Lecture: Roots of Kiteboarding with Cory Roesler

ARL · Since 10 Oct 2012 1 Posts New Member

Media Contact: Amanda Lawrence,541-490-3466, lawrence.amandar@gmail.com

Sense of Place lecture looks at the Roots of Kiteboarding

Join the Columbia Gorge Earth Center on Tuesday, October 16th at Springhouse Cellar to kick off the 3rd Annual Sense of Place Lecture Series. Kiteboarding pioneer Cory Roeseler will give an animated presentation about the early days of this popular sport, which has helped put The Gorge on the map. He will will share stories, photos and home video clips of his "kiteski" inventions that led to what we know today as the sport of kiteboarding.

When Cory Roeseler's father drew up plans to tow a waterskier with a kite, Cory had never heard of the windy Columbia River Gorge. But after a few summers of mowing lawns to fuel his waterski obsession on Lake Washington, Cory and his father Billy took their prototype "kiteski" to the Gorge. By 1989, the Roeselers were demonstrating their invention's superiority in Winsdsurfing competitions.

Cory earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering from UC Santa Barbara in 1992, at which time he joined Billy in the San Diego start-up Kiteski Inc. Lacking a market for their product, the Roeselers set out to build the sport one participant at a time, offering free lessons to their customers. That sales tactic led them to quickly drain their very limited funding sources. They moved the struggling business to Hood River in 1995, where the Roeselers still work and play today.

Since 1995, Cory has worked for Hood Technology as an engineer; where he currently manages the robotic aircraft launcher business. He also coaches youth lacrosse, and at age 42, he continues to race competitively in kiting, recently winning the 17-mile Pro/Am Blowout race again this year.

Springhouse Cellar will open their doors at 6 p.m. on October 16th, and the lecture begins at 6:30 p.m. Come early to enjoy a glass of wine or beer, save a seat, buy a book on the lecture's topic from Waucoma Bookstore and meet others in your community.

Event Details

DATE: October 16, 2012
TIME: 6:30 p.m.
COST: $5-$10 suggested donation
LOCATION: Springhouse Wine Cellars,13 Railroad St. in Hood River

About the Columbia Gorge Earth Center
The Columbia Gorge Earth Center is a nonprofit organization based in Hood River with a mission to strengthen connections between people, ecology and economy of the Columbia River Gorge by facilitating dialogue and providing resources that empower our community to make sustainable choices. More info: www.cgec.org

About the Sense of Place Lecture Series
Whether it is recreation, resource extraction or farming, most people who live in the Gorge are here because of some connection to the land.Through monthly speakers who represent a variety of industries and perspectives, the Sense of Place Lecture Series seeks to explore the cultural and natural history of the land so that together we can uncover what ties us all to this place and to each other.

Future lectures:

November 15, Jack Nisbet, David Douglas in the Gorge

December 18, Jon Tullis, Timberline and why it's Cool

January 15, Brett Vandenhuevel & Lauren Goldberg, Hanford's Nuclear Legacy: The Impact on our River Today

February 19, Scott Burns & Marjorie Burns, Cataclysms on the Columbia: The Great Missoula Floods

March 19, Arthur Babitz, Visible Change: The Transformation of the Hood River Valley As Seen in the Photographic Record

Sella · Wed Oct 17, 12 12:04 am

Very fun and interesting lecture tonight I would rate 2 cowbells; representing Cory's balls when he walks. His dry sense of humor mixed with old photos and video's makes his Kite-Ski pioneering days of the 80's and 90's that much more impressive of a story....and somewhat insane.....when compared to today's luxury auto pilot kites.

If you missed it Youtube has a decent series to watch....

Link

4Stringer/KipWinger · Since 27 Apr 2005 541 Posts Hood River Addicted

Thanks for posting the youtube video. I was bummed I missed Cory's presentation.

dancingwind · Since 18 Jul 2007 321 Posts Obsessed

Wonderful lecture and very informative. Makes me proud to know that I've had the privilege to learn and kite on the same waters that the early pioneers did. Unbelievable what Cory and the rest had to go thru to make it all happen for us. Holding on to such a gigantic bar looks scary enough, never mind stacking 3 kites?? Definitely makes you appreciate how far the sport has evolved and how darn user friendly it has become.

Bill C · Since 15 Sep 2005 203 Posts Portland Stoked

I remember seeing Cory and his kite back in the day when I thought windsurfing was the end-all to everything on the water. I used to think who in the hell would want to fly that contraption that included an oversized fishing reel.

God, was I wrong.

windobsessed · Since 07 Aug 2008 120 Posts Vancouver Stoked

Now Kiteboarding is the "end-all to everything" Laughing