Kiteboarders take time to teach basics
Posted: Fri Jul 07, 2006 9:53 pm
Group hypes up extreme sport
Kiteboarders take time to teach basics
BY HEATHER SANCHEZ
Special to the Record-Eagle
ELK RAPIDS รณ In a small shop tucked behind Traverse City's Welcome Center, a group of men and one woman watched a video on kiteboarding and gasped as they envisioned themselves 30 feet above the water.
The group had gathered for a two-day camp held by Broneah Kiteboarding.
Broneah sells kiteboarding equipment and lessons, and was founded by Matt and Keegan Myers of Neahtawanta Point. The brothers are certified by the Professional Air Sport Association and hold editor positions for Kiteboarding Magazine.
The Myers brothers have offered kiteboarding demonstrations at the Open Space throughout the week.
"We don't have a shop right downtown because we're not interested in walk-in customers," said Matt Myers, co-owner of Broneah. "You have to search us out because we only deal with people who really want to learn how to kiteboard."
The weekend class teaches the basics of maneuvering the kites, and familiarizes students with the water, board and other equipment. By Sunday afternoon, the goal of Broneah is "to get them confident enough so that they can go home, get on their gear and go practice on their own," said Keegan Myers.
He contends that once the basics are established, kiteboarding is one of the easier board sports.
"Flying the kite basically uses the same principles as flying a stunt kite," said Troy Light of Chicago, a second-time Broneah summer camp student. "If you can combine that with skills in using a board, you can master the sport."
The brothers take their students to isolated beaches all over northern Michigan where wind conditions are ideal and they don't have to worry about running over swimmers.
"People in Traverse City don't seem to think that this sport is very popular," said Matt Myers. "What they don't realize is that lots of people do it, they just don't do it in high-profile areas because it's too crowded."
The brothers emphasized the importance of taking a class when first learning how to kiteboard to avoid unnecessary risks and injuries.
"When we tried to learn how to do it, we realized it's really dangerous if you don't have someone to teach you the basics," said Matt Myers.
Kiteboarders take time to teach basics
BY HEATHER SANCHEZ
Special to the Record-Eagle
ELK RAPIDS รณ In a small shop tucked behind Traverse City's Welcome Center, a group of men and one woman watched a video on kiteboarding and gasped as they envisioned themselves 30 feet above the water.
The group had gathered for a two-day camp held by Broneah Kiteboarding.
Broneah sells kiteboarding equipment and lessons, and was founded by Matt and Keegan Myers of Neahtawanta Point. The brothers are certified by the Professional Air Sport Association and hold editor positions for Kiteboarding Magazine.
The Myers brothers have offered kiteboarding demonstrations at the Open Space throughout the week.
"We don't have a shop right downtown because we're not interested in walk-in customers," said Matt Myers, co-owner of Broneah. "You have to search us out because we only deal with people who really want to learn how to kiteboard."
The weekend class teaches the basics of maneuvering the kites, and familiarizes students with the water, board and other equipment. By Sunday afternoon, the goal of Broneah is "to get them confident enough so that they can go home, get on their gear and go practice on their own," said Keegan Myers.
He contends that once the basics are established, kiteboarding is one of the easier board sports.
"Flying the kite basically uses the same principles as flying a stunt kite," said Troy Light of Chicago, a second-time Broneah summer camp student. "If you can combine that with skills in using a board, you can master the sport."
The brothers take their students to isolated beaches all over northern Michigan where wind conditions are ideal and they don't have to worry about running over swimmers.
"People in Traverse City don't seem to think that this sport is very popular," said Matt Myers. "What they don't realize is that lots of people do it, they just don't do it in high-profile areas because it's too crowded."
The brothers emphasized the importance of taking a class when first learning how to kiteboard to avoid unnecessary risks and injuries.
"When we tried to learn how to do it, we realized it's really dangerous if you don't have someone to teach you the basics," said Matt Myers.