Saturday, May 29, 2010

Who's That- Eric Reinstra

Reposted from SBC Kiteboard Magazine
words and photos by Lance Koudele

The golden dreadlocks are unmistakable. They mingle amongst the local tribes as one who belongs... the sandbar of Hood River, Lanes at Maui, the slicks of Hatteras, peaks of the Sierras. If it’s kite, surf, snowboard or wake it doesn’t matter. People respect the laid-back, determined focus and distinct style that follows the traveler named Eric Rienstra.

When talking with Eric there is a distinct Rasta ethos surrounding him that could easily fool you into thinking he is just another beach slacker. As a confessed couch surfer and ramen lover it isn’t until you see him in motion on the water do you see his complete commitment to the moment and the quest of perfection of it that defines who he is.

I’ve seen Eric kite late into the evening amongst impossibly light wind, everyone else had come in, yet he stays and waits. Hungry for the opportune gust to work in just one more pass. There exists a thirst in Eric to become better, a fire within to improve each session.

Growing up in Tahoe, Eric started kiting on Sherman Island soon after Corey Roeseler pulled the reel off the kiteski. Eric’s initial stoke was the freedom that kiting provided, to this day it’s the trick progression of the wakestyle movement. “I want wakeboarders to see that kiters can do all they do, and much more,” he says.

Keeping diversity fresh in his bag of board skills, Eric has chosen to return this winter to his snowboarding roots up at Northstar in Tahoe. Fine-tuning his rail steeze much like Dylan Thompson in Utah, Eric is aware that the payoff will come when the kites come out in the spring as he travels to Baja and Maui. The eventual goal he says is an invitation to compete in the Triple-S in Hatteras.

Eric keenly understands the relationship between cause and effect having studied history and philosophy. “By focusing on the past can you make informed decisions at the present to bring about a more favorable future,” he says.

With this kind of irie thinking and hard work there is no doubt Eric will achieve whatever goals he chooses in life.

Friday, May 28, 2010

Green T's

Help support the gulf cleanup with a nice green T. All proceeds go to healthygulf.org.


Gary Linden- Big Wave Surf Hobbit

Great to see the Nelscott Reef Surf documentary the other night and catch up with several of the people who made it happen. One of those people is a little unassuming 61 year old guy named Gary Linden. Gary was one of the first people EVER to paddle into the massive break in 2008- catching not just one but two waves. The smile and stoke he brought back to shore was contagious.







Tuesday, May 25, 2010

The Find- Claiming Nelscott Reef

There will be a screening of the movie "The Find- Claiming Nelscott Reef", my photography this Wednesday at the Bagdad Theater in Portland. It will be followed by a Q&A and a welcome message to the Big Wave World Tour by Gary Linden. Doors open at 7.

Friday, May 14, 2010

BP

CEO of BP says the oil spill is "relatively tiny" compared with the "very big ocean."

As one person on the internet put it -"kinda like cancer is only a few cells compared to the size of the body."

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

KJUS Bandon Dunes

Just wrapped up a great 6 days with some fantastic people. The ski outerwear folks at Kjus decided that the rugged unpredictable Southern Oregon Coast was the perfect backdrop to launch their new summer line.

The Swiss company brought over a film crew utilizing Antelope technology- a super high speed camera that produces the most incredible slow motion footage. Check out some footage from Red Bull airplane races using the camera.

Kjus desired to produce a short film highlighting the human experience in nature and the elements. The focus was kiteboarding, golf and running (you can view some of their previous work with Bode Miller and Speed Flying in St Moritz here).

Anyways kiteboarders Sky Solbach and Kristen Boese came down to lend a hand. Super good people I always have great time working with them.

A big thanks to the entire crew- Lee, Ulli, Daniel, Andreas, Andrea, Karin, Silvia, Felix, Laura, Staci and Travis. The footage looks unreal- can't wait to see the finished peice.

Danke schoën!















Saturday, May 8, 2010

desert time in utah

Finished a quick trip in Escalante and Zion recently to thaw the winter toes and scramble a few slots. Excalante is my favorite place in the States. It never disappoints. I only wish we had more time but alas the folks at Kjus.com cut our trip short.

Update on that project coming soon.