Chip Wasson Interview

Kiter.com: How long have you been in the San Francisco Bay Area?
Chip: I was born and raised in Palo Alto, Ca. and went to College in Berkeley.

What was your early involvement in windsurfing?
Started sailing Windsurfer One Design boards in 1980 and started racing in 1981 in Fleet 18 headed up by Glen Taylor. From there it moved to converting surfboards into windsurfers and then just keeping up with the fun riding technology and racing the whole time.

When did you fist try kiteboarding and how long did it take you to get through the learning curve to get upwind?
I first tried Kiteboarding in September of 1997 and spent most of the first year going down wind and trying to make equipment that worked. I sort of started to get the hang of it by the end of the ’98 season.

What is the worst kitemare you have ever had?
Every kitemare is just that and I have had many, especially in the beginning. Like missing last chance beach at Crissy and ending up swimming in under the Aquatic park pier at night. Or missing that same beach and simply continuing to Treasure Island. Getting dragged through the bushes during a hot launch at Rio. Or getting yarded onto the rocks at 3rd Ave. to escape only with a smashed hip, thank god for the thickness in the harness. I slashed my leg open in Maui on a big jump when my outside line broke and recoiled all around me as the kite continued to fly around like crazy. Many long walks, and swims that kept one in really good shape, many rescues from helpful boaters and the coast guard. Tangled lines w/ Ken Winner in a contest in the Gorge and getting flung through the air preparing to be cheese cut on his lines but luckily one set of his lines broke. The list goes on.

What other sports do you have a background in and to what extent did those help you when learning to kiteboard?
Sports have been my thing since I was young, a lot of tennis and soccer got me into college. Windsurfing ruled my life for many years but I loved snowboarding, climbing, wakeboarding, golf, squash, etc. All of this gave way to kiteboarding and now snow kiting. I have definitely been better at sports than most other things during the course of my life.

You have done some snow kiting, how is that different from kitesurfing? Does one have more potential than the other?
Snow kiting is easier to do than kiting on the water but can be very exhausting depending on the conditions. I truly believe that the snow scene is going to be huge as people get more exposed to it and it reaches those people in places where conditions are good. I also believe that there is going to be a big “grom” snow kiting park scene. It is going to grow quickly as the barriers to entry are minimum in terms of learning and equipment. People simply need to be exposed to the sport and they will go nuts with it.

What are the biggest barriers right now for people getting into kiteboarding?
The biggest barriers to learning are teaching programs in locations where conditions and instruction are good. Safety is critical, as things get more crowded. As we all know, this is a very dangerous sport and it is not advisable to just get a kite and try to learn. I was lucky to have made it through the solo learning process relatively unscathed.

Do you think the kiteboarding community is addressing those issues or are they threatening to limit the growth of the sport?
Yes, I think there are a number of factions that understand the situation and are addressing the issues. I do not think anyone is limiting the growth of the sport.

Should Bay Area kiters be concerned about the sport being banned at some of the popular locations like Crissy or Coyote or 3rd ave?
Yes, I think people should always be concerned about banning issues and do everything they can to not let things happen that might lead to an eventual banning in the already limited areas we have to kite.

Do you think kiteboarding will go mainstream? Does it have the potential to eclipse Windsurfing? Could we have as many kiteboarders as regular surfers in the future?
This is an interesting question. I think the iconization of the image will definitely go mainstream but it will be some time before the sport gains the critical mass of the surf industry participation. I do however it will grow past the size of the windsurfing industry as it has much allure to the younger generation whereas windsurfing did not.

Describe the gear you are currently riding on a day-to-day basis.
I ride a 4 line inflatable kite with 28m lines and a very light twin tip board with straps. I have ridden almost everything that is out there and it is all good but I am enjoying my current setup. I do keep my eyes open for what is emerging because there is so much cool stuff developing.

What would be your ideal day on the water?
Blowing a steady 25 from 8am to 8pm in warm water on a cloud break where there is solid reeling surf that goes left and right and a buttery smooth inside section to practice tricks. All the latest killer equipment would be laying in wait on the beach to test. Then some good food, beer, and ladies for the evening.

The kiteboarding social scene seems to be highly active and you are right at the center of it. Does kiteboarding create more of a sense of community because it is so early in the sport, or is it due to the fact the we generally need help from each other launching and landing, what do you think accounts for it?
I think that it is a combo of people galvanizing as participants in a new sport and needing each others help on the beach. Also, it is about sharing the excitement of something that is new and being an integral part of forming the things that surround the sport.

UltraNectar has some great stuff for all kinds of sports, how much will kiting contribute to the growth of UltraNectar?
Kiteboarding both on the water and on the snow has been great areas for exposure of UltraNectar and the image that we promote. Most water related shops are taking on our line because of the water thing and this will become increasingly the case with snow shops. Kiting really is about the mix of many sports most of which are considered to be “contemporary motion sports” so the fit is great. Also, we are all involved in the sport.

What size kite pants do you wear? If I want to put kite pants over my 3 mil wetsuit, do I need to buy a size bigger?
Buy two pairs in separate sizes in all of the colors just to be sure! That is my recommendation.

If I wear shorts over my wetsuit and an orange UltraNectar jersey but I am not yet kiting at the level you and the pros are, will people think I am a kook?
No way. Push the fashion trend. This is a wide open forum to do whatever you want. And anyone who calls you a kook is just saying that to feel good about themselves.

What do you do when you are not kiting?
Work, hang with my family and friends, golf, snowboard, mountainbike, climb, carveboard, try to get some time with the opposite sex and wonder where it is windy or what the next trip I am going to take is.

What is your fitness program to stay in top condition for kiteboarding?
Kiteboard a lot and do some chin-ups. Stretching is critical to be able to tweak enough. Try to eat food that is good for you.

Do you have any major projects in the works or goals for this season?
Stand by, this winter should be interesting.

Any advice for people just getting into the sport?
Be careful and learn the right way and do not take big uncalculated risks, if something can go wrong, it will. Find a good system to hook your lines up correctly every time and use that system forever.

Any predictions for the Red Bull King of Air in Maui this October?
The fleet has become too thick (competitive) and the judging is far too subjective to make a prediction. There will be a lot of new young faces which is great. If we get good conditions, one thing is for sure, it will be a blast to watch.

Thanks for the interview Chip. Any parting words to your kiteboarding colleagues?
SEND IT!