Canary Islands PKRA - Round 1

Yea the day started out with the first round in the singles with 25 to 30 knot winds. I was in the 7th heat so I had plenty of time to rig my gear. The wind was blowing straight offshore coming from the mountains. It was super gusty with lulls down to even 15 knots and gusts to 35 knots! Constantly wondering what size to take out I rode a 10m to a 7m kite and right before my heat the wind picked up. I was then powered on a 7m kite. I was up against Rohndina , from Italy. The heat started out good as I pulled some massive 30 foot kiteloops, A kiteloop front spin, a huge frontmobe, and probably the biggest back mobe of my life. I had the whole crowd cheering. My opponent crashed on almost all of his tricks due to the strong winds, but he landed one switch move, and a few blind judges. As I came into the beach I felt pretty confident due to my powered tricks and big kiteloops, but 2 of the judges passed Rohndina for some weird reason. When I checked my sheets I could not understand how he passed and not me. For he butt checked out of everything ,and I stuck my tricks powered and clean? It makes me so mad that I try this hard and get this result, but I will never give in! I will come out of this thing in the doubles and fight for the title that I deserve! I will keep getting better until no one can beat me. I will train until the end! I will fight until the end! I will win in the end! I have come here to win in the top ten and I am going to do so. For the Wildcat Kite Crew! I will persevere! I will keep yall posted.
Rocky

Watch Rocky's climb up the double elim side tomorrow at : http://www.extremeelements.com/live_results/results.php?TNID02=29&TYPE04=DOUBLE&SEX01=M

Yea today was tottaly dead untill about 6pm, and then a 55knot wind came rushing down the beach sraight off shore! I tried lauching a friends 4meter kite and it was so gusty it was not worth going out. So I came in and had some pasta for diner, and now here I am writing this email wondering what the wind is gona do tommorw. I hope it is not that windy durring the comp. It would be nice if it were only 35knots or better 18knots. Is that just to much to ask for. Well guys I will let you know how tommorow goes!
Cheers,
Rocky Chatwell

Yesterday morning I went out with my 7m. The wind was about 35 to40 knots so I riged up and got my kite in the air. Man I tell you those slingshot kites are good! I was just slightly overpowered on my 20m lines and the fuel was more stable than ever. I started the session out just sending it and doing 40 foot kiteloops! These kites loop so well! Landing some of the biggest front mobes of my life had the croud cheering on the beach,I also sticking some great KGB's and back mobe7's. It was truly an epic day for me just to be able to do tricks in this amazingly strong wind! Today is light and looks like a perfect 12m just the way I like it so I will dominate again.
Cheers,
Rocky

Steaming Hot Towels & Calamari

Yea man I boarded my plane yesterday at about noon to Philli. Soon as I got there I had a quick lunch at the pizza place and then went to my gate to board the next plane. This was the big air bus honker flight which I know so well. As I was going through the boarding operation when the ticket man screwed up one of my paper tickets by accident. Going through much frustration I finally got the matter resolved, but for my troubles the airline gave my a first class seat the whole way there. Man it was so sweet! I'm talking like a seat that becomes a bed at the press of a button. I'm talking legroom like you have never experienced! Our stewardess brought us like steaming hot towels just to wipe our face off! The food was full blown fish with like shrimp and calamari! Dude I will never forget it! Anyways I am here now and am about to hit the waters. Keep ya posted!
Rocky

Off to Fuerteventura!

Hi everyone, I'm headed to Fuerteventura (Canary Islands) today and will arrive sometime around 2:00pm tomorrow afternoon! Right now I'm about to board the "honker" long flight to Madrid Spain! Will keep you posted Thanks to everyone for your help and support. Later, Rocky

THE GREAT SALE

The day started out early. Greg and I opened the garage door and quickly started setting up for the big sale of the century. Customers came from far and wide to support this mission for $money$ The first sale was two shirts out of Tenderfoot Stefanie's box, which contained some really nice clothes! (thanks Stefanie) Meanwhile, Captain T-Todd brought us some tacos and mucho grande hot sauce. (Thanks Todd) The sale started to get busy and Captain Greg' eh, Captain T-Todd, Rookair Brent, my sister Sarah and my mom sweat laboriously in the dead, humid heat. Captain Greg'eh and I stripped our tshirts off and got the sale fired up forsure.
The sale was a great success and we raised over $2000 so I can continue competing on the world tour!! I would like to thank all my friends - especially John T James my friend from Houston, who could not be here today, Rookair Jeremy for donating the great lawnmower that brought mucho grande cash!!! Rookair Brent for helping move the furniture , Captain T-Todd for working the puzzle and especially Shawn Cass for the awesome purchase of the Rocky t=shirts. Last but not least, I would like to thank my mom for sacrificing her whole day to me, which she does all the time, and I thank you Mom.
Too bad - grandfather ACE Howizard could not be there to rob me!
Thank you everyone!!
Rocky

wednesday

Out of it I finally woke up and looked out my window. The wind was blowing from the east at about 20knots. Had some breakfast then hit the water. Great seesion rode for about 2hours and then the storm finally blew through and the wind died. Sean and Liem showed up but their was not enough wind. So I paked it up and got a bite. I had to clean my room ,because my mom was on a house cleaning kick. Anyways I escaped and went back to the park. Luckily the wind came back and I rigged my 12m. Got another perfect session and landed a front mobe 8, and everything else you can imagine. Tommorow should be good. I'll let you know!
Rocky

Tuesday

Today I woke up to my mom yelling "the wind is blowing! what are you doing asleep?"
So I immediately ate a bowl of cereal and headed out to the EPIC Wildcat park. Pumped up a 12 meter, was pretty powered landing back mobe to wrap, slim, KGB , switch back mobe, front mobe, double S bend to blind before the wind died off. My good friends - the young rippers from Rockport - Sean and Liam - came out- and they were lit on 10 meters! I ate at the always delicious Taco Bell with my old man and then headed out to the shop to bug ol Howizard. After driving him crazy, I headed back home and noticed the wind was picking up. Went back out and had another sick session before my big meeting at the Portland City Council Meeting Just as I was leaving T-Todd and Greg showed up and began to ride. The City Council Meeting with Shawn Cass went very well. I talked to the city members about hosting a PKRA World Cup event here in Portland Texas. Everyone was positive and upbeat.
see you tomorrow
Rocky

Monday
Today was great my first day back on the water after the foot injury. T-Todd and I rode like crazy Wildcat was awesome today. Landed a back mobe flat three to toe side while Todd was pumping and chunking big raileys and kite loops with style. Widlcat is the best place in the world to kite!

getting better

Today I can walk on my foot a little bit!
Rocky

Tarifa Comp Review - 60mph winds

July 7th

Hi everyone,Yea the wind was super strong and managed to kick my but. With gusts up to 45 knots I just could not hold it on my six. Atempting to do some tricks in my heat but the wind was waay toooooo strong! So I came out 17th,. I did my best and I will have to kill it next time! I will be heading back home on Monday and look forward to riding with you guys back in Texas. In that smooth steady hot wind! Seen ya soon!

-Rocky

July 6th, 2007 (From Julia -Rocky's mom)

Hey Guys - When you get a chance log onto http://www.prokitetour.com/ click on register Tarifa riders under latest news - left hand corner what a great looking bunch of kids~! Rocky is proudly representing USA!!! I spoke with Rocky yesterday and just wanted to let you all know he said yesterday was insane - with winds up to 60mph!! He told me his board blew down the beach like a basketball and a dog blew by him, rolling down the beach, as he launched his kite. The judges stand had to be held down with straps and cables each popping loose and flapping in the wind. He said it was exactly like kiting in a hurricane. As soon as he launched his 6 meter, he was lifted 15 feet in the air. One guy got sucked out to sea and a helicopter had to rescue him. I am sure he will be writing and telling you all about it. Rocky had some difficulty with his heat in such wind - (learned alot I'm sure) :) Hopefully, the wind will slack off and he can come back up in the doubles. Im not sure what his rank is at the present, maybe 9th (?) Rocky is getting a priceless education and I personally want thank each and everyone of you for supporting and helping him. Ever since he began kiteboarding, it has been his dream to do this world tour and if it were not for you, he would not be able to travel and compete. Thanks again
Respectfully,
~Julia Chatwell

July 6th, 2007

Dude it is so freakin windy here! We had gust up to 60knots today. Insane. Anyways I am in the doubles and they start tommorow so wish me luck! Keep you posted.

-Rocky

PKRA Espania

Yea Man I flew in yesterday night right next to the rock Gibralter.The landing was so cazy because the strip of land is so short that by the time the plane slowed down we were almost in the water! Today the registration was at 9am and the comp started off at 3pm. A perfect breeze with La Punta winds from the Atlantic ocean started off the first round of the singles. I was in the 7th heat against Koriskee a polish rider who attended many PKRA´s last year. Being on my ten and having such flat water it was too easy! Landing backmobe, slim chance, frontmobe, L3, kiteloop flat 3, kiteloopslimchance, switch backmobe toKGB, doubleS bend to blind,and a 313 I won my heat. Soon after the wind died. I am currently in 9th position. 2"nd round of the singles starts tommorow and I am up against Madison again ,but this time I will kick his but and really lay it on him. He is gonna lose this time! After that I am in 5th position. And then I dont know whoI go up against next. So wish me luck ! For the Wildcat Kite Crew! keep you updated!
-Rocky

Event info and live results at http://www.extremeelements.com/competitions/pkra-2007-tarifa

Off to Spain...

Yea yesterday was the last part of the comp with the 2nd discipline as the board off challenge. It was so funy to watch people like Aaron crashing alot. No one could land a good board off except Alvaro who later took first. I tried a 360 kickflip but did not quite make it. Anyways it was alot of fun. Rui got 2nd, Aaron got 3rd, kevin took 4th. Now I pack my backs and head off for Spain. I will kick more butt there!, Keep you posted.

Rocky