Tyler Brown
/
California USA
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Date of birth:
1989.07.11
Hometown:
Maui, Hawaii
Sponsors:
Naish Kiteboarding,
Maui Rippers Clothing,
MFC Hawaii,
Hot Lake cable-park,
Hobbies:
Wake Boarding, Surfing, Snowboarding, Snow kiting, Soccer, MMA, Video games
Favourite athletes:
All the ones who shred and my friends are my inspirations
BIO
Grew up in Hawaii surfing and skating, I started wind-surfing when I was 9 and wake-boarding at 11, so when I tried the new sport of kite-boarding for the first time in 2004, I got totally hooked, it felt like an evolution of all three sports.
I’m lucky enough to live in the windiest place in the world, where the trade winds blow almost every day of the year, so without having to travel far destinations looking for wind, I was able to stay home, finish school and ride every day. I also started competing in some major events such as the Red Bull King of the Air, the Nissan Velocity Games, the Waterman Challenge Invitational, and the Maui Speed Series.
In 2009, I helped develop the first, all-carbon, Foil-Board with foot-straps, thanks to one of my sponsor, “Carafino”, maker of the first ever Foil-Board for kite-surfing, and I became their main athlete and the face of Foil-Boarding around the world, started promoting this new evolution of the sport for the time being. But foiling wasn’t really my thing, I found it slow compared to my style of riding. So I decided to focus my attention on other aspects of the sport, after 2 years where I got numerous features in magazines worldwide, kite movie productions, and a few cover shots, that gave Foil-Boarding the push that brought it to the level you see it nowadays and gave me the satisfaction of being among the first pro Foil-Board riders, starting something new that became a major part of kite-boarding.
In 2012 I wanted to try something different and competed in a few races placing 7th overall on my first attempts, but that’s a side of kite-boarding that didn’t stoked me out too much, still was a great experience that I’m glad I did.
I decided to mainly focus on wake-style and wave-riding, my true passion and the most extreme and fun side of kite-boarding to me, of course inspired by my other passions, wake-boarding and surfing. The last couple years I had to cope with numerous injuries due to the fact that I practice an already extreme sport to its limits and I’m willing to take the risk. Dealing with injuries I had to take some time off from time to time, but I always came out stronger and never took me too long to get back.
I started traveling the world in search for the perfect wave and that dreamy, buttery flat water that I crave for wake tricks.
Today I mostly ride my wake-board, with my most favorite bindings made by Ronix. When I wanna ride waves, my favorite board is a 5’10 shaped by Sean Ordonez, strapless of course. I’m more motivated than ever to improve my style and learn new tricks, I will compete in some selected freestyle and wave events and always push the sport and myself. See you in the water! Aloha.
INTERVIEW
What are you looking for to accomplish?
To keep on traveling the world and ride as hard as I can, learning new tricks and get barreled in some exotic remote location, meet different people and make new friends that ride harder than I do to be my motivation to push myself.
What would be your greatest achievement?
To be able to stand out among the world’s best and to keep on having fun doing what I do, my greatest achievement would be to always start and end a session with a big smile!
What kind of difficulties does your sport’s performance involve?
Wakestyle kite-boarding is very hard on your body and extremely technical, injuries are always a possibility, I would say the hardest part is to stay fit and strong and don’t let those hard landings and handle-passes deteriorate your joints, I see too many guys forced to end their careers too early due to a wrong training regime.
What makes you feel satisfied when performing your sport?
For sure stomping a sick trick or even better landing something I’ve been working on for a while, crashing over and over until you finally figure it out, there’s no feeling like it.
Where do you practice your techniques when being alone?
At my home spot, Kite-beach Maui, in the flat water or taking advantage of kickers when there’s a swell, also I train at Hot-Lake Cable-park when traveling in Europe, those guys are the best!
What do you do during your training which is key to your success?
I focus on what I’m doing, I keep on trying until I manage to land the trick I’m working on, I tell myself, “If he can do it I also can”. I also have a positive attitude by nature so I think that helps.
What are you most nervous about when competing?
Not being able to land the tricks I have in mind, we rely on wind and sometimes it can be very light or gusty, changing your whole game plan.
Who would you say is your biggest fan and why?
Definitely my family and my friends are my biggest fans, the support, the inspiration and the love I receive from them is unreal.
What is the best piece of advice you have been ever given?
To always believe in myself and always work hard for what I truly want because if you do you will succeed for sure.
What are your future plans?
To keep on improving my riding and learn new tricks, I would also like to come out with at least a couple of sick movies in the next 6 months.
What are your tips for those who begin now?
Taking lessons is the best way to improve at the beginning for sure, also try to remember you’re doing an extreme sport and dealing with a lot of power, it’s very easy for beginners to get hurt.
Always respect the locals and always have fun!
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