Support Billy Parker Fund

[CrazyJay]

Everyone out there thinks Billy is such a great rider.... and ya know what... HE IS!!! He is something for St Pete and all of Tampa Bay to be proud of. He finished 103rd in the world last year and only competed in 1 event.
Since Flexi seems to be kinda missing it...I think we should come together and support him.

The next PKRA event is in Cabarete on June 26. American Airlines has a special but we need to book soon. It cost about $800 for a week trip there. I have no doubt that he will do his best and make all of us proud. My company, O~Studio Kitchen and Bath, has deposited $100 into the Billy Parker fund. Your financial suport will be greatly appreciated.The paypal account is: raver_jay@excite.com

Since Billy does not check this forum please keep it on the DOWNLOW. Time is limited so please pledge SOON. We will surprise him in 2 weeks with airline tickets if response is adequate.

Thanks in Advance Everyone,
Jay

[Skyway Scott]

If we can get 30 riders to each give 25 bucks, we will make it.
10 bucks helps too. Just do it, and soon, so we can give Billy the good news and let him focus on the contest.

For those of you on the fence, what Erick says here sums it up:

Billy is all the above (from other thread stating how great a rider he is) but also something that I really admire about him is his great personality. First time I met him at “The Undertow”, when I was starting at the sport I approach to him without even know who he was and we had a nice conversation. Second time I saw him at EB probably two or three weeks after I first met him for the first time and he waived at me and call me by my name. He’s an amazing kiter with a great personality. It's great to have Billy representing the Bay Area nationally and internationally.

I could list 30 examples of Billy saving someone's butt on the water or chasing their kite on land, etc. He even drove to get his jetski to come back and find someone's board one day.
He's earned a lot of karma points and is the kind of guy we want representing the sport and St. Pete.

[bryanleighty]

$50 sent!

Great idea Jay!!!

If anyone wants to give a bit but does not have a paypal account, let me know and I'll donate in your name and you can get me cash.

-Bryan

[C. Moore]

Money was sent to you Jay. I matched your ammount. I wish we could be there to cheer him on.

[CrazyJay]

Thanks to everyone who has donated so far: Gary, Toby, Chris, Scott, Bryan Leighty. We are more than half way there. What a kick ass kite community!!!

Anyone have any recommendations or connections for hotels in Cabarete?

[Erick]

Go Billy Go!!!!!! Come on guys! He deserves to be with the best of the best.

[bryanleighty]

i know that Eric (Ebone) went there last year and he sent me the link for the place.. dirt cheap from what i remember.. 30 or 40$ per night if i recall..

might want to get in touch w/ him.

[C. Moore]

Laurel Eastman at LEK http://www.laureleastmankiteboarding.com/ is super nice and she runs a Kite Surf school in Cabarete. She can assist you in getting the hook ups around the area.

-Chris

[CrazyJay]

Thanks Chris, I sent her an email this morning and am waiting for her reply.

I just talked to Tiff and we are going to try and get Billy to Undertow around noon on Sunday. Does everyone want to meet there to surprise him and for some refreshments?

[CrazyJay]

Thanks Erick and EBone. Only a couple hundred to go and we should be there.

[E-Bone]

I stayed at Extreme Hotel in Cabarete. Worked for me. It will book up fast as well as every other decent spot in Cabarete with the PKRA coming on.

http://www.extremehotels.com/

Jay, great idea. I just sent in $100.00.

Look, it is time for everyone to step up to the plate and make this happen. We have a lot of kiters around here now. Even if you can only send $20.00, do it now. Don't sit on your hands, get up and put some cash into the hat. If you don't have a PayPal account, set one up. With all the new gear I see around here, no one should plead poverty or look away.

Billy is a top kiteboarder and deserves to be at any PKRA event in which he wants to ride. He has a lot to offer with his ballz-out style. Billy is a super solid citizen in our scene and constantly gives free advice on kiting to anyone who asks. He has given us a lot of inspiration and entertainment as we watch him put on a mad skillz session every time he shows up at the spot.

Let's make this happen and show Billy that the West Side crew can do more than just talk about what a great kiteboarder he is.

[bigairal]

count me in i sent a pm to brayn leighty to make a deposit for me....allen

[bryanleighty]

50 clams heading in compliments of Big Air Al!

I posted to the NWKite.com forum.. a number of guys there met Billy in Hatteras. There are some posts not only about how amazing Billy is on the water, but about how great of a person he is without his kite.

Hoping to get some support from folks across the country!

[JoshTaylor]

i don't have paypal.. and my rents won't let me use it.

anyone wana throw me in for $25? and i'll get you the money at the beach??

[toby wilson]

I'll throw down your $25 Josh. Just get me back at the beach.

[CrazyJay]

Thanks Again to Everyone who has donated. We are within $100 of paying for his flight and room. If there is any extra it can be used for his food/entertainment.

Sponsors:
O~Studio Kitchen and Bath
Toby Wilson
Gary Henderson
Bryan Leighty
Scott Fears
Chris Moore
Erick Lou
E-Bone
Paul and Alex Fox
Al Lindsey
Victoria Johnson
Amber Platowski
Josh Taylor
Bryan Woods
Nicole Doolittle (NW Kites)
Garret Zallen
__________



Can anyone get a jersey/TShirt made quick. Maybe something that has everyone's name on it and that also shows TampaBay?

[Woodson]

From a newb about Billy... rode along with the group last October, and he was with them... Went to the after party and introduced myself and he knew my kite (probably to stay upwind from) as well as complimented me on coming so far to the event and time on the water with a tip or two for better riding...

It made my day being new to the sport... Basically the guy has got good character, and is a stand up guy as you already know...

$50

[JoshTaylor]

I'll throw down your $25 Josh. Just get me back at the beach.

thanks toby.

[amber]

sent 20 bucks. I have been trying to support billy's kiting career since i first met him in the little ways that i could. (photograph submissions, etc). I respect Billy and am proud to know him. I can't wait to see his face on sunday. keep it up guys!

[Skyway Scott]

I can work on a quick design. Any slogan ideas?

"We sent Billy Packin'"
"Billy, Billy, he's our man"

Anything.

Here is a graphic of a pic I took last year.
Bayflite and I colored it up.

Will it do as the starting point?

[E-Bone]

How about "Mad Skillz Pay the Billz."

[bryanleighty]

Scott can you work on the kite on that photo? pic looks cool but kite looks too odd. Maybe you can grab a photo online of a kite at the correct angle and colorize it..

you can take any photo and drop it into a latter version of Flash and do a process that turns it into a cartoon-like creation.. similar to the style used in the movie "Waking Life" or "A scanner darkly"

[Skyway Scott]

I can basically do whatever. Just want ideas.
Is this representing Tampa? VERY rough draft.
I need a pic of an Ion2 for the kite.

[toby wilson]

Just use one of the pics that are more recent from the other day...does there have to be a kite in it? The bar and lines would imply that he is kiting...just an idea...

[Skyway Scott]

Doesn't have to be a kite. Wouldn't hurt to have a Flexi in there since that's his sponsor. I am open to any ideas.

Any slogan's yet?

Let's start a new thread. http://www.fksa.org/showthread.php?p=19682#post19682

[Skyway Scott]

I assume we all reached 800 for Billy. That'd be awesome.
Any updates Jayson?

[CrazyJay]

I just checked and we are up to $810. WAY TO GO EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Airfare is $305, room for 7 days should be about $385. That leaves about $120 left over. Registration for the event is usually $100-$125 so it works out perfect.

Chris Moore is going to talk to Laurel Eastman in Cabarete about accomodations.

I'm pretty sure we are still meeting Sunday at Underho at noon. Still waitin to hear back from Tiff. Will update as soon as I know.

Jayson

[Skyway Scott]

Pretty unreal. Sweet. ;)

[TritonKiteboarding]

We got $50 bucks so long as he upholds the standards which he set at the velocity games this year. I dont have any account but the guy needs some flow for the evenings so if someone wants to throw down for us, we'll pitch in.
-matt/mike/everyone
-

[CrazyJay]

We are confirmed for Sunday at Noon at the Underho.
Remember this is a surprise so please keep it on the DL.
Thanks
Jay

[invisible]

Better late than never... I just kicked in too...

[wifirewire]

Just sent in 25 bucks. Dude deserves it..

good winds...
dustin

[Cborges]

Aoha...from Miami florida...Jay, this was such a great idea you had...Billy must be proud to have such a thoughtful friend in you!...I just read the forum post today...hope its not to late...but , Dustin and I to pitched in to the pay pal account this morning ...I wish we could be there to see his face when you all present him with the suprise tommorow. Take some pics of his reaction pleeeeaze...Wind here has been off the hook...hope you all are getting it as well...missin all my St Pete homies fo sho...
Smiles,
hope to visit soon...
CJ Borges

[Wolfie]

I too put in a few loose bills this morning. Hopefully he will have some lunch money to boot.

[CrazyJay]

THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE WHO HAS COME TOGETHER SO QUICKLY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
In addition to the above list the following have also donated generously:
CJ Borges
Dustin Sleichter
Tom Stock
Scott Wolfe

Once Mike and the Eckerd boys pony up we will be at $895.00!!!!!
Go Bill...Kick Ass in Cabarete!!!!

[kuds]

Jayson,

Billy will probably need beer money. Please put $50 in for me. If I can make it to the Undertow tomorrow I will pay you then or I will send you a check. Kudos to bleighty- I discovered this link when checking the NW kiteboarding forum for the Gorge.

Bruce

[Steve-O]

Jay,

You can't count me in for $75.00. One expense to consider is cost of bringing all the gear on the airline. They hit pretty hard on oversized and overweight. I am sure he will have quite a few kites and boards to bring. It may be as much as the plane ticket round trip.

Back when I started this whole craziness, Bill was at the shop getting some stuff. I asked him about jumping and he must have filled my brain for an hour with all kinds of info. I am so stoked Jay you have led this charge for Bill. It is only a matter of time for him.

[invisible]

I thought the $800 WAS the beer money! :cool:

[CrazyJay]

More donations have arrived. Thanks go out to:
Bruce Kudryk
Steve Visnage
Bob DuPuy

[TampaBay Noob]

Jay....have him stay at Ali's Surf Camp. Very cheap bungalos that are very safe and the camp has awesome food. Ali is cool as hell too. Just came back from D.R. a few months ago. You can find info about it on google.