LIFE KITETASTIC Jon Beery of Next Level Watersports

Life KITETASTIC

JON BEERY OF NEXT LEVEL WATERSPORTS

Next Level Watersports is not new to us here at Goodspeed, nor to many of our readers. However, we can’t deny our love for kitesurfing and now foiling (it’s an air thing; just ask our co-founder David Zipkin), plus co-founder Jon Beery is ever evolving his sixyear-old business with multiple base locations such as Nantucket and Stuart, Florida, as well as a robust private guiding operation that has brought him and his instructors all over the world. He is also looking to expand further in South Florida and the Palm Beach area. We caught up with him between windy days, eager to find out what’s next.

When you began Next Level, what was its core differentiation?

We started NLW back in 2016 with the goal of providing bestin-business service to a premium market in a world-class riding location with limited access to kiteboarding and watersports instruction. We wanted to provide next-level service, and we found Nantucket to be the perfect location. Since then we have taught thousands of people how to practice the sport of kiteboarding safely for the long term.

What about your operations in Florida?

We opened operations in Stuart in 2017 after scouring the Caribbean and South Florida for a potential operating location. We picked Stuart as it is the only place to learn in controlled flat waters from Key West to Cocoa Beach. It is a dream spot to teach. We are there from December 15 through April 15, and then back in Nantucket from June 15 through September 30.

What is it about kiting/foiling that has you hooked?

No pun intended! The first time I ever saw kiting I was sailing with my family in Connecticut and watched a guy jump higher than the rig on our 33-foot sailboat. From there I knew it was a sport I wanted to try. When I felt the power of the kite and realized how intuitive and controllable it was, I knew it was the sport for me. From there we progressed into foiling, and the feeling of flight is . . . well . . . amazing. It feels like you are riding an endless field of powder, floating along silently. Both kiting and foiling are magical feelings.

What’s your favorite thing about your job?

My favorite part of my job is that I view it as sharing a gift. Whether grooming new staff to become incredible coaches and better kiters themselves or starting a new kiter from scratch, the magical feeling for me is watching their progression and the pure, unadulterated, genuine smile that occurs when they come off the water.

What’s up next for Next Level?

We want to keep scaling! We are seeking new operating partners who need professional coaches onsite, new locations to take clients on missions, and new coaches who want to share the gift of the sports we love with others. We’ve expanded our Florida program significantly and are now offering services in Palm Beach as well as Stuart with three full-time coaches plus my business partner, Jake. We’re also the only outfit in the US that teaches Adaptive Kiting, where if you’ve had a spinal injury, we can still get you out kiting on the water for an incredible experience.

What advice do you give brand-new kiters? And what advice do you give seasoned kiters?

For brand-new kiters, respect the sport. Learn it meticulously and take pride in being the safest, most thorough person on the water. For seasoned kiters, keep pushing yourself on new skillsets, take yourself to the next level, but never become complacent as you do. Always respect safety as number one.

Where’s the most exotic spot you’ve kited?

The craziest spot I’ve kited was in the British Virgin Islands. We were leading a crew on a catamaran trip and we did a crossing from Virgin Gorda to Anegada on hydrofoils, after which we did a downwinder using a helicopter to haul us to the easternmost end of Anegada and ride the entire windward edge of the island, dodging coral heads and playing in the waves. It is a day of kiting that has lasted with me for years.

Where do you recommend a group of kiters go on their first kiting jaunt?

A great spot for beginners is Turks and Caicos in Long Bay, whose massive bay is ideal for learning, plus they have extremely consistent wind. It’s also good for people right on the edge as it’s all flat-water riding. We have taken groups there a few times.

FOR MORE INFO, email them at desk@nlwatersports.com