Sam Bell: Indispensable

Aug 16, 2008

Author: as told to John Bryja photo by Bryan Elkus

Sam Bell is one of those East Coast riders who lets his riding speak for itself. His smooth style on the flat water of Pamlico Sound is unmistakable. Set him loose in the ocean, and he is the one hitting the most critical sections and making it look easy. If a film crew is shooting on the Outer Banks, chances are they’re filming Bell. A couple years ago, you might have spotted him riding in Coca-Cola’s real TV commercial; more recently, you might have seen him ripping on the Weather Channel. All this fame hasn’t gone to Bell’s head. His easygoing personality has made him one of Real Kiteboarding’s most sought-after coaches. So, what can’t Sam live without?

Hatteras Island
Sounds weird. You can’t live without an island, but this is home. Has the best conditions for what I like to do in life. You can be surfing, kiting or at a bonfire on the beach with great friends.

Wii
I’m not an addict or anything, but, man, is it fun. You can have a bunch of friends over and not get bored the entire night. Bowling is probably the best all-around hangout game.

Stewed chicken and pie bread
If I could eat this every day and not be 300 pounds, I would. Not much to say about this besides it’s good.

Toyota Tacoma
I’ve always wanted one, and now I have it. This will be with me until I die. These are absolutely the best trucks out there. Plus, being a four-banger helps on gas.

XR 650L
This is my second dual sport bike, and they’re a blast. It’s really relaxing to ride to work in the morning. Great way to wake up and start the day. Or, if you’re having a bad day, take it out for a hell ride.

Surfboards
Anyone that lives and breathes the ocean will agree on this one. Be it from the stand-up board to the shorty, they allow me to be in the water, and that always makes me happy.

My kites
Again, this is pretty easy to see why. If I didn’t have kites, I wouldn’t be writing this. I actually don’t know what I’d be doing without kiting.

Set of good tools
You never know when you’re going to have to work on something, be it at home or on the road. They can get you out of a lot of trouble. I guess my old truck made me get used to having tools around.

Sunglasses
I spend a lot of time outside, and without them I would be blind. Nothing worse than losing a good pair of shades.

Bacon
Bacon and eggs, bacon cheeseburger, steak wrapped in bacon, bacon-egg-cheese biscuit, scallops wrapped in bacon. I would be really disappointed if someone told me I could never eat bacon again. I would cry.

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