This program is for my crossfit class, that I do at home in the garage...

Kiteboarding crossfit program for todays class:
Step over pushup
Vertical row
Roll out
Gym ball leg curl
Lunge to bosu
Reverse crunch on gym ball
Floor wiper

Kiteboarding Exercises brings you a series of interviews with professional kiteboarders from around the globe on kiteboarding, training, fitness, injuries, rehab and lifestyle. This is an interview with kite legend Dimitri Maramenides.

I have had the pleasure of talking to Dimitri a couple of times, and I can truly say, that he is one of the coolest guys, I've ever talked to. And his love, enthusiasm and dedication to kiteboarding is beyond anyone else in kiteboarding. You feel that right away, when you talk to him. He is already a legend in this extreme sport, because of his variety of cool kiteboarding tricks and spectacular stunts, which makes him one of the most photographed kiteboarders of all time.

Interview with Dimitri Maramenides

- how are you and what are you up to at the moment? 

I AM DOING GOOD BUT COULD BE BETTER.  IT IS 5:45 IN THE MORNING.  I AM WORKING ON EMAILS FROM DEALERS AND CUSTOMERS PLUS TALKING ON SKYPE WITH THE FACTORY SO I CAN BE FREE TO GO KITING AROUND 11 AM FOR 3 TO 4 HRS, THEN GET BACK AND WORK MORE ON VIDEOS AND NEW PRODUCTS WE HAVE BEEN WORKING ON. 

- what trips an promos are you planning in the near future? 

I WISH I COULD DUPLICATE MYSELF AT LEAST WITH (5) DIMITRIS SO WE CAN TAKE CARE OF ALL THE CUSTOMERS AND DEALERS ASKING ME TO COME TO THEIR COUNTRY TO DO SOME DEMOS.  SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION I AM WORKING ON AT LEAST 8 TRIPS FROM NOW UNTIL FEBRUARY.

- how did you get your ankle injured? 

PLAYING TENNIS.  WHO SAID KITEBOARDING WAS DANGEROUS.

- You had a very fast recovery! what kind of rehab did you do and how long did it take? 

WELL YOU CAN CALL IT A FAST RECOVERY BUT NOT IN MY BOOK.  IT HAS BEEN ALMOST 7 MONTHS AND I AM MAYBE 70% BETTER.  THE NEXT DAY OF MY INJURY I HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL FOR A SURGERY (see video). THEN WHEN THE SURGERY WAS DONE AND I LEFT THE HOSPITAL THEY PUT ME ON A REMOVABLE CAST.  THAT NIGHT MY WIFE HELEN DID A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET ABOUT "TORN ACHILLES TENDON" AND WHAT EXERCISES TO DO PLUS WHAT TO EAT AND NOT TO EAT AND WHAT CREAM TO PUT ON YOUR LEG TO MAKE THE HEALING FASTER. SO AFTER 4 DAYS FROM THE SURGERY I WENT TO THE GYM AND GOT ON THE STATIONARY BIKE SO I CAN HAVE MY BLOOD CIRCULATE FASTER IN ORDER TO START THE HEALING PROCESS.  ON THE 5TH DAY I HAD TO GO AND SEE MY DOCTOR TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS DOING WELL.  WHEN HE SAW ME COMING IN HIS OFFICE WITH OUT MY CROUCHES AND FOUND OUT THAT I WENT TO THE GYM, HE GAVE ME HELL AND GAVE ME A 5 PAGE PAPER WITH ALL THE EXERCISES I NEED TO DO STEP BY STEP.  AND RIGHT NOW HE TOLD ME THAT INSTEAD OF DOING STEP 1 YOU ARE DOING STEP 5.  SO I ASKED HIM "HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO GET TO STEP 16?" ANY WAY TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, I DID WHAT MY BODY WAS TELLING WHAT I COULD DO.  KNOWING FROM MY DOCTOR THAT I SHOULD NOT BEND MY FOOT FOR AT LEAST 5 WEEKS.  

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I HAD TO GO FOR A PHOTO SHOOT AT THE CAYMEN ISLANDS EIGHT WEEKS AFTER MY INJURY.  SO I HAD TO MAKE SURE I WAS READY FOR IT. SO I STARTED TO GO TO THE GYM EVERY DAY.  SO FOR THE FIRST 14 DAYS I WAS DOING THE STATIONARY BIKE ONLY WITH THE REMOVABLE CAST ON IT.  THEN ON THE 15TH DAY I REMOVED THE CAST WHILE I WAS DOING THE STATIONERY BIKE.  BUT MAKING SURE I WAS NOT BENDING MY FOOT, SO THE ACHILLES TENDO DOESN'T GET STRETCHED.  THEN AFTER THE 2OTH DAY I STARTED DOING THE ELLIPTIC MACHINE (WHICH IS LIKE A GOING UP THE STAIRS). BUT DURING ALL THAT TIME I WAS EATING THINGS THAT YOUR BODY NEEDED TO HEAL FASTER AND ALSO USING FEW DIFFERENT TYPE OF CREAMS FOR YOUR SCARES AND TISSUES PLUS GETTING MASSAGES ON MY fOOT 3 TIMES A WEEK TO BREAK THE SCARE TISSUES.

THEN ON THE 25TH DAY THE DOCTOR TOLD ME THAT I WAS READY TO DO SOME PHYSICAL THERAPY.  SO HE SENT ME TO SEE ONE BUT ONCE I GOT THERE SHE TOLD ME THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY BECAUSE I WAS ALREADY DOING ALL THE EXERCISES.  SO I LASTED ONLY 45 MINUTES WITH MY THERAPIST AND WENT BACK TO THE GYM. THEN 10 DAYS BEFORE MY KITEBOARDING TRIP TO THE CAYMAN ISLAND, I STARTED DOING EXERCISES WITH THE ELASTIC BAND AND STEPPING ON A 1/2 BALL FOR BALANCE.  EVERYTHING WAS DOING GREAT.  MY SCARES WERE HEALING AND I WAS FEELING BETTER BUT A LITTLE SOAR.  THEN WENT TO THE KITEBOARDING PHOTO SHOOT WHICH WAS 8 WEEKS AFTER MY INJURY AND START KITING BUT WITH LOTS OF CARE.  I KNEW I COULD NOT PUSH HARD FOR JUMPING BECAUSE MY ACHILLES TENDON WAS NOT HEAL YET.  SO I WAS VERY EASY ON IT, BUT THEN THE NEXT DAY I TOTALLY FORGOT ABOUT MY FOOT AND START GOING OFF, AND SUDDENLY DID A HIGHT HANDLE PASS AND LANDED HARD ON MY BOARD WHICH MADE MY INJURED FOOT SLIP OFF THE BOARD AND THAT REALLY EXTENDED WITH FORCE MY ACHILLES.  I WAS IN SUCH A PAIN THAT HAD TO STOP.  THE NEXT DAY MY FOOT WAS AS BIG AS A WATER MELON.  SO I DECIDED TO STAY OFF THE WATER UNTIL I GET BETTER.  SO THIS PUT ME BACK TO GROUND ZERO.  THANK GOD NOTHING WAS TEAR BUT I REALIZED THAT I HAD TO TAKE IT EASY.  SO I STAYED OFF THE WATER FOR 3 WEEKS AND THEN START MY REHAB AGAIN.  THEN OF THE FOURTH WEEK I WENT BACK ON THE WATER BUT THIS TIME MADE SURE TO TAKE IT EASY.  SINCE THEN I HAVE BEEN PUSHING IT LITTLE BY LITTLE AND NOW I AM 70% BETTER.

- has the injury effected your riding in any way? Physical og mentally? IT DID AT THE BEGINNING BUT I AM NOT A QUITER.  WHEN I SET A GOAL I NEED TO ACCOMPLISH IT.  BUT IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING BECAUSE OF HOW MUCH YOU CAN PUSH IT WITH OUT RE INJURE IT.   PLUS NOW I AM AFFRAID MENTALLY TO PLAY TENNIS AS HARD AS I WAS PLAYING.  FOOTBALL AND TENNIS WAS THE SPORT THAT TOOK ME THROUGH COLLEGE NOT BECAUSE OF MY GRADES :-(

- were you afraid of not being able to kite at the same level after you got injured?

NOT REALLY BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS AND HAVE HAD WORSTE ONES THAN THAT.  SO I KNEW I WOULD BE BACK ON TRACK BUT DID NOT KNOW HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE.  THE ONLY BAD THING IS THAT NOW I HAVE A HEAL AND A FOOT THAT LOOKS LIKE AN ELEPHANT.  EASIER TO BREAK MY REEF SURF BOARDS.

- what are you doing to avoid another injury in your ankle or else where?

LIFE IS SHORT. SO THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO.  WHEN YOUR TIME COMES IT COMES.  BUT I DO STRETCH MORE AND THINK TWICE ABOUT A TRICK I AM GOING TO DO BECAUSE I HATE BEING INJURED, AND I ALSO MAKE SURE I EAT THE RIGHT FOOD THAT YOUR BODY NEEDS FOR HEALTHY REASONS.  

LIKE I SAID I HATE BEING INJURED. FOR EXAMPLE 3 MONTHS AGO I INJURED MY SHOULDER IN SNOWBOARDING.  SO NOW NOT ONLY I HAVE MY ACHILLES TO WORRY BUT I CAN'T UNHOOK BECAUSE OF MY RIGHT SHOULDER. 

- have you got any advice for kiteboarders with ankle injuries out there? YES AS SOON AS I GOT INJURED AND POSTED ON THE "KITEFORUM.COM" OR "FACEBOOK" I HAD FEW PRIVATE EMAILS.  AND THAT HELPED A LOT.  SO CHECK THE "KITEFORUM.COM" UNDER THE (ACHILLES TENDON INJURIES)

- I know it's a long list, but what other injuries have you had in the past? And what was the worst?

OH MY GOD, YES THAT IS GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME AND IT IS WINDY RIGHT NOW.... BUT MY WORST INJURY WAS WHEN I WAS IN BRASIL AND WAS DOING A PHOTO SHOOT AND LANDED ON THE SAND HEAD FIRST FROM A BACK LOOP.  MY RIGHT SHOULDER WAS PARALYZED FOR 8 MONTHS.  THIS WAS VERY SCARY BECAUSE NO ONE KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON BUT IT DID NOT HURT.  WHAT HURT THE MOST WAS ANOTHER INJURY WHAT I WAS PUSHING OFF A TREE IN GREECE AND END UP DOING A KITE LOOP AND LANDED ON THE ROAD WITH ROCKS.  NOW THAT HURT A LOT.

- you are known for doing a lot of stunts like jumpming over houses (or into...) etc. What's the most spectacular stunt, you've done?

STAY HOME AND WATCH "MOST SHOCKING VIDEO"..... 

- how does it feel to hit a house and what went through your mind?

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO GET HEAT BY A TRAIN!!!!
WELL IF YOU KNOW THE ANSWER THEN YOU KNOW HOW I FELT.  MY RIGHT ASS CHICK IS STILL NUM AND HAS NO FEELINGS.  WHICH IS GOOD BECAUSE I USE IT TO LAND ON IT IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG.  I WAS VERY VERY LUCKY THAT DAY.  MY INSTINCT IS WHAT SAVED ME IF I WOULD OF PUT THE BOARD IN FRONT OF ME I WOULD NOT BE HERE WRITING THIS OR THERE WOULD NOT BE AN "EPIC KITES"

- you have build up an impressive product range in a short period of time. What's the next step for Epic Kiteboarding other than evolving the known products?  

WELL THANK YOU.  I SHOULD NOT TAKE ALL THE CREDIT, BECAUSE WITH OUT MY WIFE HELEN, MY KITE DESIGNER MOMI, MY GRAPHIC DESIGNER JEROEN, MY WEB DESIGNER KEVIN AND ALL THE DEALERS AND CUSTOMERS HELP, I COULD NOT HAVE THIS AMAZING KITE COMPANY.  NOW WE ARE WORKING ON SOME VERY NICE SEXY EPIC "SPEEDOS".  I MIGHT HAVE AN XS FOR YOU :-)

- Thanks for the interview, Dimitri. And I'm looking forward to those Speedos ;o)

www.KiteboardingExercises.com - Power 2 Progress

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFT6eSKQ1yU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFT6eSKQ1yU