Episode #113 - Jake Kelsick

This episode is brought to you by Villa Carina Apartments in beautiful Bonaire. 

In this episode, we catch up with Jake Kelsick, a seasoned kitesurfer, wing foiler, and content creator from the beautiful island of Antigua. Joining Luc from his island paradise, Jake shares his lifelong passion for water sports, his journey from early kiting days to running a successful school, and the evolution of foiling in a tropical haven. From epic adventures in Bora Bora to dissecting ideal setups for beginners and pros, Jake offers an authentic glimpse into island life, the thrill of progression, and the joy of sharing the stoke with newcomers.

- Island Roots and Early Days: Jake reflects on growing up in Antigua, getting hooked on kitesurfing since 2003, and how the island's warm waters, reefs, and consistent winds made it a dream spot. He discusses the shift from kiting to wing foiling, the local culture's relaxed vibe, and standout locations like Half Moon Bay for rolling waves.

- Building a Water Sports School: Jake dives into starting Kelsick Kiteboarding (now expanding to water sports) in 2020 amid COVID, transitioning from pro freeriding to teaching 50/50 kiting and winging. He shares insights on demographics (mostly 30-50+ adventurers), the forgiving conditions for learning, and why Antigua strikes a balance between beginner-friendly and progression-focused—plus tips on affordability compared to spots like Bonaire.

- Adventures and Pro Journey: From a wild birthday invite to Bora Bora's aquarium-like lagoons (saved by kite foiling in light winds) to competing in Russia and demo tours, Jake recounts standout trips that expanded his horizons. He talks about the realities of pro life—cool perks but tricky monetization—and how content creation bridged the gap, evolving from DVDs to YouTube gems like "Cruise Mode."

- Gear Evolution and Teaching Tips: Jake breaks down his North gear loyalty, from beginner setups to high-performance foils (like the SF series), and how tech advancements made winging accessible. He emphasizes board sizing, foil progression behind boats, and why winging lowers barriers vs. kiting—allowing safer self-practice and quicker stoke moments, even for cold-water riders.

- Community and Future Vibes: The conversation explores winging's explosive growth, its potential to rival windsurfing by attracting foil newcomers, and the addictive "rep game" of foiling. Jake highlights family life (with his wife and young daughter joining the fun), the transformative power of sessions for mental reset, and Antigua's long season (November-July) as a home base for camps and content.

- Looking Ahead: Jake teases more island explorations like the Cook Islands, gear tweaks for evolving sports, and growing his school—while keeping the focus on fun, safe progression for all ages.

Follow Jake - https://www.instagram.com/jakekelsick/