Wildwood Buggy Bash

Wildwood Buggy Bash is held on the expansive beaches of Wildwood, New Jersey. Once famous for boardwalk amusements and ferris wheels, this area is fast becoming the most popular spot on the east coast for kite buggying.



Over one-hundred power kite enthusiasts were in attendance this October. Plenty of wind and sunshine brought smiles to everyone’s face all weekend long. HQ Kites was on hand with a ton of gear for demo, including the new Apex III, Montana VI and Toxic. One rider liked the new Apex so much, he rode off one morning and did not return all day! Friday winds were very strong and gusty out of the west. Turbulence from buildings made for bumpy wind. Beamers were the kite of choice. Nothing munches a gust better than a Beamer! We look forward to returning to Wildwood next May for the spring edition.

http://www.wildwoodbuggybash.com/

Win a new HQ Montana V Kite

Win a brand new 2010 HQ Montana V

Don’t miss your chance! Enter the Kitestorm Circuit Race on Saturday, February 20th for your chance to win the grand prize – a 2010 HQ Montana V 9.5m kite.

Kitestorm is an annual event held on Lake Champlain, Vermont – February 20-21st, just outside of Burlington.

Never been snow kiting?

At Kitestorm you can get a taste of the sport in the free clinics, freeride to your heart's content and challenge yourself against yourself and others in the first Kitestorm Around the Islands race. For more information, contact Stormboarding at 802.578.6120 or e-mail: rachael@stormboarding.com

Team HQ Powerkites will be on location with a huge quiver of Montana Vs, Neo IIs, Apex IIs, Scout IIs, Hydras and Rush Pros for you to sample.

But we digress…

The Circuit Race will be for all riders looking for a reasonable challenge and some personal satisfaction. The lucky winner will take to the snow with the HQ Montana V 9.5m.

The Montana V is a highly refined foil kite that combines stability and performance using developments in paragliding technology. A higher aspect ratio with more efficient profile provides increased depower and quicker turning speed. The flexible canopy better absorbs gusts for a smoother ride. The Montana V is easy to handle and offers high-end performance for the demanding pilot. The bar system has been redeveloped and the new molded 'EVO' chicken loop offers increased safety and user-friendliness. It packs tightly into an ergonomic backpack with attachment points for all kinds of boards, helmets and harnesses. Whether you want to explore the backcountry or focus on freestyle, the Montana V delivers.

Design Features:

- Leash-less safety system

- Double pulley speed system with Ronstan Stainless Steel Pulleys

- Y-Line design with colored lines

- New 50 cm (7m, 9.5m) or 60 cm (12.5m) composite bar and state of the art chicken loop

- Redesigned shape for more turning speed and depower

- Water repellent skin, highest quality materials

- Bomb proof construction

- Simple relaunch

- Easy handling

- Dirt-outs at wing tips

See you on the ice!

HQ Kites Relocates USA Headquarters

Kite distributor expands business toward North Carolina’s Outer Banks

HQ Kites & Designs, Inc., a German-based kite & toy distribution company has announced plans to locate their North American headquarters in Powells Point, an Outer Banks community located in lower Currituck County. The new location will double their current footprint and provide office and warehouse space for products to be distributed to retail stores throughout North and South America. HQ Kites & Designs, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Invento, a privately-held corporation based in Rastede, Germany and founded in 1993. The company plans to begin operating at the new site by Novermber 30, 2009.

In both Europe and North America, the HQ brand is known for their wide range of high quality kites, ranging from easy-to-fly kites for children to power kites that are used for kiteboarding and snow kiting. HQ also produces a variety of lawn & garden décor and air toys.

The company chose to locate in Currituck County because of lower business costs, proximity to kite & kiteboarding retailers, and enhanced exposure for HQ’s product line and customer base. “HQ is excited to be operating from the Outer Banks, home of the Wright Brothers first flight, and now the ‘Mecca of Windsports’ for kite flying, kite surfing, and windsurfing. Being on the Outer Banks will open up marketing opportunities for our business. Because so many people come here to enjoy the natural resources, it offers great exposure for our products,” stated Chris Shultz, Vice President of Sales. “The quality of life for our employees will be enhanced by living the lifestyle inspired by our products.”

About HQ Kites

HQ Kites & Designs USA is a national sales and distribution company located in Chesapeake, Virginia. As a 100% subsidiary of Invento GmbH from Germany, HQ Kites has an international background using a worldwide network of designers and engineers to ensure the highest level of innovation and quality. Our entire line of HQ Kites™, Windspiration™ lawn and garden spinners, HQ Powerkites and other outdoor toys are created for fun and engineered to last.

HQ Powerkites World Tour stop > OBX

The Powerkites.de World-Tour comes to the Outer Banks of North Carolina – famous for wind and the birthplace of flight.

On April 18th we stop at Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Nags Head, North Carolina – the largest natural sand dunes on the East Coast. Located just across the street from the Kitty Hawk Kites flagship store. Here you can test fly all the new power kites on the soft, forgiving sands. Access to the shallow waters of the Albemarle Sound is available behind the park.

That evening we’ll meet for a refreshments and BBQ at the Blue Crab Tavern, courtesy of HQ Kites.

On April 19th the tour continues south to Hatteras Island and the village of Waves, one of the best kite boarding destinations in the country. The best surf on the East Coast can also be found on the Atlantic Ocean side. Kitty Hawk Kites will host us at their new store and kite boarding resort, where miles of shallow waters and constant winds create an amazing flat water riding paradise. An ideal environment to try the HQ NEO and Hydra. Join us for a test ride and deck party.

For travel information to the Outer Banks, visit http://www.outerbanks.org/.

Kitestorm

After a busy New York Toy Fair event, Tim and myself packed the HQ minivan and drove to Vermont to participate in Kitestorm. There was not much snow on the frozen lake Champlain. So everyone discovered how easy it is to edge on ice with skis powered by kites.
HQ ran the busiest and best stocked demo area by far. Tim and I worked hard for the entire two days helping riders check out the Apex, Montana and the new water-relaunchable Neo.


My only regret was twisting my ankle while walking across the ice. Yeah. Walking. Three weeks later it still bothers me.

Get a REAL job

My beginnings in the kite industry started with Kitty Hawk Kites, the World's Largest Hang Gliding School and Kite Store in Nags Head, North Carolina when I was fresh out of high school. My Greek mother would sometimes ask when I was going to get a real job. Kites. pppppffffff. At the time I had graduated from university and was no longer flying kites every summer day on Jockey's Ridge State Park for the local retailer. No more outdoor fun on the dole. Now it was retail management. And starting to see some real money. Little did I know that twenty years later I would still be in the industry. Shout out to my high school friend, Marc Conklin, hooking me up with that first KHK job as kite flier.

Now, I'm a member of KPEC (Kite Producers Economic Council) and along with other members from companies such as Premier, Skydog, Into The Wind, and HQ Kites, conducted meetings at the 21st annual KTAI Kite Trade Show and Convention this past week in Destin, Florida. Let me tell you...expectations are high for kites in 2009.

Good friends of mine who started a new venture, Skydog Kites, debuted their company and won Best Booth. HQ Kites & Designs took home some acrylic for the Best New Kite of the Year with our Giant Magic Star.

The original design by Ralf Dietrich easily won first place at the 3rd World Kite Championships in Weifang, China with the Han Bao Sing (red star). The star's key data: 25 sqm spinnaker, 15m of 8mm carbon rods, 600m edging, 1400m thread and 892 individual parts. A large kite at 3.3m by 3.3m.

Around 18 companies exhibited at the show with 35 or so retail stores represented. A very small show compared to the size ten years ago. What remains is a hard core group of retailers and manufacturers that generally treat it like a class reunion. How many places in the world can you go to find a barroom filled with people that have over 20 years of experience selling kites?

Look no further than the 22nd annual show, scheduled for the end of January 2010 in Primm, Nevada.

Pictures of the HQ Kites booth...

Kiteboarding

Living on the Outer Banks has it drawbacks and rewards. One prize the islands provide are the consistent winds and shallow waters of the Albermarle and Pamlico sounds. This is one of the best kite surfing locations anywhere on the east coast. I returned to the island in June to find many of my old friends from high school and college now kiting, whereas before, I was working for Kitty Hawk Kites and one of few.

Having recently taken a position with HQ Kites in Chesapeake, I'm now promoting and selling, among other things, power kites. The '09 product range includes our first water relauncable kite, the NEO.

So here I am learning how to kitesurf for my job.

Saturday was a good day. Gusty 20-30 mph side onshore winds. Mild air and moderate water temps in the 60s. Perfect conditions to be flying my 8m NEO with some friends at the new Kitty Hawk Kites store in Rodanthe. I've figured out how to stay up wind, which is a great feeling of accomplishment, as is getting up and riding for the first time. My board skills need a lot of work. And I learn a little every time I'm in the water. Recently I started popping some small jumps. Going toe side is next on the to-learn list, which is key to progressing with transitions on my turns.

A big shout out to Ted G for the loaner wetsuit.

I'll be snowkiting with this guy, Tom Bourdeau, next month on Lago Bianco and Bernina Pass in Switzerland. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGAb02x6gog

But first, I'll be at the Snow Summit held at famous Skyline Drive.


Time to pack the wetsuit and find my parka.