Boosting Up and Stomping Down

Bellingham’s Wind Warriors

Wind blasts from the southwest. The 12 meter kite rips the boarder across the water’s

surface, leaving white spray in their wake. A strong gust catches the kite and the rider shifts the

angle of the handlebar, lifting him two stories off the water’s surface. Even when he falls, the

shallow water is forgiving. He easily gets back on his board.

Ask any kiteboarder why they love the sport and you’ll receive the same answer: it is

freeing.

There is nothing like rocketing across the water and reaching 20-foot heights using wind

power alone.

Bellingham’s Locust Beach provides experienced and amateur kiteboarders the

opportunity to test themselves in a sparing environment. In comparison to other beaches,

Locust’s water is warm and shallow. This decreases chop, offering an ideal environment for the

sport during peak season.

On the professional level, people characterize kiteboarding as an intense sport where the

riders glide across the water and reach astounding heights of 60 or 80 feet by boosting. Boosting

is when the rider shifts the angle of their kite directly above them to lift off the water.

“The feeling is incomparable,” says Shad Malone, a 2001 Western graduate and 10-year

kiteboarding veteran.

During its infancy in the late 90s and early 2000s, kiteboarding was a dangerous sport.

There were no instructional videos or books on how to properly ride and the wind could be
unforgiving. Even with proper training and gear the sport can still provide a formidable

challenge to amateurs and veterans alike.

“It definitely will work you. I’ve never been ragged dolled so hard,” Brian Smith,

kiteboarder enthusiast, says with a grin, the sleeves of his wetsuit still tied around his waist.

Part of the fun is how rough the sport can be.

“It is like a roller coaster ride,” Alessandro De Rocco, Western business graduate, says.

“That was kind of a crazy feeling, and it made me want more.”

Bellingham’s strong winds provide perfect conditions for the small community of

kiteboarders. In the winter, the winds can reach up to 40 mph.

“It’s like combat kiting because you’re dealing with waves and wind,” Shad said. “It’s an

exhilarating experience like you’re in the middle of a war zone.”

Wind may keep the average beach goer away, but when high winds move in, so do the

riders. The powerful winds provide tremendous amounts of power that allow the riders to dart

across the water.

“It’s kind of like having super powers,” says Dave Johnson, general manager of

Bellingham’s Kite Paddle Surf shop and kiteboarder for nine years. “You can take this piece of

fabric and generate more power than most motorsports can in just a few seconds.”

A strong gust of wind can rapidly lift a surfer tens of feet into the air and slam them down

into the water with a cannonball impact. The sport has a steep learning curve. But, once you

learn it, it is like riding a bike, local kiteboarder Katie Cross says.

The first kiteboarding competition was held in 1998 in Maui, Hawaii. The following

decade brought the sport to Whatcom County.

 It wasn’t long after that that local kiteboarders found out Locust Beach a great location to

kite. The predictably strong winds provide riders with an ideal location to board. While some

people might dislike the rocky nature of the beach, the growing number of athletes are grateful

they don’t have to worry about sand sticking to their wet kites.

Since the sport has gained popularity, it is easier to find instructional videos online and

kite schools in Washington.

“Fifteen years ago there were probably only two or three kiters using the various spots.

They were former windsurfers who picked up kiteboarding,” Dave, KitePaddleSurf’s manager,

says.

Aaron Knapp, a product reviewer for Kite Paddle Surf, was one of the first kiteboarders

in the Bellingham area. He began 14 years ago and learned at Locust Beach. He says it was a

rough start. The sport has a steep learning curve. Trying to grasp the sport often resulted in

getting dragged and slammed into the water. Kiteboarding does not provide instant gratification,

but it is worth the time, Aaron says. Once a rider masters the basics, they can start boosting to

breathtaking heights.

The feeling of freedom from ripping across the water is unmatched. It’s a total rush and

an addictive pastime, Shad says. The sport can consume a person.

“Over the last 10 years it has become more popular as kiteboarding became more

accessible through safer instruction and equipment that is easier to use,” Dave says.

Advancements in gear and technique has increased the versatility of the sport. It provides

riders the freedom to ride how they want.

 “You can go wherever you want on the water. It is so peaceful but also has the whole

adrenaline rush of jumping really high or slashing waves,” Aaron says. “You can be cruising on

the water, and at the same time you can jump these huge airs.”

Unlike other kiteboarding locations in Washington State, Locust Beach is less densely

populated by boarders and provides an ideal spot for those looking to learn. It is easy to

reposition and relaunch the kite in the waist high water.

“No one knows, Locust Beach is the best kiteboarding place in the state,” Shad says.

Bellingham’s community of kiteboarders is not large one. But this doesn’t seem to bother

the local boarders. Bellingham’s of wind warriors are a tight-knit group, able to tell each other

apart by the colors and patterns on their kite. The community is open. They love to talk about the

sport and can recommend places where those interested can find proper instruction and gear.

Ask any kiteboarder why they kite. They will tell you: it’s like having superpowers.