Townsville resident Ian Bourne continues to kiteboard at 65 after 20 years of enjoying the sport
OONOONBA resident Ian Bourne may be old enough to hold a seniors card but that doesn’t stop him getting sky-high while kiteboarding.
The 65-year-old said age had not stopped him continuing the hobby he loves and he has been kiteboarding in Townsville waters for 20 years.
Mr Bourne who started kiteboarding in 1997 said the sport helps him to stay fit and active.
“I used to wind surf and it’s just a hobby I really enjoy,” he said. “I think if I survive I’ll still be doing it when I’m 80. I also walk up Castle Hill twice a week.”
Mr Bourne said he had heard of people in their seventies still taking part in the sport.
Despite being twice the age of most of the kite boarders hitting the water in Townsville he said no one had ever commented on his age or asked how old he was while taking part in the extreme sport.
Mr Bourne works from home making fishing nets and has had to have operations on his hands but that hasn’t stopped him hitting the water.
“It’s not hard on your hands at all,” he said.
Mr Bourne went out on the water on Sunday and took advantage of prime conditions to hurtle himself metres in the air.
He said he had been able to continue kiteboarding because the sport wasn’t tough on his joints and he often got up to 6m of air.
“A lot of weight is taken off you by the harness and the modern kites are a lot safer than they used to be,” he said.
“On Sunday the wind was perfect and the water level was perfect so it was easy to do jumps.”
Kite boarding uses a kite which is controlled by the board rider to be propelled across the water.
Pallarenda has become popular with kiteboarders while further south kiteboarders like to try out their skills at Cungulla.
OONOONBA resident Ian Bourne may be old enough to hold a seniors card but that doesn’t stop him getting sky-high while kiteboarding.
Source: Bourne to be wild