"The best place to learn is Kiteboarding School of Maui...We like how KSM does their lessons..."
Maui Revealed-The Ultimate Guidebook
2007 4th Edition, page 231
Aaron Culliney
has been kiteboarding since 2001 and has a calm teaching style that suits any client anxious about lessons and is a favorite among intermediate level students. Aaron spends most of his time, outside of recreational kiteboarding, kite-kayaking and paragliding.
Paul Franco
an examiner for International Kiteboarding Organization (IKO), is the lead instructor at KSM. He has been a certified IKO and Professional Air Sports Association (PASA) kiteboarding instructor since 2002 and is the instructor in kiteboard training DVDs, The Complete Kiteboading Guide (2004) and Kiteboarding4Beginners (2007). In his spare time, Paul is a tandem paragliding instructor and is a team rider for Naish, Da Kine, Kaenon Sunglasses, and Rainbow Fins.
Martin Kirk
a North Carolinian with a degree in Genetics from UC Berkeley and a licensed US Coast Guard Captain, moved to Maui in 1987 to test his windsurfing skills at Ho`okipa and never left the island. Then, learning to kiteboard in 1999 and finding a new passion, he started KSM with the goal of providing quality kitesurfing lessons by some of the best kiteboarding instructors/riders in the world. Martin is an instructional advisor and contributor to Kiteboarding and The Kiteboarder magazines.
Raquel Lima
originally from Brazil, has been riding and competing in South America since 2002. We try to keep Raquel very busy otherwise she is going to get ideas about turning pro again and then we will hardly ever get to see her smiling face. She rides for Naish.
Niccolo Porcella
joins KSM as an instructor after spending most of 2005 and 2006 competing. He is comfortable teaching beginners to water start or showing advanced riders how to perform the latest tricks. Niccolo is regularly featured in the hotest kiteboarding films and his sponsors are Takoon, Jimmy Lewis, Mendo, and KSM.
Darian Smith
has been kiteboarding since 1996 and his sponsors are Airush, Da Kine, and Lite Wave Designs. We can find Darian down at Kite Beach on Maui performing the moves that most riders will be doing months later. He goes for the jugular with every move but has the patience of Job when it comes to his students.