December 1st, 2005 Ft
Lauderdale, FL– Team Turbo, the only all women’s
team of over 100 international kiteboarding
athletes and their support crews, has converged
on Fort Lauderdale, Florida this week in preparation
for the 2005 Bahamas Kite Race Crossing. Conditions
look favorable for the race to start Friday
December 2, 2005, however, organizers and participants
have given themselves a window through December
11, 2005 for optimal weather. The race is a
first and will cross the Gulf Stream from the
East Coast of Florida to Bimini, passing through
the Bermuda Triangle. Team Turbo is comprised
of 39-year-old Teri Flicek and 41-year old Julie
Kuckuk, both experienced kiters with ‘normal
day jobs” who from the moment they heard about
the race, had no doubts that they would be participants.
Kuckuk said, “No one knows what it will be like
or how it will go. That is the challenge and
it is my privilege to be a part of this. I dare
to live my life boldly and I am happy to dream
the unimaginable!” She added, “I want more females
to become involved in kiting because they can.
Hopefully our participation in this event will
give women of all ages inspiration to try kiteboarding.
It’s not about strength, but finesse and good
judgement.” Flicek shares her teammate’s enthusiasm
for the challenge and added “We want to show
the public that kiteboarding is a sport for
all ages and levels of athleticism. The 2005
Bahamas Kite Race is definitely a once in a
lifetime, tell your grandkids about it event.”
Kiteboarding has been around for about six years
and is now just beginning to hit mainstream.
It is a water sport which consists of specially
designed power kites which propels enthusiasts
across the water at speeds of 40 mph or more,
and allows for huge aerial tricks and awe inspiring
jumps of over 30 feet. Bahamas Kite Race Teams
consist of two kiteboarders, a boat and captain.
The team’s support vessel controls navigational
devices and serves as the ultimate safety and
support system for the riders. Boats may supply
their riders with spare kites, kiteboards, food
and water, but may not provide transportation
or rest stops without disqualification. Flicek
feels the biggest challenge of the race will
be rigging the right gear. Team Turbo’s sponsor
is Turbolauncher, a tool which helps kiters
keep their kite lines tangle free and allows
riders to launch from boats or small launch
areas. She said “The Turbolauncher will allow
us to change kites if need be, and also "stay
in the game" if we break a line or lose
a kite. With the expected conditions, rigging
and launching in the traditional way will be
extremely challenging, if not impossible. It
seems the Turbolauncher was made for exactly
this challenge and these conditions.” Kuckuk
humorously added that her major concern was
big fish, because they could be hungry! Seriously,
she said, “I think the major challenges for
all riders will be endurance, keeping focused
and reading the winds and current to keep on
course.” The wind direction could cause ocean
swells to reach upwards of 14 feet and allow
for a very challenging, unpredictable race.
The race is estimated to take approximately
four to six hours. Organizer Neil Hutchinson,
35, who earned the record for the longest distance
traveled on a kiteboard, crossing 97 miles from
Key West to Varadero, Cuba calls the race “The
Cannonball Run for kiteboarders.” For more information
about the race or Team Turbo, check out www.bahamacrossing.com
or contact Neil Hutchinson at 954-647-7228.
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