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Trading Money for the Wind
Интервью · 22.07.2007
By 44100Hz
Not so long ago, among the regular denizens of the clubs - people who are hard to surprise with anything in particular - one began to come across folks (more often with a fresh tan) who, having gone off for a couple of weeks somewhere to warm climes, return with eyes full of a decidedly un-Moscow enthusiasm. Having found an appreciative listener, these people begin to wave their hands dreamily towards the dark club ceiling and utter strange words like: kite, wing, kitesurfing, gliding downwind... And about themselves they say, joyfully and honestly: - I'm gone!
And it's obvious that he's gone. In short, we're dealing with a new sweeping craze - kitesurfing. And these gone folks ride off - on a board across the water, by means of a kite in the sky. To understand what's so special about kitesurfing, and where everyone is riding off to, we decided to interview the "KitePlanet" KaiFsurfing School, which is to blame for it all and has taken upon itself the responsibility for this explosion of interest in kiting among the club community.
So, where's everyone riding off to?
Everyone's quickly heading to Kazantip, where, at the epicentre of club events, you'll be able to take up alternative sporting clubbing by visiting the fashionable kite scene at our School. At Kazantip the conditions for learning kitesurfing are close to ideal.
Right, got it. But those gone folks say that kiting is an addiction. Is that true?
Yep, only it's not bad for your health and not against the law! Some even say it's cooler than sex. Yes, in general a person is prone to becoming addicted to pleasant states, and kitesurfing is an unreal sensation of freedom, drive and clarity in the head. It doesn't let go. That's exactly why we're introducing a wellness programme to replace harmful addictions with beneficial ones! After all, so many years in stuffy, smoke-filled clubs - it's time for the old ravers to get out into the air, into the sea and into the sky.
We already have an inkling why you're called the KaiFsurfing School, but all the same - why?
Because the spectrum of life's joys that interest us is far wider than just kitesurfing.
We take the very best from this sport - beauty, health, summer-and-sea, romance - but we don't confine ourselves to that. There's also travel, music, creativity, photography, communicating with people, a diverse world - we choose all the pleasures wholesale and surf across them. And we try to teach this to others. How to blow money on the wind, to turn material goods into immaterial happiness, and to set yourself free.
We take the very best from this sport - beauty, health, summer-and-sea, romance - but we don't confine ourselves to that. There's also travel, music, creativity, photography, communicating with people, a diverse world - we choose all the pleasures wholesale and surf across them. And we try to teach this to others. How to blow money on the wind, to turn material goods into immaterial happiness, and to set yourself free.
What is the "5 by 7" concept - we saw something about it on your site?
Ah, it's a life philosophy according to which you should spend 7 months of the year in the planet's paradise spots, exploring the world, going barefoot and bathing in the sea. And 5 months of the year - spend in the cities, wearing fashionable city clothes, meeting friends, building a career, and getting the public all worked up. It's the ideal balance for mental and physical health. That's how we live.
What are these places where you live for 7 months?
Ooooh, they're paradise places. The wind blows there, a warm sea, cheap fruit, and kind-hearted locals.
Most often we're in Vietnam, in Egypt, at Kazantip. This year we made an excursion to Goa, and to the Andaman Islands in Thailand with "TusArt". In the plans - Venezuela, Brazil, the Philippines, Yemen. And in general, we're ready to dash off anywhere with friends, just to travel. So give us a call, and we'll teach you how to do It.
Most often we're in Vietnam, in Egypt, at Kazantip. This year we made an excursion to Goa, and to the Andaman Islands in Thailand with "TusArt". In the plans - Venezuela, Brazil, the Philippines, Yemen. And in general, we're ready to dash off anywhere with friends, just to travel. So give us a call, and we'll teach you how to do It.
Is kitesurfing really an extreme sport?
Let's put it this way: no more than snowboarding, driving a car, or overindulging in club entertainment. The extreme image of kitesurfing is a myth connected with the early years of this essentially young sport's development. When there were as yet no instructional materials, and those who now work as instructors learned on their own, by trial and error, without any command of the technology. There were only the new, big, beautiful kites brought in from abroad, on which beginner kiters would extremely launch themselves into the sky as if from a slingshot. Of course, there were injuries and scars, which people proudly attributed to the sport's extremeness. Now there exist well-honed methods and a technology for fast and safe learning. But. We warn everyone - never, ever try to learn kitesurfing on your own. The treatment could cost you far more than a beginner's course with an instructor.
How hard is it to learn to ride a kite? How much time does it take?
Mastering the kite isn't hard at all. On good windless days we even teach kitesurfing from a photograph!
Joking. In reality, the standard course is 6-12 hours. That's before you cover your first metres on the board and master all the necessary kite-control skills and safety technique. After that you can practise on your own, at most under the light supervision of an instructor. In our practice there have been cases where some especially talented students got going after 4 hours of tuition. By the way, your physical fitness and age don't matter. Plenty of girls, kids and grown-up aunties and uncles ride a kite with ease.
Joking. In reality, the standard course is 6-12 hours. That's before you cover your first metres on the board and master all the necessary kite-control skills and safety technique. After that you can practise on your own, at most under the light supervision of an instructor. In our practice there have been cases where some especially talented students got going after 4 hours of tuition. By the way, your physical fitness and age don't matter. Plenty of girls, kids and grown-up aunties and uncles ride a kite with ease.
If I snowboard, will it be easier for me to learn?
Much easier. And if you also ride a wakeboard, then it's a breeze. And if you skate on rollerblades, ride a bike, ski, jump with a parachute or a paraglider, and are learning to dance - then it'll be really, really easy for you! It means you find learning anything easy in general!
Насколько это дорогое увлечение?
Приблизительно как сноуборд или даже дешевле – не нужно много дорогой высокотехнологичной теплой одежды, особенно, если кататься в теплом море. Хотя давай просто посчитаем, потому что понятие дорого-дешево для всех разное. Курс обучения с инструктором - 400-500 у.е.. Экипировка новая: около 2000$, БУ - 1000$. В любом случае, есть менее захватывающие и более дорогие развлечения. И вот еще важный момент: зато не придется платить за перевес и негабарит в самолетах – кайт-снаряжение компактное: кайт + доска + трапеция весят максимум 13 кг.
How expensive a hobby is this?
Roughly like snowboarding, or even cheaper - you don't need a lot of expensive high-tech warm clothing, especially if you ride in a warm sea. Though let's just do the maths, because the notion of expensive-versus-cheap is different for everyone. A course with an instructor is 400-500 c.u. New gear: around $2000, second-hand - $1000. In any case, there are less exhilarating and more expensive pastimes. And here's another important point: at least you won't have to pay for excess weight and oversized baggage on planes - kite gear is compact: kite + board + harness weigh 13 kg at most.
For several years now the Kite Planet School has been gathering a kite crowd at Kazantip, which strongly recalls the Kazantip of the windsurfing era. Tell us about your relationship with the Republic?
We have an exceptional relationship with Kazantip! We'd even say - an exclusive one. Half of our team is the former government of the Republic and old ravers. We retired, took up sport, but kept the Kazantip habit of living in summer all year round, the love of music, and professional show-biz experience. And we realise all of that in our company. Moreover, kitesurfing, according to the Kazantip constitution, is the national sport of the Republic, and we are its official flying school. So at Kazantip we have both work and a State Mission. Besides the fact that the entire Government and the musical intelligentsia are hooked on the kite, our task is to teach as many of the Republic's ordinary citizens as possible how to do It.
What interesting things will you have at Kazantip this year?
Well, of course, the most interesting thing at this year's Kazantip will be Kazantip itself. Which, as you know, is going to be on Mars. And how that's going to work - we're curious ourselves. For our part, we're always in favour of flying somewhere higher, so we'll be running the School in conditions of weightlessness. And at the end of the season at Kazantip we plan to hold a sale of the School's cult second-hand gear at very friendly prices (with the autographs of your idols). This information may be useful to those who want to learn to ride but aren't yet ready for big financial outlays on equipment.
They say riding a kite has become especially fashionable among DJs? Who have you already got hooked on it?
It's so fashionable because we have this special-rate programme - we teach DJs, as veterans of the rave, for free. Well, they fall for it, not knowing what it entails. The free DJ-training programme assumes that afterwards they come to us and work it all off behind the turntables.
By the way, your mission sounds like "we want all people to do It". What is - It?
Well, It! 5 by 7! Money to the wind! Waiting for the weather by the sea, hanging out in hammocks, turning things upside down, and the rest.
What grand plans does the Kite Planet company have for the future?
Well, we'll become a mega-corporation and swallow up the "Happiness Corporation", the "Republic of Kazantip", and buy out the Cabrinha company. Oh. We'll also be gifted an island in the Pacific Ocean, with wind of course, and in 2009 we'll carry out a round-the-world voyage along the 10th parallel. So interested sponsor companies can already get in touch with us by e-mail: [email protected].
(c) www.kiteplanet.ru 2007