Words: Rory Callaghan
I remember meeting Camille Spencer at Terrapin Park on Kent Island in Stevensville, MD in June 2009, and offering a few tips to help her get powered on a light wind day.
A little over a year later she had started a kiteboarding school with her boyfriend, Matt Meyer. Camille’s keen business sense and herculean work ethic has since put YK Kiteboarding on page one on Google, and made a reality of their desire to travel and work as pro kiteboarding instructors. Today team YK teaches in the Chesapeake Bay, Delmarva and OBX in summer, and spends winter on the northern tip of Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, on Isla Holbox (pronounced: ees-la hol-bosh). In Mexico, their company name is Yucatan Kiteboarding.
Camille struck me as the consummate adventurer, having left home and the US to earn her graduate degree overseas. In just a few years, she has gone from being a nomad, to a kiteboarding school owner and instructor, and now to the mother of her recently born son, Mateo (born outside the U.S., of course). I think her story is fascinating, and I wanted to learn more about it, and share it with our readers. She agreed to answer a few questions about herself for East KB.
East KB: When I learned you are from western Maryland, but had picked up to go overseas, got an education, learned two new languages and ran your own business, I have to tell you, I was stunned! It sounds very courageous to me. What inspired you to leave Maryland in such a bold and decisive way?
CS:
Bold, maybe yes. Decisive, no way! I set out to Ghana at 19 and was
very humbled to learn that I actually knew nothing of the world.
Naturally, I was the typical know-it-all nineteen-year-old. After
spending a chunk of time there, I spent the next ten years bouncing
around and exploring the Pacific, Australia, Asia, Europe, and Central
America. There was no real “decisive plan”.
EKB: You went to Africa at 19!? OK, so you didn’t have a plan, but that is indeed a bold decision. Why did you pick Ghana to go to first? I mean, I know a Ghanian, and even he doesn’t want to go there. Is that where you went to school?
CS: Well, all the spots for “study UK” were filled so I didn’t actually pick Ghana, but figured why not? Look, the country isn’t bad in hindsight, but I haven’t been back since, nor do I have plans of ever returning. But on the bright side, it gave me a lot of confidence to travel anywhere I wanted to go on my own.
EKB: I guess after Africa, everywhere else is pretty tame. Tell us about where you acquired your education. Where was that?
CS: I did a B.A. PoliSci at Frostburg, near my hometown in Western MD. Then I got my M.A. in International Politics at the University of Melbourne in Australia. Cheaper, more fun, and better surf!
EKB: Is Australia where you first kited?
CS: No, that was back in 2001. I still hadn’t heard of kiteboarding back then. I was too busy trying to stay out of the way of the real surfers and on top of my long board. I first saw kiteboarding in Pusan, South Korea at Dadaepeo Beach in 2005.
EKB: What took you to Korea, and how were you supporting yourself while traveling?
CS: After returning to the US from Oz in 2004, I had the travel itch bad. There was still so much more of the world I wanted to see and I knew that I needed to learn a foreign language or two to make my Master’s Degree valuable. So I applied for a teaching job in Korea with language course benefits. So I was off to NE Asia for the next three years.
EKB: That must have been a really strong itch, Camille; three years is a long time to be that far from home. So one of your first jobs was teaching, and you’ve been a professional teacher since. Little wonder the YK kite school became a reality. When you first saw kiteboarding, or kitesurfing, as it’s called outside the U.S., what was your impression?
CS: How the heck does that work??? I’ve gotta learn to do that!
EKB: Ha Ha… same as most of us. Did you take lessons soon after seeing kiteboarding? Were there even lessons available in Korea?
CS: I wish. Back then I don’t think there were too many kiteschools in the world, let alone in Korea. I think there were only about 10 kiters in all of Korea. Luckily, I befriended a few kiteboarders that were willing to help me learn. You know what that means though–I got about 15 minutes of instruction per windy weekend day. Trust me, I’d have paid an instructor with equipment newer than my vintage1999 gear, if available. I patiently waited at the shore for someone to take me out. This went on for over a year. Unfortunately, the gusty wind, and choppy deep water were probably about as much fun to teach in as it was for me to learn. Honestly, I made nearly every mistake an aspiring kiteboarder can make–getting instruction from friends, old shoddy equipment, bad learning conditions, etc. People always ask, “How long does it take to get up on the board?” My answer is always the same. I have never seen anyone take as long as it took me–over 2 years.
EKB:
So now that gear has evolved to the point where it’s much, much better
than it was even five years ago, and with quality instruction, how long
can people brand new to the sport expect to spend to be skilled enough
to enjoy themselves?
CS: This is also one of those doozy questions. Some people pick it up very quickly– only 4 to 6 hours of instruction. We see this a lot with younger students. Most people take a little longer though. We recommend 9 hours of instruction to acquire the skills, knowledge, and confidence to get out there on the water on your own with a kite buddy. I must emphasize here though, we don’t ever recommend kiting alone, especially for those new to the sport. You say “enjoy” Rory. Kiteboarders are the only breed that don’t enjoy those long walks on the beach. Every rider gets upwind in their own time.
EKB: Are kitemares (note to novice readers: A kitemare is when something goes quickly, horribly wrong, possibly involving injury, but mostly just plain scary) a thing of the past with good gear and instruction?
CS: No. Kitemares are not a thing of the past. Granted you see a whole lot less of them now because the safety systems are so much more reliable and kite design and technology have come a long way. We have all had them, myself included. Just last season, one of EastKB’s most seasoned riders had a terrible accident due to an equipment malfunction. There are just so many variables in this sport–condition of gear, weather conditions, other kiters, underwater debris, etc. We make sure every single new student gets the skinny on how to avoid kitemares. Getting to know other local riders and learning the specifics about each spot are invaluable. Also, don’t buy old outdated gear from Craigslist. If you do choose to buy used, at the very least, make sure someone who knows the sport has checked it out. Maintain your equipment, especially lines and pigtails. If you see storm clouds a brewin’, don’t go out. Keep a close eye out for aggressive riders. We all have to do what we can to minimize the danger in this potentially dangerous sport.
EKB: If you had to generalize, and you do because I’m asking you to, who learns faster, men or women?
CS: Ahhh, another question they all love to ask. I can tell you that it is easier to teach women. Women follow the instructions better. I tell them to push the bar out, they sheet out. I tell them to point the board downwind and they usually do. I give boundaries, and they usually stick within them. Obviously, this all demonstrates a level of kite control. Sometimes, men want to try it their way first. When it doesn’t work, then they are ready to listen to the instruction they are paying me to give them. All this being said, it is about getting out there on the water after the lessons and progressing. Men seem to get more “addicted” so they will go out no matter how cold and drive all over tarnation to catch the wind. In my opinion, women tend to learn more quickly, but men often progress more quickly because they are eager to get more water time.
EKB: Sounds pretty much like biological engineering 101. Men don’t do instructions, like asking for directions. Women understand that experts know best. But we got off topic a little. Where did you go after Korea?
CS: After Korea, I really didn’t know what was next for me. Again, no real plan. I thought opening a kiteboarding school somewhere sounded like an idea, so I traveled around looking for the right spot, primarily in SE Asia and Mexico. I found the right spot back in 2006, but when it came down to it, I didn’t have the guts to do it alone. So I packed up and moved to Hamburg, Germany and got by as a freelance English teacher and worked on my PHD.
EKB: Just after you got back from Germany is when we met. And that
summer you also took a job requiring Top Secret clearance at the
Pentagon, right? That almost sounds made up. For someone who had lived
an outdoor lifestyle for years, that had to be a
shock. Tell us a little about that job.
CS: Yeah, that is right. I spent my hours sitting in a cubicle inside what was essentially a locked vault under fluorescent lights. I couldn’t tell what time of day it was or whether it was windy. For me it sort of felt like I was part of a government experiment in a Petri dish. Will she grow??? The answer to that is yes! Packed on 15 pounds in a year. I knew for sure this was no way I could live happily.
EKB: And that “ right spot” you mentioned earlier is Isla Holbox. It seems a bit remote to me. What makes the trip to Holbox worth it, when there are so many great beaches closer to Cancun airport?
CS: Easy. There is a lot more wind on the tip of the Yucatan, and with unique shape of the island, we can kite in any wind direction. There were only a handful of days we couldn’t kite this entire season. Also, the flavor of Holbox is still true, not nearly as touristy. It is an old fishing village and it hasn’t lost that feel. Another benefit for us kiters is the fact that it is a little bit off the beaten track so we get to have miles and miles of shoreline to ourselves. Yucatan Kiteboarding has enjoyed a great winter season and we’ re looking forward to YK summertime up here in the DC area again.
EKB: Matt has an advanced degree also, doesn’t he? Wasn’t he a biochemist when you two met, or had some kind of brainiac job like that?
CS: Yeah. His smarts and PHD in Biochem had also landed him in a cubicle. Needless to say, he was as excited about cube-life as me. So eventually, we decided to open YK Kiteboarding School.
EKB: I’ve ridden with Matt a bunch of times since we met. I watched
him go from average to expert in one year. Now he spins, flips, raleys,
F-16s, rides blind & unhooked – he is damn good and a helluva lot of
fun to watch! I know YK mostly teaches newcomers the basics. But can
the average decent rider become an amazing rider as fast as Matt did? Do
you offer advanced instruction for those of us who can stay upwind
easily, have a couple of moves, but are kind of stuck at that intermediate level?
CS: Yeah, Matt got real good real fast. He also spent A LOT of time
on the water his first years and still does. He’s at bit of an advantage
with his strong background in diving. He could do all the flips and
tricks before he could kite so he is a pretty fearless wakestyle rider
for someone in their mid-30?s, though he’ ll tell you he’ s just a “
dangler” . Sure, you can get that good in a short amount of time, but
you have to want it. It won’t just happen. I have been into kiting for
almost twice as long as Matt but we are in completely different
leagues. We have given advanced lessons, and they really help you get to the next level.
We can get someone jumping, riding toeside, or even doing more advanced
technical tricks in just one session. More importantly though, it’s
shocking how many newbies and intermediate riders cannot do a basic
self-rescue or an efficient upwind body-drag which puts people danger
and often results in lost gear. YK students learn these skills and their
importance in the very first lesson. If riders do not have these
skills, they need not be embarrassed, just get a short lesson.
EKB:
You bring up an extremely important point regarding safety, and it’s
reassuring to hear that safety is YK’s priority. As for learning
advanced moves, it was only last year and a half Matt was watching my
training videos and then noodling the steps through on the water. The
pupil has indeed become the master! I look forward to riding with him
again soon. Maybe this old dog will learn a new trick 
So now you and Matt are back in the U.S. for summer 2011, with team YK’s
newest member in tow, your beautiful son Mateo. For lots of us
following from stateside, your choice to remain in Mexico for his birth
seemed just another example of your relentlessly adventurous spirit.
What new things do you have planned? Where’s the next stop on the
Camille Spencer world tour?
CS: YK is growing. We will have more instructors this season and we will be working with our partners to do more kitecamps and other events kiters in the area want. For the winter-time, we are also exploring more options for kiteventure travel tours in different parts of the world.
EKB: That sounds exciting. I’m sure lots of EastKBers will want to join you, as they did this past winter in Holbox.
You say to get better “you have to want it”. That’s like anything. Regardless of one’s goal, passion to achieve it is key. I think women might be largely more cautious by nature, or dare I say, more sensible than men. But you’re a gymnast and a kiteboarding instructor. Am I presumptuous to say you have an obligation to be a role model for women kiters? I’ve encouraged you and other very capable female riders but so far I ain’t seen it. Maybe it’s just a guy thing to want to hang upside down. So what do you say? Is 2011 the year we see you throw down?
CS: Haha! I knew there would be a “why aren’t you a better kiter” question. I think it is combination of lack of inspiration, fear, and not enough water time. I say lack of inspiration because there really aren’t any women in our region “tearing it up like Christmas morning”. I guarantee once one woman is pulling a decent trick or two, more will follow. And, it might sound crazy, but I don’t get that much water time. When it is windy, I have my kiteboarding instructor’s hat on.
EKB: As I told you after seeing you ride, your combo of smarts, athleticism and gymnastic ability makes you the ideal candidate to be that inspirational kiter for other women. No more excuses! There is no easier invert than a simple backroll. And I don’t mean a flat spin that lots of kiters call a backroll. Ride behind Matt sometime and just play follow the leader without thinking about it too much. You almost can’t get hurt doing it. In fact, when it goes wrong the part of the body that takes the pounding are the cojones, so women really have the advantage there – haha!
CS: Well a backroll is a backroll, and a frontroll is a frontroll. Others will call them backloops and frontloops. But your point on style is definitely recognized. Getting inverted and going higher, faster and on bigger waves can be a thrill for riders and anyone who might be watching, but risk increases, too. Lots of good kiters get plenty of kicks shredding through the water without tossing big tricks.
EKB: But kiting is just diversion. Let’s talk about something of real importance. You’re a mother now, and that takes real guts to do responsibly. Little Mateo surely has a taste for adventure built into his DNA. Will raising your son temper your nomadic ways? Somehow I can’t picture you as a stay at home mom with a minivan.
CS: I don’t think so, Rory. Between YK Kiteboarding and Yucatan Kiteboarding we are here in the DC metropolitan area for seven months a year and on Isla Holbox five months a year. While Mateo is young, I think we can really give him the best of both worlds. We have our peaceful, free island life and then a little more hustle/bustle when we come home to Chesapeake Beach. The mix of lifestyles really suits me and I enjoy both. While I am not running out to buy the mini-van today, my new job as Mommy comes first.
EKB: As expected, you’ve got your priorities straight, Camille. There are a lot of people anxious to see you and Matt again, and meet the baby. We’ll all be watching him grow up, you know, expecting a world champion kiter by the time he’s thirteen. Thanks so much for making time in your busy life to share your thoughts with our readers. On behalf of all of us at East KB, welcome home, and best wishes for another exciting, abundant year for YK and Yucatan Kiteboarding.
CS: Thanks Rory! Its great to be back!
