Jesse Richman, Maui, Hawaii

by Jesse Richman
(Maui, Hawaii)

Name: Jesse Richman

Where are you from? Maui, Hawaii
Your age? 16
Website? www.JesseRichman.com
Where did you grow up? Born and Raised, Maui 
Sponsors? Cabrinha, NPX
Tell me a little bit about yourself  Well, in the last few years I have been doing more and more kitesurfing. This whole year I committed to the cause, First time on the KPWT and did the whole tour. Ended out in 1st in the end. So I am feeling pretty stoked now. The way I am looking at my life now is I am just trying to have as much fun as I can. I believe that if you can. "Why not"
Music?  well today I would say MGMT, Brad Sucks, changes every day.....

Interested in..? having fun!
Food? Mexican!!!
Heroes? my bro Shawn
Favorite kitesurfing spots for you? I love my home, but I love waves and am always looking for a new and better spot
How long have you been doing this? Over 6 years now
Why kitesurfing? dude, Why not? it's an incredible sport. A good friend got my bro and me into it and there's nothing else that can give you the rush that kiting can.

What does your family think of this? There's no way I could do any of this if it wasn't for my awesome supportive family. they have been there every step of the way. The only thing I want to do when I am not on the water is chilling out at home with the fam!!!
What does this sport mean to you? Purely freedom. When I am on the water I feel amazing. I love it, it is my life. 
Favorite tricks? man, every time I get asked this question I really need to think hard because it is constantly changing and I can never choose. Right now I am really digging the Slob slims and Front mobe 7s.

What does this sport demand of you? As a top Professional in the sport there is more to it then a lot of people might think. My Job is to Promote Kitesurfing, my self and my sponsors while maintaining a good professional image. As well as that I need to keep up on my riding. I need to train as much as I can because that's what my competition is doing.

Have you ever been in an accident? haha, kiting can be a dangerous sport sometimes. I have had countless scary moments, got pretty cut up before, bruised many bones before, but the ones that I still have to deal probably are that i got a few screws in my ankle and I got my front tooth knocked out kiting. but man, I know that I have been lucky not to have more and hopefully not too many lie ahead.  
Vision...you wishes for the future… Well, I truly hope that the sport of kitesurfing is lead down the right path to grow and become the sport that we all know it can become.

Achievements:

2008
2008 KPWT World Champion
08 KPWT Tour Ranking:
1st KPWT Overall
1st KPWT Freestyle
1st KPWT Racing
4th KPWT Wave Masters
1st KPWT Morocco Freestyle
1st KPWT Morocco Racing
2nd KPWT Morocco Waves
1st KPWT Brazil Overall
1st KPWT Brazil Course Racing
1st KPWT Brazil Kiteloop
2nd KPWT Brazil Big Air
3rd KPWT Brazil Waves
3rd KPWT Brazil Freestyle
Top 16 KPWT Portugal waves (no wind)
1st KPWT Turkey Racing
2nd KPWT Turkey Freestyle
1st KPWT Italy Racing
5th KPWT Italy Freestyle
1st KPWT Greece Racing
7th KPWT Greece Freestyle
3rd US wind and Water Open
1st KPWT France Overall
1st KPWT France Racing
2nd KPWT France Freestyle
5th KPWT France wave riding
1st Old School La Ventana Kite classic Mexico

2007
No Wind - US Wind and Water open, Corpus Cristy
1st- US Kiteboarding National Course Racing-San Francisco (20 and under)
3rd- US Kiteboarding National Course Racing-San Francisco (Open)
1st- Big Air Wind Jam- San Francisco- Hang Time, 22" SET NEW WORLD RECORD!!!
1st- Big Air Wind Jam-San Francisco- Old School, Board off Dead man

2006
Named top Grom for 2006 by Kiteboarding Mag
1st-King of the Bay Boarder Cross- San Francisco, CA
1st-King of the Bay Best Trick- San Francisco, CA
1st Cabrinha Thursday night Races, Final race-San Francisco, CA
2nd-Nissan Velocity Games-Corps Christi, TX
2nd Overall Kite division Maui Speed Series-31.5 knots-Maui, HI
3rd-King of the Bay Course Racing-San Francisco, CA
4th Kite-Surf Division- Tropical energy ocean games-Maui, HI
4th PKRA Canada World Cup Course Racing-IIles de la Madeleine, Quebec
9th PKRA Canada World Cup Freestyle-IIles de la Madeleine, Quebec
Competed in-PKRA World Cup Venezuela-Coche Island



2005
2nd-Maui Kite Festival-Maui, HI
13th-PKRA-World Cup-IIles de la Madeleine, Quebec
17th -Red Bull King of the Air- Maui, HI
Comp Expression Session-King Of the Bay- San Francisco, CA

2004
13th-King of the Bay-San Francisco, CA
Competed in-Red Bull King Of the Air-Maui, HI

2003
5th-Maui Kite Festival-Maui, HI
Competed in-Red Bull King of the Air- Maui, HI