Bio: Born in North Eastern Ohio and lived there ‘til I was 18. Went to college there for a year and then moved to North Carolina and that’s where I started surfing and actually got a taste of windsurfing and saw traction kiting. Just like people using kites to pull themselves on snowboards on the sand and with buggies. Then I moved to Northern California, Arcata and got heavily into white water kayaking and then windsurfing for like a year and half and then I discovered kiting and dove in and moved to the Gorge in 1998 and have been kiting out of the gorge and elsewhere ever since.
Kiter.com: How did you pick La Ventana as your home base and how long have you been here?
David Tybursky: I have been here three years and I picked La Ventana because I started New Wind Kiteboarding Schools in Hood River and had a great summer and was looking for a wintertime location for the school. I took some trips to the Caribbean and was looking around there and then I heard of La Ventana and took a trip to Baja and to Los Barrilles and La Ventana and La Ventana seemed like the natural choice because of the abundance of wind and open flat waters.
How well are you getting
along with your sponsors now?
I get along with them fine. I am involved with some more than others as far product development, boards and also hardware with Da Kine. I really like to be a part of my sponsors—to feel like I am a part of the team and like to contribute. I appreciate Sponsors that values my opinion as a team rider and some do that better than others. Overall it’s a win-win situation with all my sponsors.
What
kind of gear do you ride now?
I ride 4 line high performance, high lift, high aspect kites for jumping and for freestyle moves. Board-wise I started on a directional and a mutant hybrid directional. Then about a year and half ago I moved to a twin-tip and since then I have been experimenting with different twin-tips and have been getting shorter and shorter and fatter and fatter. I stated to play around with buzz boards. I have an SOS 86 cm board that’s really fun in flat water. But my main freestyle board is about a 117cm by 15 and 3/4 inches. So it’s a kind of short and fat so it really lends itself to the low level freestyle surface tricks, as well as it’s really forgiving when landing hot and blind and if your not totally in the straps. I have been playing around with shorter and fatter boards as my regular board--A smaller board sometime in flatter water or if your powered. For contests, you need a board that sort of does it all and that’s what I was working towards with this board.
Describe your perfect day on
the water?
Kiting in trunks with friends in head-head and a half high waves with flat water in between and discovering a new trick or making some thing I have been working on from before.
How would describe your
riding style?
My riding style I would describe as spontaneous and I would like to think at times sometimes flowing and unique. I mean… I don’t know. I’m pulling influence from all my other board sport backgrounds. I came from skateboarding so I think I have a lot of skate style in my riding as well as carvy surf and snowboard style-so what ever you want to call it like the board flip stuff.
What
new moves or move are you working on now?
I am working on, kinds of combinations, like surface combinations, combining some blind maneuvers--either from blind--jumping from blind, or coming out blind and transitioning to another move while simultaneously doing a kite loop. So it’s kind of an evolution that’s getting closer toward being able to fully looping your kite while you are in the air while combining some surface moves.
Who
do you like to ride with?
I really like riding with anyone that pushes me. And usually that’s anyone I think that’s good or anyone doing a new move. I like riding with Martin Vari. Martin, is always making me think oh god I’ve got my work cut out for me. But there’s way too many too mention. All my buddies here—Jeff Roberts, Rebecca Wolthers, Adam Koch and Ben Meyer just there’s so many cool people to ride with it’s a blast.
Which is your favorite
KiteBeach?
Well, if you are considering a KiteBeach like a kite scene, whether it’s La Ventana, KiteBeach Maui, or the Sandbar Hood River… I’d say my favorite KiteBeach is La Ventana, Mexico. Or more specifically, my back yard in El Sargento.
What would you say is the biggest air you’ve ever boosted? And what were the conditions?
I think the biggest air that was boosted by me was in the Gorge, just at the Hatchery on a big windy day, super powered on my 8.4 kite, pulled the trigger, everything connected right at takeoff, and I just went to the moon, it felt like.
You have a background in surfing, snowboarding, wakeboarding and skateboarding. Which would say is the primary focus-how do you split your time between those sports?
Well honestly, since I have been competing professionally and making kiteboarding my livelihood, pretty much all of them have taken a huge back seat, except for surfing. Surfing is the most accessible for when I am at kiteboarding spots in training and working so surfing has been the only other sport I have been doing in the last few years.
How
much carry over is there from other sports like the
boardsports? Do athletes who have a background in
boardsports have a headstart in
kiteboarding?
Uh. I think so. I think they have a headstart in that, well, for me personally from skateboarding--Number one, I could ollie, go switch, ride fakie. I was comfortable transferring my weight to a rail and carving so that really lent itself, when I got into surfing and snowboarding—that was a huge benefit for me. So I had these skills or I could do these certain moves that carry over really well to kiteboarding. Also, in snowboarding, I was freemountain rider, I didn’t ride parks much so whatever natural feature presented itself I would use it for a trick and I think that’s carried over really well to my riding on water. It’s just different features present themselves whether it’s a piece of chop, a piece flat water or a wave, you can just pull something spontaneous, whatever pops into your head.
What do you like to do when
you’re not kiting?
Jeez... I like to relax and hang out with friends. I like to travel and experience other people’s realities and cultures. I like to eat. I like music. I like to do whatever makes me feel good. The business side of me has things that I need to outlet so I need to use my mind so I need to hop on a computer and I’m doing stuff for the business. I try and be well rounded both mentally and physically.
You
are involved in kiteboarding schools, which
ones?
NewWind Kite School. We’ve got schools in Hood River and La Ventana and satellite schools opening up in other windy locations.
Why do kiteboarders go to
the trouble of putting shorts, pants and rashguards over
their wetsuits?
I think the whole pant thing came somehow came from wakeboarding, from what I was told. I mean I would have never thought of it. And for image I think that definitely kiters want to look different. Their not windsurfers and their not surfers. So it definitely looks cooler. I don’t understand kitepants I would rather just wear a wetsuit but I always wear a pair of boardshorts over a shorty.
How has the sport changed
since you started?
The gear has gotten much better as far as higher performance, easier to use, more durable. The big breakthroughs that still leave a lot of room for improvement are the safety systems that manufacturers are incorporating into their bar systems. I think that was one thing that they kind of lagged on and have been focusing time and energy until recently due to the safety threat to the industry. I mean if we don’t make the sport safe and accessible to everyone it’s going to die. I think we’ve got lots of room for improvement in both areas—kite design and safety mechanisms. Board design has come a long way.
Do you want to mention any
safety systems now?
I think it’s good to have options. I think some of the stronger safety systems I’ve seen out this year are the Wipika ones and the North ones specifically—really low failure, inadvertent releases as well plenty of options both in the chicken loop and the harness line. It’s really good to have options when the shit goes down.
Which riders do you draw inspiration from?
I draw inspiration from some of the wakeboarders. Some of the stuff Lou Wainman is doing, just the classic wakeboard moves that people were doing—keeping the kite low and the really powered up moves. The mobiuses, the front to blind, the Pete Roses. But I think Jeff Tobias is one of my favorite riders to watch because he is doing all that stuff but on a directional, or trying it on a directional, pushing it and taking it to a place that people aren’t doing. The whole binding-foot shackle thing is kind of fading. Before they said you had to ride a two line kite and be in bindings to do all those tricks and now there’s people proving them otherwise.
How do you stay in shape for kiteboarding?
I basically just go kiteboarding. I try, if I’m in a place where I’m behind a computer for extended periods of time, if there’s no wind or it’s too cold, I try to maybe run or go mountain biking or do something else that’s going to give that rush –that fix that I need.
You compete a lot. What will
you do when you’re done competing
professionally?
Well I think my window is kind of short seeing how good everyone is getting. I’m stoked to see the level of riding is progressing so quickly and many young riders are getting good really fast. I hope to be involved in the sport through product development, being a soul rider doing travel stories, doing videos, inspiring other people to get into the sport. However, I can keep myself involved in the sport I’ll be happy. It could be a number of ways. I’ve got other aspirations too if kiteboarding falls out of being my main focus, that’s fine I’ve got other endeavors.
Do
you have any projects or goals for this season? Kiting
or otherwise?
My goals for this season are to have as much fun as I can and travel around doing the world cup and be a better competitor. I finished 5th in the world cup standings this year and I’d like to either hold my ground or move forward. I think that if I focus and become more of a better competition rider instead of a free rider I think I have a good chance of doing that.
Describe the time you were the most scared?
Oh man, I have been scared a lot. In my education I have been scared a lot—having to make decisions and not being positive about them. I think I’ve been most scared when I was running rivers and that’s why I stopped.
Describe your worst
kitemare?
Ah my worst kitemare was when I was testing a prototype reel bar for Mark Ribekoff. And it was out in the middle of the river and he had this safety system that he said would work so I decided to just let go and the whole thing just left and flew for miles downwind. I was in the middle of the river just freaked out.... But I was the only one on the river so it wasn’t that big of a deal. I haven’t had too many kitemares. I have had a couple close calls but nothing really I can say was super scary.
Have
you tried completely different styles of kiteboards-for
example foilboards?
I just picked up a foil board this winter on Maui. I got the clicker bindings and the board; I am just waiting for the snowboard boots. They are in Portland waiting for me. I just have to get them sent down.
Have
you tried snowkiting?
No, I definitely would love to. I think it would be super fun and be great cross training doing sliders and handle passes.
Do
kiteboarders really get more chicks?
Pwww. I am sure that kiteboarders would like to think that, but when I was a surfer I wasn’t getting that many chicks and definitely when I was windsurfer I wasn’t getting that many chicks. So I’d have to say that either being a musician or a kiteboarder you get lots of chicks.
You
are a musician?
I was. I played guitar and sang.
Which was your favorite
contest in 2002?
Caberete, because I won and it’s a great place to party.
What are the biggest barriers to new people getting into kiting?
I think the biggest barriers to participation are the cost, the lack of consistent forcastable conditions in certain spots and also the perception that it is an extreme dangerous sport.
Do you think that
kiteboarding could become mainstream?
I don’t know what’s considered mainstream. I think it could be as popular as wakeboarding or possibly snowboarding. But those sports have huge numbers participating. It could definitely exceed the participation of windsurfing in its heyday.
As you said, the average
person might perceive kiteboarding as dangerous. Do
think the industry is addressing that issue?
I think the kiteboarding community is not addressing it as well as needs to be to protect spots to educate other water users on kiteboarding, how to navigate around kiters—things like that I think we have a long way to go. Right now there’s still that threat—that risk. There are a lot of proactive people out there getting involved but we definitely need more.
How is the kiteboarding
culture different here than say Maui?
Here in La Ventana, the kiteboarding culture… it’s interesting. It’s really open and friendly amongst the kiters because there’s lots of intermediates and beginners. Even the advanced and professional riders are working and training here are usually involved in instruction we are all very supportive of each other regardless of the level or your background. It’s a really good culture and completely different than Maui.
What is the most impressive
trick?
I don’t think it’s the trick it’s the rider. And I think there’s some people with really solid styles that can execute moves better than other people. It depends on personal style. I couldn’t pinpoint a move.
Where do see the sport going
in the next year?
I see the sport going just growing even further—bigger, more participants. I see the moves being pushed further. The change from last year to this year was like a huge difference in the level of competitive riding. So I am not sure, really. I’m pushing it. I’m letting others push me. I can’t say. It will be interesting to see though.
How could contests be
better?
To improve contests I think judging needs to be standardized and I think there has to be different format for how it’s judged and how the performance is evaluated—how the heats are run. I think it could be like they do in the Olympics. Drop the high and low score, only count your best five tricks. Because right now the way it’s going a person can do easy moves and land everyone or a person could do ten super hard tricks and make five and loose. I think they are being penalized for trying hard tricks? So there’s improvement to be made on that side of it. And I think it’s happening. We are trying to figure it out.
Are professional kiters
underpaid or overpaid?
Um. Well, of course I’m going to say underpaid. I think that the industry was a little naïve in the prior years and they are wising up and spending their money more efficiently but I do think it’s important for companies to have well paid athletes representing them.
How many of the professional
riders on the World Cup are making their living on
kiteboarding, do you think?
I’d say about ten.
And how much are those best paid riders making on average do you think?
I’d say between $30-$60 thousand dollars a year.
Any
advice for people just getting into
kiteboarding?
Educate yourself. Seek professional instruction. Go online. Read. Watch videos. Talk to other kiters and be humble.
Does it seem like kiteboarding is catching on faster in Europe?
It seems like that to me. I think that’s the market that manufacturers are most concerned with. I think the US market is relatively small compared to the European market and I’m sure we’ll come around but right now Europe is the main market but the US is driving the market-with the riders and the attitude.
What do think accounts for that?
It’s just numbers. Wind sports have always been more popular in Europe for whatever reason that’s just the case. Windsurfing has been way more popular and a much larger market than the US. So that’s probably got something to do with it. There’s better awareness of the sport. It was also developed in France. Also, the media has embraced it more than they have here.
Does kiteboarding create a
sense of community because it’s early or is due to the
fact that kiting benefits from assistance?
I think both. Definitely in the early stages of most sports the camaraderie is really good and as the sport grows and becomes more crowded people tend to be less welcoming. It’s also a sport that’s completely solo, you are dependent, your safety, you need some help. It’s give and take. That fosters a level of community that’s pretty unique to kiteboarding.
Windsurfing grew in a
similar fashion and then the bubble burst. What could we
do to avoid that for kiteboarding?
Well, We are already making the same mistakes. I don’t understand the whole past of windsurfing but from what I understand there was a huge infusion of manufacturing companies and the market was flooded. The Mom and Pop shops went out of business. There was a consolidation to few retailers and warehouses. So hopefully we learn from some of the mistakes of other sports like windsurfing and make it a more sustainable industry for the retailers and manufacturers.
How?
How? Well, I think some competition is good but once there are too many people in the market it drives prices so low that everyone is dumping things and liquidating product. Maybe they need to produce only to meet demand. Manufacturers need to be really conscious of who is selling their products. I mean you don’t want to just sell it to so and so who is just going push it out the door for super cheap only to drive the volume. So I don’t totally understand the dynamic but it’s in the hands of the distributorships and the manufacturers.
You surf. How do think hard core surfers view kiteboarding? Do they think it’s an intrusion? Do they think it’s cool or just for kooks?
Well, they are starting to come around. Good kiteboarding conditions are crappy blown out surf. In some places there’s crossover. But I think they are pretty stoked on it now that we are getting nice wave rides and good surfers are getting into the surf like Josh Mulcoy and Pancho Sullivan. I’ve heard that Pancho is really ripping in Oahuand he is kiting as much as surfing.
Any predictions for the
Tecate Challenge in La Ventana this weekend?
I look at it as kiting for a cause--Another opportunity to create awareness and educate people about kiting. I’m not concerned about winning it. As long as people are enjoying watching it I think it will be a success.
