Reider's First Sessions

2002, Barton towing Reider back upwind

Reider's First Sessions 

Reider started getting in the water to windsurf and fly kites when he was about nine years old. He took to windsurfing right away, riding on his own immediately. Kiting he still needed someone there to help hold him down. For about a year, Barton would tow Reider back upwind. By the time Reider was 10, he was riding on his own

Barton would set 11 year old Reider up and launch him before his kite lessons. He would occasionally zip past Barton while Barton was teaching his lesson, waving with both hands as he went by. It was a little disconcerting to watch, especially when Barton's students, twice Reider's age, were struggling to control the bar with both hands.

Reider also preferred two-line kites over four-line kites. There was a practical reason: fewer lines meant fewer lines to untangle.

By 11, Reider was already riding in the surf.

Two years later, when Reider was 13, a particularly big day came through. Barton decided it was too big for him, but Reider wanted to go. He went out with Chris Rutledge while Barton watched from the beach.

They launched just south of the pier, and as Reider worked his way through the shore break, he kept going farther and farther offshore. The waves were breaking a long way out, and that's where he wanted to be.

When he finally came back in, Barton suggested that venturing that far out probably wasn't the smartest idea.

Reider's response, at 13 years old, was simple:

“I'm just looking for the biggest wave I can find.”