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Tuesday 2 March 2010

the best wave kiter by a mile!!!!

ANDRE PHILLIPS ARTICLE (THE BEST ADVICE TO KITEBOARDERS EVER WRITTEN)

We all hear a lot of famous people say the same shit, "The hardest part about fame and fortune isn't always getting there. The hardest part is staying there once you've made it." Well I agree with the second part but for some getting there is a bitch as well.

I've been involved in kiteboarding for a while and I've seen alot of really talented riders come and disappear faster than anyone gets a chance to get used to them. Some of them get recognized and supported and then fade away and some of them are never seen or heard of outside of their home turf and no one really gives them a chance to shine.

Here's some to do's and what not to do to be a pro, or if you've made it to produm and wanna maintain.

- Never forget that kiteboarding is fun and that's why you probably stuck to it in the first place. If you ride for the money and fame then you're probably not ever going to make it too far. I know a whole movement of riders who had mad talent and for years they never got more support than free gear and they quit cause they thought they should have gotten more and by that time they shoulda been paid and famous. Shoot, most of the pros are barely making enough mula to survive at this young stage of the sport but if you keep doing it for the love then maybe one day the money and fame will be a perk and you'll still be havin fun and rich and famous with groupies hangin from ya necklace... BUP!

- Don't ever think you're GOD. I know a bunch of people who have become that guy who gets kind of good (but in their own eyes they are REEEALLY REEAAALLY good) and all of a sudden they think they're royalty or something. For instance I met this one guy about 3 years ago and he was super cool, real chill and a pretty good person to be around who would help out etc. He put out a promo vid and I was like "yo, you stepped up you're riding, good shit!" I saw him again this year and the increase of his riding skills exponentially increased the size of his head. All of a sudden he thinks he's god and doesn't have to lift a finger to help anything or anyone. These people normally fall into a death spiral and wonder why no one wants to help them or hang out or why they aren't sponsored because they know that they "rip shhhuuuper hard!!"

- Do what you gotta do. Ok so you're not God but you really do rip and are worthy to be given a chance to shine but no one has noticed. I'm a prime example of how a nobody with a bit of talent and reeeealy reealy smooth balls can actually get off their local beach and get a job as a globe trotter. I used to run KiteAntigua.com and luckily the owner Alex Portman saw my skillz and believed that I could make it as a pro so he was the first sponsor that gave me a chance to get off the island. I took the chance to travel to some contests and did my best to do well and meet as many people as I could within the industry. If you ever get a chance to put your foot in the door then do what ya gots to do. If you don't know someone who can help you then search for help and use whatever resources you have but first make sure you are worthy. Get your riding up to par, collect lots of tight video footage and still pictures, make a lil promo website and make sure that you are professional about every step you take to get to the top.

- Make sure you're cool to everyone you meet. If you know any of the pro's who've been in the game for years you'll see that they are cool to everyone, yes even kooks! Yea maybe someone's a dick but it doesn't mean you gotta be a dick back to them. You never know if the next person you meet is going to have big pull on your career.

- Don't rock the other company's gear. You cashed the cheque, took all the product and now you're rockin some other companies shit just cause theirs looks tighter than your sponsors. Who cares, your sponsor won't even notice anyways, plus you're god!! So they are lucky to even put your face in their ads right?? Uuhhh not after they drop your ass and you have to go find a desk job. Pimp their shit for as long as you're with them even if you think their shit sucks! Do work, make money and when somethin better comes along then bail but don't burn your bridges.

- Keep pushing. Take it bigger, grab it longer, press it harder, style dem shits out, whatever it is try to keep on pushin yourself and keep the game fresh for yourself. It helps keep you motivated and helps you evolve as a rider.

- Never slack off. You worked hard to get to the top and get a piece of that pie but now you've got there all of a sudden you think "ok I can coast". I've seen alot of guys get there, coast, run out of gas and end up pulled over on the curb while the next bunch of guys pass them. Remember that most kiteboarders have the attention span of a parrot so you gots to keep bustin your chops.

- Don't be a slave to drugs. I know guys who toke up and ride and I'm not sayin that there's a problem with that, shoots... some people ride better under the influence and can maintain motivation.... some don't. I'm talking about guys who all they do is get lit up and eventually they loose motivation to do anything productive, whether it means going out and riding enough, building stuff, keeping in contact with sponsors, etc. Too many people fall into that spiral and go nowhere in life.

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DOOOPE!

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