20 Years OfDoing Some GoodIn The Neighborhood.
From a crew of Tampa Bay kiteboarders in 2005 to a full-fledged 501(c)(3) public charity since 2008, we have spent two decades making action sports safer, more accessible and open to everyone, just as we planned.
Two Decades On The Tide Line
Five eras, one community. This crew created some of the most memorable, one of a kind events in Tampa Bay history, and that tradition continues today. Pick a year to dive in below.
- 2005–2008
TBKA: Kiters Looking Out For Kiters
TBKA & Kite-4-Life. (20 stories)
- 2008–2012
Action Sports Foundation Is Born
TBKA becomes a 501(c)(3) public charity. Kite4Kids, KiteOberfest and the first ASF programs. (3 stories)
- 2012–2014
Adaptive Watersports
Adaptive sailing, windsports, kayaking, waterskiing and indoor surfing. (0 stories)
- 2017–2021
WCMX And Share The Skate
WCMX clinics, the Adaptive Sports Jams and 100 Share the Skate decks. (15 stories)
- 2022–today
Help Florida Now And Project Vet Jet
Hurricane relief, Veteran Outreach, Access Florida and coastal cleanups. (7 stories)
- Coming up
Stay Tuned For What's Next!
A new chapter for the crew.
Stories From The Archive
ASF brings out the creators of good times, and the creators of good deeds. Nothing we accomplished over the years would have been possible without a solid group of people with great intentions. You’ll find all kinds of great memories throughout the site & we hope you enjoy!
Shell Key Cleanup: 40 Kiters, 80 Volunteer Hours
Over 40 TBKA volunteers and Eckerd College students cleared trash from Shell Key with Pinellas County Environmental Management in June 2008.
2008: TBKA Becomes Action Sports Foundation
How the Tampa Bay Kiteboarding Association grew into Action Sports Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity, in 2008.
Kite4Kids 2011 And The Treasure Island Downwind Race
ASF's 2011 Kite4Kids event on Treasure Island raised money for All Children's Hospital with kite and SUP races, clinics and a 20-mile downwind dash.
2020 ASF Adaptive Sports Jam
February 14–16, 2020: the second ASF Adaptive Sports Jam brought top WCMX and adaptive skate athletes from around the world to St. Petersburg.
Help Florida Now: Emergency Hurricane Relief
Help Florida Now, ASF's emergency hurricane relief initiative, started after Hurricane Ian in 2022 and expanded when Hurricane Helene struck in 2024.
Project Vet Jet
Project Vet Jet, part of ASF's Veteran Outreach programs, gets veterans out on jet skis for recreation, rehabilitation and camaraderie. It continues today.
Built On Safety
Before the foundation, TBKA riders wrote their own safety playbook. These 2008 guides are where our service began.
Right-Of-Way Rules For Kiteboarders
The on-water priority rules TBKA asked every Tampa Bay kiter to follow: outgoing riders, converging riders, upwind and downwind passing.
Read Right-Of-Way Rules For KiteboardersGear Maintenance: Making Your Kite Last
TBKA's tips on sand, sun, bladders and lines to get more life out of expensive kiteboarding gear.
Read Gear Maintenance: Making Your Kite LastSunset Beach, Tarpon Springs: Launch Guidelines
TBKA's 2008 guide to launching safely at Sunset Beach in Tarpon Springs: wind directions, tides, hazards and etiquette.
Read Sunset Beach, Tarpon Springs: Launch GuidelinesTake Lessons First: Looking Out For New Kiters
Why TBKA members asked newer riders where they took lessons, and encouraged them to ride near other kiters.
Read Take Lessons First: Looking Out For New KitersTraining New Instructors: IKO Assistant Certification
TBKA hosted IKO assistant instructor training so more qualified volunteers could teach kiteboarding safely.
Read Training New Instructors: IKO Assistant CertificationKiting In Currents Around Tampa Bay's Passes
How opposing and following currents change your power and relaunch, and what to do if a pass or rip current grabs you.
Read Kiting In Currents Around Tampa Bay's Passes
What We Do Now
The same values TBKA started with, at a bigger scale.
Adaptive Sports
Adaptive watersports, WCMX and adaptive skate clinics for athletes of every ability.
Learn more about adaptive sportsAccess Florida
Accessible beaches and waterways, including floating beach wheelchairs.
Learn more about Access FloridaTrash To Treasure
Coastal cleanups on the Tampa Bay waterways we ride.
Learn more about Trash to TreasureShare The Skate
Boards, clinics and accessible skateparks for kids, adaptive skaters and WCMX riders.
Learn more about Share the Skate
Watch
Clinics, safety training and community events.
ASF & Project Vet-Jet Getting Veterans On The Water!
2020 ASF Adaptive Sports Jam Highlights
ASF Adaptive Sports Jam 2019
Help Us Fill 20 Years Of Photos
Almost no photos survived from the TBKA years, and our galleries are just getting started.
If you kited at East Beach in 2008, rolled into the Adaptive Sports Jam in 2020 or pulled trash off Shell Key, you might have the pictures we are missing. Send them in and we will credit you in the gallery.