Stay connected in the wind. This forum is for anyone who rides the wind, winter or summer, on whatever board suits their fancy. Share the stoke, find out where people are going, ask any question, share your discoveries, and discuss any esoteric idea you may have related to the pursuit of wind. Please keep it positive.
Remember the Best Girl Model Search we had over the summer? Oh yeah I know you do because it was a hot topic on here for a while!
We had a tremendous response from fun, athletic women from all over the world looking to be the next Best Girl. We took our winners to Best Fest in Cumbuco, Brazil to shoot the calendar with professional fashion photographer Michael Williams and also learn to kite with nine time world champion Kristin Boese. Get your first ever 2011 Best Girl Calendar with Bonus DVD Making of the Best Girl Calendar.....great holiday gift under $20!
Best girl calender, I guess some people really believe exploiting women still sells kites? It's kind of depressing that a kite company thinks it needs to sell a swimsuit calender to generate some kind of profit, the kite selling business must not be to great anymore, what ever happened to the buy two get one free kiet deal from Best?
It is nice to see the rest of the kiting industry does not think it needs to go to the calender yet, of course this all just my opinion, but if you really want to do some women some justice how about putting more women riders in the magazines. To me I don't buy any kite magazines anymore, it always comes down to the same pro riders in some exotic riding spot that most normal people who have real jobs would never go to? So how about doing three consecutive issues on local women riders around the US and other parts of the world, no pro riders just the local women? And then after that how about a Snow issue specific issue with local riders not pro riders, tired of seeing the same riders all the time.
Sorry all about the rant, my apologies in advance.
Sorry you feel this is an exploitation of women. In actuality, if you asked each of them if they had a good time learning to kiteboard in Brazil with a nine time world champion female kiteboarder as well as shoot with a top fashion photographer in the industry, they would all say they had a trip of a lifetime! Best continues to encourage more women kiters to get into the sport by having Kristin Boese travel around the world doing her KB4Girls camps, we have a women's specific board, the KB Signature, and our west coast rep, sales director, operations and marketing dept. are all WOMEN!
As for more women riders in magazines, have you ever submitted any photos to magazines or wrote to them about your favorite local women kiters? The magazines are always looking for good content and pictures so I would suggest that if you want to see something different in a magazine be proactive about it and send in your shots! The pros are in there because it is their JOB to get content in mags, this is what they strive for.
I guess some people you can talk till your blue, some people just don't get it I guess.
I thought it was the magazines JOB to go look for local riders and talent, I wished I had a job where I could wait for people to send me material to do my job.
I totally agree with you Scott. It really disgusts me. I remember the last post the girls crotch was hanging out for pete's sake! If thats not exploiting women, i dont know what is.
Midwest Mountaineering/Slingshot Regional Team Rider
Whether it be a sunset, a work of art, an Italian sports car, etc; women & photography are one of many things in life which can be very beautiful. We shouldn't have to feel guilty for appreciating the beautiful things in life. I think of it as admiring versus exploiting, as long as it's in good taste and no one is hurt by it. Let's not forget that a woman's beauty can also summon vast amounts of money, power and control over men. Who's exploiting who?
I may have alienated at least 1/2 of the local kiters the last time this subject came up, but I think there may be method in their madness @ Best. Their sinister and diabolical plan to exploit women, & attract their target demographic, guys who like to look at girls (naughty, naughty), has apparently worked exactly as they intended. Every time Lia posts, there is a huge hue & cry, which is getting even more attention than a whole wall full of girlie calendars would have gotten in the first place. If you are indeed offended, the most effective strategy would be to ignore it completely. I like Best for their kites, their website forum, the awesome kiting videos, and superb instructional sequences I have not found with any other manufacturer. If pretty girls upset you that much, don't buy their stuff! The plain truth is, they sell more kites than anyone else on the planet, but I applaud your right to express your opinion, and if enough people share your views, Best's days are numbered.
WARNING:
I AM AN UNREFORMED SERIAL FLIRT!!
(please respond accordingly ;^{})
We keep hearing from the guys points of view, are there any girls out there that have an opinion other than Katie's, it would be nice to hear what other girls have to say being guys opinions on this subject are always one sided?
I always find it interesting that he guys always think of it as art and usually the girls think just the opposite, lets hear some more feedback.
BARRY, Great Ambush! You just proved the old adage, "Watch out for the quiet ones." I now am absolutely sure that a "Kitedudes Calendar" would do wonders for their "bottom line." Did I mention that I feel used and abused....I think I kinda LIKE it. Thanks for injecting some much needed humor into the discussion.
WARNING:
I AM AN UNREFORMED SERIAL FLIRT!!
(please respond accordingly ;^{})
Wow, I remember going off about this months and months (years?) ago, but I can't remember what the hell I said. Or maybe it was all a dream.. just like seeing Jim on the calendar.. god, please let me wake up.
All this snow on the ground puts me in mind of snow-kitin'
After some rain to clear out the nice base and then a hard freeze to make it real crusty, I'm sure a big northwester will blow through..
cheers !!
"They call me Doctor Love.. Doctor love!!" - an obscure rock band.
