Meet Our Team
Vadim is the founder of Green Hat Kiteboarding. He learned to kiteboard in 2002 and was one of the first kiteboarders in the area. An avid wing foiler, he is obsessed with testing gear and tuning it for maximum performance.
He is an IKO Certified Level 2 Instructor, PASA Level 2 Instructor, and he has a US Coast Guard Master Captain license.
Brian learned to kiteboard on a Cabrinha Prodigy and an Epic kite back in 2008. He grew up wakeboarding, water skiing, and sailing, but it was kiteboarding that changed his life. The sport has taken him to places he never imagined and introduced him to some amazing people, and his passion for the sport drew him to instructing.
Brian is an IKO Certified Instructor and has a Captain license. He spends his free time racing (and wingfoiling) foil regattas, throwing tricks on a twintip, or playing hockey.
Travis is the son of east coast surf legend Mike Tabeling and an avid waterman who's been surfing since the young age of 5. Growing up in Jeffreys Bay, South Africa, Travis had the pleasure of surfing side by side with the world's best, developing his passion for the ocean and deep understanding of gear and technique.
Nowadays you can catch him at his locale in Cape Hatteras, hitting the water every chance he gets. Whether you're kiting, foiling, or surfing, Travis's knowledge and experience far surpass his age, and he's passionate about helping others find the right equipment and develop their skills in these sports.
Jim is a logistics specialist at Green Hat, he manages inventory operations, ensures smooth fulfillment processes and helps customers in the showroom. Outside of work, Jim is an avid motorcyclist who enjoys group rides with his local motorcycle community.
He has a knack for hands-on problem solving and takes pride in finding efficient solutions for packaging and shipping challenges. When he is not on the road or at the warehouse, you might find him learning to wingfoil and planning the next ride.
Kelly is an outdoor enthusiast with a passion for water sports. Raised in New Jersey, she developed a deep love for boating and the ocean. Kelly's adventures include traveling, kiteboarding, teaching e-foil lessons, and learning to wing and dock starts.
With a contagious enthusiasm for life and a love for the ocean, Kelly embodies the spirit of adventure and lives life to the fullest.
Shea is a seasoned e-commerce product listing specialist who divides her time between two worlds. For six months, she's immersed in Los Barriles, Baja - kiteboarding, wingfoiling, hiking and dirt biking.
The other half of the year, Shea works on a ranch training horses and competing in polo tournaments in Colorado. Whether she's detailing the perfect product listing or catching the perfect wind, Shea combines professional expertise with an adventurous spirit that sets her apart.
Team Riders
Hunter grew up on the west coast in Santa Barbara, California. He has been completely addicted to kitefoiling since spring of 2018. He learned to kitefoil before learning how to twintip. He quickly progressed and eventually left his career as a commercial pilot behind to pursue his dream of kitefoiling.
In 2021-22 Hunter was running the west coast Demo Tour for Airush Kiteboarding and Qualified for the GKA Hydrofoil Freestyle World Championship. In addition to joining the Green Hat Kiteboarding Team in 2022, and now riding for North he is competing professionally on the GKA World Tour.
Ulf began his sailing journey at 14 in the Gran Canarias, earning his first sailing license. He later transitioned to windsurfing in the North & Baltic seas before moving to Sardinia's warmer waters. After obtaining a US boat sailing license, he sailed his 37-foot Bavaria in the Florida straights.
His sailing career appeared to end when he moved to New York, until he connected with the Green Hat crew. They introduced him to kiteboarding, which quickly progressed to kite foiling.
Most recently, Ulf made a shift to wing foiling. He began with freeride, then advanced to jumping, and is now concentrating on racing.
Ed radiates an infectious stoke for wind and wave sports. From Monmouth County, he fearlessly pursues his passion year-round. As a team rider for Foil Drive, Kaohi leashes, and Green Hat, Ed embodies the spirit of a true waterman.
Through his business, Fast Times Foiling, he not only teaches prone, SUP, and wing foiling but also shares his excitement for these sports. Surfing remains his first love, inspiring him to compete in SUP downwind races in Guadeloupe, Hawaii, and Hood River.
Ed embraces each discipline, transforming NJ's beaches into his personal playground.
Gabby is a North rider who lives for the endless summer, chasing perfect wind and waves across the globe. From the crystal-clear waters of Australia to Portugal's legendary waves, she's carved her path as a true waterwoman, pushing the boundaries in all disciplines.
Windsurfing has been her original passion for over three decades. About 8 years ago, she discovered kiteboarding and flipped her life upside down.
You'll find Gabby sharing her infectious love for these sports, embodying the free-spirited lifestyle that comes with following the wind around the world.
Walt began board riding at age 6 in Wrightsville Beach, NC, building skills that helped him teach himself kiteboarding in 2020. He quickly developed expertise in prone foiling and strapless kite foiling.
Walt stands out by applying his engineering background to his riding, bringing precision and creativity while constantly refining his technique and equipment.
His commitment to skill development makes him an excellent brand ambassador for Cabrinha Kites, Dakine Wind and us here at Green Hat.
Dave is a passionate surfer who transitioned to foiling in 2022, he’s been sharing his journey through his YouTube channel, The Lift Journal, relating his experiences, insights, and progress in the world of foiling.
With a background in storytelling and video production, his channel offers the foiling community product reviews, tips and learning insights beyond personal updates.
Though primarily focused on prone foiling, Dave is now exploring the wind side of foiling. He's supported by brands including Unifoil, Foil Drive, Kaohi Leashes, and DaKine wetsuits.