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Kite surfing obx12/28/2023 ![]() Or you can make a video of yourself riding and send it in. There’s a competition to get in, the Open. There’s a couple of ways to be invited into the Triple-S. You must at least be close to the same level as the pros if you’re getting invited to these competitions. That’s what I’m doing.” I do this as a hobby and somehow got into these competitions. They train 9am to 4pm on the water every day, dialing in tricks, and I’m like, “Oh, you guys look like you’re having fun, but I’m teaching today. They’re sponsored and when they come here to compete, they’re here to win. It’s a pretty big gap between someone like me and the pros. I’m consistently second-to-last in every single competition out there. Mariel Grossman competing at Triple-S in Waves, NC on the Outer Banks. It’s called the Triple-S because it has slips, surf, and sliders. The winners this year got $12,000, and they’ve raised over $113,000 for the Hatteras Island Youth Education Fund. ![]() Competitors come from all over the world. It’s the biggest competition in North America. “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming.” In competitions I sing Beyonce. I pushed through and I finally got my board back, but it took a lot. I just started singing I sing to myself when I’m scared. The current was taking it away and I saw some sharks. I was in the ocean side and I lost my board. I play within my realm, and I slowly expand my comfort zones. I’ve never gotten hurt seriously, but I don’t push the envelope too much. You definitely want to get a good instructor, take a lesson, and get that guidance because you can get hurt. The sport itself is very safe, if you learn how to make it safe. And ramps where it sends you off into the air, and you do tricks there as well. Then there’s sliders, which is like an obstacle you ride on and do different tricks. So there’s snow kiting, there’s surf kiting, there’s land kiting, there’s flat waters. The thing about kiteboarding is that you can manipulate it to any sport you want, based on your background. It’s challenging some days, but it’s very rewarding as well. Anytime that you’re independent and self sufficient, it makes you more confident. It’s nice knowing that I can handle myself in any situation out there on the water. I think surfing and kiting improved my confidence. ![]() Has kiteboarding improved your confidence? Mariel Grossman kiteboarding at Hood Jam at Hood River, Oregon. But it’s great, and this place is perfect for it. I thought, “I should learn how to do that so I can get more sessions.” And slowly but surely it took over my life. I would see kiters going by and having the best time. But on the Outer Banks, there’s so many days where it’s just too windy, blown out, and crazy to surf. ![]() Because we’re twins, of course, one can’t do anything without the other wanting to. The summer after third grade my Mom signed my twin brother up to go surfing and he liked it a lot. We caught up with Grossman right after she returned from competing in the Hood Jam Invitational in Oregon and asked her about competitions, teaching newbies for a living, and what it’s like to fly through the air strapped to a 20-foot kiteboard. Raised in Manteo, Grossman got her first invite to compete in the Triple-S last year, where she took 9th place. And yet, when Outer Banks kiteboarding guru Mariel Grossman competes in the annual Wind Voyager Triple-S Invitational kiteboarding competition at REAL Watersports in Waves, she’s usually one of the few locals out there. Right here in our own backyard we have one of the best places for beginners to learn and experts to come play. T hanks to consistent winds, shallow waters, and easily accessible waves on the surf and sound sides, the Outer Banks is a world class premier destination for kiteboarding.
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