I was watching a video by Redbull that came with a kitesurf magazine last night. It's all about the history of kitesurfing on the water.
It would seem that one of the 3 driving factors / personalities in bringing the sport to the masses was FLASH AUSTIN. Flash was a buggy nut from Florida in the 90's. All on his own he took off with his foil and a skim ( sand ) board. He would have adds tacked to his foil and ride down the Florida coast.
There is a great segment of him when he landed in Hawaii. He put straps on a surf board and went out with his foil on handles ( bars were just being invented ??) . In the segment Robbie Naish and others are just getting a look at " the Floridian Jumping Bean " and seeing the potential in the sport. Right off the start Flash was the King of the Air.

I was aware of Flash's past from watching the sport grow but seeing it on the video reminded me that lots of folks probably don't know what a big contribution we / Flash made to the development of kitesurfing.

Word! Flash is my Kitesurf hero...he had style from day one and was opening doors people never saw were there. I am still trying to learn some of the simple stunts he used to pull. And he always rode direction developing the mutant style of board riding.

Where is the man now? Kitesurfing could use a solid character like him on the front lines again.

Windzup,
Brian Schenck