HOME > NEWS > 2010-KITEBOARDING-EVENT-UPDATE

2010 SPI Kite Round-Up Update

LEarn about the Event happenings

2010 SPI Kite Round-Up Equipment Demo Area

The 2010 SPI Kite Round-Up is in full effect! The 9-day long kiteboarding and water sports event is being held May 1st - 9th, 2010 on sunny South Padre Island , Texas. A full range of equipment demos, contests, clinics, and fun water sport activities has made this year's event out to a great start! Hundreds of participants and spectators made their way to the well-known wind location of the South Flats on the Laguna Madre Bay to be a part of this tremendous event.

The first few days of the event saw light winds, which aided in equipment and area setup of the gear manufacturers. A whole host of companies were at the South Flats the first weekend and throughout the week showcasing their latest products. The light wind also gave everyone the chance to try out the stand up paddleboards (SUPs) and winch demos. 'On The Beach' has been at the event site everyday with several SUPs available for use in the calm bay waters of South Padre. Yankmeister Winch Co. has also been on scene throughout the entire event towing wakeboarders, kiteboarders, and skimboarders alike.

A few days in, and the wind kicked into its regular warm southeast breezes that swept across the event site for several days now. This gave the contestants and participants a chance to try all of the 2010 kiteboard equipment. The amateur kiteboarding competitions and professional exhibitions soon followed suit. After a brief freestyle expression session, the max spin contest was held. The next day saw speed trials and the long jump. Both were attended by a huge amount of participants, making it a very entertaining show from the shoreline. With race buoys set up at the starting and ending line made it easy for all of the competitors and judges to stay organized. On Friday, the contestants rigged big on the Gulf of Mexico side for the downwind race. The several miles Gulf-side down winder gave everyone the chance to ride in the fantastic side-onshore wind and wave conditions.

The final weekend of the 2010 SPI Kite Round-Up is still in store. It will be kicked off with a flatland skimboard competition on Saturday, followed by the boarder-cross kiteboard contest and a continuation of the equipment demos from kiteboarding, winch, SUP and other industry manufacturers. Check out the array of kiteboarding clinics to improve your skills, or just chill out and enjoy the superb riding on South Padre Island. Get your family and friends together to head out to the South Flats just north of the South Padre Island Convention Center to check out the action!

We would like to thank all of our sponsors and demo companies for making this event happen! More updates on the rest of the event and the winners of all the competitions will be posted soon!

Check out the 2010 SPI Kite Round-Up Photo Gallery.

Tags: South Padre Island, demos, clinics, contests, Yankmeister Winch Co., max spin contest, long jump, speed trials, downwind race, flatland skimboard competition, boarder-cross, South Padre Island, sponsors, demo companies