About us
Mission
Kitethrills is dedicated to deliver excellent kitesurfing products and services to encourage people to participate and experience the fun and excitement of kite-sports.
Vision
Kitethrills' vision is to deliver its customers superior convenience and value for money through a focus on developing exceptional service in our kiteschool, shops, hire, test centre and travel operations.
Our primary goal is to maintain our edge in operational procedures to deliver the best products and services for our customers. We will build on this excellence to further develop our market leading team of instructors, guides and sales force, and to deliver new products and services to our customers. We will undertake ongoing staff training and development to maintain our exceptional reputation in customer service.
Background
Kitethrills started in 2000 in Caloundra and is Queenslands oldest kite centre. Founded by Dave Chaplin and Aaron Jarman, Kitethrills has been at the forefront of the sport ever since. Kitethrills ran Queenslands first kitesurfing competition and also the 2006 Wave Nationals and the 2007 Freestyle Nationals. In 2002 Kitethrills Byron Bay was formed by Mike Walker, and in 2006 the two businesses were merged with a new partner Dave McIntyre and in the original location in Caloundra. Kitethrills was the first and remains the only operating kite school to have a government approval to teach in Caloundra. In Feb 2008, after the worst summer weather in 20 years Bigwave Dave made the difficult decision to leave Kitethrills for a more secure income. His contribution to school operations, government approvals and event organising is greatly appreciated. In July 2008, Kitethrills moved to its current location at 1 Westaway Parade Currimundi. 2008/09 was a big summer for Kitethrills with the introduction of not only the new store at Currimundi Lake, but also the hire business, test centre, and webstore. The future promises continued development towards our mission and vision.
The People
Contact Us: Phone 07 5438 8118 email: info@kitethrills.com
Kitethrills is dedicated to deliver excellent kitesurfing products and services to encourage people to participate and experience the fun and excitement of kite-sports.
Vision
Kitethrills' vision is to deliver its customers superior convenience and value for money through a focus on developing exceptional service in our kiteschool, shops, hire, test centre and travel operations.
Our primary goal is to maintain our edge in operational procedures to deliver the best products and services for our customers. We will build on this excellence to further develop our market leading team of instructors, guides and sales force, and to deliver new products and services to our customers. We will undertake ongoing staff training and development to maintain our exceptional reputation in customer service.
Background
Kitethrills started in 2000 in Caloundra and is Queenslands oldest kite centre. Founded by Dave Chaplin and Aaron Jarman, Kitethrills has been at the forefront of the sport ever since. Kitethrills ran Queenslands first kitesurfing competition and also the 2006 Wave Nationals and the 2007 Freestyle Nationals. In 2002 Kitethrills Byron Bay was formed by Mike Walker, and in 2006 the two businesses were merged with a new partner Dave McIntyre and in the original location in Caloundra. Kitethrills was the first and remains the only operating kite school to have a government approval to teach in Caloundra. In Feb 2008, after the worst summer weather in 20 years Bigwave Dave made the difficult decision to leave Kitethrills for a more secure income. His contribution to school operations, government approvals and event organising is greatly appreciated. In July 2008, Kitethrills moved to its current location at 1 Westaway Parade Currimundi. 2008/09 was a big summer for Kitethrills with the introduction of not only the new store at Currimundi Lake, but also the hire business, test centre, and webstore. The future promises continued development towards our mission and vision.
The People
Mike Walker
Owner / Operator. Mike lives and breaths kitesurfing and has done since his first lesson in 2000 at Currimundi Lake. Mike left his career in environmental science to pursue his passion. Mike created the Australian Kitesurf Tour in 2002 and is a life member of the Australian Kite Surfing Association for contribution to the sport and the members of AKSA. Mike scored 3rd place in last years Wave National Championships and is an IKO level 2 instructor.
Owner / Operator. Mike lives and breaths kitesurfing and has done since his first lesson in 2000 at Currimundi Lake. Mike left his career in environmental science to pursue his passion. Mike created the Australian Kitesurf Tour in 2002 and is a life member of the Australian Kite Surfing Association for contribution to the sport and the members of AKSA. Mike scored 3rd place in last years Wave National Championships and is an IKO level 2 instructor.
Dave Chaplin
Sales Rep / Coach / Mentor. Dave's a people person and a hell of a good coach. Dave started Kitethrills in Caloundra in 2000 with a vision to bring the sports joy to everyone.
Sales Rep / Coach / Mentor. Dave's a people person and a hell of a good coach. Dave started Kitethrills in Caloundra in 2000 with a vision to bring the sports joy to everyone.
Tiaki Chaplin
Shop / Webstore Assistant. Tiaki has been around kitesurfing for nearly a decade. Resourceful, helpful and happy.
Shop / Webstore Assistant. Tiaki has been around kitesurfing for nearly a decade. Resourceful, helpful and happy.
Linn Thomassen
Instructor. Linn is an IKO instructor from Norway, with loads of experience teaching in some of the busiest schools and beaches in the world. Linn's teaching style is calm and patient with a focus on safety and progression.
Instructor. Linn is an IKO instructor from Norway, with loads of experience teaching in some of the busiest schools and beaches in the world. Linn's teaching style is calm and patient with a focus on safety and progression.
Paul McGreggor
Shop Assistant. Paul is an awesome surfer who easily transfered his skills to kiting. he achieved 3rd in the juniors at the Wave Nationals and more recently in surfing won the Ma and Pa Bendal Memorial event in the u/18 division.
Shop Assistant. Paul is an awesome surfer who easily transfered his skills to kiting. he achieved 3rd in the juniors at the Wave Nationals and more recently in surfing won the Ma and Pa Bendal Memorial event in the u/18 division.
Andy Yates
Assistant Coach, Shop Assistant. Andy is simply the best rider in the country by far. He will contest the World Tour this year and charge it as Australia's only rep.
Assistant Coach, Shop Assistant. Andy is simply the best rider in the country by far. He will contest the World Tour this year and charge it as Australia's only rep.
Aaron Jarman
Team Rider, Coach. Aaron is the dual National Champion for 2006 and 2007. After a long spell with injury, Aaron is making a come back for 2009. Aaron started Kitethrills in 2000 and shares the teams vision.
Team Rider, Coach. Aaron is the dual National Champion for 2006 and 2007. After a long spell with injury, Aaron is making a come back for 2009. Aaron started Kitethrills in 2000 and shares the teams vision.
Jake Bendle
Instructor. Jake is a natural teacher, enthusiastically and generously passing on his knowledge to those who ask.
Instructor. Jake is a natural teacher, enthusiastically and generously passing on his knowledge to those who ask.
Sam Parisi
Instructor. Sam has been teaching in Caloundra since the very early days of the sport. He has taught hundreds of lessons and always ensure's customer satisfaction.
Instructor. Sam has been teaching in Caloundra since the very early days of the sport. He has taught hundreds of lessons and always ensure's customer satisfaction.
Per Olsson
IT and Marketing. Per is getting the message across everyday. Soon to join us in the shop and in sales Per has a wealth of experience and knowledge in customer service and communications.
IT and Marketing. Per is getting the message across everyday. Soon to join us in the shop and in sales Per has a wealth of experience and knowledge in customer service and communications.
Tom McGreggor
School / Shop / Repairs / Beach Assistant. Tom is the can-do man always working with a smile. New to the sport Tom is sure to impress when you see him kite. Tom surfs so good it like he was born on fibreglass. We can't wait to develop his kite skills further and help him spend even more time surfing waves
School / Shop / Repairs / Beach Assistant. Tom is the can-do man always working with a smile. New to the sport Tom is sure to impress when you see him kite. Tom surfs so good it like he was born on fibreglass. We can't wait to develop his kite skills further and help him spend even more time surfing waves
Marley Jarman
Director of first impressions. Don't let the cute face fool you. Marley is not one to be messed with. Surfs and swims beyond his years.
Director of first impressions. Don't let the cute face fool you. Marley is not one to be messed with. Surfs and swims beyond his years.
Contact Us: Phone 07 5438 8118 email: info@kitethrills.com