After a few days back at home and recovering from the plane flu, it has been good. Blazing sunshine and lot of BBQ’s, but no wind at all. What better to do that wakeboard for some cross-training! Here is a shot from this morning, 7am, tow surfing at my local beach on a small 1-2 foot ground swell! Great no-wind fun!
I have just touched down back in the UK, after about three months on the road traveling from spot to spot, it is nice to get back on home turf. I have a few exiting projects to be working on in the next few weeks too, planning and building some rail obstacles with Chris Burke for the White Air event in September then do some shooting with Toby from Core mag. Maybe throw a little bit of wakeboarding and cable in there for cross training too :)
i will post pictures as these various fun projects unfold, as well as my next video from the Triple-S, Hawaii and DR…all in the works. cheers t
After a week In the Dominican republic, finally the weather has sorted its self out and the wind has started to blow again. I have been having some awesome sessions on the flat water at La Boca with susi, filming and shooting a bit too. Here is a sequence of my latest Trick that i stuck a few days ago!
So, after the Triple-S contest finished, we partied until 3am then drove straight to the airport in Norfolk, VA flying to Miami and then on to Cabarete, DR. In Miami we stayed and extra night as the plane was over booked, it was sick to catch a movie with some friends for the night.
So now im back in the Dominican once again, unfortunately the weather is pretty back, no wind and raining most days. Looks like the forecast isnt too hopeful for the next few days either. When the wind does come though, i am straight out filming for my new Animal shoe release video that will feature my new pro model LTD edition shoe and some good action. Hope to have it up soon!
have a friends wedding at the weekend too, so should be some big parties!
Man, the last few days have been busy! lots of riding and even more partying. Thats the hardest thing about this event, is you also get judged on the night life. so its important to turn up every night to the parties…even after six hours of riding!
Had a few great sessions though, its has been awesome riding with everyone here and seeing everyone improve. I feel like im getting a bit more confident on the rails now too. Only two more days to go before the end of the event and the judging/prize giving where we find out who won the disciplines and overall…next up, waves!
The first day of the Triple-S event was pretty chilled, the forecast predicted no wind so everyone was ready. Registration was at 1pm and then they dragged out a slider so all of the registered event riders could hit it using one of the ten jet skis that they have at our disposal. It was wicked fun and a great way to get some practice for the wind that’s on its way for the rest of the week!
I have a feeling there will be some good shots to post in the next few day. In the mean time, check out www.coreonlinemagazine.com for more updates! cheers
I just arrived at the Triple-S contest in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina after flying in from Maui a few days ago. I had a good session yesterday to warm up before the Surf, Slicks and Sliders comp starts today.
Wind forecast is looking a little dodgy for the next few days but it should produce some good action by the end of the week. Fingers X’d. I will keep pics posted as and when i get them…
I had a good four days on Oahu last week, did loads whilst we were there, went skydiving again with skydive Hawaii which was fun. I only did one jump (my 6th), but Susi completed her A license with 25 jumps, stoked.
We where staying with John Bilderback on the Northshore, right on sunset beach, so i got some good surf in. I rode V-land with Davey Blair the first night i got there. It was nice to do some good surfing again after weeks of no waves. Also did some shooting and filming with JB in his studio for the launch of my new Animal shoe, which was fun. I will let you know when those come out!
On Maui now for two days before leaving to Cape Hatteras and the Tripple-S Contest, which should be fun! Going to do some filiming there for my next video…check back soon!
Right, the MAITAI kite camp has just drawn to a close, with an 80+ turn out it was an awesome success. Despite the bad forecast the Maui winds came through and delivered for the whole week at kitebeach, getting all of the camp out on the water almost every day. I got loads of great riding in with an awesome bunch of people. had a great time.
Now however we (susi, her mum and me) have just arrived on Oahu for the next installment of the Hawaii trip. With a bit of luck we will get some wind here and I will be able to shoot some stuff with John Bilderback and my new signature shoe model from Animal (just got the prototypes).
pics to come. cheers, tom
After another long set of flights i have just arrived out in Maui, Hawaii again. Stoked to be back! This time its for the world exclusive kite camp, the MAITAI. Despite the dodgy forecast the last few days have been good, with light 15-20knot winds and sunny skies.
Had a few good sessions at kite beach with Jesse Richman and Susi but today we start giving tips and showing the guests of the camp how to do it. Should be fun.
I am here in Hawaii for the next few weeks untill the 25th, maybe going to Oahu for a few days to surf the North shore and hang out with the photographer JB. Mite fit some sky diving in there somewhere too :) updates soon! cheers
Check out the new video page on my website. this links all my videos from my www.youtube.com/tomcourt4 account through here onto my website. Stoked to have it up and running.
I have just been at home for the last few weeks, attending a few meetings with my sponsor Animal that are based in Poole. I has been nice to get some down time and a chance to kite/sail with the family.
I leave again on Sunday back out to Maui, Hawaii to attend the exclusive kiteboarding event: the ‘MaiTai’, organised by Susi Mai and Bill Tai. Cant wait! updates to come…
I just got back home after a long week in Egypt testing some of the new North 2010 gear. I was good fun, but unfortunately we only had two days with wind, and that wasn’t very strong. Played some quality volleyball though and made the most of the all inclusive bar!
I have just posted a new video @ www.youtube.com/tomcourt4 so check it out. It from a short session at kitebeach in Maui, Hawaii a few weeks ago. anyways, i have some meetings in the UK next week so i will post any good news!
I am now sat at Heathrow airport. nice to be home, if a little short lived. I am back for a five hour stop over on my way to Egypt to shoot with North at Hamata. Flying now for about twenty hours, i am feeling a little tired, still another two flights to go and a six hour taxi ride to the kite spot. should arrive just intime for sunrise and the first session! few. what a mission.
Anyways, the last days in Hawaii where fun, i did a bit of filming with susi, so i will have another video online soon! keep you posted. cheers.
Iv been out in Maui, Hawaii now for about a week, it has been great to just be out there to relax and shoot some photos. The weather hasn’t been that great with some clouds and a lot of rain, but the wind has been on every day around 30 knots and a nice swell hit yesterday. I have been riding a few different spots, but mostly kite beach with some kickers and freestyle, shooting with Tracy Kraft. www.tracykraft.com.
Also had a little session at secrets the other day to get some waves, nothing huge but was good fun, here are some shots from that. So, i am here for another week to get some good riding in, before i head off on a huge mission to Egypt for the North 010 photoshoot which should be fun! i will keep you posted on my 60 hours of flying. ahhh
After some good rest time back in the UK at home, and some productive meetings, it is time to head off again. Where better to start the water sports mecca , Maui. So I booked my ticket yesterday and im off on the 31st for a couple of weeks.
Im hoping to shoot with some people out there and polish my riding before i start competing this year, unfortunately it looks like i mite miss the start of the PKRA tour in France, but I will for sure hit the 2nd event in the Dominican Republic after the SSS in June.
The last week was awesome in the DR i finished the M.O.T.O (master of the ocean) contest in 7th place for the kiteing, but i didn’t compete in the overall three disciplines, so this made it hard. The level of the local riders is amazing, even better than it was last year. They are starting to innovate the sport towards their own style, has to be seen!
I was joined out there by fellow team mate Kirsty Jones who now rides for Animal and North and we rode in the event together as well as hanging out in the town for the parties. Susi (my girlfriend) and Animal team rider was on Neker island at the same time, kite boarding with Richard Branson. So, alot has happened in the last few weeks. I dare say you mite see some shots in the mags soon…
Finally fellow isle of wighter Toby Bromwich has just launched his new magazine and website @: www.coreonlinemagazine.com (note im not in it for next issue ;))
I am now out in the Dominican Republic again, for some training before the start of the main contest season. As is happens the ‘Master of the Ocean’ contest is on at the same time, so i an competing in that, currently in the semi finals after passing two heats in the main event. Also here to compete is my fellow Animal Clothing team mate, Kirsty Jones.
I am staying here only for the next week, to do a diving course before i head back to the UK to ride in the cold before the France PKRA in April. I will keep you posted with pictures and new videos.
Here a short action video from our Brazil travel trip late in 2008
Some fresh action coming soon as i am off to the Dominican Republic on thursday to shoot and film with my girlfriend Susi Mai. I will post some pictures etc when i get them
www.youtube.com/tomcourt4
orhttp://www.vimeo.com/3193983 for HD
Here are some links to my latest video, a short re-cut of some 2008 kiteboarding action!
-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0DIBubin0U
-http://www.vimeo.com/3112879 for the HD version
I had two good weeks in Fuerteventura, we had wind almost every day but it was alot colder that expected. However the winter swells delivered the goods and i got sailing at some nice point breaks and crunching shore dumps. here are some shots to paint the picture!
Now I am heading home again quickly to get some kit from my new sponsor ION and collect all of my 2009 kites. My current plans are to stay in the UK until the 15th of Feb and then head back of the the Caribbean to visit some new islands. I will keep you posted on my actions over the next few weeks in the English winter…
After spending over a month bay at home in the UK, I am making the move to head to the wind. I am going to Fuerteventura, one of the Canarie Islands, on saterday for two weeks to film and shoot some 2009 wave action with the new 2009 North freestyle fish wave board.
With a 22knot wind forecast and over 3.5m swells rolling on to the North shore of Fuerte, it looks like we could get some pretty epic conditions. Check back within the week for some fresh shots and maybe a new vid!
As i have been traveling now for most of the year, it is a nice change to be back at home, enjoying xmas and new year with my mates. The UK winter makes a change from the tropical scene of palms in the wind and white sandy beaches…you mite think an unwelcome change. However, as cold as it is its always nice when the sea dishes up some nice waves from afar. Unfortunately there has been no wind so i havnt been able to kite, but here are some shots from my home surf break…
Dont let the cold put you off :)
After two nice months in the Caribean, I have returned home to the UK for Xmas with my friends. I am also going to start the new year off well with some professional training in a gym in London, working on a new regime for next year…
Maybe a short trip to Fuerteventura to test a new wave board and gather some nice video for the winter season! I will keep you posted
HAPPY CHRISTMAS!
The latest after a long decision to ratify kiteboarding as and official sport under the world sailing federation’s rules, see’s a new official outright world sailing speed record going to kiteboarding at 50.57knots!
More info at:http://www.sailspeedrecords.com/content/view/102/3/
Not to leave kiteboarding freestyle in the dust though, there are further decisions being made to confirm a new official world freestyle championship for 2009.
latest developments in the kiteboarding world include kite racing and world competition going closer to sailing regulations, more info at:http://www.kiteforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=2352882
dont forget to check out my youtube channel at www.youtube.com/tomcourt4 for the latest in kite boarding action and travel…footage from the new wide angle hero cameras on its way!
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