Lind sponsored by AiRush

MAUI – Kiteboarding company AiRush has a simple pledge: “To design and produce the quickest, most controllable boards and kites on the planet, and put them in the hands of world class competitors.”

According to AiRush representative Dan Johnson, Kaua’i 14-year old Alden Lind may be the next member of a wave of world-class kite-boarders. Last week, Johnson announced AiRush elected to sponsor Lind as he heads to his first competitive tournament – the Red Bull King of the Air competition, which will take place on Maui late September.

“AiRush knows that in a growing sport like kiteboarding, we need to focus on the youth movement, the next generation of kiteboarders,” Johnson told the Garden Island. “Alden has had quite a background in surfing and other water sports, especially for a kid his age. He already has a good head start.”

Johnson was impressed with Lind’s riding, saying the young Kauaian has the potential to become a world class athlete.

“We want athletes like Alden. He’s direct, knows what he wants and is someone we want to carry the AiRush torch. He has a promising future in the sport.”

Alden’s father, Mike, brought his son to Maui to gauge his abilities against other kiteboarders on the island. Mike, along with storied Kauaian surfer Titus Kinimaka’, knew long before he was sponsored what Alden was capable of.

“Not many kids his age experience sports this extreme,” said Kinimaka. “With what he has accomplished in extreme sports so early in his life, he has built himself a foundation which will lead him to plenty of opportunities in the future.”

Alden’s goals are similar to that of AiRush. He said he wants to be the torch bearer of what many call the fastest growing aquatics sport.

“I want to spread the word about kite boarding…provide further exposure to a growing sport,” he said.