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Wind Over Water Kiteboarding
hand picks its instructors from around the San Francisco Bay Area. By owning and utilizing a fleet of Wave Runners, we have wind for lessons almost 100% of the time. Our instructors don't mind a bit of a commute when they know there will be wind for lessons. For the same reason we teach so many lessons, we get the pick of the best available instructors.

Jeff Kafka
Owner of Wind Over Water Kiteboarding. I first saw kiteboarding in the 90’s on Maui and got into this sport as an alternative to surfing. I have been stoked on it ever since. I am now enjoying the several different styles of kiteboarding that the sport has broken off to, snow kiting in the winter, big wave riding, and freestyle. It is always fun and fresh. People call me an extreme athletic but I see myself as just having fun.


Chip Wasson

I began kiteboarding in 1997 being one of the first to bring kiteboarding to the Bay area and the the mainland. Some of my kiteboarding accomplishments; I won the 2000 King of the Bay Champion, completed the first ever crossing from The Farallon Islands to San Francisco (2004), completed the first ever circumnavigation of The Farallon Islands in 2006 going from Pt. Reyes out and around the Islands and back to San Francisco, 70+ miles. I have also instigated the first ever kiteboarding fleet racing in 2005 in conjunction with the St Francis Yacht Club and is today still building that side of the sport. I also was the first kiteboarder to win the Bridge to Bridge race from the Golden Gate to the Bay Bridge pitted against the worlds top windsurfers and Austrailian 18 skiffs (supposedly the fastest down wind sailing crafts prior to that race). I have been pioneering most Bay Area locations for kiteboarding and continually trying to find new and interesting places to ride. Recently I have been promoting and pushing the sport of Snowkiting into the future. I am also the founder of UltraNectar, Inc.

Travis Payne

Travis Payne raised in Pacifica. 22-year-old guy who enjoys a good time. I am an accomplished surfer, been surfing since I began walking. My sponsors are Neptune Surfboards, Excel Wetsuits, Nor-Cal, and Liquid Force. I have traveled around world around searching for the perfect wave. I have been kiting for a couple of years, I was tired of blown out surf going to waste... Maverick’s is my second home, the bigger the wave the better.

Tai Merrick

Hi my name is Tai Merrick- I have kiteboarding now for close to 6 years, and this is my second season teaching with Wind Over Water. I enjoy all kinds of kiting, from flat water at the Delta to big waves on the Coast. My other interest include skating and surfing.
Rob Kindt
I am Rob Kindt and I've been kiteboarding for 8 years. I've been teaching with Wind Over Water for 4 years. Some of my favorite kiting spots are Sherman Island, Tubo, the Race track, and Baja. Any day at the beach is a good day. When I'm not kiting I like mountain biking, snowboarding, playing drums, and doing artwork.