Instructors 

When it comes to Maui water sports, our instructors are the masters!  Many of them have lived on Maui for many years and consider various maui water sports particularly Maui kite surfing to be the best in the world.  Below are a few highlights of who your instructor will be.

Aaron Culliney

has been kiteboarding since 2001 and and been an intructor at the kiteboarding school maui for many of those years.  He has a calm teaching style that suits any client anxious about lessons and is a favorite among intermediate level students passionate about Maui water sports. Aaron spends most of his time, outside of recreational kiteboarding, designing websites, kite-kayaking and teaching paragliding. Visit Aaron's website at www.deadc0de.org.

 

 

Paul Franco

one of KSM's lead instructors, 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.

 

Markus Schale

Owner of the Kiteboarding School Maui. Following a decade of global travelling as president of North America's leading luxury travel company Markus finally settled down in Maui in 2008. Markus was born in Germany, raised in the Netherlands and spend the past 17 years freezing in Canada. As he soon discovered that he was not cut out for sub-arctic temperatures Markus moved his family to the island and became immediately an avid kiteboarder in addition to several other Maui water sports. He now tries to divide his time equally between the office and the water with an occasional special wind dance performance when required.

 

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. Raquel also conducts our kids' clinics and rides for Naish.

 

 

Niccolo Porcella

Born in Maui Hawaii, Dec. 2nd 1987, grew up in Sardinia Italy and moved back to Maui at 13 yrs and was first introduced to kiteboarding. With a strong background in gymnastics, skateboarding and many Maui water sports, including surfing and windsurfing he picked up kiteboarding as if it were in his blood. He soon became one of the innovators of the sport , even inventing some of the new wake style moves.  Visit Nicco's web site at http://www.niccoloporcella.com/

 

 

Darian Smith

has been kiteboarding since 1996 and his sponsors are Airush, Da Kine, and Lite Wave Designs - a man who truly loves Maui water sports in everyway. 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.

 

Natasha Gronski

has taught kiteboarding around the world—from the Dominican Republic to Greece. She finally decided to settle down in the best place for kiteboarding—Maui. While waiting for the waves to return in the winter, she began course racing in local races and has consistently placed in the top three. When not kiteboarding, she loves to stand-up paddle board, practice yoga, and cook scrumptious meals for friends.