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Teen kitesurfer goes viral with epic stunt and he did it with some help from the weather

By John Murphy, AccuWeather staff writer

Published Feb 5, 2020 4:54 PM EDT

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With wind speeds exceeding 30 mph, Ryan Parsons knew Tuesday would be the perfect time to attempt a kitesurfing stunt he would never forget.

Amid strong wind warnings throughout Brisbane, Australia, Parsons saw the opportunity to complete one of his biggest bucket lists items: jumping over the Woody Point Jetty.

Nienke Verhoef, a photographer and fellow kitesurfer, was so excited for the feat that she left her classes early to meet with Parsons to capture the moment.

"Ryan always comes up with crazy ideas for me to capture. He has jumped on and over obstacles before," Verhoef told AccuWeather via email.

Despite being a very open area, Woody Point Jetty is known as one of the worst kitesurfing spots in the region due to the active shark presence. But according to Verhoef, that's exactly why people in the kitesurfing community were not surprised to hear of Parsons' venture.

Parsons has been kitesurfing for over five years, since he was 13 years old. Despite his experience, Parsons still had difficulties prior to the jump.

Parsons clearing his jump over the Woody Point Jetty in Brisbane, QLD, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2020. (Storyful/Nienke Verhoef)

"The wind had a few dead spots around the jetty, so it made it very difficult for Ryan to control his kite and find the right momentum," Verhoef said.

Parsons had been wanting to jump the jetty for years, so Verhoef knew just taking a photo wouldn't be good enough to capture this unique moment. Verhoef set up multiple video cameras to film the event from various different angles, but even that was a challenge in itself.

"It was really windy, so it was hard to keep the camera still and the salty air kept fogging up the lens," Verhoef said.

But the harsh conditions weren't enough to stop Verhoef from capturing the dream feat. With light rain and strong winds associated with a storm going into Brisbane, gusts were strong and consistent enough for the jump to be attempted. The perfect setup paid off as Parsons flew through the air, successfully clearing the Woody Point Jetty.

Verhoef said that Parsons is considered a local legend in the local kitesurfing community, even before he made his jump over the jetty.

In the past, Parsons has jumped a rock wall in Redcliffe multiple times and done tricks on the back of the ute of his car while it was parked close to the water.

"Everyone is very excited for him and cheering him on," Verhoef said. "Even though local authorities might not necessarily be happy with the dangerous stunt, it also puts the area in the spotlight. Which is good promotion, because the area is beautiful."

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AccuWeather Sports Teen kitesurfer goes viral with epic stunt and he did it with some help from the weather
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