next stop AFRICA

I just received an invitation to go to Morocco to cover the Dakhla Kiteboard World Cup. Coming up quick (Sept 27-Oct 3) the event will cover Waves, Freestyle, Course Racing and a Kiteloop contest. Really looking forward to seeing old friends compete (Jessie Richman, Erik Volpe) and meeting new ones as well.

The Western Sahara Coast has always been on my list of places to visit.

Check out the offical website here.

Photo courtesy of KPWT World Tour.

beach test shoot

Just wrapped up a couple days on the Oregon coast with some fantastic ladies doing a test shoot at the request of my Portland based studio- The Straub Collaborative. As luck would have it we actually had sunshine. Of course there was rain too, but it really inspiring to see the coast in so many ways. The weather, location, time of day, people- it all added up to a completely different experience in every way at every moment.

I have shot on the coast mostly for action, this trip was different though- the Collaborative challenges me to shoot beyond my normal genera of motion and adrenaline. It helps keep things fresh. Thanks go out to Tori, Jenna, Krista, Amy,Sarah, Lesley for your talents and creative input.

More shots to come soon.

Two trailers, two worlds

Two new movies coming out. One is comes from Michael Moore and the other from Woodshed Films. Good stuff for a rainy day to think about.

Fecal Creek

I recently went to the southern Oregon coast with the inept kite crew to do an editorial feature for Kiteboarding Magazine. We failed to find any wind but the guys did find a stagnate ditch with brown stinky water and the remains of what was once a bridge. It's funny what one can get excited about when the wind isn't blowing.

Dylan Thompson- Mellon grab Fecal Creek Oregon.

Pagan Chant

The stone hut Cabane De Mont Fort on the Haute Route had some interesting guardians. Heidi and I investigate.

Eric Reinstra

Eric spent a good portion of the summer in town. A good guy he is pushing the progression of freestyle kiting in his own way.







Here's alittle of Eric in action from Maui.

swiss heli evac

Finally making progress in the editing department from recent travel and work. Here's a look at one of our team mates from the Haute Route who dislocated her shoulder. Two Spanish doctors luckily were on site but unluckily unable to get it in.

That heli lost about 1,000 vertical feet in 10 seconds. Must have been one hella ride. I'm sure it was a costly one too.

no rest for the wicked

Not even 12 hours after my arrival back in the NW from Europe I was back at it shooting for Slingshot kites and Dutch superstar kiteboarder Youri Zoon. Youri is currently ranked 2nd in the world on the PKRA tour.

Here's a shot we got from last night. Stoked on the eastern gorge and evening shooting there.

Off to Europe

Traveling today to to Geneva, then Chamonix where i will begin the Haute Route through the Alps of France and Switzerland.

The 500 year old classic takes 12 days running 112 miles from the Chamonix valley and Mont Blanc to Zermatt and the Matterhorn. Thanks to the good folks at Patagonia (Andrew), Gregory Packs (Shane), and High Gear watches (Gene), we will be styling with some great gear (thanks guys!). The photo opportunities I think will be pretty nice. With the arrival of a new camera any second we'll be light and ready for the journey, and ready to shoot some high def video too.

Wish us luck, after a summer at sea level kiting and surfing my lungs are feeling alittle lazy. Will be good to see some elevation and get the wind sucked out of me. No pain no gain!

photo credit wikipedia.com

made the snaz

David Gonzales's outdoor magazine/blog is back with a fresh look. I love the idea of hi def content and large scale imagery. the future of the web perhaps?

stoked to be a part of it.