www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/waikatotimes/0,2106,3506636a13416,00.html

Kite surfers take to the air in Raglan
09 December 2005
By GEOFF LEWIS

RAGLAN kite surfer and instructor Trent Robertson discovered the power of nature last month while demonstrating his skills in the emerging sport.



Trent had completed a series of tricks and tumbles from his fast-moving board when a gust snapped his harness cables and left him with a 15-minute harbour mouth swim on a fast outgoing tide.

The former Hamilton man spent most of his younger years in Australia, Thailand and Cambodia before returning to New Zealand and settling in Raglan about four years ago _ attracted by the surf.

"Kite surfing is about 10 years old in New Zealand. When I arrived in Raglan there was maybe me and one other guy out there. Now there's about 15 regular kite surfers and up to 30 on a weekend."

Raglan is ideal for kite surfing, with its prevailing westerly winds making ideal conditions for the sport on an outgoing tide.

"The current adds six to eight knots in speed. If you fall off you float out to the bar. We use both sides of the (harbour mouth) bar and go up the coast to Mussel Rock. We can do 30km to 40km in a session. You can go anywhere you like and you control how fast you go."

Mr Robertson said the brightly-coloured kite sails were often obvious to people driving into town, and boosted the number of people calling for lessons.

The speed of the kites depends on the size of the sail, weight of the rider and strength of the wind. Larger sails, up to about 25m sq in area are commonly used in lighter winds, and smaller sails in a stronger wind.

AdvertisementAdvertisementTrent is a kite-surfing instructor who works in the Blow-Me kite shop next door to Gag surf shop in Bow St.

This summer is shaping up to be a huge season for kite surfing in Raglan with the New Zealand National Kite Surfing Championships scheduled for April 2006.

Last year's champs attracted more than 100 competitors to Christchurch.

Before then, Trent will ride an 800km Christmas Day down-winder from Gold Coast to Narrabeen off the Australian coast.
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Tell us more Trent???

yup, trent is da man pity about his barman skills?! :oops:

Jeeze T-rent , better check ya cables next time bra




That " one other guy " would be the guy that taught you.

There are a shite-load of mis-quotes in this article....
Either the reporter wasn't listening or what was said was a load of old bollocks.

800 kms downwinder huh?

That's a bit further than getting sucked out the harbour and waiting for the coastguard to help out.....

Or a 2km downwinder over Aoteas notorious pacific oysterbed & subsequent 2hr kite/ leg-lacerating mud-walk back in the darkness!!!

when gavin and i arrived in raglan (1999) there were only a couple of guys out as well - us - and even skyrider himself was still a virgin kiter in waiting.

Freaky cats turn up on your patch wearing long pants, wakeboards/ bindings & kites Hucking Huge airs.....

What tha ?

Naturally there was a paradigm shift to be made before my defloration.....

stamobfs 8 on the harbour feb 2000...fucken put me off kiting till last year...however once the guys that know how to really ride starting turning up here over the last year or so...things have moved on..and now the crew are all smiling and as we have found...the riding is first class..

stamobfs 8?

yeh ..stamos 8...wind tool was the brand..a blanket with condoms!!!!!!
i flew it in the paddock at the farm for an hour...then took it down to the water and with a "tow in board " amazingly fanged off downwind gybing ala windsurfer styles...
did that again the next day in west/swest sea breeze..
next day it honked 30kn northerly and as I thought I was getting it all sussed...I took off on the north side...and went downwind again..but this time toward the toilets/baches...
no safety to speak of..and no chance once on land heading toward the bank...the toilets and baches..
anyway I did'nt end up hopitalised ...but it did hurt enough to call it
quits with the "kiting" thing...back to windsurfing...
STAM..bloodyfucken..OS..

o i c