Snowboarder trys kite

When I first started kiting, unhooked freestyle and strapless surf were king. Athletes were pushing the sport forward at an incredible pace. We started to wonder what it would be like if athletes from other sports took notice. Would world class surfers pick up a kite? What about wakeboarders or snowboarders? As things panned out, some did, but never quite on the level we hoped for. Tye is the rare example of a pro crossing over from another sport and excelling at kite. The only other pro snowboarder I know in the sport right now is Xander Raith, and he is killing it right now. The cool thing about athletes crossing over is the speed at which they progress and the style and skills carried over from their first sport.

Tye's willingness to huck himself is unmatched

Meet Tye Kowalski

Tye has been kiteboarding for just over a year and he is already close to landing a back more. He also has a mean rail game in the kite park! It's been fun riding with him over the past year, showing him the ropes with the kite, and sharing the culture with him, from how to find slicks and why they are important to trick names and locations to training. He's also been lucky enough to have Chris Bobryk from Eleveight take him under his wing. Currently we're all doing the nomadic van life thing, traveling to kite locations and putting all our energy into progressing and making videos.

As a street snowboarder he's already mastered rails

Crossing Over Sports

I'm stoked to do this interview and introduce you all to Tye. His stoke for the sport is real and his fearless "go for it" attitude is infectious.

Tye started snowboarding at the early age of 12, where he started competing. As time passed, he felt the need to break away from the park and get creative with street snowboarding. The unknown factor and freedom really drew him in. When he first saw kite, that same new / unknown factor really drew him to the sport. He also started wakeboarding at roughly the same time at Action Wake Park in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The crossover between snowboarding, cable and kite all worked together really well. The funny thing about wakeboarding is, while it's fun, at the end of the day the freedom, creativity and diversity of kite won out as his chosen discipline.

Tye chooses the Duotone Dice and Gambler 148

What's Next

Tye is working on going pro as a park rider and I've no doubt he will get to that level in a short amount of time. Having the same goal has made riding with him extremely fun as we're always pushing each other on the cable and on the kite. It's always a game to see who can stay on the water longer or try something one more time. We've also learned a lot from each other as I have years of experience kiting while Tye has a lifetime of experience on rails and features.

Hood River Kite Park Days

Fast Progress

When he first started it was fun seeing how quickly Tye would pick up advanced tricks, yet struggle with basics like getting upwind or launching his kite after a crash. A year in and he has the basics dialed along with a decent bag of unhooked freestyle tricks. While park is his main focus, he's currently working on all aspects of kiteboarding from freestyle and big air kite loops to foiling and freeride.

Keep your eyes open for more content about Tye as he grows. We'll be doing a few more interview videos with him and eventually release some lifestyle riding edits too.

Ryan (Rygo) Goloversic

Many people dream of quitting their job, traveling the world and pursuing their passions. Rygo is one of those people who pulled the trigger. A few years into his career, he decided to change everything and travel as a kiteboarder, freelance videographer & writer. His mission is to share the stoke & help people put the boarding into their kiteboarding. Get outside and kite!

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Producer of: Ride with Blake I Sessions I Versus I Destinations I Foil Fridays