Manu Bertin and the Early Days of Kiteboarding

[ricki]

Martin Kirk with Kiteboarding School of Maui recently sent along a number of early photos of Manu tearing it up in Maui from 1995 and on. He also included a short narrative about the history with it:

"In 1994, Manu Bertin of France traveled to Maui with a ram air kite and, with a small tow-in board that Laird Hamilton had developed, began kiteboarding from Ho`okipa Beach Park down to Kanaha Beach Park on Maui's north shore. Then, in 1995, Manu acquired one of Bruno and Dominique Legaignoux's inflated kites and began improving the design and testing his prototypes on Maui over the next three years. It was during this testing period that Don Montague began working with Manu and soon both were riding upwind and jumping. This is when Robby Naish became excited about the sport and his company, Naish Sails, became involved; and the rest they say is "history". "


First Hawaiian waves, circa 1995


Manu Bertin and an early Wipika, circa 1996


First big Hawaiian waves, circa 1996


Circa 1995


First Hawaiian open ocean crossing, circa 1998


First Hawaiian speed record, circa 1998


Jaws, circa 2000


Early longboarding, circa 2000


Topturn, circa 2000

I was in Maui kiting on vacation in 1999, shot quite a few stills and video. I will have to dig that stuff out and put some of it up too.

Thanks Martin and a really big thanks to Manu for leading the way for the rest of us!