Authors: Ben Ruhe
Date Submitted: May 31, 2005
Article Type: Journal

In l978 Mike Waltze, a surfing enthusiast, moved from his native California to Maui. The wind, he had heard, was unbeatable. Waltze set up the first windsurfing shop on the island. At age 18, he was a founding father. Waltze sold boards and other equipment. “First it was one, than three, then ten,” he says. “Before you knew it, I was popping 30 boards a month out of my little factory. I had a real passion for riding the waves. I was at the beach all day every day. Windsurfing was the ultimate free ride.”

Waltze’s life changed abruptly for the better when Cory Roesler of the Hood River gorge in Oregon came visiting and showed the local enthusiasts something new. Roesler used a kite to pull himself on water skis; his ability and speed amazed everyone, including Waltze. “I got to do this,” was his response. “I went out on the water and thought, ‘Let’s just use a board instead of skis.’ The board worked fine.” Kiteboarding as a sport was being born.

Using two hard-to-control delta kites, Waltze and friends did rides down the coast from Hookipa beach to Kanaha beach, 10 miles. “We’d take turns, one driving a car down for the pickup. It was very thrilling.”

PDF Link: Journal Issue