About Felix
Felix is an aquatic human who packs in more water time than most ocean mammals. From an early start in the sport, defining the current limits of modern wave riding with kites. Felix has set the standard for a hard core progressive riding style in todays sport.
Felix started kiting in 1999 on a two lined Wipika kite with a retro surfboard. He then moved rapidly into the wakeboard powered style of kiting. Felix moved to Maui in 2000 to develop his level of riding amongst the worlds best.
With the decline of Maui as a kiting epicenter and the switch back to surfboards, Felix moved to Oahu to ride waves . Riding front side on either tack seamlessly to become one of best unhooked wave riders in the sport. Oahu offers the most consistent conditions for wave riding,photo , video , as well as a central base for travel. Felix has a goal to prove himself on the best waves in the world. Widely considered the most dedicated rider in the sport for his endless hours on the water. Felix is passionate and committed to push the sport so it gets the respect it deserves.
Insight from FELIX
Down under is the first place I picked up a kite.Its a day I will never forget. I reluctantly threw down $650 for a 8.5m Wipika kite. Back then that was a lot of coin for a canopy.With no instruction at all I attached the lines the way I thought they should go and hoped for the best.The kite went up to the top of the sky then went into a death spiral as the bridle was tangled and landed on a pole and split right in half.I could not believe it.I was devastated. I packed it up and went looking for the closest sail repair shop.The sailmakers felt my pain and gave me some sail repair tape and wished me luck and sent me on my way. I went home to piece my kite back together, luckily enough my kite was back together in no time so I could see if I had wasted my money on the biggest kite my eyes had ever seen. I was back at the beach making sure I was away from any obstacles that might damage my kite again. Stunned my kite was now air born, not even thinking about the possibilities of what trouble the kites power could get me into. Without a second to spare, I was getting hauled down the beach now feeling the true power of the kite. There was No such thing as de-power in these days, the chicken loop had not even been thought of. These were the days you learnt from your mistakes first hand. There were no instruction videos, no friends to give you tips, nothing at all.You made a mistake back then you would learn the hard way. The power of the kite instantly got me hooked and coming back for more anytime the wind was up . I was out there getting pulled down the coast and this went on for months.During the learning curve I mastered tricks such as back-rolls ,double back rolls, jumps skying 15 ft high, thinking this was high back then.I tried to get my hands on as much footage as possible to speed up my learning curve, there was not much around.
Knowing that Maui ,Hawaii was the epicenter for Windsurfing and the place of endless trade winds, I had a hunch that there must be some kite-boarders ahead of the curve.Curious to see what was was going on in this new sport I was keen to see first hand. I worked, saved and had a plan to travel around the world to some of kiteboardings first contests to see how this sport was really taking shape before ending up in Hawaii .A friend of mine was also very interested in seeing what this sport was doing abroad so he joined me on this journey. Our first stop was Lacatue ,France, boy did this place open our eyes, not just because it was so cold but because we witnessed Flash,Lou & Elliot boosting 40-50ft of flat water. We had no business here,we were humbled and headed straight for Maui to put our time in on the water.It was now time to start from scratch . Endless hours on the water getting hammered in 30-knots everyday (With goals of flying high like the guys in France). As time went by it all started to click.I was having more fun than ever learning from the worlds best. I know knew this is what I wanted to do.
The first winter was just around the corner and the talk around the beach was that we are going to learn to ride waves with our kites getting towed into some winter bombs. This was so new and fresh everyone was amped. A select few (friends & Pioneers )Dylan,Jack Webb,Elliot ,Chris Gibert and I seemed to be the ones interested in learning to ride waves with a kite.As time went on this group of guys stuck to riding waves while others stuck with the inside flats mastering wake style handle passes. After the winter had passed I knew that this was what I wanted to do with the sport. RIDE WAVES.
After many years of practice, working out where to position your kite, what board really works and which conditions are ideal, we are where we are today. We are on surfboards trying emulate turns like you would see from the worlds top surfers.
Without certain friends and sponsors I would not be where I am today. I now live on Oahu’s North Shore,and this is my ultimate training ground It has many talented riders that are totally amped on kiting in the surf,along with the worlds best video/photographers to capture development of today’s sport.
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Angie says:
January 28, 2010 at 3:01 pm
Your website is now great…took awhile
Keep up the good work hey
Ang