76TheBahamasInvestorLIFESTYLECOURTESYEXUMAKITESURFING

TheBahamasInvestor77LIFESTYLEReplicatingthethrilloffast-pacedbusinessoutsidetheconfinesoftheboardroomiseasyinTheBahamas.Forthegrowingbreedofyoung,adventuroushigh-net-worthindividuals(HNWIs),theislandsareanidealsettingforkitesurfing,sharkdiving,biggamefishingandmanyotherextremesportsofferinganadrenalinrushunmatchedbythestockmarket.RidingthewavesinExumaTothecasualobserver,kitesurfingorkiteboardingresemblesamixtureofwindsurfing,paraglidingandacrobatics.Balancedonasurfboardandusinganairbornekiteforpower,kitesurferscanliterallyflythroughtheair-reachingspeedsof30mph,withtheworld-recordholderreaching55.65knotsoraround64mph.Skimmingthesurfaceofthewavesatthosespeedscanbedizzying,butcompelling,saysGarySweeting,whoownsExumaKitesurfing,basednearGeorgeTown,Exuma."Thecommondescriptionisthatitisaddictive,hypnotic,"hesays."Thereissomethingmesmerizingaboutflyingakiteinalldirectionsandbeingontopofthewaterlikethat,evenforbeginners."SinceheopenedExumaKitesurfingin2007,Sweetinghascateredtoallabilities,offeringpackagesrangingfromeight-hourbeginnersessionstoorganizedtripstothebestspotsinExumaforthemoreexperienced.Amonghisclientlistarehedgefundmanagersandwealthyentrepreneurs."Thepullofthekiteislikeholdingontothebackofamovingtrain.Whatdrawspeopleistheadrenalinrushofthatpower,masteringthatpowerandthethrillofjumping-Ihavehad40ftofairundermyboardbefore."Thereisadangerelementtoit.Youcandiedoingit,buttheHigh-net-worththrillseekersfindtheperfectplacetoindulgetheirneedforexcitementByCatherineBoalCOURTESYSTUARTCOVE'SFINPHOTOExtremeBahamas.kitesurfing,sharkdiving,biggamefishing.offeranadrenalinrushunmatchedbythestockmarket.