April 17, 2005 - The first annual Kite Show Cabarete brought together riders and manufacturers from all over the world for four days of solid testing, parties and competition. Sponsored by kiteforum.com, eXtreme Hotels and The Ring Media, the international event held from March 31-April 3 welcomed all with blue skies, 10-18 knots winds and a sea of gear for riders to check out and test - wetsuit free!

17 industry businesses participated including Slingshot, Caution, Liquid Force, Naish, Cabrinha, F.one, Best Kiteboarding, EH Kiteboarding, Wipika, Windwing, Nobile Kiteboards, Underground Kiteboards, Gaastra, and IKO. A new company, Kitelauncher.com, introduced for the first time ever The Turbolauncher, a patented tool to keep your lines tangle free and allow self launching from a boat or small beach area. Riders were able to test all the latest kites, boards and accessories for six hours a day and meet with manufacturer reps, team riders and designers. Wind conditions were less than expected but this didn't disappoint testers who came from as far away as Slovenia, Romania and Czechoslovakia to take part in this first annual event.

The Dominicans came out in force to represent Cabarete in the April Fool's Day Competition. 40 riders competed in two 20-minute heats for $50 food and bar tabs at Extreme. Judges overwhelmingly awarded local rising talent Alex Soto the Best Trick, Luis Miguel Martinez the Biggest Air, Papito de la Cruz the Best Wipeout, and Stefan Ruether, owner of Kitexcite the Best Costume. Congratulations to Alex for picking up a local Cabrinha sponsorship from Dare2Fly! And Luis for his new Airush contract!

Participants were greeted at the end of each day with parties hosted by the local business community including eXtreme Hotels - Cabarete, Pro Kite/Kite Beach Hotel, Agualina Hotel/Dare2Fly, and Laurel Eastman Kiteboarding/Wipika Caribbean/Caracol Hotel and Beach Club. Pro rider Laurel Eastman and her partner in crime Leslie Bore hosted an Austin Powers Pool Party starting with a fashion show which launched Eastman's and Karen Futernick of Ozone Travel's new clothing and accessories company, Kite Fever. Petra Schaefer of Kite Chicks rolled out her summer/fall collection and introduced a new men's line. The show was followed by the awards for the LEK/Kite Chicks Girls Expression session and April Fool's Day competition. The evening ended with the sounds of local rock 'n roll band Crash.

Plans are in already in the works to make next year's event even better and more fun. If you didn't make it this year, don't miss Kite Show Cabarete 2006!

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