ricki
10-26-2004, 09:58 PM
This is a forum for kiteboarders about kiteboarding, not about politics.
I have prepared this human interest piece as the first in a series about famous kiteboarders, discussing a fellow kiteboarder who also happens to be a candidate for the Presidency of the USA and a Massachusetts Senator. Most of us have to have a job after all it helps to pay for kiteboarding, right? Well John Kerry has his.
The purpose of this write up is to provide some insight into his outlook on riding, some stories and the like provided by friends. IT IS NOT PRESENTED AS POLITICAL RHETORIC OR DOGMA only some information on a fellow, as it happens world famous, "boardhead."
Does any of this make him a great prospect for the Presidency? You got me, I'm still on the fence on that one. That’s for each of us to decide and based upon a LOT more information than is provided here.
That said, here goes …
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album39/IM001329_001_1.sized.jpghttp://www.fksa.org/albums/album39/47_G.sized.jpghttp://www.fksa.org/albums/album39/45_G.sized.jpg
Nantucket (from) (http://www.pbase.com/)
I spoke on the telephone with Nevin Sayre and Mike Alpert about John Kerry and kiteboarding off of Nantucket, Massachusetts. Nevin Sayer is a long time riding buddy of the senator both in windsurfing and kiteboarding over the last few years. Nevin met Kerry through windsurfing. Nevin was the USA champion windsurfer for five years and second in the world for two years in racing. He left the windsurfing tour in 1990. He was one of the founders of Fiberspar. Nevin went to kiteboarding to get his “yahoos” in lighter winds. He started five years ago. Don Montague set him up with kiteboarding gear.
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album39/graduate.jpg
Nevin Sayre running his annual charity windsurfing function for kids, from Nevin Sayre Windsurfing Kids Camp (http://www.ussailing.org/youth/racing/jo/2003/Nevin_Sayres_Kids_Windsurfing_Camp.htm)
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album39/Mike_Alpert_001.jpg
Mike Alpert is a Nantucket resident, founder of the local kiteboarding association NANTUCKET KITEBOARDING ASSOCIATION (http://www.nantucketkiteboarding.com/), lobbyist for sustained access to ride on the island and a kiteboarding instructor. Nantucket has its own access issues which Mike and local riders are working hard to secure. (*Visitors heed local kiteboarding guidlines to protect access to ride!*)
Mike has seen the Senator out riding over the years and holding his own. He indicated that he was a low key fellow and when the wind is on, just one of the local guys. Alpert Photo from SESHREPORTS.COM (http://www.ack-track.com/)
But first, some tales about windsurfing, the early days ...
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album39/jkcover.jpg
From American Windsurfer. CLICK FOR FULL AMERICAN WINDSURFER ARTICLE (http://www.americanwindsurfer.com/mag/back/issue5.5a.html)
Nevin related that Kerry started windsurfing in early 1990s. They had a July 4th tradition of riding from Falmouth to Nantucket which is about 30 miles of open ocean. In one section you can’t see land in any direction. For someone that is voting on the senate floor on Friday that can undertake something like this on Saturday, it is amazing. He doesn’t call the press about it, he just does it because he loves it. They have had up to four guys on the crossing. Max Kennedy tried to make it one year but didn’t complete the crossing. They always had a chase boat to follow along EXCEPT for one year, in 1999. That was the year they needed one!
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album39/The_Cape.jpg
The riding ground
Once they were well offshore the wind came up. John Kerry was on an 8 m sail with the wind rising to around 20 kts. overpowering him. He was struggling for a while but his “perceverence and determination is second to none.” He willed himself all the way there. Before Iowa a lot of people were counting Kerry as down and out. Kerry never lost sight of the goal or lost his confidence. He just gutted it out through a lot of hard work. Incredibly grueling schedule, and just through determination, stamina and skill he percivered and surprised the hell out of everyone. That day halfway between the mainland and Nantuckett in the open ocean and out of sight of land, with no chase boat, when the wind started honking. Kerry didn’t know how to handle the situation but showed Nevin “what he is made out of.” Riding overpowered downwind on a windsurfer is a very demanding balancing act, requiring substantial, continuous exertion. Nevin would shout instructions while sailing along side but Kerry had to figure out how to apply it in the midst of a very taxing situation that lasted for a long time.
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album39/sleeve3.jpg
IT'S A LONG WAY TO NANTUCKET ... ( REALLY!) (http://www.2112online.com/nantucket/merch.shtml)
When Kerry gutted it out and learned how to sail downwind overpowered out in the middle of the ocean. Nevin knew that you can’t count this guy out, he is a stayer. He went four years in a row but could make it the fifth year. They went kiteboarding instead once opportunity allowed. The crossings would take from FOUR AND ONE HALF TO SEVEN AND ONE HALF HOURS!
Nevin organized a windsurfing race around Marthas Vinyard, the Martha's Vineyard Challenge starting in 1988 for charity a distance of 55 miles More about the Challenge (http://mvchallenge.com/history.shtml). Because it is a triangular island with sections of adverse currents, wind and waves it is closer to a 80 to 100 mile circumnavigation. Kerry came for two years. One year only five out of 30 plus sailors made it to the finish. Kerry made it as far as anyone else about ¾ of the way or roughly 60 to 75 miles over EIGHT HOURS. The next morning on Sunday he flew off the island at 4:30am to be on the TV program "Meet the Press."
***
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album39/John.jpg
John Kerry riding along
Next ... Kiteboarding With The Senator
Senator Kerry has a residence on Nantucket and naturally may be seen riding from time to time off this intriguing wind destination off the SE coast of Massachusetts. I asked Nevin when the Senator started kiteboarding? He said Kerry started kiting about four years ago making him among the first 25 to 50 kiteboarders in New England. He was riding F ones the first year and was struggling like everyone else in those days. Me too! In the second year he went to four line inflatable kites.
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album39/r522620704.jpg
He said that in four years with the demands of the job, Kerry has amassed a whopping 15 to 20 days total of kiteboarding time. He estimated that included about 9 days four years ago, 7 days three years ago and only two days in each of the last two years. Despite the infrequent shredding sessions, Kerry stays upwind, transitions well and has been working on jumping. I think it took me about a year to stay upwind, all be it over five years ago with less effective gear. Kerry's performance is pretty impressive for such a short time on the water kiteboarding.
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album39/revista_20040723_02.jpg
(from) (http://usatoday.com/)
Nevin said the Senator is a methodical guy, he gets as much information as he can about a challenge, thinks about it and figures out an approach in his mind and then just does it. Nevin said the Senator might call in February with an idea or question about kiteboarding or windsurfing when the harbor is frozen over, just because he is thinking about it. My comment to that was “that sure makes him sound normal!”
Nevin quiped John Kerry is just a "boardhead" just like the rest of us. When he campaigning in Iowa and passes by a reservoir that is full of white caps, Nevin can guess what John Kerry may be thinking about. He is human like the rest of us and when the wind gets into your blood, your attention can be drawn to it. Like that is news to us, right? Despite that lots of kiteboarders successfully carry a load of responsibility as doctors, attorneys, engineers, pilots and a wide diversity of other professions. I think the combination or kiteboarding and work demands helps us to function more effectively.
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album39/r659135328.jpg
In the last session Nevin and John Kerry were kiteboarding together in Nantucket they had a bit of company as they shredded along. The flotilla consisted of two coast guard boats, two secret service boats and three press boats. There is a press pool that follows John Kerry around and is on call 24 hours a day. Kerry controls access so that he has some time to his affairs and himself. He invited the press to tag along because he thought they would be jazzed by the session. When they were out ripping it up on the water, the press were hooting and hollering and having a great time. These are major press guys that may not follow sports but in fact follow politics. Still, they got a good taste of kiteboarding that day. There were enthused to see a guy that might be president capable of doing something like this. They thought it was very cool!
Nevin felt that having a presidential candidate as a kiteboarder is a good thing given the credibility that such a person brings to the sport. Kerry is aware of kiteboarding access problems and has discussed the subject a “bunch” with Nevin. Nevin pointed out to Kerry that there were only a few places on the Cape Cod that they could go to ride. Kerry was already aware of the restrictions. Nevin cautioned that should Kerry become president that riders shouldn’t jump to the conclusion that kiteboarding will receive carte blanc and that it is open to everyone, anytime and anywhere. Nevin felt that when riders are struggling to maintain access in negotiations with the public sector, the public sector will be compelled to be more mindful of what they are banning. Kerry brings legitimacy to the sport. He felt that future bans will be less likely to happen given Kerry’s participation in the sport. He felt that Kerry as a rider might aid insurability for the sport in the USA.
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album39/kerry_dop2a.jpg
(from) (http://www.hellomagazine.com/travel/2004/07/21/johnkerry/)
Nevin has not seen Kerry have a Kitemare. John Kerry related a story to Nevin about one time when he was out and Pulled the trigger on a jump and flew quite a bit higher than he expected and fell like a rock. The normal riding areas that he frequents in Nantuckett are fairly safe.
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album39/246_G.sized.jpg
Nantucket but not John Kerry ... yet! (from) (http://www.ack-track.com/)
I asked what he thought John Kerry will do with regard to kiteboarding if he wins the presidency, continue riding or take a sabbatical. He felt that world events and other responsibilities will dictate whether he will have the opportunity to ride. Nevin felt “there is no question that he’ll want to.” The boardheads or wind addicts among us can certainly relate to that sentiment. I asked what type of riding he would evolve into Nevin felt that if circumstances allowed John Kerry more time to kiteboard. He felt that he wouldn’t get into handle passes or other cutting edge wakestyle moves. He will want to jump and cruise very proficiently and evolve to handle more wind. Given all of Kerry’s responsibilities and pressures just getting out on the water during extremely rare intervals the sensation or stoke of just cruising is a special experience. Still Kerry wants challenges and is an “amazing athelete.” He will keep pushing the envelope.
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album39/23356968_img_1789_std.sized.jpg
Harbor time (from) (http://www.pbase.com/jeffhall/nantucket)
The last session John Kerry was seen to be using a reel board leash. This is a dog leash like device that tethers the riders board to him for easy retrieval should he fall off, a fairly common occurrence for many riders. Still the conventional wisdom among some kiteboarders is that board leashes are dangerous due to rebound to the rider and there use should be discouraged. Nevin speculated that with six chase boats that there was NO risk of the board being lost that his motivation may be to maximize his time on the water and doesn’t want to flounder around in front of the press corp. He put in three hours of riding time this year so every minute is precious. Nevin did say he was speaking to the Senator about using a helmet and getting rid of the board leash.
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album39/revista_20040723_02.jpg
I asked Nevin how Mrs. Theresa Kerry looks upon kiteboarding? He responded with some humor, “she’s not into it at all!” Well there are QUITE a few fellow kiteboarders that can relate to that. She thinks it is dangerous, has lost loved ones in the past and isn’t fond of this pursuit. During the recent trip, Kerry had three days. When he arrived he was clearly stressed out, was in a pressure cooker, talking a mile a minute, multi-tasking out the wazoo. After some time on the water he relaxed, slowed down and smiled in a more typical low key fashion. You don’t have to be a presidential candidate for kiteboarding to have this effect on you. Nevin feels that Theresa Kerry realizes this and the importance of it to her husband. Lots of us might be booking into the local hotel for unhindged riders absent kiteboarding to aid in managing stress.
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album39/Theresa.jpg
Theresa scoping out the action
(from) (http://www.hellomagazine.com/travel/2004/07/21/johnkerry/)
Nevin indicated that Kerry is a fun guy to hang out with. He did say that if he had a preference, he would prefer that Kerry NOT kiteboard in an abundance of caution during his bid for and term as president should that come about. He appreciates the stoke the Senator gains from riding but would prefer him to be in a bit safer pursuit all things considered. Still, all that wind, it does call to you ...
Interesting times coming, we'll soon know if we will have a fellow kiteboarder in the White House.
http://a.relaunch.focus.de/img/gen/P/S/HBPSCGDaWyC_Pxgen_rc_Ax348,Ax348+0+0.jpg
(from) (http://a.relaunch.focus.de)
.
I have prepared this human interest piece as the first in a series about famous kiteboarders, discussing a fellow kiteboarder who also happens to be a candidate for the Presidency of the USA and a Massachusetts Senator. Most of us have to have a job after all it helps to pay for kiteboarding, right? Well John Kerry has his.
The purpose of this write up is to provide some insight into his outlook on riding, some stories and the like provided by friends. IT IS NOT PRESENTED AS POLITICAL RHETORIC OR DOGMA only some information on a fellow, as it happens world famous, "boardhead."
Does any of this make him a great prospect for the Presidency? You got me, I'm still on the fence on that one. That’s for each of us to decide and based upon a LOT more information than is provided here.
That said, here goes …
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album39/IM001329_001_1.sized.jpghttp://www.fksa.org/albums/album39/47_G.sized.jpghttp://www.fksa.org/albums/album39/45_G.sized.jpg
Nantucket (from) (http://www.pbase.com/)
I spoke on the telephone with Nevin Sayre and Mike Alpert about John Kerry and kiteboarding off of Nantucket, Massachusetts. Nevin Sayer is a long time riding buddy of the senator both in windsurfing and kiteboarding over the last few years. Nevin met Kerry through windsurfing. Nevin was the USA champion windsurfer for five years and second in the world for two years in racing. He left the windsurfing tour in 1990. He was one of the founders of Fiberspar. Nevin went to kiteboarding to get his “yahoos” in lighter winds. He started five years ago. Don Montague set him up with kiteboarding gear.
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album39/graduate.jpg
Nevin Sayre running his annual charity windsurfing function for kids, from Nevin Sayre Windsurfing Kids Camp (http://www.ussailing.org/youth/racing/jo/2003/Nevin_Sayres_Kids_Windsurfing_Camp.htm)
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album39/Mike_Alpert_001.jpg
Mike Alpert is a Nantucket resident, founder of the local kiteboarding association NANTUCKET KITEBOARDING ASSOCIATION (http://www.nantucketkiteboarding.com/), lobbyist for sustained access to ride on the island and a kiteboarding instructor. Nantucket has its own access issues which Mike and local riders are working hard to secure. (*Visitors heed local kiteboarding guidlines to protect access to ride!*)
Mike has seen the Senator out riding over the years and holding his own. He indicated that he was a low key fellow and when the wind is on, just one of the local guys. Alpert Photo from SESHREPORTS.COM (http://www.ack-track.com/)
But first, some tales about windsurfing, the early days ...
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album39/jkcover.jpg
From American Windsurfer. CLICK FOR FULL AMERICAN WINDSURFER ARTICLE (http://www.americanwindsurfer.com/mag/back/issue5.5a.html)
Nevin related that Kerry started windsurfing in early 1990s. They had a July 4th tradition of riding from Falmouth to Nantucket which is about 30 miles of open ocean. In one section you can’t see land in any direction. For someone that is voting on the senate floor on Friday that can undertake something like this on Saturday, it is amazing. He doesn’t call the press about it, he just does it because he loves it. They have had up to four guys on the crossing. Max Kennedy tried to make it one year but didn’t complete the crossing. They always had a chase boat to follow along EXCEPT for one year, in 1999. That was the year they needed one!
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album39/The_Cape.jpg
The riding ground
Once they were well offshore the wind came up. John Kerry was on an 8 m sail with the wind rising to around 20 kts. overpowering him. He was struggling for a while but his “perceverence and determination is second to none.” He willed himself all the way there. Before Iowa a lot of people were counting Kerry as down and out. Kerry never lost sight of the goal or lost his confidence. He just gutted it out through a lot of hard work. Incredibly grueling schedule, and just through determination, stamina and skill he percivered and surprised the hell out of everyone. That day halfway between the mainland and Nantuckett in the open ocean and out of sight of land, with no chase boat, when the wind started honking. Kerry didn’t know how to handle the situation but showed Nevin “what he is made out of.” Riding overpowered downwind on a windsurfer is a very demanding balancing act, requiring substantial, continuous exertion. Nevin would shout instructions while sailing along side but Kerry had to figure out how to apply it in the midst of a very taxing situation that lasted for a long time.
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album39/sleeve3.jpg
IT'S A LONG WAY TO NANTUCKET ... ( REALLY!) (http://www.2112online.com/nantucket/merch.shtml)
When Kerry gutted it out and learned how to sail downwind overpowered out in the middle of the ocean. Nevin knew that you can’t count this guy out, he is a stayer. He went four years in a row but could make it the fifth year. They went kiteboarding instead once opportunity allowed. The crossings would take from FOUR AND ONE HALF TO SEVEN AND ONE HALF HOURS!
Nevin organized a windsurfing race around Marthas Vinyard, the Martha's Vineyard Challenge starting in 1988 for charity a distance of 55 miles More about the Challenge (http://mvchallenge.com/history.shtml). Because it is a triangular island with sections of adverse currents, wind and waves it is closer to a 80 to 100 mile circumnavigation. Kerry came for two years. One year only five out of 30 plus sailors made it to the finish. Kerry made it as far as anyone else about ¾ of the way or roughly 60 to 75 miles over EIGHT HOURS. The next morning on Sunday he flew off the island at 4:30am to be on the TV program "Meet the Press."
***
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album39/John.jpg
John Kerry riding along
Next ... Kiteboarding With The Senator
Senator Kerry has a residence on Nantucket and naturally may be seen riding from time to time off this intriguing wind destination off the SE coast of Massachusetts. I asked Nevin when the Senator started kiteboarding? He said Kerry started kiting about four years ago making him among the first 25 to 50 kiteboarders in New England. He was riding F ones the first year and was struggling like everyone else in those days. Me too! In the second year he went to four line inflatable kites.
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album39/r522620704.jpg
He said that in four years with the demands of the job, Kerry has amassed a whopping 15 to 20 days total of kiteboarding time. He estimated that included about 9 days four years ago, 7 days three years ago and only two days in each of the last two years. Despite the infrequent shredding sessions, Kerry stays upwind, transitions well and has been working on jumping. I think it took me about a year to stay upwind, all be it over five years ago with less effective gear. Kerry's performance is pretty impressive for such a short time on the water kiteboarding.
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album39/revista_20040723_02.jpg
(from) (http://usatoday.com/)
Nevin said the Senator is a methodical guy, he gets as much information as he can about a challenge, thinks about it and figures out an approach in his mind and then just does it. Nevin said the Senator might call in February with an idea or question about kiteboarding or windsurfing when the harbor is frozen over, just because he is thinking about it. My comment to that was “that sure makes him sound normal!”
Nevin quiped John Kerry is just a "boardhead" just like the rest of us. When he campaigning in Iowa and passes by a reservoir that is full of white caps, Nevin can guess what John Kerry may be thinking about. He is human like the rest of us and when the wind gets into your blood, your attention can be drawn to it. Like that is news to us, right? Despite that lots of kiteboarders successfully carry a load of responsibility as doctors, attorneys, engineers, pilots and a wide diversity of other professions. I think the combination or kiteboarding and work demands helps us to function more effectively.
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album39/r659135328.jpg
In the last session Nevin and John Kerry were kiteboarding together in Nantucket they had a bit of company as they shredded along. The flotilla consisted of two coast guard boats, two secret service boats and three press boats. There is a press pool that follows John Kerry around and is on call 24 hours a day. Kerry controls access so that he has some time to his affairs and himself. He invited the press to tag along because he thought they would be jazzed by the session. When they were out ripping it up on the water, the press were hooting and hollering and having a great time. These are major press guys that may not follow sports but in fact follow politics. Still, they got a good taste of kiteboarding that day. There were enthused to see a guy that might be president capable of doing something like this. They thought it was very cool!
Nevin felt that having a presidential candidate as a kiteboarder is a good thing given the credibility that such a person brings to the sport. Kerry is aware of kiteboarding access problems and has discussed the subject a “bunch” with Nevin. Nevin pointed out to Kerry that there were only a few places on the Cape Cod that they could go to ride. Kerry was already aware of the restrictions. Nevin cautioned that should Kerry become president that riders shouldn’t jump to the conclusion that kiteboarding will receive carte blanc and that it is open to everyone, anytime and anywhere. Nevin felt that when riders are struggling to maintain access in negotiations with the public sector, the public sector will be compelled to be more mindful of what they are banning. Kerry brings legitimacy to the sport. He felt that future bans will be less likely to happen given Kerry’s participation in the sport. He felt that Kerry as a rider might aid insurability for the sport in the USA.
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album39/kerry_dop2a.jpg
(from) (http://www.hellomagazine.com/travel/2004/07/21/johnkerry/)
Nevin has not seen Kerry have a Kitemare. John Kerry related a story to Nevin about one time when he was out and Pulled the trigger on a jump and flew quite a bit higher than he expected and fell like a rock. The normal riding areas that he frequents in Nantuckett are fairly safe.
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album39/246_G.sized.jpg
Nantucket but not John Kerry ... yet! (from) (http://www.ack-track.com/)
I asked what he thought John Kerry will do with regard to kiteboarding if he wins the presidency, continue riding or take a sabbatical. He felt that world events and other responsibilities will dictate whether he will have the opportunity to ride. Nevin felt “there is no question that he’ll want to.” The boardheads or wind addicts among us can certainly relate to that sentiment. I asked what type of riding he would evolve into Nevin felt that if circumstances allowed John Kerry more time to kiteboard. He felt that he wouldn’t get into handle passes or other cutting edge wakestyle moves. He will want to jump and cruise very proficiently and evolve to handle more wind. Given all of Kerry’s responsibilities and pressures just getting out on the water during extremely rare intervals the sensation or stoke of just cruising is a special experience. Still Kerry wants challenges and is an “amazing athelete.” He will keep pushing the envelope.
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album39/23356968_img_1789_std.sized.jpg
Harbor time (from) (http://www.pbase.com/jeffhall/nantucket)
The last session John Kerry was seen to be using a reel board leash. This is a dog leash like device that tethers the riders board to him for easy retrieval should he fall off, a fairly common occurrence for many riders. Still the conventional wisdom among some kiteboarders is that board leashes are dangerous due to rebound to the rider and there use should be discouraged. Nevin speculated that with six chase boats that there was NO risk of the board being lost that his motivation may be to maximize his time on the water and doesn’t want to flounder around in front of the press corp. He put in three hours of riding time this year so every minute is precious. Nevin did say he was speaking to the Senator about using a helmet and getting rid of the board leash.
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album39/revista_20040723_02.jpg
I asked Nevin how Mrs. Theresa Kerry looks upon kiteboarding? He responded with some humor, “she’s not into it at all!” Well there are QUITE a few fellow kiteboarders that can relate to that. She thinks it is dangerous, has lost loved ones in the past and isn’t fond of this pursuit. During the recent trip, Kerry had three days. When he arrived he was clearly stressed out, was in a pressure cooker, talking a mile a minute, multi-tasking out the wazoo. After some time on the water he relaxed, slowed down and smiled in a more typical low key fashion. You don’t have to be a presidential candidate for kiteboarding to have this effect on you. Nevin feels that Theresa Kerry realizes this and the importance of it to her husband. Lots of us might be booking into the local hotel for unhindged riders absent kiteboarding to aid in managing stress.
http://www.fksa.org/albums/album39/Theresa.jpg
Theresa scoping out the action
(from) (http://www.hellomagazine.com/travel/2004/07/21/johnkerry/)
Nevin indicated that Kerry is a fun guy to hang out with. He did say that if he had a preference, he would prefer that Kerry NOT kiteboard in an abundance of caution during his bid for and term as president should that come about. He appreciates the stoke the Senator gains from riding but would prefer him to be in a bit safer pursuit all things considered. Still, all that wind, it does call to you ...
Interesting times coming, we'll soon know if we will have a fellow kiteboarder in the White House.
http://a.relaunch.focus.de/img/gen/P/S/HBPSCGDaWyC_Pxgen_rc_Ax348,Ax348+0+0.jpg
(from) (http://a.relaunch.focus.de)
.