Maven
Ladies Take Over Baja!
Title: Maven Ladies Take Over Baja!Date: February 2008
The sun broke, the heat turned on, and 35 gals of all ages and levels came to the Liquid Force Maven Kiteboarding Clinic at the La Ventana Kite Classic & Expo in Baja Sur, Mexico on January 30th.
Liquid Force team rider Tonia Farman and Katie Clack from Jetty Island Kite & Skim led the clinic, held comfortably under the only shade of the beach, the Liquid Force tent. While the wind held off, dozens of event-goers (mostly dudes!) paced the beach around the clinic in curiosity of what was going on under the Liquid Force tent!
The women gather under the Liquid Force tent at the Kite Expo.
Tonia and Katie walked through the kiteboarding gear that women commonly have the most questions about, including types of harnesses, bars, and board deck systems that fit women's feet. Tonia brought out the Dakine Wahine waist harness and the Liquid Force Aura waist harness, which each fit different figures. She then talked about the kite control bar, using the Liquid Force bar to show the ease and simplicity of below-the-bar sheeting control. This system allows women and people with short arms to easily and safely access power control without having to reach high above the bar.
The next gear topic was one that many women have issues with... footstraps & pads! Because of our smaller and more narrow feet, women most often can't fit into the standard deck systems that kite brands ship with their boards. Tonia discussed two different deck systems that not only fit smaller feet, they are comfortable -- the Liquid Force Stiletto Interface System and the Dakine Adjustable Control footstraps.
Tonia Farman fits one of the clinic attendees to the new Stiletto Interface System.
After riding tips and discussion, the group broke into those who wanted to take advantage of the wind and the more intermediate riders who wanted to learn grabs in Tonia's Grab Clinic. For a full instructional on how to incorporate grabs into your riding, read our Style & Grab Tutorial.
The Baja women are stoked!
See you next year at the La Ventana Kite Classic & Expo! This year's event was sponsored by Liquid Force Maven Kiteboarding, Dakine, Palapas Ventana, The Kiteboarder Magazine, The John Wayne Cancer Foundation and The Women's Kiteboarding Association!
