter. Some old but new footage shot here in Hatteras. Pretty cool how it all turned out. Don't forget your ICE CREAM!!!

KB4C and The Ro-Sham-Throwdown

2010-08-01T07:57:00.000-07:00

REAL Team Oregon Coast | KB4C 2010 from Real Watersports on Vimeo.

What a nice short video from Bryan Elkus from our trip out to the Oregon Coast. The mini trip within our Gorge trip was great. We scored some amazing waves on the coast and all had a great time!

Ro-Sham-Throw Down REAL Team Hood River from Real Watersports on Vimeo.

Here is another short edit of the Ro-Sham-Throwdown at the sandbar. I managed to score 2nd behind Aaron Hadlow, which was pretty much 1st place to me. I was so glad to get out to Hood River and ride with everyone! Very happy with the trip and how everything turned out. Keep checking in for more to come from Hatteras!

Kiteboarding Cover

2010-07-25T23:38:00.000-07:00

I just got my hands on a copy of Kiteboarding Magazine, I was super excited to see that I made the cover!!!! The photo was taken by Bryan Elkus during the 2011 LF team shoot. This is my fist cover and I couldn't be happier with how it turned out. Check inside for more shots from Hatteras and the 2010 SSS.

Another Day in the Slick!

2010-07-23T09:24:00.000-07:00

Heavy hitters back from the hood from Lifethereal on Vimeo.

Another edit from Chuck over at Lifethereal. Was the crews first session after returning from the Hood. It was great to be back in the slick....flat water and consistent wind. Glad to be back in Hatteras!

NA Blend Teaser

2010-07-19T14:01:00.000-07:00

the fantastic NA blend crew from Benoit Paillard on Vimeo.

Short little edit from Ben over at Stance Mag, it was filmed on location in Hatteras and Hood River. I am super pleased with how the edit turned out and I can't wait to see the whole video. I also managed to snag 2nd place at the 1st annul Ro-Sham-Throw Down. It was a super fun event and I was pretty surprised to come away with the silver. Look for some video and photos to come from this weekends shred fest!

Liquid Force 2011

2010-07-17T08:32:00.000-07:00

Liquid Force 2011 Trailer from Nate Appel on Vimeo.

Here is a short preview of the 2011 gear from Liquid Force. This edit was put together by Nate Appel from his time in Cape Hatteras this spring. Its just a small taste of whats to come from LF in 2011!

To the Coast

2010-07-15T08:40:00.000-07:00

After spending a few days in the Hood it was time for a change. We got a call from Tekko saying that the wind and swell was lining up on the coast, so we packed up and headed off. We arrived to find well overhead rights with great side-shore wind. The spot is amazing, a couple of big jetties to block the wind on the waves. You could get 8+ turns a wave...kinda like a slow pour on a beer. We had to wait around for the shroud of fog to lift, but once it did it was on!

The beaches reminded me of the East Coast, but the water was no where near as nice. As soon as my feet touched the water, I knew what kind of session it was going to be. Jason, Julien, Stuckey, Tekko, Bryan and I shredded in the surf all day, and the best wave went to Tekko's hooked/unhooked ten turn right. It was great to be back in the ocean again, especially on the west coast. If your ever at the Oregon Coast be sure to look for Redline, but not if you have a drug test to pass!

Ro-Sham-Throw Down Pre Party

2010-07-15T08:03:00.000-07:00

Ro-Sham-Throw Down PreFunk from Nate Appel on Vimeo.

After a few days of riding in the hood, Nate Appel over at Cineaptic put together this short video. Its just a small preview of whats going to be happening in the hood this weekend. Should be a great event and everyone is starting to filter into town. Can't wait for the sandbar sessions to begin!

The Gorge Goes Off

2010-07-12T22:24:00.000-07:00

First Turn at KB4C

Things have been going off here in Hood River, OR. The REAL team, comprised of Jason Slezak, Dominique Granger, Chris Stuckey, Sensi Graves and myself, have been taking advantage of the great conditions. We awoke on the first day to great wind here in the Hood. We all shook the rust off and got a warm up session at the sandbar, prepping for the marathon the next day. It was good to get in the water, and even better to be back in the Hood!

The next day started with a little skate session at the local skate park. The park is amazing, lines galore! Sure makes me happy that I spent so much time skating in Hatteras.

After our session at the skate park the team headed off to the Event site to start KB4C. Everyone was excited for the event and there was 130+ people registered for the event. Team REAL Wind Ninjas showed up in full force and quickly got on the water. The wind for the day was rather gusty and made it quite interesting, kites going down left and right and even some tangles.

They set up a very challenging course for this years event, but that didn't seem to deter the ninjas! They managed to put in 23 laps during the 6 hours on the water, earning them 3rd place in the event. It was great to see the whole team come together and really push it, in a new kite spot.

The event was amazing and they raised over $100,000 for cancer research, treatment, and prevention. A big thanks to Tonia Farman for organizing such a great event for everyone!

After the event we headed over to the sand bar to do some shooting for Stance Magazine. The crew consisted of Eric Rienstra, Sam Medyesky, Jon VanMaslen, and I. The wind was great and everyone was stoked to get some hits on the sliders.

The next day saw much of the same, we headed down to the sand bar for some more shooting. Billy Parker and Matt Sexton showed up after a long drive from Florida. They brought a 55ft transforming rail with them across the country. We took a few minutes to decide how we wanted to set it up and everyone hit the water in full force. We ended up getting some great shots and everyone was really stoked on the session.

Today saw some very different conditions, the wind looked rather holey here in Hood River so we decided to head off to Rufus. We showed up to the parking lot to find everyone hiding in their cars from the wind. We stepped out and it felt like we were in a hurricane. It was blowing 35-50 with over-head river swell, pretty much as insane as it gets.

We got everyone on the water Sensi and Stuckey were switching off on the 4.5m, Dom rode a 5m, and Jason and I traded out the 7m Envy. I can't even to begin to explain how insane it was. I pulled my biggest jump and kiteloop in the same session. Billy, Eric and Jon were going ballistic, throwing the biggest kite loops I've ever seen.

The day will go down as one of my most memorable sessions of my kiting career. It was like nowhere I've ever been the insane wind, giant river swell, and the martian landscape. It's a spot I hope I can come back to again. We drove home frothing from our session in the shadow of Mount. Hood. There is some kind of magic out here, a kind you have to experience for yourself!

Donate to Team Wind Ninjas for KB4C!

2010-07-06T18:02:00.000-07:00

With our trip to The Gorge just around the corner, it's time to call out for donations. Team Wind Ninjas is comprised of Sensi Graves, Chris Stuckey, Dominique Granger, and Jason Slezak. Wind Ninja’s goal is to raise positive and eclectic awareness, all the while motivating individuals to financially support KB4C through our active participation in this event. As a team, with each member having been personally affected by cancer, we are excited to support and participate in this year’s KB4C event! Watch out, Wind Ninja’s are silent and quick….

You can donate to team Wind Ninjas here:

Donate!

Check back in real soon for full coverage of our travels to The Gorge, its going to be one hell of a trip!

Swamp Footage Video

2010-06-30T16:56:00.000-07:00

swamp footy from lifethereal on Vimeo.

Chuck over at Lifethereal put together a little edit from the other morning. The crew consisted of Brian "BCS" Smith, Evan Netsch, and Nick Baines. It was a fun session and I'm totally stoked on the edit. Look for more coming from LTR and the Hatty Crew!

Kiteboarding Cover Vote

2010-06-28T15:39:00.000-07:00

Looks like I'm in the running for the next issue of Kiteboarding Magazines cover. Go and vote for me by commenting on the photo you like the best. I personally think the night slider shot is the best one and I am really excited to see it make it to the final round of pics.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=4478199&id=211952538016&comments&alert#!/photo.php?pid=4478199&id=211952538016&comments&fbid=415755848016

VOTE!!!!!!

Feelin the Love

2010-06-28T15:32:00.000-07:00

Since all the Triple-S media is about to drop, I figured I would put up my recent coverage. Got the above shot published in Kiteboarding Magazine, along with the one below. I am pretty stoked on how the shots printed, looks great.

We also have a contest going at Real along with Kona Brewing Company for a vacation house and a Real Kite Camp. They ended up choosing one of Elkus shots for the banner. Been seeing them all over town, kinda strange.

Looks like a ton more coming out so stay tuned!

Rocking in Cape Hatteras!

2010-06-24T21:50:00.000-07:00

So it has been awhile since I've put out any new updates, and a bit has happened since my last one. First off I managed to come away with 1st overall at the 2010 Triple-S. You can see the video updates from the event here. The event was tougher than ever this year, there were so many talented riders here. The riding level out of everyone this year was higher than all the previous years combined. I was very pleased with my result and am already looking forward to next year!

We also finished the 2011 product shoot for Liquid Force, it was great to have the whole force of the LF team in town. Everything went over really smoothly, and I think LF has the most solid kite team out there! Look for a ton of coverage to come out of the shoot and one bad ass ad campaign.

Recently we have been sessioning a ton here in Cape Hatteras, the summer SW has kicked in and "The Slick" has been going off in the evenings. Everyone is enjoying the warm wind and water, and with the extra summer light we have been riding well past the sunset. Everyone here is starting to get excited for the next big trip out to Hood River for the KB4C event and the Hood River Slider Jam. Until then we will keep riding hard here in Waves.

Green Slider Project

2010-06-04T18:39:00.000-07:00

Liquid Force Green Slider Build from Nate Appel on Vimeo.

Just a short video from Nate Appel about Liquid Force's new recycled wall ride. We constructed it over a few days out of the guts from the old Red Bull Fun Box. We have scored a few sessions on it and the thing is a blast. Finished it off just in time for the Triple-S, I'm ready for the action!

Park Sessions

2010-05-31T08:59:00.000-07:00

Its been busy here in Hatteras. The whole LF team is in town for the 2011 product shoot. We have been getting killer conditions. In the past few days we have been sessioning the Real Slider Park. Its great to be on the water with all the guys, pushing the level of riding.

05/30 Hatteras from smpl on Vimeo.

This is a short clip of a 3 off the new LF kicker.
Forecast looks good for the rest of the week, so I'm sure we will get tons more stuff.

Slick and Wake Sessions

2010-05-10T18:51:00.000-07:00

With the wind blowing we have had a ton of riding in here in Cape Hatteras. The last few days have been really good, solid SW. Wanting to try something new, Elkus and I went out and did some follow shooting. I was riding my 11m Hi-fi and Elkus was following with his 12m Havoc. We scored some really original shots, and got closer than comfort on a few tricks. Later that same night Bryan shot from the slick, I was working on getting some new grabs with my rolls. We scored some really tweaked japan air roll to reverts...felt so nice.

Following a day of rest the REAL crew pulled out the JWCF slider for a little wake session. Everyone walked away with some nice hits. Brian "BCS" Smith and I had a gap fest, both getting some gap to back lips, and I managed a gap 3. Pretty happy with how the session went, considering it was my first slider session behind the ski.

Lastly, I scored a photo on REAL's main site. Check it out!

http://www.realkiteboarding.com/

Next week the Liquid Force Team shoot begins here in Cape Hatteras, so stay tuned for a ton of riding updates!

10m on 10m

2010-04-28T16:23:00.000-07:00

S-bend

So after having 3 days of 30-40 winds I was tired of no wakestyle and riding 7m's. So I decided to try a set of 10m lines. I've never ridden such short lines, it was a whole different beast. I ended up riding a 10m Envy and it worked great even on the shorties. Its very similar to the pull at the cable park. I had a blast and landed one of the most legit powered back mobes I've ever done! Pretty much canceled small kites for me. Time to make a short line bar!

Also got a nice vynal on the door at REAL. The shot was taken by Bryan Elkus during REAL's BVI trip this winter. Pretty excited to see it!

New Video

2010-04-22T08:42:00.000-07:00

Brandon Scheid 2010 from Kitesurferen.dk on Vimeo.

Just got a new video up and going, it was shot at KP during REAL's Demo Daze. It was shot by fellow Liquid Force Team Rider Thomas Alsbirk. It was a great day in Hatteras and I'm super glad that the footage turned out good. Check it out!!!

Super Fly Pictures

2010-04-21T16:32:00.000-07:00

Found a couple of shots from the Super Fly Open hiding in the internet. Props to Sean at Black Owl Media for the photos!! Hope you enjoy!

PCTV

2010-04-20T18:26:00.000-07:00

Just a short video that we shot for Park City Television while I was in Utah. Actually turned out great for the conditions, I'm pretty pleased. Also a few shots from a session at KP from the other day, pretty happy with how they look considering the ultra light wind.

158 Skate

2010-04-20T07:11:00.000-07:00

Sam ripping the 158 ramp

With a mellow day of wind we decided to head north to Nags Head. We hit some thrift stores and scored some killer deals on threads. After thrifting we hit the 158 Skate ramp in KDH. The ramp is a good step-up from Browns ramp here in waves. It was amazing to see team Canadas progression go through the roof.

Shuvit to rock!

Lastly is a few clips of me riding at KP during REAL's Demo Daze. The video features the 2010 Kaos board from Liquid Force. It was a really good day of riding, look for a full length video from the day soon!

LF Tech Minute on the 2010 KAOS by Jason Slezak from Liquid Force Kites on Vimeo.

Photos,Photos!!!

2010-04-16T19:49:00.000-07:00

As soon as I stepped foot back onto Hatteras, the sessioning began. We started with skating on a local mini ramp. Bryan Elkus scored some really good shots of all the boys. For more shots from the session check out Elkus' Flickr page.

The next day the SW was on, we rode the slick and got some really good flatwater shots. After the sun set, we rode the REAL Dock and got some amazing flash shots. Check back in for some shots from tonights session over the next few days.

These shots ran in Kiteboarder Europe. Pretty stoked on how they turned out, and its great to get some over-seas publicity. Last but not least are some photos from my past trip to the Super Fly Open. The shots turned out great, can't wait to see more.

Check back in for a ton more over the next few days!

Michigan Trip

2010-04-14T15:06:00.000-07:00

After a few weeks on Hatteras it was time to head home for a little break. Time home is always nice, and this trip was especially great. My best friend Derrin got hitched and I was part of the wedding. Besides the wedding Michigan was full of fun times. I skated a lot of new parks, spent some time with old friends, and even strapped on some skates for some nostalgic fun.

The first spot we hit was Grand Haven, since I left they put in a very nice concrete park. It was fun to go to the beach that I spent so much time on as a youth. Not to mention the sick park.

I also spent a fair amount of time skating the Modern Skate Park in GR. It has to be one of the best parks I've ever skated. They have everything, from a mini ramp with a spine, to a giant concrete bowl.

After a few days relaxing and touring Grand Rapids, we headed off to Fredrick Meijer Gardens. It's a large botanical garden/sculpture park. It has been awhile since I have visited the gardens, and it was nice to see all kinds of new sights.

Da Vinci Horse.

The last thing on my Grand Rapids check list was to hit the infamous "Fish Ladder" Rail. I know, I know, rollerblading is lame, but can you hit a 80ft rail? I went from barely skating to hitting the rail in a matter of minutes. It felt so good to get the whole rail again, after all its been five years.

Now I'm headed back to Cape Hatteras to get back to the grind. Looks like an epic forecast for the weekend and I look forward to getting back out kiting, surfing and skating!

REAL Demo Daze!

2010-03-28T18:37:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend was Reals Demo Daze. With the NE breeze cranking it was off to Kite Point to demo all the 2010 kites. Liquid Force kites took over with 2010 Havocs, Envys, and Hi-Fis. Also available was the whole line-up of 2010 boards. Jason, Thomas, Julien, and I all made it out on the water over the course of the day, and we all managed to grab a fun session.

Thomas

The wind was cranking and most people were flying 8's and 10's. I put up my 9m Hi-Fi and had perfect power. The pool at KP was just like always gusty and shifty, and it didn't help having 25 cars on the beach. I still managed to pull some good tricks for the crowd, and got some nice video with Thomas. Check back for the footy soon.

Props to Bryan Elkus for the shots.

On a side note got a interview with Sail Fast posted on their blog. More Coverage...Whoop!

http://isailfast.blogspot.com/

More to come soon!

Action Packed Day!

2010-03-23T21:34:00.000-07:00

Butter

It was another great day to be on Hatteras Island! I awoke to the rushing sound of wind on my window, thats got to be the worlds best alarm clock. It took me awhile to roll out of bed and get moving after the previous days sessions. We gathered the troops and made some grub, which gave the temps time to climb.

No shorts...No problem!

Nice Setup

Trevor, BCS, and I hit the slick. I was riding my 11m Hi-Fi and Kaos and Trevor was riding the 8m Envy. The wind started out strong and faded through the session making it hard to get solid pop. The Kaos was performing well in the conditions, with its flatter rocker outline it cranks upwind even in the lighter wind. We still managed to land some powered tricks before the wind completely faded.

Shifty

Tail slide

After packing up all the gear and grabbing a quick bite we jetted off to Oregon Inlet to go kiteskating. We showed up and the wind was trickling off, we put kites up anywase. It ended up being a blast and we all scored some fun riding.

As if that wasn't enough the day ended with a beautiful sunset. I wouldn't want it any other way, it's days like today that make you happy to be living in Hatteras.

First Slick Session of the Season!

2010-03-22T16:48:00.000-07:00

SW on tap!

After a morning meeting with all the REAL veteran coaches about the upcoming season for the school, we scored the first session of 2010. BCS, RPE, Eric Rienstra, Trevor, and all the other vets were running the slick. I managed to sneak in a few tricks, working on my blind judges. With the SW pumping, everyone was riding their small kites 8m Envy for me. The water temps were amazing, spring has sprung. I rode in my Oneill Psycho II 4/3 and was plenty warm, no gloves or hood needed. Unfortunatly I forgot my camera riding so only scenery shots this time round. More to come soon, it's offically on!

Nice days end

Back In Hatty!

2010-03-19T20:22:00.000-07:00

Best Office View Possible!

I arrived in Cape Hatteras a few days ago and the sessioning has begun. Between the seaweed destruction and the mini ramp destruction everyone is getting their fill. The weather has been beautiful, its good to be back on the island.

The wind has been mellow, which is giving us the time to get the REAL school in order. Task one is getting all the seaweed out of the boat basin. Nick, Clint, Eric and I have been at it for two days now and we haven't even made a dent.

Still full after 2 full days

Nico getting some greens

After putting in some hard hours in the boat basin its only fair that we are putting some hours at the ramp. A friend of ours put a nice mellow mini under his house. The sessions are going down and everyone's progression is going through the roof.

Peanut Gallery

The weather is shaping up to be killer for the next few days, more seaweed and skating for sure. Hopefully we will score some weekend surf or wind. Check back for more updates from Hatty!